Your Turn: "Mistakes Backsliders Make"

Originally Posted by meBNme

We recently had a big "returning" revival at our church.
Be not discouraged, if you feel what you are doing is Gods message, give it with all you got!

MeBNme... if you knew me you'd surely know that I'm not real good at anything less than 'giving it all I got'! In fact, I probably give it 'too much' at times...

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.

A scary point, indeed. After all, a reprobate mind is the result of 'believing a lie'... basically meaning that you can get there and never know it.

Good point, mizpeh.

[StillStanding]

1. Going back to old friendships that had a negative influence.

2. Looking at failures of "saints" or preachers, instead of focusing on God.

3. Letting something someone said about them at church bother them.

4. Stop praying

5. Start being envious of the so-called fun others are having outside of church

6. Begin to feel church attendance is a burden instead of a blessing.


FWIW, I agree with Rhoni that only way to win a backslider back is through love and friendship.

Originally Posted by Pianoman

1. Going back to old friendships that had a negative influence.

Got that one covered.

2. Looking at failures of "saints" or preachers, instead of focusing on God.

VERY necessary.

3. Letting something someone said about them at church bother them.

Good.

4. Stop praying

Vital to say the least.

5. Start being envious of the so-called fun others are having outside of church

Another great point.

6. Begin to feel church attendance is a burden instead of a blessing.

Yet another vital truth.

FWIW, I agree with Rhoni that only way to win a backslider back is through love and friendship.

I agree with the need to love and be a friend... but I've also seen Pastors lose the respect of those backsliders if that Pastor suddenly decides to ignore the truth of their condition. Mind you, that's certainly a LONG way away from pounding them every time they walk through the door with a 'you're going to Hell and I hold the reservation' type message.

Much is to be said to for truth mixed with tact!

[nahkoe]

I agree with you and Rhoni there too. Absolute unconditional love and acceptance. If you can manage to hear some stories about sin and the consequences without passing any judgement it's all the better. Actually, the fact that my pastor didn't so much as flinch when I told him I'd been a practicing witch definitely peaked my curiousity enough to get me into church for a few more services.

Originally Posted by Pianoman

1. Going back to old friendships that had a negative influence.

2. Looking at failures of "saints" or preachers, instead of focusing on God.

3. Letting something someone said about them at church bother them.

4. Stop praying

5. Start being envious of the so-called fun others are having outside of church

6. Begin to feel church attendance is a burden instead of a blessing.


FWIW, I agree with Rhoni that only way to win a backslider back is through love and friendship.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

1. Going back to old friendships that had a negative influence.

2. Looking at failures of "saints" or preachers, instead of focusing on God.

3. Letting something someone said about them at church bother them.

4. Stop praying

5. Start being envious of the so-called fun others are having outside of church

6. Begin to feel church attendance is a burden instead of a blessing.


FWIW, I agree with Rhoni that only way to win a backslider back is through love and friendship.

Three things I wanted to comment on as someone who has "backslid" and came back.

1. My downfall came when the I got to the point that all I could see was the garbage in the life of someone who was very close to me and in the ministry. I couldn't see Jesus anymore, just the mess. In backsliding, I removed myself from association with that person.

2. I don't know if I would ever have lifted my head towards God again if it were not for truly Godly people who loved me and accepted me unconditionaly, and made me see once again that there really was a God Who was good, and Who loved me.


3. There were a few who did not exhibit that behavior towards me, and treated me like I was a bad person because of what I had done, and they only reaffirmed what I already felt. I thank God that I had other people come and fill in the gap.

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Three things I wanted to comment on as someone who has "backslid" and came back.

1. My downfall came when the I got to the point that all I could see was the garbage in the life of someone who was very close to me and in the ministry. I couldn't see Jesus anymore, just the mess. In backsliding, I removed myself from association with that person.

2. I don't know if I would ever have lifted my head towards God again if it were not for truly Godly people who loved me and accepted me unconditionaly, and made me see once again that there really was a God Who was good, and Who loved me.


3. There were a few who did not exhibit that behavior towards me, and treated me like I was a bad person because of what I had done, and they only reaffirmed what I already felt. I thank God that I had other people come and fill in the gap.

Again, another insightful post.

[NightOwl]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

• I've noticed that some come back in and do fine but many - perhaps even the majority - never quite make it after coming back to God.

I backslid at 19 got back in church at 31. I am 36 now and have still yet to feel like I have made it back to where I was, To the point that now I have been talking to and doing some study with some from the church of Christ last few months and I have been seeing what they teach to be right through the scripture but heres the questuin I have been struggling with. Is that because maybe subconsiously I am trying to find a way back out or am I really seeing it. I hope that at least made some sense, But it does hurt that I have never felt that I have got back where I needed to be and it would just be so much easier to just abandon everything
I have actually got to the point it would be so much easier to just make a break and get out than fighting for somthing I am wondering if it is possible to get back

MISTAKES BACKSLIDERS MAKE...

1. You can't 'ease' back into the Church. (Most backsliders know too much to do it halfheartedly) When I first got back in I felt like I had to stay busy or I would be back out again

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.)
Thats true
3. Trying to maintain 'carnal' loyalties generally doens't work. (Living for God means sometimes separating from certain carnal influences that drag you back down.) true

4. It's a mistake to just 'seek to be saved' instead of striving to find fulfillment in God. (Spiritual 'fire escapes' never quite have the foundation that a solid relationship with God produces.)
true if don just to be right it wont last

YOUR TURN... some of you who have backslidden and came back sucessfully should have some great answers!

wasnt sure how to reply to each part without doing it in the quote so I put my reply in dark red to each part

[Ron]

A major mistake for backsliders (and everybody else for that matter) is thinking that repentance is only for conversion.

Repentance is a gift to be used when needed.

Also, altars aren't just for rank sinners.

Originally Posted by NightOwl

wasnt sure how to reply to each part without doing it in the quote so I put my reply in dark red to each part

Originally Posted by Ron

A major mistake for backsliders (and everybody else for that matter) is thinking that repentance is only for conversion.

Repentance is a gift to be used when needed.

Also, altars aren't just for rank sinners.

Wonderful.