Your Turn: "Mistakes Backsliders Make"

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Sorry you don't care for my perspective too much... Can't say that I thought you would... but I can live with that if you can!

As for the 'teaching them how to deal with backsliders' I already did that some years ago when I taught "How NOT To Deal With A Struggling Saint" and, true to God's style, He moved in and we had several backsliders pray through that morning.

Steadfast,

In asking our opinions you set yourself up for others to agree or disagree with your perspective. I am sorry you took my post personally and got defensive.

If a preacher/Pastor has the mind of God for a sermon/service then it doesn't matter what other's think, but you asked and I responded. I responded out of looking back through my glasses of being alienated from my UPCI church of origin.

My backslidden conditon was attributed to [in my mind of course] rejection, unforgiveness, constant harrassment of my children, my going to college, being divorced, and being an ex-UPCI Pastor's wife.

I had to leave the church denomination/organization I was "used to" to find healing where I could even forgive, much less function in or out of that group of people. I needed a break from condemnation, judgementalism, unforgiveness, and trying to "PROVE" myself to men.

The church that won me back to favor with all Apostolics was the church in Clearwater, Florida. How did they do it? I had visited all the churches in the Tampa/ St. Pete area, ALJC, UPCI, and Independent. Many of the Pastors were peers of mine and loved me and I loved them, but they were always trying to "fix" me, or what was wrong with me from their perception. Bottom line: They NEVER tried to accept me where I was and who I was. I had never stopped loving God, NEVER stopped going to church, and NEVER given up on God or the ministry to which I was called. It is a foreign concept to many Apostolics I know:

• I taught Adult Sunday School in a Southern Baptist Church. They loved my class but would not let me join their church because "You will try to convert all our people to oneness tongue talkers"!
• I taught a Sign Language Class and set up a Deaf ministery in 2 Assembly of God churches.
• I worked a year counseling internship in AN Assembly of God church counseling married couples and families in crisis.
• I spoke in College Methodist churches on living a life of purity while remaining single.

But in the churches I loved and grew up in and ministered in...they never ceased to bring my faults into the open and want me to pay for all past sins on a continual basis and my my children and I outcasts or blamed us in every negative situation in their church. Example: when the teenage children in that particular church got in trouble for trying drugs, having sex, or cutting their hair/weaaring pants...it was always my children's fault because they lived with a single mother who went to secular college and wore pants and cut her hair even though I kept my children in church and brought them to a UPCI church where I was put on display, constantly, as a bad example.

Back to the answer of how a little home missions work in Clearwater, Florida won me back into forgiving and being able to fellowship other Apostolics again:

• The first night I walked into this church knowing no one, a young minister in the church came off the platform, shook my hand, and said, "You're ministry aren't you?" Now, this is a moderately conservative UPCI assembly and I was there in my make-up and jewelry with no pretenses as to who or what I was. I replied, "How did you know that?" He said, "God told me".
• The prophet/Preacher that night was Dr. Jerold Jeffers. He preached: "It's Healing Time." He looked at me and read my pedigree and prophesied over me about things he could not have been told by anyone but God since no one in that assembly knew of me or about me. In that instant I knew that I was in the right place for the right time.
• The church accepted me as I was and asked me to speak at a District Singles Christmas Banquet. I knew who would be there and in order not to have anyone talk bad about my Pastor for using such a 'worldly' looking woman [by UPCI standards], I took off the make-up, put my cut hair up in a bun, and put my UPCI face on. God anointed and blessed that mini-sermon and my sensitivity to protect my Pastor's reputation.
• As I was used more and more in the field of my calling, counseling and teaching...the very conservative judgementalistic FCF'ers thought it their business to condemn this Pastor for using me in the church and called them up on the telephone to let Pastor know just what a sinful, Jezebel perosn he was using in his church. They scared/intimidated [the spirit of jezebel] the Pastor into worrying if they were going to bring charges against him as he and his wife went to "Because Of The Times".
• They used me anyway and although the road was rocky at times as we had to learned to trust each other, God blessed, anointed, and restored. A close fellow-Pastor was amazed that this young Pastor and his wife was able to 'win back' such an angry, hard-core backslider like myself and I even went to UPCI Campmeeting and sang in their choir.

