by purplesofa 6 Replies latest jw friends
As you venture out into your new friendships/acquaintances after being in the organization,
they go along and live their lives easily, sure of they way the feel about religion and GOD,
without ever having gone through an inkling of what you have?
They did not have to go around the world and back to get to where you are now?
No endless hours of research, discussion boards, mental gymnastics?
They can sum up in about 5 mins what took you years to figure out?
Just wondering,
purps
Yes!
My neighbor converted to Catholisism (sp?) when she got married. She was a Baptist, her whole life. She never looked back and feels at home 18 years later. Her parents didn't fuss at her. Her family's religious life is smooth and sure. Her and her husband even teach Bible class for kids on Wednesdays.
I am still scared of even entering a church for Sunday service. I don't want to get entangled again.
Think of church as fellowship with like-minded persons. Those who give glory to Jesus Christ and acknowledge his divinity. Otherwise, there is no obligation to attend any church - it is not required for salvation, just for association with other Christians.
I can't agree on that summary.
I have found that if you spend sufficient time with anyone, you will find everyone is messed up in some ways.
Most choose to deal with tough questions by choosing answer(s) that feel good so they can stop thinking.
Anyone who can "sum things up in 5 minutes" has stopped thinking.
In life, there are always more questions than answers.
What we think we "know" we merely think.
Unfortunately, not all learn this.
BA- Enjoys thinking.
PS- Don't despair, appearances can be decieving. From whence comes the saying "Ignorance is bliss", methinks.
PS- Don't despair, appearances can be decieving. From whence comes the saying "Ignorance is bliss", methinks.
guess you are right!
purps
...sure of they way the feel about religion and GOD,
It's not that such ones are sure of the way they feel.
In many cases, they just haven't let their feelings run their life.
They can act as if they are sure because it's no big deal if they are wrong.
They enjoy church or they don't. They participate in holidays as much
as they feel like it. God doesn't effect most of their lives because they
haven't been down the road we or others have. Most people just deal
with life without religion and develop their beliefs around their own experiences.
Run into a Catholic that was disillusioned by the priest/pedophile thing though-
Now you have someone who's unsure of the way they feel about religion and God.
It took me several years to go into a church, but it was not because I was afraid to it was just not the right thing for me at that time and then over three years ago, I had this overpower feeling to go over to the Anglican Church just across the street from me at the time. It literally felt as if someone was pushing me into the door. As I entered a lady priest approached me and asked if she could help me. Too which I reply, Yes I think You can. So she took me into the knave up towards the altar area. and we sat down and talked and of course she asked me what first brought to the Anglican Chruch. I told that I was an Anglican that I was raised in my earlier years up until nearly as 13 I would go with my grandma and I was to be confirmed but things changed big time.. And then I said my parents who were never church goers all of a sudden got religion. I didn't say what religion though.
I said I feel as if God has been calling me to come here for some time and for a long time I have been ignoring and yet today I was compelled to come. I can't explain it all I know is that this is where God wants me to be so here I am. Well she then Welcome to St. Paul's. We instantly connected. Her name was Rev'd Ruth and Paster April, the three of use were like sticky tape. We had wonderful discusions. I got baptized in the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. on September 24th, 06. It was the best step in my life. I know knew what that actually meant. I was 17 when I was baptized. I think I had an idea of what baptizm was about but I still say it was too young..I mean Jesus was 30 a full grown man who spent his life learning and studing the word of God and was prepared maturely at that age to give his life for mankinds salvation. The GB expects kids to get baptized and early and so when these kids are in their teens or twenties they w on't think the same way. their hormones won't be the same their thinking capcity will be different so why on earth do they push kids to baptizim and then the first timet they get in trouble they get disfellowshipped and then their lives are cut off from the family. Yep the gggreat organization that WTS GB.
Sorry got off track, I know now why God was pushing me into that church because he wanted me there I don't know the greater purpuse but I know there is a reason, I have just been made editor and chief of the churces newsletter and a lay reader. So this is postive to me. I have made wonderful friends. I get invited out for meals. Anglicans eat too much.We seem to alway be eating either at church or someones home or at a resturant for a function or fundraiser. WE had a great garage sale and made 1600 dollars for the church and on Nov. 8th we are having our biggest fundraider the Mistletoe fair our Christmas Bazaar. We generally bring in to the church 6-8 thousand dollars. It is known to be the best bazaar from far and wide.
There is wonderful fellowship, there is activities for young children at sunday school and choir, fundraisers, outreach programs to help around our own town and around the world. All and All I say I am a pretty happy camper now and even though Rev'd Ruth and Pastor April are gone from our parish our new Father Gordon Shepperd is fantastic, humble man who loves people and loves good food and has fun and laughs and justs knows how to teach the word of God so well and if I was not disabled I would run after him and plough him down as he is my kind of man. Devoted to God and our parish.
love ya
Orangefatcat
