[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Servetus

I recently voluntarily left a church over major doctrinal differences concerning salvation, as well as some issues which I say at best are non-essentials, at worst are legalism.

The church members have appearently spoken with their pastor (or vice versa) and they want me to come and "explain" why I left in front of the whole church.

I am very confident about the things I left over, and have no issues dealing with questions, if I am indeed given an oppertunity to answer them (instead of being shouted down-I'm not getting involved in a carnal shouting match).

However, part of the reason I left quietly was because the things I preached already hit a boiling point, and I am not interested in or attempting to bring about disunity or a church split.

Those things said, my household members have received numberous text messages demanding an explaination why we left "the body".

I truly believe if the members listened to the things I said it would bring about some extremely controversial issues regarding pentecostal doctrine.
I do not at all wish to cause someone to backslide, and that is my biggest concern.

I feel like quoting my Dad so I think I will: If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't.

We (my husband and I) had a situation where we left a church and would have liked to have explain ourselves, but we chose not to for various reasons. (Including, but not limited to, the fact that it would be generally unproductive.)

It was a choice we've never regretted, simply because we kept our collective noses clean.

That said, it's perfectly acceptable to say (or text back en masse), "I don't feel comfortable discussing my reasons at this time, but thank you for your concern and God bless you."