BOTTOM LINE:

• They listened to the report of the Lord and not the judgementalism of man.
• They loved me when I was hurt and unloveable
• They left the changing outwardly up to God and myself and stopped shoving it all down my throat.
• They let me function in my gifts that God had given me instead of holding me back until I lined up to what they considered to be what they wanted to use me in.
• They trusted the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

So, as a former, Apostolic considered "BACKSLIDER", I have given you an honest opinion of what it took to win someone back who has been hurt by the church, the friends, the Apostolic community, and as the prodigal's son...came back, not as a second class citizen but as a son with all the privileges that go with it.

I give honor to the Pastor and Pastor's wife of the Clearwater, Florida church who had the wisdom and fortitude to stand up under intense pressure from FCF'ers, fellow minister's, and even myself to see that I was restored as much as was in their power.

I give praise to Jesus that I am still standing.

In Jesus' name, Rhoni

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

2. You can't expect to feel like you did the first time. (Just as a 'first kiss' doesn't always feel like a 'first kiss' you can be assured that once you know God intimately some things won't exactly feel like they used to... you operate on knowledge and relationship instead of infatuation and response.)
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

With respect, this point may need to be re-evaluated. The parable of the prodical son is the classic example of a backslider returning to God. At no point did the father stop being a father to the Son. Neither does God stop being our father when we backslide. We are out of fellowship with Him, we are rebellious, yet He loves us just the same. When we return to Him, He is there to recieve us as His own... and withholds none of His goodness, none of His blessing, from us. He restores us- wholly and completely- to our former state in Him.

To say it won't "feel" the same bases our relationship with the Lord on "feelings" and not on faith. Any "feelings" that things aren't the same as before are on our part - and not on God. He witholds no good thing from us. The "feelings that things are not the same" are the products of our own guilt and shame for letting God and the church family down. We feel we brought a reproach on God while we were backslidden, that we betrayed Him and went counter to all we stood for (and what the church stands for), so, when we return to the Lord, we feel like Peter. Ashamed, lurking in the shadows. But how did the Lord treat Peter after he denied the Lord? He put Peter in the position to establish the New Testament Church. That is how the Lord treats the backslider. He retores them to a place of honor. His walk with the Lord is actually stronger than before... for now, he KNOWS there are pitfalls and that he can, indeed, fall. He'll be more careful... he'll walk closer to the Lord.

While I commend your desire to truly equip the saints and the church, I feel your effort will be more productive if you inform the backslider that God is awaiting his return with no strings attached. That God will restore completely and will withold no good thing from the prodical.

David's backsliding is a good example as well. God was there to welcome David back, but it took time for David to overcome his guilt and remorse for sinning against God. Notice that it was David's guilt that made his journey back long and difficult. But God was there ready and willing to restore David to his former state.

As a young Christian... I fell by the wayside. I spent several months apart from the Lord. But He was always there, dealing with my heart. After a time, I came back to the Lord. He recieved me and I was rebaptized in Jesus Name. After sitting under a pastor and praying alot... God began dealing with me to preach. I obeyed His call, and served as an evangelist for a number of years. My relationship with God was made stronger because of my fall... it didn't weaken my foundation, but, rather, strengthened my roots, and forever established my walk with the Lord. In fact, my latter state with the Lord is stronger than my former.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

With respect, this point may need to be re-evaluated. The parable of the prodical son is the classic example of a backslider returning to God. At no point did the father stop being a father to the Son. Neither does God stop being our father when we backslide. We are out of fellowship with Him, we are rebellious, yet He loves us just the same. When we return to Him, He is there to recieve us as His own... and withholds none of His goodness, none of His blessing, from us. He restores us- wholly and completely- to our former state in Him.

To say it won't "feel" the same bases our relationship with the Lord on "feelings" and not on faith. Any "feelings" that things aren't the same as before are on our part - and not on God. He witholds no good thing from us. The "feelings that things are not the same" are the products of our own guilt and shame for letting God and the church family down. We feel we brought a reproach on God while we were backslidden, that we betrayed Him and went counter to all we stood for (and what the church stands for), so, when we return to the Lord, we feel like Peter. Ashamed, lurking in the shadows. But how did the Lord treat Peter after he denied the Lord? He put Peter in the position to establish the New Testament Church. That is how the Lord treats the backslider. He retores them to a place of honor. His walk with the Lord is actually stronger than before... for now, he KNOWS there are pitfalls and that he can, indeed, fall. He'll be more careful... he'll walk closer to the Lord.

