Non Denom Question

[SamanthaB]

Its about peoples attitudes toward the Non Denom church.
So I guess a little personal history is in order, I will try to make a long story...well... not so longish.

I was raised Southern Baptist, and my husband was raised in a Non Denom church. I became a Christian at the age of 6. As a child and teen I loved the Southern Baptist church but as I grew into an adult it left me.... how do I put this.... wanting more? I felt like I was missing something big, but I wasnt sure what it was. I didnt know what it was like to have a real live personal relationship with God. Anyhow the church I went to as a youth broke up and after that I really couldnt find a church I felt at home in.
By the time I met my husband he really hadnt been to church in years so we never went to church as a couple, but when the time came to get married, as I had no church, we were married by his preacher in his church. I was really impressed and inspired by his preacher not only during the wedding, but in premarital counseling and other activities he played a part it (ie. engagement party, rehersal dinner) but I didnt start going to the church. A few months after I was married for some reason I didnt understand I started questioning what I believed and if I really did believe in God. It was very painful, and the people I reached out to basically just judged me and made me feel sooo much worse than I already had.
So I reached out to that preacher. Instead of judging me he tried to help me understand what was going on, and gave me alot of scriptures to meditate on and things to think about. Even though I did not go to that church he took the time to minister to me and help me through. He also mentioned that God might be calling me back and I wasnt listening.
So I started going to that church and it has been the best thing ever. I have a personal relationship with Jesus, fellowship with other believers. I didnt feel overwhelmed by so much legalism (like: "If you wear pants and listen to rock music you are going to hell") but I felt edifyed, challenged and inspired to let Jesus's light shine through me, and to show love to those around me.

Now here's the thing, when I have told quite a few family members and friends and a few people I dont even know what church I attend, well, from their reaction I might as well tell them I am going to the First Church of Satan! And its not just from Southern Baptists but other faiths as well. I have been told I dont go to a "real church" I have been asked "what, couldnt make up your mind what you believe?" and I have been told I shouldnt even bother going to church if thats the church I am going to go to I've been called a heathen, and so on and so on.
Why such judgement? Has anyone else experienced this?
I usually just share my testimony (like the one above) but most of the time it does not phase anyone.
What should I tell them about the church that will make them understand?

 

[SamanthaB]

P.s. I realize that my testimony was really not necessary for the question I asked, but I havent really posted much here for ya'll to get to know me, I felt I needed to share.

 

[JDIBe]

Gardendale? As in outside Midland, Gardendale?

 

[SamanthaB]

Gardendale? As in outside Midland, Gardendale?

Yes Sir, but I am closer to Odessa.

 

[JDIBe]

Yes Sir, but I am closer to Odessa.

Wow! Hey, small world. We're in west Midland over by Target. Do you know the Eckerts?

I didn't realize there was a 1st Church of Satan in town. Is that over by Wal-Mart?

Nice to meet you.

 

[SamanthaB]

I didn't realize there was a 1st Church of Satan in town. Is that over by Wal-Mart?

Nice to meet you.

Lol! From the way I have been treated it must be right on Maple and Tanglewood in Odessa.
Seriously, I have been told some pretty harsh things after mentioning my nondenom church.

A while back I was given 5 tickets to the hockey game, and my plans changed but I didnt want them to go to waste, and they were just enough for my brothers little family, so I asked him if he wanted them. He refused after finding out he would be sitting next to people from my church.
I just dont get it.

 

[JDIBe]

Just out of curiosity, do you have any idea as to why they dislike that church so much?

 

[SamanthaB]

I really dont know. Just when I mention that its nondenominational it gets some harsh reactions.

 

[figuringthingsout]

I feel compelled to reply to this. I was born and raised in the Christian Church/Church of Christ. I even went to bible college and my husband went to seminary afterward. We moved to our current location about 4- 4 1/2 years ago and have been struggling finding a church here. There are two Christian chrurches and we felt neither matched us. We settled on one, and have been struggling since. They are very conservative, and we have been trying so many things and failing (music, small groups, any kind of outreach for seekers, etc). We love the people at this church, but we feel like we are being sufficated or something. The elders at this church want to build a 1.5 million addtion, but refused to move the church to a new building only a mile away that cost $300,000. they thought they'd be loosing theri out reach to the cureent neighborhood.

