Why we stay rather than fulfill our beliefs

[returnman]

I don't post often and this is not going to be anything profound or thought provoking.

I wonder about all the folks that just stay in a church or organization just out of habit. Some of you will be thinking, duh? Probably most are still where they are based on that reason. For the those of us that "came out", if you like that term, lol, we couldn't fake it anymore. "It's this way or hell." I admit I miss my friends and the fellowship but feel like more of a complete person for living what I believe.

[Amanah]

Returnman, can you briefly sum up your beliefs and how you live what you believe?

[Truthseeker]

For me, there isn't alot of options around here.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by returnman

I don't post often and this is not going to be anything profound or thought provoking.

I wonder about all the folks that just stay in a church or organization just out of habit. Some of you will be thinking, duh? Probably most are still where they are based on that reason. For the those of us that "came out", if you like that term, lol, we couldn't fake it anymore. "It's this way or hell." I admit I miss my friends and the fellowship but feel like more of a complete person for living what I believe.

It might be a bit different for each person who chooses to stay.

[returnman]

Originally Posted by Aquila

It might be a bit different for each person who chooses to stay.

A lot of people do out of fear and to keep unity in the family. I can respect that.

[returnman]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Returnman, can you briefly sum up your beliefs and how you live what you believe?

I believe in traditional biblical salvation of conviction, sorrowful repentance and striving to live to show the love of our savior Jesus Christ. Treating my fellow man as I would want to be treated but with the ability to be long suffering in those situations when I am not. I don't put any church or organizational beliefs above another as long as they profess Christ and him crucified.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by returnman

I believe in traditional biblical salvation of conviction, sorrowful repentance and striving to live to show the love of our savior Jesus Christ. Treating my fellow man as I would want to be treated but with the ability to be long suffering in those situations when I am not. I don't put any church or organizational beliefs above another as long as they profess Christ and him crucified.

It sounds like with your belief system you could find a Church practically anywhere.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

For me, there isn't alot of options around here.

That's because you are looking for the perfect you.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by returnman

I don't post often and this is not going to be anything profound or thought provoking.

I wonder about all the folks that just stay in a church or organization just out of habit.

I have known spouses who attended churches, and different religions to make their family life more peaceful. Keeping peace at home with no real commitment to the religion. Yet, people have all sorts of reasons which make them stay in cults, churches, temples, UFO groups, Elk's club.

[votivesoul]

The Psalmist wrote, and Paul quoted in writing, "I believed, therefore have I spoken".

It gets real hard to have a belief that is strong and firmly held, without ever speaking about it to anyone.

The question is, what kind of outlet does the person have? If the person has an outlet, like say, AFF, it can be easy to stay in one place, so long as they get to move on down the road in their head.

There is no doubt that a large percentage of people stay on regardless of what they believe or don't believe vis a vis their local assembly. The reasons can be endless, but the main factor, I think, is fear.

For me, the first time I began to seriously believe what was being preached was wrong, I prayed to God, and the Lord told me to pray for the pastor that the Spirit of Truth might give him revelation and insight into correct doctrine.

That held me for about a year. Things spiraled further out of control, and I prayed, and God said, ""Give him the same kind of grace you would expect from Me, if you are ever wrong."

That held me for another year. In the third year, things went really bad (pastor began calling himself the "middle man" between God and the church, for example, and other such things) and finally, after this third year, when I was in a board meeting and the pastor threatened to quit and leave the church if the board dared touch his salary (even though the church was leaking money like a sieve on a mortgage it could no longer afford), but that the board was free to cut the assistant pastor's salary, and the salary of the cleaning person (but not the pastor's wife, who was the church secretary), I realized the time for silence was over, but didn't know how to go about saying anything.

Long story short, the Lord pushed me out of the nest like a good momma bird will do, and I did speak up, very gently, and with love, not with reproof or accusations, but in the end, it didn't change anything except to say, it changed me.

It would behoove many of the brethren to live out their faith, not to flaunt it, or demand others change to suit them, but quietly and without reservation, yet openly, so everyone knew where they stood. The only other option is secrecy, which leads to fear, suspicion, doubt, and etc.