Unable to return to fellowship-lost all interest

[BlackSabb]

Hi all. How is everybody? A silly question I suppose as I've posted under the 'general struggles' thread. A bit like when I bring in patients at work (radiography) and ask them "how are you?" Obviously they can't be that great if they're needing medical imaging.

I've been out of fellowship for almost 4 years now. And I'll be honest. I don't miss it one bit. I've had enough of institutional Christianity, churches and Christians. The last 15 years I've been unfortunate to have been involved in Pentecostal/Charismatic churches which have left me totally empty.

I can't even believe to this day that such lies, manipulation and corruption exists in "churches". And before you all reply with "well of course some are bad apples but not all", well let me tell you this. I went to many different Pentecostal churches in all that time, and in my opinion only one had an honest pastor. One in about 10. All the rest were the typical fanatical, authoritarian, money hungry cheating scum that in the end didn't give a damn about anything or anyone except themselves. I won't go into all their lying "manifestations" such as "tongues", failed "prophecies", "healings and miracles", and all the utter garbage of drunk in the "Spirit", "holy laughter" etc.

And then through involvement with my wife's family, I've seen Seventh Day Adventist churches which are just as bad but in a different way. I can honestly say I haven't found them manipulative like the Pentecostals, but their superior attitude sickens me to my stomach, as I've heard their pastors openly condemn all other Christian denominations as being of a "Jezebel Spirit". And if you listen to their sermons, especially the very traditional churches, all they talk about is Adventism. The history of Adventism, the current state of Adventism, the future of Adventism, their great and holy founder Ellen White, more Adventism. Adventism in the morning, Adventism in the evening, Adentism at suppertime. Never mind about God.

They honestly believe they are the only ones that are saved. Gee, so do JW's, Mormons and a heap of other churches. It'll make judgement day interersting, as everyone believes everyone else is eternally lost.

All my experiences with all manner of churches and Christians has turned me off big time. I have just had one bad experience after another. I'm sick of manipulative, exploitive, unbalanced, fanatical and prideful Christians who seem to take more pride in their denomination than in Christ, and who proudly identify themself not as "Christian" but as whatever denomination.

This is where I am at the moment. I've had a gutful of the modern church and am not missing it one little bit. I hate the modern churches so much that I normally refuse to buy Gloria Jeans coffees as it's half owned by a Hillsong director and refuse to buy anything Sanitarium, owned by the Adventists.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[nvrbnunloved]

Hi BlackSabb and welcome to CF. I am sorry to hear that you have been struggling like this for so long, and I hope that others on here will add to what I can say. You say you have been "out of fellowship" for nearly four years now....how has your personal walk with the Lord been in that time? Have you been able to maintain your relationship with Him through prayer and Bible study? Or has that been something that has suffered also in these last few years. I ask because I know what it is to lose interest in fellowship, stop attending church regularly and then find that I end up further away from God as well as my fellow Christians.

The other thing I wanted to ask was, have you thought of trying other denominations? It sounds like you have some pretty fundamental disagreements with Pentecostalism and Seventh Day Adventism....have you thought of discovering more about other denominations and trying out their churches? It may be that you are just not where you are meant to be. Can I ask why you attended these two? I am assuming that Pentecostalism is what your family is aligned with? And you mentioned that you tried SDA because that is what your wife's family attends? I can only answer in how I think I would handle this. I think I would want to read up on other denominations such as Baptist, Evangelical....and many others..please don't think I am directing you towards any one in particular............until I found one that I felt I might be more in tune with and where I might feel I could find a spiritual home. Perhaps this might be something worth thinking and praying about?

As I say, hopefully others will come along and offer other advice. In the meantime I will pray that the Lord with lead you to a church fellowship that He wishes to be part of. God bless.

 

[covenantwmn]

Hi, glad you're here. Meeting together with other believers is Biblical, but I agree, finding the right church can be a daunting task. I grew up in pentecostal, but when I could make my own decision, I switched to non-denom. You sound like an intelligent guy who already knows about the assembling of ourselves together, keeping our eyes on Christ, not man, sooooo......if you want to meet with genuine, authentic believers it will be worth the search for you, if not, you will never find a body where you will be blessed and be a blessing. I pray you do opt the former. Blessings.

 

[madison1101]

Well, you have learned that the Truth is not apparent in the Pentecostal/Charismatic church nor the Seventh Day Adventist. Obviously, you have not exhausted all the possible denominations available.

My suggestion is to check out an independent evangelical church. My church has a great ministry. They do not trash talk anyone. They just point everyone to Jesus.

Keep checking out churches till you find the right one.

Also, remember that churches are made of people and people are human and will sin now and then, so don't expect perfection until you get to Glory.

 

[tapero]

Dear BlackSabb,

There are wonderful churches out there. I'm sorry you've had such bad experiences. You may have the gift of discernment and see things more deeply than others. I would look in the phone book under non-denominational and go to an evangelical free church or something that is radically different than what you've attended. God bless you for writing, Love, Tapero

 

[merseyferrier]

And then through involvement with my wife's family, I've seen Seventh Day Adventist churches which are just as bad but in a different way. I can honestly say I haven't found them manipulative like the Pentecostals, but their superior attitude sickens me to my stomach, as I've heard their pastors openly condemn all other Christian denominations as being of a "Jezebel Spirit".

Doesn't help that they actually recruit from other churches' congregations. I was raised in a Pentecostal church, but embraced a more philosophical faith. I have no interest in church services. (seems to me that the Hebrews only did it what, once a year? That'll do!