Leaving My IFB Church

[oneflewoutofthecuckcoosnest]

(07-02-2011 09:56 PM)TruthSeeker Wrote:  "My advice is forget Bible churches and look for God churches."

But we learn about God through the Bible.

It is a matter of emphasis. The Bible is like a window through which we see God. Some people are all caught up with the window and end up looking at it to the point that they almost forget the God that is behind it. Others look through the window in order to see the God that it is really all about.

Hope that makes some sense.

[dthatcher]

(07-02-2011 02:37 PM)Away-From-The-Umbrella Wrote:  They would separate FROM YOU if they knew the truth about your beliefs and would not want you teaching Sunday School.

+++
I think that says it all right there.

[dthatcher]

OK after plussing up the earlier comment (which I think is EXCELLENT) let me give you MY advice nearly 4 years after departing IFB.

If you don't know enough about what you believe to pigeon-hole yourself into a particular denomination or group of churches, attend a Unitarian Universalist church. After about two years you'll know for certain what really matters to you and likely find yourself moving into what will be your long-term church home.
While leaving your IFB church is about doctrine, moving to a new church is more than about doctrine. You have 6+ years of psychological cruft clouding your perception. A UU church will allow you the latitude to work out who you really are as a Christian practically and doctrinally and then you can go Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, whatever.
I speak this advice as one who wishes that was the path he took. Because 4 years post facto, I am moving in spiritual directions that I can't share with my conservative non-denom church easily. I fear another crisis is on the way at some point.

[TruthSeeker]

As of today I have resigned from being a Sunday School teacher. I called and spoke to a spiritual mature Christian man from church and told him it was because of some doctrinal differences. He was kind and understanding and told me that if it was something minor they can wrok around that in Sunday school. But if it was a constant thing then it was probably best to resign.

Not sure what will be the next step for me. The church haven't heard from me in over 2 weeks they were very concern and praying for me. It was not the best approach but it's done.

[Ricardo]

I love DTHatcher's comments.

Here are mine: About searching for a church.

In my case, I ended up attending a Quaker meeting. In silence. (Sort of hard to disagree with what is preached...)

They had a big sign above the door: "What to listen to God? SHUT UP."

It was a wonderful one or two years of recovery.

[Tony Mel]

(07-15-2011 12:21 AM)Ricardo Wrote:  In my case, I ended up attending a Quaker meeting. In silence. (Sort of hard to disagree with what is preached...)

They had a big sign above the door: "What to listen to God? SHUT UP."

Reminds me of a Unity church in my area. The sign says "Enter in Peace."

[Ricardo]

One of my first Sundays at the Quaker Meeting, a little old lady stood up (as the Spirit moved her,) and started talking about receiving her Burpee Seed catalog in the mail and being overwhelmed with the variety and beauty of God's flowers.

Period. She sat back down.

I'm waiting -with brain in overdrive- for the "catch," for the connection to Scripture, the Exegesis.

Nothing. What do I do with this message? What is God trying to tell me through this little old lady?

That was the beginning of my healing. I thank God for her.

[TruthSeeker]

I did not attend church and I was supposed to teach Sunday School on Tithing. Looks like I'm not going back and will be seeking another church that is not IFB.

When you get a chance instead of reading my pastor's book from the beginning can you scroll to chapter 16 "New Testament Church Members Were Generous". He believes that the tithe is the minimum standard of Christian giving. He states that the tithe is a good place to begin and a bad place to stop. But beyond the tithe is "Calvary Giving". This type of giving is far superior to simply tithing.

And then he sounds like a landmarker when he says "N.T. giving is local church giving. No other type of giving is even hinted at in the N.T.

If you get a chance read chapter 16 and let me know what you think.


http://gardenstatebaptistchurch.org/docs...church.pdf

[Ricardo]

I perused through the book. Too much I disagree with.

I can't believe he actually used Mat 23:23 to SUPPORT tithing.

[TruthSeeker]

Thank you Ricardo for perusing through the book. I hope you can add more comments about the book when you get a chance.

Does he sound like a landmarker to you?