The truth about my life within the SDA Church

[True-believer]

The truth of my life within The Seventh-day Adventist Church…

To be quite upfront and honest and truthful to everybody, my life within the Seventh-day Adventist Church was interesting, fun, relaxing, loving, caring, I absolutely loved being a part of the SDA Church, I really love the people there… The pastor at Queenstown Church was and still is terrific, Pastor Matt Thompson is an awesome man of God, and I love him to bits in the Lord, and he is doing a wonderful job for God within that Church.

The reasons why I am currently not there and why I haven’t been there for the last one month is because I’ve tried agreeing with my family and also some of my non-Adventist friends and especially with my mother and step-father, but I can’t keep on living this lie, it feels like my life is deceitful and very untruthful and very unloyal towards God and towards my Church at Queenstown.

I love being at The Queenstown Seventh-day Adventist Church and that is where I find the Biblical truth being taught directly from the Bible and the Bible alone, and also I have made some wonderful friends there, and I feel God is drawing me back there to stay there forever and to make it my HOME CHURCH and to live and grow spiritually there.

This is purely my own decision from my own intense study of God’s word the Bible and the Bible alone.

How I long to be back there at Queenstown Church once again.

I miss all my friends there like Peter, Jo, Mizraim, Bill, Lobell, Micheal, and others who I truly do love in the Lord and I always do have great and awesome times there.

Sorry if many of you who see this letter become disappointed, but it’s the truth, and this truth is expressed through this letter which is the result of my intense study of the Bible alone.

I love all my friends and Church family down at my existing Church down at Seaton Baptist and think they are very fantastic in the Lord.

This is a very serious letter and I expect everyone who reads this letter to take it very seriously because every word here is true and accurate as of today’s date 13/04/2009 at 9:07pm.

Signed: Luke A. Goss

A servant of the most high God through our Lord Jesus Christ eternally.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Luke, I guess I don't understand exactly what you are saying. You seem to be saying that you want to return to the SDA church, yet you also feel that many might be disappointed with your decision. Since we are SDAs, I can't understand how anyone would think we might be disappointed that you are returning to the SDA church, so maybe I'm not understanding what it is you actually plan to do. Would you mind clarifying, please?

[True-believer]

Luke, I guess I don't understand exactly what you are saying. You seem to be saying that you want to return to the SDA church, yet you also feel that many might be disappointed with your decision. Since we are SDAs, I can't understand how anyone would think we might be disappointed that you are returning to the SDA church, so maybe I'm not understanding what it is you actually plan to do. Would you mind clarifying, please?

I wasn't just talking about the Adventist Forum... because I gave a copy of this letter to every one who I know Catherine, and I know for sure that the people I listed in the above letter about the reasons for me not going would be disappointed and not the other people.

[GreatLakesGramma]

OK, that makes sense.

I am praying for you, that you will be strong, with God's strength, to do what you know He calls you to do. And that He will lead you further into truth and closer to Him - something we all need, no matter how long we've been following Him.

[phkrause]

Luke thanks for your honesty, and as an christian adventist, I'm not disappointed in you one iota. I do think that you have a very wonderful opportunety. First there is no reason why you couldn't worship with your friends in the Baptist church. Second, without beating them over the head with the Sabbath, you could be showing them from the Bible the truths that you have come across. You could start a little bible study class to show others your you found faith. But of course if this bothers you than you have a big decistion to make, that only you can make with Gods guidance. And I will be praying for you.

pk

[guibox]

Luke, I'm not sure why you are creating an 'either or' scenario. You are part of the Baptist church but you say "I miss all my friends there". What's there to miss? They are still your friends and they are still 'there'. It almost sounds like a strict Jehovah's Witness who alienates their family when they become JW or are alienated when they leave.

I would hope that you would continue to encorporate both your friendships with both churches in your life and not take one for the expense of the other. Perhaps I'm just reading your post wrong.

[Woody]

Luke ... I would encourage you not to break ties with your Christian brothers in the Baptist Church. Let them know you intend to continue to fellowship with them as you are able. Tell them that you are praying for them and their success in telling others of Jesus. Praise them for all the good they do.

I just don't see that we need to isolate ourselves as if we have a contageous disease. Ellen White says that we are to join up Christian with Christian and Church with Church. We have much in common with other Christian churches and we can work together on those common missions such as feeding the poor and telling others of the love of Jesus.

[Taylor]

Luke,

You don't have to get rid of your old friends from another church. One can stand for truth and yet be friends with your family and previous friends. God expects us to be "in the world" but not "of the world". When I used to live in Korea, we were friends with some Mormon missionaries. They realized we were completely Adventists and weren't going to change. We had some great discussions but there was mutual respect in the midst of theological disagreements.

It is possible to be friends with people you don't agree with, go to their birthday parties, be there for them when they are sick in the hospital, drive them to work when their car breaks down and still attend the SDA church and believe the teachings of the Bible. It isn't about churches, it is about truth and having your soul fed. But God has convicted you about the truths in His word, then you also need to be in fellowship with people who believe that truth. God and truth is worth any sacrifice, even if it is very painful. However, your friends and family are invaluable as well. You can be the first to show them that you can be a dear friend, a great son and still believe differently than they do.