While I commend your desire to truly equip the saints and the church, I feel your effort will be more productive if you inform the backslider that God is awaiting his return with no strings attached. That God will restore completely and will withold no good thing from the prodical.

David's backsliding is a good example as well. God was there to welcome David back, but it took time for David to overcome his guilt and remorse for sinning against God. Notice that it was David's guilt that made his journey back long and difficult. But God was there ready and willing to restore David to his former state.

As a young Christian... I fell by the wayside. I spent several months apart from the Lord. But He was always there, dealing with my heart. After a time, I came back to the Lord. He recieved me and I was rebaptized in Jesus Name. After sitting under a pastor and praying alot... God began dealing with me to preach. I obeyed His call, and served as an evangelist for a number of years. My relationship with God was made stronger because of my fall... it didn't weaken my foundation, but, rather, strengthened my roots, and forever established my walk with the Lord. In fact, my latter state with the Lord is stronger than my former.

Behold I make all things NEW!!





OF COURSE .... SIN HAS CONSEQUENCES .... AND ANY ENTANGLEMENTS WE GET IN WHEN WE FALL AWAY ... OFTEN TAKE A LONG TIME TO UNRAVEL ON THIS SIDE OF THE SUN.

DAVID PAID A STEEP PRICE ... YET HIS FELLOWSHIP W/ GOD WAS STRENGTHENED.

[Light]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Are you going to teach on the prodigal son?

I think the scary part about backsliding is you never know when you've gone past the point of no return and have been given over to a reprobate mind.

2 Peter 2:20-21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

I haven't read the whole thread so if someone has brought this thought please forgive me.

A person that backslides does not leave the principals of truth, they just live in sin. They are still a child of God but lost. II Peter 2:20-21 is not talking about a backslider but someone who leaves truth to follow false doctrine.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Light

I haven't read the whole thread so if someone has brought this thought please forgive me.

A person that backslides does not leave the principals of truth, they just live in sin. They are still a child of God but lost. II Peter 2:20-21 is not talking about a backslider but someone who leaves truth to follow false doctrine.

Can the false doctrine taught by these false prophets .... be consumerism, legalism, humanism and other teachings this world bombards at the believer into relying on self, vanity and the desires of the flesh...???

8For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

[SiblingRevelry]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I've finally gotten some medical coverage that will 'kick in' after about 38 more days. I'm going to get a 'check up' I think on day 39...

I've had some crazy episodes with some heart problems (Blood Pressure has been about 228/129 for months now) and I've lost about 45 pounds in the last two months. That would be a good thing if my own Pastor hadn't asked me what kind of diet I was on... and I wasn't on one at all. He's a diabetic and checked my blood sugar... over 600!

The good thing is that I've heard from a few different people (one is a Pastor near here) who found out the congestive heart failure he was having - just like mine - was caused somehow by his undetected sugar problem.

I'm a big, strong man and can generally take about anything but I'm just physically exhausted of fighting this stuff right now. The last few days have been horrendous as I've felt horrible.

In any case, thanks for the prayers and concern!

Now... back to a good, substantive thread...

OK, going to hijack this thread for a second for health-related info....

600?! When my dad was found to have diabetes, he had readings in the 500s and the doctor wanted to put him in the hospital to get it down. My dad had to do a lot of fast talking to get out of the doctor's office and not into a hospital bed. As for that blood pressure...my mom showed up at the doctor's office last week with that high of a BP (didn't take one of her pills because she'd run out) and the nurses were wheeling in the EKG machine to see if she'd done any permanent damage to her heart.

I'm all for prayer, but as a diabetic myself and as someone who has also gone without insurance in the past, the first thing I'd do if I were you when your insurance kicks in is get into the doctor and make them run an A1C (diabetes test) among other things. Do not wait. The longer this is untreated, the more damage can be done to your body. I found out this past summer that I have diabetes myself, but I hadn't gone to the doctor in years, and I've already got some diabetes-caused damage to my digestive tract.

Sorry to be so weird about this, but I'm downright evangelical when it comes to untreated diabetes. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Steadfast,

In asking our opinions you set yourself up for others to agree or disagree with your perspective. I am sorry you took my post personally and got defensive.