Most of the young people are either just lacking or have gone to other churches. the elders are VERY conservative. The services is ultra conservative despite the ways the music has been very gradually changing.

There has only been one sunday school class for all adults, on small group which doesn't accomodate anyone with children (we have been trying for years to change this, but we can't even tir up interest). We don't feel like these members have anything in common with us, even though there ar people our age with kids there. There are many ways I can list that we feel this church is not right for us.

Okay, so we decided maybe we could go to a church closer to us, that we had friends at, that we'd fit in better. We knew this would not be a church of CHrist (there are not thers within an hour from here), but at this point we feel that we have no other option. So Sunday we went. Ever since we have been ridiculed and accuseded of leaving our faith in the Christian Church. The church we went to was an Alliance church (which they say they are christian). I don't see much differnce in the doctrine! We had a great time and it was so relevant to us. We saw so many people we knew and the kids had a blast.

After we went, all the sudden eveyone in our home church knows and we have become VIPS. We are all booked up for the next month with duties at our church. I have become the most important singer in out praise band (I was mrs. reliable who could sing anything without complaints). Now I am on the most wanted list for Sunday mornings.

I feel extremely defeated. I do love my church, and am scared of what lies ahead. I cant talk to anyone because they are EXTREMELY defensive about us possibly "leaving the restoration movement." Now honestly, the doctrines look sooooo much alike. They are Bible believing christians. I feel so torn bewteen my head and heart right now. SHould we go back, or not?

 

[Jamey]

I think its just a church to church thing rather than a denom-non denom issue. The first coC i attended leaned very heavy on the "we are the true church and noone else is going to heaven". Turned me off to them big time. It took me several months of emailing our local elders here before I exposed my wife (who was raised southern baptist) to the church. Now our co-workers (who for the most part are southern baptist) think we are out there. Funny thing is that our church is very accepting of people. We still call sin a sin but we also know that we all sin and and noone is worse than someone else. Sounds watered down but its not. Just hard to explain here. Our motto is that "we are a hospital for the hurting" All i here from our baptist friends is that we are so judgmental. Strange. Just because we don't have IM in worship does not mean we don't listen to music. etc. I just wish we all would quit straining the gnat and start spitting out the camel.
J.

 

[wmssid]

To the Forum:

Your experiences are very sad. But Jesus had promised "reviling" to His servants (Mt 5.11). The "martyrs" were "beheaded" (Rev 20.4-6).

In 1943, I heard the Bible message. This included, "Satan loosed and going about to deceive the Nations (Churches) in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog (Ecumenical Movement)" (Rev 20.7-8).

I was told this was in the future. In 1960, I saw it happen in my congregation.

I lost father, and mother, and sister and brother, and the entire congregation. I was all alone like Elijah.

They were all deceived to practice "doctor-worship" instead of worshipping God.

In 1966, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., published, "Revelation." He denied everything that Jesus had prediicted. He denied all of the opinions of Restoration Movement writers, and of Protestant writers.

And the CofC loved it!

But then, "Revival 2015" (Rev 20.10) is drawig near.

 

[figuringthingsout]

To the Forum:

Your experiences are very sad. But Jesus had promised "reviling" to His servants (Mt 5.11). The "martyrs" were "beheaded" (Rev 20.4-6).

In 1943, I heard the Bible message. This included, "Satan loosed and going about to deceive the Nations (Churches) in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog (Ecumenical Movement)" (Rev 20.7-8).

I was told this was in the future. In 1960, I saw it happen in my congregation.

I lost father, and mother, and sister and brother, and the entire congregation. I was all alone like Elijah.

They were all deceived to practice "doctor-worship" instead of worshipping God.

In 1966, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., published, "Revelation." He denied everything that Jesus had prediicted. He denied all of the opinions of Restoration Movement writers, and of Protestant writers.

And the CofC loved it!

But then, "Revival 2015" (Rev 20.10) is drawig near.

???That makes no sense????