Uh, it is so hard to be a Christian at times. It’s been a long three years of learning since we began to really pay attention to problems in our former church. Last night we had a meeting with one of the pastors from the church we currently attend. The pastor could tell based on what we said that we have many hurts from our former church. He said something interesting, that someone had decided to leave this church recently. The man stated, “I am leaving here, but these are the things I have gained from this church…” It was a disagreement, to be sure, but it was also a list of ways God had used the church to help him grow.
I do think we did experience good things in our former church. There was fellowship with other believers, there was some good teaching (a few pastors in particular). We did have some great times in our small group, made life long family, life long friends. We also did learn from some people who despite the church had a habit of studying the bible. Some lacked discernment (obviously we did and by the grace of God began to realize there were problems, how otherwise I do not know…blind I tell ya). At any rate, we did gain things, we did grow.
However, there was false teaching there. Most people preaching/teaching it had no intention to teach falsehood. They had bought into it and didn’t know. I know we all have, at times, had an uneducated concept of one thing or another about Christ or salvation etc. I do believe there are those who just make mistakes and haven’t studied and know no better. There are others who are deceived and despite being taught truth, they are convinced this or that teaching is the truth and is better. There are others blinded by their own pride, their own agenda. I think our former church was (and likely still is) filled with some true believers, some believers who are mistaken, some who are deceived. Then it also has many who think they are believers but aren’t because the teaching has led them astray. Then there are those who have come in and are being appeased, but are not in the faith. Every church has some of this, but not outright deception.
I believe our former church doesn’t just have doctrines with which people can agree to disagree, and can debate about. I do believe there is more to it, and that is where the hurt lies. No matter how nice the lead pastor, no matter how much you believe he has good intentions, he is teaching falsehood. Spiritual formation as it is taught in our former church seems to be works based. All the “seeker friendly” stuff is about filling the pews, and misses the mark when teaching the gospel. The preachers spent too much time off message, and that is where my pain can be found. There are people still going there, and even if they are true believers, and even if there is some growth, I cannot help but believe it is stunted.
And yet, God can use a bad thing for good. Beauty from ashes.
So there I go again, thinking of my former church and realizing how stupid we were. We were blind, and it hurts. It hurts when others cannot understand things, and do not see the false teaching for what it is and challenge it. It hurts to know their kids are in the church and are buying it all, eating it all up. And then they wonder why they leave the church and don’t ever come back? What are they being offered?
I am a C...I am a CH...I am a CHRISTIAN 
I like iced tea. The ice, tea, sugar, lemon, all mix into a delicious blend.
I read of a woman a while back, who poisoned her husband by putting anti-freeze (glycol) in his iced tea. Not much, mind you, but just enough to kill him over a long period of time. That way, when he died, the doctors could say that he had been sick for a long time, and she, of course, would not be blamed. However, there was this pathologist who, in examining the tissue of his brain after death, found the glycol, and realized that he had been poisoned. The wife was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
There may be some truth in a lie, but no lie is of the truth (I John 2:21). You drank the tea until you realized something was not quite right. You did the research and found “pathologists” found poison in the tea. And now you are in the position of warning others. Beating a dead horse? Not really. If one listens it will be worth your effort to warn.
Thank you, Okie. Sometimes people don’t like to hear the truth, and I love them so I keep at it. I know I cannot convince others with my wit (ha) or my fine speaking or great arguments. I just have to speak the truth and let God do what He will.
Thank you Christianlady for another heartfelt post and great insight.
It is frustrating when you see something so clearly, but others do not.
Thank you Christianlady for your posts. I just happen to come across this blog because we are now dealing with the subject of “spiritual formation” in our reformed church and I was looking up some info.
I am just like you – a mom with kids who does not have any theological training whatsoever, but have the desire to follow Christ in the way given by Scripture- not by man made philosophies.
I am not surprised that our church is following this trend because I had to deal with it in a former church. I studied many of these false teachings that are subtly making profound changes in the church. I am also not surprised because Scripture predicts that these things would take place before He comes. I just praise God for giving me the discernment to see what is coming. Spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines are very dangerous because they are subtle; they set up the unsuspecting man or woman for a works based religion not unlike Roman Catholicism. I believe these different false beliefs are to set the world up for a one world religion.
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Happy New Year ChristianLady. Keep up the good work; don’t get discouraged; you have a message and a testimony to share; go forward in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.