If a preacher/Pastor has the mind of God for a sermon/service then it doesn't matter what other's think, but you asked and I responded. I responded out of looking back through my glasses of being alienated from my UPCI church of origin.

My backslidden conditon was attributed to [in my mind of course] rejection, unforgiveness, constant harrassment of my children, my going to college, being divorced, and being an ex-UPCI Pastor's wife.

I had to leave the church denomination/organization I was "used to" to find healing where I could even forgive, much less function in or out of that group of people. I needed a break from condemnation, judgementalism, unforgiveness, and trying to "PROVE" myself to men.

The church that won me back to favor with all Apostolics was the church in Clearwater, Florida. How did they do it? I had visited all the churches in the Tampa/ St. Pete area, ALJC, UPCI, and Independent. Many of the Pastors were peers of mine and loved me and I loved them, but they were always trying to "fix" me, or what was wrong with me from their perception. Bottom line: They NEVER tried to accept me where I was and who I was. I had never stopped loving God, NEVER stopped going to church, and NEVER given up on God or the ministry to which I was called. It is a foreign concept to many Apostolics I know:

• I taught Adult Sunday School in a Southern Baptist Church. They loved my class but would not let me join their church because "You will try to convert all our people to oneness tongue talkers"!
• I taught a Sign Language Class and set up a Deaf ministery in 2 Assembly of God churches.
• I worked a year counseling internship in AN Assembly of God church counseling married couples and families in crisis.
• I spoke in College Methodist churches on living a life of purity while remaining single.

But in the churches I loved and grew up in and ministered in...they never ceased to bring my faults into the open and want me to pay for all past sins on a continual basis and my my children and I outcasts or blamed us in every negative situation in their church. Example: when the teenage children in that particular church got in trouble for trying drugs, having sex, or cutting their hair/weaaring pants...it was always my children's fault because they lived with a single mother who went to secular college and wore pants and cut her hair even though I kept my children in church and brought them to a UPCI church where I was put on display, constantly, as a bad example.

Back to the answer of how a little home missions work in Clearwater, Florida won me back into forgiving and being able to fellowship other Apostolics again:

• The first night I walked into this church knowing no one, a young minister in the church came off the platform, shook my hand, and said, "You're ministry aren't you?" Now, this is a moderately conservative UPCI assembly and I was there in my make-up and jewelry with no pretenses as to who or what I was. I replied, "How did you know that?" He said, "God told me".
• The prophet/Preacher that night was Dr. Jerold Jeffers. He preached: "It's Healing Time." He looked at me and read my pedigree and prophesied over me about things he could not have been told by anyone but God since no one in that assembly knew of me or about me. In that instant I knew that I was in the right place for the right time.
• The church accepted me as I was and asked me to speak at a District Singles Christmas Banquet. I knew who would be there and in order not to have anyone talk bad about my Pastor for using such a 'worldly' looking woman [by UPCI standards], I took off the make-up, put my cut hair up in a bun, and put my UPCI face on. God anointed and blessed that mini-sermon and my sensitivity to protect my Pastor's reputation.
• As I was used more and more in the field of my calling, counseling and teaching...the very conservative judgementalistic FCF'ers thought it their business to condemn this Pastor for using me in the church and called them up on the telephone to let Pastor know just what a sinful, Jezebel perosn he was using in his church. They scared/intimidated [the spirit of jezebel] the Pastor into worrying if they were going to bring charges against him as he and his wife went to "Because Of The Times".
• They used me anyway and although the road was rocky at times as we had to learned to trust each other, God blessed, anointed, and restored. A close fellow-Pastor was amazed that this young Pastor and his wife was able to 'win back' such an angry, hard-core backslider like myself and I even went to UPCI Campmeeting and sang in their choir.

BOTTOM LINE:

• They listened to the report of the Lord and not the judgementalism of man.
• They loved me when I was hurt and unloveable
• They left the changing outwardly up to God and myself and stopped shoving it all down my throat.
• They let me function in my gifts that God had given me instead of holding me back until I lined up to what they considered to be what they wanted to use me in.
• They trusted the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

So, as a former, Apostolic considered "BACKSLIDER", I have given you an honest opinion of what it took to win someone back who has been hurt by the church, the friends, the Apostolic community, and as the prodigal's son...came back, not as a second class citizen but as a son with all the privileges that go with it.

