Accepting help offered.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

I'm in a place..oh it's quite a place. lol

There's a church that has offered to help me out (probably). I work with a pastor in that denomination who's currently not pastoring. He's talked to people and given them information and they say they can help. However, they'd like to speak to me in person and the easiest time to do that is to attend a church service. So I'll be going tomorrow night.

I've had him and his wife in my home the last two nights for Bible study.

I don't believe anything like these people do.

I am very interested in learning about other denominations and doctrines, and respectful of what they believe (as in, I haven't said...THAT'S WRONG! yet..lol)

Talking to them has given me a lot of study material.

But, I still have this hesitation. I don't have any problems accepting help from anyone if it's offered. I've been through too much to have any pride left concerning that. But, is it wrong to go to a service knowing you won't be converting to their way of seeing things and to participate in the service (JUST to get help), and even continue to study with the pastor (this because I enjoy studying and the study material generated by the studies so far has been awesome...)? I'm not sure if I'll study with him or not from here out...but maybe. He's also said if he's got a Saturday off of work he'll go to church with me (we meet Sat am). So it seems to be a pretty mutually agreeable thing.

What do you think?

I would probably tell them straight up and then if they still want to help, let them.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

Yep. He's not particularly helpful. lol

He laughed at me this morning when I told him I was going to go to service tomorrow night.

He's been trying to find resources to help me out and hasn't come up with anything. He knows very well what situation I'm in and how many brick walls I've hit (and how many amazing things God has done!)

heeheehee, I think you can trust your pastor. And if he has no problem with it I think you will be okay. But really you might want to discuss with the other guy, and just be up front with him.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

From a pastoral aspect he is most likely wanting to help you to convert you, or hope that you will join their church.

Knowing that, how does that make you feel that you just want the help but not the spiritual leadership?

That's really what I'm trying to sort out.

The help was offered knowing I was in a church, a good church, and happy there. And I know a lot of churches really do just want to help where help is needed. But, then especially with those who feel they're the only ones right...I know that there's that behind the scenes hopefulness on their part.

[Cindy]

Nahkoe, there are people around here that go from church to chuch for help. And charity to charity.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

That's really what I'm trying to sort out.

The help was offered knowing I was in a church, a good church, and happy there. And I know a lot of churches really do just want to help where help is needed. But, then especially with those who feel they're the only ones right...I know that there's that behind the scenes hopefulness on their part.

It is, they are wanting to win you over.

hey that what over church does, I mean we help but we are also hoping to eventually win them over! Not in all instances that happens we still help alot of people..but we still would like them to know Christ through our ministry.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Nahkoe, there are people around here that go from church to chuch for help. And charity to charity.

Yep. That's why they want to talk to me. They'd like to make sure I'm not one of those. And I do understand that. I've been on the bottom often enough to see how the system is abused, and badly, by those who don't really need the help. I've refused to seek out help in the past because I didn't want to be considered one of those... This time, the help was offered and not sought out.

[nahkoe]

Wow. I'm kind of overwhelmed actually.

The sermon was for me. I may not agree with all their doctrine, but it was definitely for me tonight.

I'm glad I went.

And I did receive some help. Quite a bit actually. Provided there aren't any more interesting twists to my life for awhile, I should be able to get fairly solidly on my feet in the next month or two with this help.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

Wow. I'm kind of overwhelmed actually.

The sermon was for me. I may not agree with all their doctrine, but it was definitely for me tonight.

I'm glad I went.

And I did receive some help. Quite a bit actually. Provided there aren't any more interesting twists to my life for awhile, I should be able to get fairly solidly on my feet in the next month or two with this help.

Praise the Lord, nahkoe. God is faithful.

[Margies3]

Can we ask what kind of church this is? That might make a difference in how we answer you.

I will tell you this - I don't go to an Apostolic church. Our church has a benevolent fund. We have people come for help all the time. If they are already active in another church, we simply give the help. Period. That's it. If they are not active in a church, then we do ask that they attend at least one service after we help them. After that, it's up to them. We're not interested in prostelatyzing. Just in being good disciples

So it COULD be that they are not really out to win you over from your church to theirs. But we'd probably need to know more before we could say that confidently.

And I do think that you should be very upfront and honest with this pastor and let him know from the very beginning that altho you need and appreciate any help they can give you, you are very happy in the church you are in and do NOT plan to leave it. If you let him know that from the beginning, then it is up to him whether they choose to help or not.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Can we ask what kind of church this is? That might make a difference in how we answer you.

I will tell you this - I don't go to an Apostolic church. Our church has a benevolent fund. We have people come for help all the time. If they are already active in another church, we simply give the help. Period. That's it. If they are not active in a church, then we do ask that they attend at least one service after we help them. After that, it's up to them. We're not interested in prostelatyzing. Just in being good disciples

I don't go to an Apostolic church either Margie.

Originally Posted by Margies3

So it COULD be that they are not really out to win you over from your church to theirs. But we'd probably need to know more before we could say that confidently.

And I do think that you should be very upfront and honest with this pastor and let him know from the very beginning that altho you need and appreciate any help they can give you, you are very happy in the church you are in and do NOT plan to leave it. If you let him know that from the beginning, then it is up to him whether they choose to help or not.

I was definitely up front, with everyone all along the way. I have a church, I'm quite happy in my church, I'm not changing churches.

Just FWIW, it's a Church of Christ church.