Quote:
Originally Posted by 192281
So my wife and I have decided to look into possibly attending a different church. We have always gone to an oneness UPC church and now we have decided to check things out at a different church. The church we have visited and are interested in preaches acts 2:38 and has had wonderful services every time we have visited. The church preaches the same message our church does but doesn’t seem to focus on the traditions our church focuses on. They seem to really love one another and are very welcoming when we visit.
MY pastor is aware of this decision and gave us his blessing to search for what it is we think we need. I have always been active in my church and have held positions and have always respected the rules because I was in leadership. I have decided I can’t do it anymore and I needed be true to who I am and my wife feels the same so this is the reason for our search.
Members of our current church heard we visited this other church and they are now praying for our salvation and have labeled us as backslidden and their faith in us has diminished..This was in an email I received from one of them.
How can this be?? I can’t believe people have this mentality.
Im writing this hear because I don’t in anyway want to offend those that go to my church or disrespect my Pastor but Im so confused...why on earth would people think this? DO we (UPC) tradition holders really think we are the only heaven bound people out there? Like I said we were just visiting and looking around with the POSSIBILITY of leaving but now why would we stay?
Its hurts to think people who have been friends with for so many years could turn their back on us so fast. I in no way would condemn them for holding certain traditions and staying where they are so what gives them the right to do it to me?
Anyway guess I just had to get it off my chest so I didn’t regret calling or emailing someone!...
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Let's look at this through the perspective of someone who goes to your church.
Fact: Someone left their leadership position in their church and visited another church. Their Reaction: Why did that person do these things? Why not just stay at our church? Examining these question: There are 3 common reasons someone would want to leave a church they were established at and go to another.
Reason 1. The person backslid and didn't want anyone to find out about their sin.
Reason 2. A major falling out happened between them and someone in that church.
Reason 3. A change in beliefs. (Usually the change in beliefs is seen as a step backwards or letting false teaching into your life. This is usually considered a form of backsliding especially when the change in beliefs has to do with holiness/righteousness issues.)
It's really not hard to understand why they would think you have taken a step backwards in your faith.
Then again, when I left church I remember being just as amazed that no one else at my church could see that virtually all of the standards were not found in the bible. Was I looking down on their faith? I probably was in exactly the same way they were looking down on mine. Of course I wasn't thinking of them as taking a step backwards, I was thinking of them as not caring about taking a step forward.
What it boils down to is this: we must all follow the truth as we see it and pray that if we are in error that God will open our eyes. If God has opened your eyes then rejoice and be glad just never discount those that believe a little different. They may be exactly where God wants them to be also
ha
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