I give honor to the Pastor and Pastor's wife of the Clearwater, Florida church who had the wisdom and fortitude to stand up under intense pressure from FCF'ers, fellow minister's, and even myself to see that I was restored as much as was in their power.

I give praise to Jesus that I am still standing.

In Jesus' name, Rhoni

Rhoni,

Good post! Well, except the part about 'taking it personally' or 'being defensive' as I did neither. I just thought your first post was a little more jaded... as though you really didn't understand where my heart was trying to go with the lessons.

I practice - and stress to my congregation - many of the same principles that you say helped you. Perhaps that's why I have two 'ex-upc' Pastor's wives and one 'ex-UPC' Pastor in my Church today.

Enough said...

Blessings!

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Steadfast,

In asking our opinions you set yourself up for others to agree or disagree with your perspective. I am sorry you took my post personally and got defensive.

If a preacher/Pastor has the mind of God for a sermon/service then it doesn't matter what other's think, but you asked and I responded. I responded out of looking back through my glasses of being alienated from my UPCI church of origin.

My backslidden conditon was attributed to [in my mind of course] rejection, unforgiveness, constant harrassment of my children, my going to college, being divorced, and being an ex-UPCI Pastor's wife.

I had to leave the church denomination/organization I was "used to" to find healing where I could even forgive, much less function in or out of that group of people. I needed a break from condemnation, judgementalism, unforgiveness, and trying to "PROVE" myself to men.

The church that won me back to favor with all Apostolics was the church in Clearwater, Florida. How did they do it? I had visited all the churches in the Tampa/ St. Pete area, ALJC, UPCI, and Independent. Many of the Pastors were peers of mine and loved me and I loved them, but they were always trying to "fix" me, or what was wrong with me from their perception. Bottom line: They NEVER tried to accept me where I was and who I was. I had never stopped loving God, NEVER stopped going to church, and NEVER given up on God or the ministry to which I was called. It is a foreign concept to many Apostolics I know:

• I taught Adult Sunday School in a Southern Baptist Church. They loved my class but would not let me join their church because "You will try to convert all our people to oneness tongue talkers"!
• I taught a Sign Language Class and set up a Deaf ministery in 2 Assembly of God churches.
• I worked a year counseling internship in AN Assembly of God church counseling married couples and families in crisis.
• I spoke in College Methodist churches on living a life of purity while remaining single.

But in the churches I loved and grew up in and ministered in...they never ceased to bring my faults into the open and want me to pay for all past sins on a continual basis and my my children and I outcasts or blamed us in every negative situation in their church. Example: when the teenage children in that particular church got in trouble for trying drugs, having sex, or cutting their hair/weaaring pants...it was always my children's fault because they lived with a single mother who went to secular college and wore pants and cut her hair even though I kept my children in church and brought them to a UPCI church where I was put on display, constantly, as a bad example.

Back to the answer of how a little home missions work in Clearwater, Florida won me back into forgiving and being able to fellowship other Apostolics again:

• The first night I walked into this church knowing no one, a young minister in the church came off the platform, shook my hand, and said, "You're ministry aren't you?" Now, this is a moderately conservative UPCI assembly and I was there in my make-up and jewelry with no pretenses as to who or what I was. I replied, "How did you know that?" He said, "God told me".
• The prophet/Preacher that night was Dr. Jerold Jeffers. He preached: "It's Healing Time." He looked at me and read my pedigree and prophesied over me about things he could not have been told by anyone but God since no one in that assembly knew of me or about me. In that instant I knew that I was in the right place for the right time.
• The church accepted me as I was and asked me to speak at a District Singles Christmas Banquet. I knew who would be there and in order not to have anyone talk bad about my Pastor for using such a 'worldly' looking woman [by UPCI standards], I took off the make-up, put my cut hair up in a bun, and put my UPCI face on. God anointed and blessed that mini-sermon and my sensitivity to protect my Pastor's reputation.
• As I was used more and more in the field of my calling, counseling and teaching...the very conservative judgementalistic FCF'ers thought it their business to condemn this Pastor for using me in the church and called them up on the telephone to let Pastor know just what a sinful, Jezebel perosn he was using in his church. They scared/intimidated [the spirit of jezebel] the Pastor into worrying if they were going to bring charges against him as he and his wife went to "Because Of The Times".
• They used me anyway and although the road was rocky at times as we had to learned to trust each other, God blessed, anointed, and restored. A close fellow-Pastor was amazed that this young Pastor and his wife was able to 'win back' such an angry, hard-core backslider like myself and I even went to UPCI Campmeeting and sang in their choir.

