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Post by nightingale on Dec 18, 2005 1:24:48 GMT -5
Dear Brothers and Sisters...I didn't know where to put this on the board, so I will place it here... I wanted to share this with you, because I just do...I was very upset and I guess I still am...I was talking to my Pastor about not wanting to watch movies or TV that was full of sin that our Lord calls an abomination...I asked him straight forward what he thought...I said "isn't it wrong to be entertained with such evil" He looked at me and said it sounds like you are off on another tangent just like your head-covering thing...he said I am just up and down all the time with my walk with the Lord...Ok, I am not perfect, but I was very hurt by that statement, I was in tears! Then it really got ugly...He said that by keeping my five year old away from all movies and TV, that she will not be able to discern between good and evil What!!! Since when do you have to feed your kids crap so they will know what crap taste like?! Then he told me that witchcraft is all around in this world and if I am not going to watch movies just because of witchcraft and magic that I better not read by bible either, because it talks of witchcraft and magic too, and it even talks of satanism, when Jesus was tempted by satan...I should stay away from that...What!!! This might sound crazy, but it's true! I couldn't believe what he was saying...Here I am trying to convey to my Pastor my desire to live a life according to God's Word, and to bring glory and honor to His name, and this is the attitude I got from my own Pastor....I know I should find another church, but where, I keep telling myself maybe this conversation didn't really happen that I imagined it all...Please pray, because I honestly don't want to leave my church family at this time, but my Pastor has really throw-ed me a curve ball....I love you in Christ...Sister Debbie
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Post by manasseh on Dec 18, 2005 9:37:54 GMT -5
Sister Debbie,
Be of good cheer, and fret not thyself over this. You will find more resistance from the pulpit many times than from anyone else when you truly trust and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
Continue to make your calling and election sure in Christ Jesus, casting away all the things of old for the New Man that liveth in thee. Know this though, that perilious times shall come, and some of your greatest enemies will be those whom you thought to be dearest to you, and think it not strange that this fiery trial of your faith is upon youl, for it evidence of your calling and election in God's family. PRAISE THE LORD. For it is given unto thee to not only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but also to suffer for Him, and to be made comformable unto His image through the trials and afflictions in the flesh. HOLD FAST your profession of faith, and waiver not in the face of adversity, and wait patiently on the Lord, and He shall lift you up in His due season. I will be praying for your wisdom and understanding and for the Spirit, which is the Comforter, to guide you in all truth and righteous judgment. Even so, this very moment, may He richly continue to dwell in thee, through thee, and out of thee as a Light amidst a crooked and preverse generation. We are saved by hope, for what man hopes for those things which are seen? But our conversations are in heaven, where Christ Jesus sitteth (or now standeth) on the right hand of the throne of God, whereby we are called to rejoice in persecutions, reviling, mockings, scornings, all in the name of Jesus Christ.
Lastly, from personal experience in these kinds of matters, these trials "drive" us into God's Word with a fervant hunger for truth and righteous judgment, and without such trials we would have not such an appetite for truth in His Word. Praise God for this trial you are experiencing, and joy will overcome you for such a blessed calling in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Brother Steve
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Post by freebygodsgift on Dec 18, 2005 14:23:59 GMT -5
Debbie,
I will be praying for you as you decide what to do. About 5 years ago my husband and I knew the Lord was leading out of the church we had been in for 12 years. It was very hard, but the Lord has been so good to continue leading us and giving us direction. One of the comments I remember so well was "You are taking things too seriously"! That has rung over and over in my mind and I still believe I don't things as serious as I really should in day to day living. Continue to be faithful in sheltering your children from the evil in this world. God will bless you tremendously.
In Christ, Frances
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Post by nightingale on Dec 19, 2005 1:13:20 GMT -5
Thank you both for your words of encouragment...It scares me to think that my own Pastor is going the way of the world. ..Please don't mistake me, I am sinful and have struggles too, but I do admit when something is sinful even if I do fall into it...but to be in a place of teaching and try to say that evil is OK, it is just wrong.. I am still just numb and dumb founded at what was said...Please continue to pray...Love and prayers...sister Debbie
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Post by Brother Ben on Dec 19, 2005 9:02:53 GMT -5
Sister Debbie, A couple of years ago, we found this sweet fellowship near our home. We really loved them, and they really loved us. They were even strong on the KJV, and were relatively conservative. However, there were things we saw that ultimately would be spiritually unhealthy for our family, and we knew we couldn't join, or continue going there. I realize you might love some of the families in your church, that is a healthy proper attitude to have toward brethren, but if the leadership is not behind you in your desire to honor the Lord in regards to the way you live, dress, translation preference, etc, then it is time for you to find a new church home. I know this is not easy, especially when you live in a more remotely located area, but there are groups of beleivers out there. The Lord still has His 7,000 with unbended knee toward Baal and the demonic gods of our land. Be encouraged, God is still on the throne. We will all pray for the Lord to lead a vibrant Christian your way to invite you to a "real" God honoring, bible-believing, fellowship.
