xjwsforChrist

KASSAD SAID

so i prayed to God to lead me to a church that will satisfy my hunger for fellowship if only a bit. you see i am inactive JW for sometime now, and I still feel I am inadequate to make it on my own, i feel like i will grow very very cold spiritually soon hence the prayer... and so i kept praying and then one day out of the blue, an acquaintance of mine asked via facebook what church i am attending! i told him my case, that I am looking for a church to go at the moment, and he invited me to attend. it seems like God's answer. No one could have known it, even Satan himself, because i've always prayed silently in my head. (And yes skeptics will dismiss it as coincidence, but what are the odds, although I've been posting biblical status in fb for months before this). I researched a bit on the church he is attending, it is to be of born-again type of church. the problem is that they believe in doctrine of Trinity and speaking of tongues and healing as a proof of being baptized by the spirit, not sure if I could go with that. I've also seen videos of people singing aloud waving their hands wildly, and then there's some healing session. The pastor is typical of the evangelicals you see on TV.

Maybe I'm just being judgemental and superior as a result of the JW stuff and I am judging them by the surface, but it seems to me that this is a sign from God, and that I am really being challenged to totally let go of all the fears. I fear I will get lost in another false group, but then maybe there are really no "true" groups out there.

This may sound crazy to you guys, but maybe you can share your thoughts on this anyway?

SAB SAID

Hello kassad84, welcome to the forum. When deciding on a spiritual group it's not doctrine that should concern you, but rather behavior. Having odd beliefs and rituals doesn't automatically make the group dangerous. Ask these questions, and ones like them, about a religious group you are considering joining:

- Is there a dignified way to leave after becoming a member?

- What do ex members have to say about the group?

- Are emotions, rather than logic and reason, catered to in order to create a false sense of security?

- Do they discourage information in any manner?

- Do they harbor an "us vs them" attitude?

- Is undue admiration given to the leaders?

- Is the environment one of impartiality or favoritism?

- How does the group view children and to what ends do they go to control their religious habits?

- What happens if you disagree with a core teaching?

- How does the group view criticism from outsiders?

- How much does the group integrate with the every day life of the members?

- Does the group have a gossip ring?

- Do the members treat each other with basic respect?

- Are the members overtly pious and judgmental?

^ These types of questions will help you understand whether or not the perspective group is worth considering. What you want to avoid is high control and what you want to embrace are groups who generously give out freedom, dignity and liberty to it's members.
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It only ends once everything else is just progress - Jacob, LOST

LOZ SAID

Hello Kassad and welcome to the group. I remember feeling very similar to what you describe when I first left the WTBS, I worried that my worship was missing and I felt the need to 'chew' over the scriptures in order to stay spiritually strong. The difficulty for me was lack of trust, and like the warnings Sab lists, I feared losing my freedom to another 'religion'. I have visited a few churches with friends but have not affiliated anywhere myself.

Gradually, I found my way from the JWN forum, to more Christian based ones including this one, that I enjoy very much. Unless Jah and his son point me clearly and definitively in the direction of another religion, I won't be joining any. I hope you enjoy being here and find encouragement just as I have.

Loz x
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Don't let anyone put you down, and don't do it to yourself.

LOZ SAID

Kassad, I've been thinking about your post after replying, as I've gone about my Pre Christmas jobs here at home...
I just want to add, you don't have to worry, if we really belong to the Lord, he will find us, wherever we are. More than that he will nourish and refresh us as we need it. Just keep talking to him.

Loz x
_________________
Don't let anyone put you down, and don't do it to yourself.

JUSTMOM SAID

kassad84 wrote:
Maybe I'm just being judgemental and superior as a result of the JW stuff and I am judging them by the surface, but it seems to me that this is a sign from God, and that I am really being challenged to totally let go of all the fears. I fear I will get lost in another false group, but then maybe there are really no "true" groups out there.




Welcome also Kassad

Glad you feel comfortable here to share and ask questions.

As myself being raised 30 years in the WT and after leaving and being disfellowshipped for standing up for "Truth".....truth that was in the Bible and not the organizational doctrines. It really can make one wonder at this point "Is there really Truth out there?"
I felt I KNEW and I'm sure you did also, that what we had in the organization WAS the only truth. And where else do you go when you find out that they were NOT the truth!?

I prayed HARD for this, and begged my Lord and my God not to let me be misled. And that I knew other religions although had some awesome loving people in them that I now knew were NOT going to all die at armaggedon.... But I could not see myself involved in another church that I felt eventually I would disagree with SOMETHING major again.

