This forums most certainly surprised me too when I first came here. But, I think this place is a pretty neat place. I love the diversity. It sharpens my walk with Christ to be reminded that not everybody has mal intentions towards other people, but that they only want to be treated with respect. Well most here do... but a few don't and don't care. But that is not my problem what they think.
I don't attend an Apostolic Church, but I believe the message that Christ and the disciples taught and more importantly I believe God. I believe that He is, came to earth in the form of man and that He is coming back for His bride. I was baptized in Jesus Name and received the Holy Ghost. I do not have to attend a place regularly to live according to Christian principles. Nobody has to make me do right...not to defraud my neighbor, not to covet, not steal etc. The Holy Spirit does that. I do certain things that are biblical because I love God. Likewise, I do not do certain things because I love God and He says in His Word not to do them. So trying to walk by faith everyday looking at Christ only does not make me feel backslidden, although I do understand that there are some people who have the ability to just look at me and automatically *know* that I am backslid.
The reason why I do not attend a Oneness church anymore is because I've been injured by some of them. It was not a once or twice offense. It happened over a period of many years. If you want to call it 'butthurt" that is ok with me. Whatever anybody wants to call it...it does not matter because hurt is hurt. And I really do not believe that God expects us to stay in hurtful places with hurtful people. Jesus told His disciples to shake the dust off their feet if they were not received when he sent them out into the cities.
However, when the people of God allow themselves unwittingly to be used by satan to hurt, maim and destroy another person, through words and actions, they become a tool to come between another person and Christ. I left the organization out of self-preservation of my walk with Christ. I am not a perfect person, but neither are they. Whether I line up with their interpretation of the Word has nothing to do with their walk with Christ so they should leave other people alone to work out their own salvation as many here have said. The funny thing about all of this is that I
did line up with all their standards, yet, I was not accepted simply because I was a northerner and had different opinions about certain subjects.
Everybody has their own story about why they have left any particular organized church system. Most likely the reason is more a series of harmful experiences rather than just a few offenses.
I probably would be there today if I felt any love in that place. It was the love of Christ that drew me to UPC. But constant criticism over nonsensical things will wear a person out.
That being said, I forgive you Matt because I know you have your own struggles in life. You are still young and you are learning about Christ. We all continue to learn because none of us has arrived yet. Our mistakes and what we learn from them helps us to grow in Spirit. Likewise forgiving others helps us to grow in grace like our Lord and Savior. It doesn't mean we have to stay in bad situations if we can remove ourselves from it though.
Hang in there brother.
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