Bro. Ben
Humanly speaking, new life is easier than resurrecting the dead. Go find a living fellowship that is more in alignment with your convictions. Aslo, don't let your shortcomings keep you from going up higher. If you shoot for "nothing"...you'll surely hit it.
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Post by pastorsmate on Dec 19, 2005 12:27:39 GMT -5
Bless your heart, I can sure see where you have been hurt, and I cannot see why a man of God would direct in such a message to you.. We ahd such a hard time trying to tell our people to come out and be ye separate and here you are living a separated life an he is anti it. Go figure. But dear one you answer to God and God alone, what your husband leds you and and how you will raise your children is up to much prayer and conscentrated living. I pray you will keep growing in Grace and letting the leadership of the holy Spirit lead you.
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Post by nightingale on Dec 19, 2005 17:45:16 GMT -5
Thank you all for your kind words...Yesterday morning, the Pastor preached on the outward appearance and avoiding things like going to the movies is legalism...he said we should be concentrating on the inward man...my question is this: If you are making chances on the inside, does it not start to reflect on the outside? I feel his sidetracking notes were directed to me after the conversion I had the other day with him If any good came out of the hurtful things he said is that it has pushed me to study the Word of God more...Love and prayers...Sister Debbie
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Post by Brother Randy on Dec 19, 2005 21:21:37 GMT -5
Sister Debbie, My heart really goes out to you on this. How sad it is that this man whom others are following blindly are being lead down the wrong paths right towards hell it's self. And satan is just having a hay day in seeing believers and seekers lead astray. I have seen it many times over. When someone wants to follow God's word the first thing that comes up is that you are a legalist. The inward heart is the most important,BUT if it does not produce a change in ones life then there needs to be some real soul searching. It really grieves my heart when you see women or men coming to church dressed immodest, smoking, drinking maybe and all sorts of other worldly things only to say that all that matters in the inward man. HOGWASH to that.
Sister keep on doing what the word and the spirit tell you , forget that you are not perfect, None of us are, we all stumble and fall. Get up,repent and continue on in the right paths.
May God richly bless you as you follow and live for him.
Bro Randy
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Post by nightingale on Dec 20, 2005 1:32:32 GMT -5
I must thank you all again for your wonderful words of encouragement ...I have a lot to think about ...pray that I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading...Love you all...sister Debbie
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Post by bereanman on Dec 20, 2005 8:37:52 GMT -5
Dear Sis. Debbie,
My wife and I know exactly how you feel. We too have been hurt by brethren and by our own pastors (two of them now, in two different churches) because of our growth and sensitivity in the Spirit of God. We too have been called legalists and have been accused of "taking things too seriously." It may seem a shock to most folks that a preacher would think and act that way but the sad truth is that we are living in the last days and there is currently a great "falling away" by the [supposed] people of God.
We understand the pain, confusion, guilt and prayer in tears because of this situation. Just these last couple of weeks my wife and I had been weeping with eachother and in prayer because of the suble ridicule and mocking we get for not acknowledging the pagan practice of xmas. We understand that the birth of our Saviour was a wonderful event, we understand that there is an opportunity to witness to lost souls during this time of year, but we also understand that our church isn't really concerned about that, they are concerned about indulging in the holy-day traditions, empty gift-giving and parties and gluttany.
We too are looked at with contempt by many brethren because of our absolute and biblical stance against movies and tv. We too are seen as "extremists" because I won't wear shorts and my wife will never be seen in public in other than a dress or skirt, with sleeves covering her shoulders. We too got the contorted faces when there was a shortage of workers on our bus (I was out of town) and there was only my wife and one of the men, when she refused to go on the bus alone with him and requested one of the other ladies from the church to accompany them to take the kids home.
But we keep on! Because we are serving the Master! We are not interested in gaining empty favor with our carnal and immature brethren, we are interested in LIVING the testimony that our blessed KJV speaks of in I Peter 1:15-16, et al. We are in LOVE (not the emotional kind, but the commitment kind) with the Worthy Lamb of God who was slain for the sinner that His righteousness may be imparted freely upon repentance and belief.
And to boot, the closer we get to God, the dirtier we feel next to Him and the MORE we want to cleanse our lives.
Don't let the ignorance (which is usually willing) of any brethren or pastor take priority over your convictions from God. They have forgotten or ignored that they should not be a stumbling block with their "meat."
You just keep on for the Lord Jesus!
God bless you sister.
Br. Tony
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Post by nightingale on Dec 24, 2005 14:15:14 GMT -5
Hello again all...I read what Brother Randy wrote about Dr. Dobson...and it reminded me about the conversation I had with my own Pastor...We were talking about movies filled with witchcraft...and Narnia...I said since when does God have to use fantasy, witchcraft and the such to proclaim HIS WORD...He said that he intends to see Narnia, just to see what I am complaining about...he also said that he owns all three "Lord of Rings" movies and intends to watch them over and over....that it is great entertainment and shows good triumping over evil...I am sorry to keep this whining up, but it bothers me and I have a lot of praying to do and see where the Lord will lead me to worship...I never thought when I started to make a stand against the world, that my own Pastor would try to suppress me...Well I pray that this will be a wonderful day for you...Love sister Debbie
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