Praise Jah! For me he answered! He reminded me of all the versus I had memorized and said "NOW" listen to them without the "WATCHTOWER" and all the "Publications" that are uninspired. Let holy spirit teach you.

Now remember Peters words in John 6:68 "Lord, whom shall we turn away to...YOU have the sayings of everlasting life."

So where do we go???????

I have found it is NOT a where but a to "WHOM" and it is CHRSIST!

John 14:6 "Christ said, "I am the WAY< the TRUTH and the LIFE. Noone comes to the father except through ME.

John 10:1-18 "Christ is THE DOOR we must go through. He is our fine shephard and he knows his sheep, and they follow HIM. They hear HIS voice and COME OUT. (for me it was coming out of false religion)

John 6: 35-59 "He is the true manna from heaven. And ANYONE can enter into His covenant by eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood."

As far as doctrines to follow? What are they? What did our Lord say is the identifying mark of a true christian?

It is LOVE!! And that we are to Love our Father Jah with our heart soul and mind and to love our neighbor as ourself.
When we are moved we share The Christ with others. When we want to know what Jah expects of us, we are to look at the SON.

Wanted to share some thoughts that has helped me over the years. Hope this helps. Fellowship is much more free as to being able to share and discuss with more than just JWs. If we disagree on certain doctrines...OOOh well! That is not the most important issue. It is our Love of Christ that is supposed to be.

Love and welcome again
Justmom

AGUEST SAID

I, too, have learned was dear 'Mom has, dear Kassad (peace to you, both!): that there is no "where" to go away to, but only a Whom - Christ. And that one is recorded tohave said:

"Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am, also."

WE, then, such ones who gather in his name... ARE the church, the temple of God, the congregation of the Firstborn. We are "living stones" in that temple... which is being built by Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Ephesians 2:20-22
1 Peter 2:4

Look to Christ, then, dear one... and follow HIM. Listen for... and to HIS voice, only... and you won't be led astray. Ever. Which can happen if you put your trust "in earthling man and in nobles."

John 10:1-16, 26, 27; Psalm 146:3

Start there, dear one... with Christ, the Foundation CORNERSTONE of the temple of God. As our dear Father said:

"This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to HIM!" Matthew 17:5

If you can't hear him, ask... for ears. For your body to be "prepared" so that you CAN hear.

Psalm 40:6

I hope this helps and, again, peace to you!

YOUR servant, as I am servant to ALL those of the Household of God, Israel, and those who go with... and fellow slave of Christ,

SA

FINALCALL SAID

Welcome Kassad

You said,so i prayed to God to lead me to a church that will satisfy my hunger for fellowship if only a bit. you see i am inactive JW for sometime now, and I still feel I am inadequate to make it on my own, i feel like i will grow very very cold spiritually soon hence the prayer.

We can not make it on our own. When we come to the Son, He will teach us and lead us.

I was a born in JW for the first 38 years of my life. I too wondered. where do I go? The scriptures from Justmom and Aguest started to come alive for me. Knowing now, that I could go to the "whom" being the Son, changed my way of thinking. I was looking for a place and not an individual. It is Christ who died for us and he wants us to have life. He will teach us all things. We just need to take the steps that lead to him.

I now had a decision to make. Do I worship the Son through another church or follow his own words. For me when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life". He was not pointing to the churches of the world but was speaking about himself.

I am sure you will find much good information here to help you get to where you want to be spiritually.

Finalcall

a servant of Christ

KASSAD SAID

thanks finalcall, aguest, justmom, loz..tec, sabastious... i will really need a lot of faith strenghtening to do, im still a "child" when it comes to faith. God bless you all in your walk.

AGUEST SAID

Faith is a "fruit" of God's holy spirit, dear Kassad (again, peace to you!). All one need do then... is ask (Luke 11:13). If necessary... KEEP asking - it WILL be [opened] to you. Most, though, do like the Israelites who, tiring of WAITING for the thing "hoped for" (Moses to come back down the mountain)... stopped all of their "expectation"... and build a golden calf to worship, what, just a day before he returned? They built because they needed to worship what they could SEE... and so they called IT their god(s) that had brought them out of Egypt.

Walk by faith, dear one... not by sight... and worship God in SPIRIT... and in truth. THROUGH the Truth (John 14:6). Go through the Door (John 10:9) and understand... TRULY... that he IS the Narrow Gate leading to a road that few find. Versus the broad and spacious road that many find... and walk on... but leads... well, let's say, doesn't lead... to life.

Again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

SA

KASSAD SAID

thanks aguest

HABUB SAID

Welcome Kassad84

Great topic and glad you posted.

Tec: Would love to read your experiences with various churches if they're for all --- if not, I understand.