I will be praying for you. And No I am not disgusted or disappointed in you. I applaud your honesty and love for God.

[Gail]

Hi, Luke-

I would like to add to the above encouraging posts.

My goodness, man- don't give up your friends at all! Let that be their decision. Over the years I have ALWAYS had friends that are non-Adventist and they have enriched my life tremendously.

I know that your family is different, as that is a closer bond and they have been making life very difficult for you.

But this inner struggle you are having is there for a good reason. God has awakened something in you, and how will you fight that? That is a battle in your soul and you will not find rest by any external means. You need to ask God what to do about it.

Family is close and friendships are meaningful, but nothing else but the Lord Himself can put peace in your heart.

You know you have much love and many friends here, no matter what.

[jasd]

QR frame:

1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Cor 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

One might be well-advised to take time and ponder – before [too readily] reaching for the scalpel and cauterizing agents of – ‘principals and dogmas’.

[Woody]

Just don't cut off my hair.

[True-believer]

Luke thanks for your honesty, and as an christian adventist, I'm not disappointed in you one iota. I do think that you have a very wonderful opportunety. First there is no reason why you couldn't worship with your friends in the Baptist church. Second, without beating them over the head with the Sabbath, you could be showing them from the Bible the truths that you have come across. You could start a little bible study class to show others your you found faith. But of course if this bothers you than you have a big decistion to make, that only you can make with Gods guidance. And I will be praying for you.

pk

Thankyou everybody who's responded... it has encouraged me heaps. Thanks again. God bless you all.

[phkrause]

Your welcome Luke

pk

[BobRyan]

I have for years attended both the Baptist church and the SDA church. Since they meet on two different days -- there is no time conflict. But I am always up front with my Baptist friends about the fact that I am actually a Seventh-day Adventist.

when I made comments in Sunday School or in the Baptist Training classes - I make them from an SDA point of view and they all know it.

However I am a strong believer in "choose you this day whom you will serve". If the Baptist church is your old home church and the group thinks that what you are really doing is "leaving the Adventist church" by attending there -- then you have a problem.

in Christ,

Bob

[Woody]

Hey ... that's cool Bob.

[BobRyan]

I have posted on Baptist discussion boards almost exclusively for about 8 years -- only coming back in to the world of SDA boards in the past 8 months.

The Baptist outreach for me has been more of my "norm". I am relatively unskilled at this -- talk to Adventists thing.

in Christ,

Bob

[Woody]

Well .... so far Bob ... you seem to have control of the English language.

Keep it up.

[Joe_in_RP]

Luke, sometimes people will be harsh with you because of your decisions. My family was when I joined the Adventist church. I never regret it. God has changed my life here.

I will be praying for you.

[True-believer]

I have appraoched most of my non-adventist friends... and they have very clearly have told me either by word of mouth or via letter that they do NOT want to be around me or hang around me if I continue to be more involved with seventh-day adventists, so by doing so I am loosing friends...

Why is it that people can be so hypocritical and judgmental against the SDA's and the SDA's Churches???

Why is it that I have to loose friendships with people just because I want to share Biblical truth with them and more insight into the Bible to help them understand better.

If only I can keep my existing friends and as well as make new friends--that will be amazing.

[Neil D]

TB, I am going to say something that is going to be very harsh....

Being an Adventist means that you are VERY CARING, VERY LOVING, AND VERY NUTURING.....these attributes are attracting to people.....

....yet you say that your friends are not wanting you around them.....What are you doing to make them not want to be around you....?

Christianity is a personal improvement to you, personality-wise...If you are being obnoxious, deliberately confrontational, or pointing out sin on a continual basis, what is nurturing about that? How can you let others grow when you seek to uproot them/transplant them all the time? by doing these acctivitys, you break the fine roots of friendship...and harm your relationship with others...

'nuff said...

[Kountzer]

1 tim 3:12 comes to mind.

[phkrause]

That's an interesting verse Kountzer, and I think appropriate.

pk

[GreatLakesGramma]

Let's not forget that all of the Millerites were kicked out of their churches, because their fellow church members were hostile to their message. Why would anything be different now?

Luke doesn't have to do or say anything obnoxious or offensive to make people with very strongly held beliefs find it offensive that he now believes something contradictory to their cherished doctrines, except to be so excited and happy about the new truths he's learned that he can't refrain from talking about them. That's all it takes to turn closed-minded people from other denominations against you.

Or it could be that these friends think that if they turn their backs on him, he might reconsider his connection with the Adventist church. They might be applying what they consider to be "tough love," like that man whose letter TB posted, that called the SDA church a pigpen of vile lies.

[GreatLakesGramma]

1 tim 3:12 comes to mind.

"Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well."

1 Timothy 3:12

???????????????????????

Or maybe you mean 2 Timothy 3:12? "Yes, and all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

[Kountzer]

both