BOTTOM LINE:

• They listened to the report of the Lord and not the judgementalism of man.
• They loved me when I was hurt and unloveable
• They left the changing outwardly up to God and myself and stopped shoving it all down my throat.
• They let me function in my gifts that God had given me instead of holding me back until I lined up to what they considered to be what they wanted to use me in.
• They trusted the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

So, as a former, Apostolic considered "BACKSLIDER", I have given you an honest opinion of what it took to win someone back who has been hurt by the church, the friends, the Apostolic community, and as the prodigal's son...came back, not as a second class citizen but as a son with all the privileges that go with it.

I give honor to the Pastor and Pastor's wife of the Clearwater, Florida church who had the wisdom and fortitude to stand up under intense pressure from FCF'ers, fellow minister's, and even myself to see that I was restored as much as was in their power.

I give praise to Jesus that I am still standing.

In Jesus' name, Rhoni

A post... any post, whether or not I agree or disagree with every point made, that comes from the heart and is designed to offer support and encouagement through the teacher of experience, is very much needed and appreciated. Such is this post. No teacher, they say is better, than experience. I, for one, appreciate your honesty...and can, and will, benefit from your expereince as I have from my own.

I knew a young pastor in Clearwater. Fine young preeacher, and a good friend. I preached a revival there. His name was E.L. Wouldn't be one and the same, would it.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

With respect, this point may need to be re-evaluated. The parable of the prodical son is the classic example of a backslider returning to God. At no point did the father stop being a father to the Son. Neither does God stop being our father when we backslide. We are out of fellowship with Him, we are rebellious, yet He loves us just the same. When we return to Him, He is there to recieve us as His own... and withholds none of His goodness, none of His blessing, from us. He restores us- wholly and completely- to our former state in Him.
To say it won't "feel" the same bases our relationship with the Lord on "feelings" and not on faith. Any "feelings" that things aren't the same as before are on our part - and not on God. He witholds no good thing from us. The "feelings that things are not the same" are the products of our own guilt and shame for letting God and the church family down. We feel we brought a reproach on God while we were backslidden, that we betrayed Him and went counter to all we stood for (and what the church stands for), so, when we return to the Lord, we feel like Peter. Ashamed, lurking in the shadows. But how did the Lord treat Peter after he denied the Lord? He put Peter in the position to establish the New Testament Church. That is how the Lord treats the backslider. He retores them to a place of honor. His walk with the Lord is actually stronger than before... for now, he KNOWS there are pitfalls and that he can, indeed, fall. He'll be more careful... he'll walk closer to the Lord.

While I commend your desire to truly equip the saints and the church, I feel your effort will be more productive if you inform the backslider that God is awaiting his return with no strings attached. That God will restore completely and will withold no good thing from the prodical.
David's backsliding is a good example as well. God was there to welcome David back, but it took time for David to overcome his guilt and remorse for sinning against God. Notice that it was David's guilt that made his journey back long and difficult. But God was there ready and willing to restore David to his former state.
As a young Christian... I fell by the wayside. I spent several months apart from the Lord. But He was always there, dealing with my heart. After a time, I came back to the Lord. He recieved me and I was rebaptized in Jesus Name. After sitting under a pastor and praying alot... God began dealing with me to preach. I obeyed His call, and served as an evangelist for a number of years. My relationship with God was made stronger because of my fall... it didn't weaken my foundation, but, rather, strengthened my roots, and forever established my walk with the Lord. In fact, my latter state with the Lord is stronger than my former.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

A post... any post, whether or not I agree or disagree with every point made, that comes from the heart and is designed to offer support and encouagement through the teacher of experience, is very much needed and appreciated. Such is this post. No teacher, they say is better, than experience. I, for one, appreciate your honesty...and can, and will, benefit from your expereince as I have from my own.

I knew a young pastor in Clearwater. Fine young preeacher, and a good friend. I preached a revival there. His name was E.L. Wouldn't be one and the same, would it.

I am not sure who E.L. is but the Pastor I am talking about is also a young man. His initials are AB. His mother-in-law is a dear friend of mine. I think she understands me more than most, or at least prays for me more than most.

Blessings, Rhoni