"How do I find a church" part two

In this series about choosing a church I am trying to give basic principles to go by. Focus on the gospel (discussed in part one), avoid certain mistakes like putting your hope in a denomination or choosing a denomination based on prosperity or law (will be discussed in future posts). I was going to try to avoid talking about my choice of denomination. This is because cults focus on your choice of denomination so much (this will also be discussed in a future post). They think that being part of the right group, having understanding of a certain doctrine, or listening to the right teachers is of paramount importance when it comes to salvation. This is not true. It is faith in Jesus that saves and I (and most ex-cult members) had faith in Him before choosing a church.

I have so many people discussing the problems that they have had in trying to find a faithful church that encourages them in the faith that I have decided to tell you why I chose the denomination I am in.


First of all, my church has a confession and sticks to it. I know what I am getting when I attend an LCMS church. The law/gospel distinction, the deity of Christ, the efficacy of baptism, the gift of Holy Communion, are all in the confessions and aren't going to change. Every church member is catechized and this should prevent significant holes in theology. When we join a confessional church, we study the Apostles Creed; we know what the resurrection of Jesus is and means; we know that Christians have the hope of a bodily resurrection. Understanding of the kingdom is part of learning about the Lord's Prayer. When we learn about baptism, we are taught to avoid the error of thinking that our act of obedience is what saves us. When we learn the Ten Commandments, we learn that no one keeps God's law perfectly. When we learn about Holy Communion, we realize that this isn't something we do for God, but something that He is doing for us. And that brings me to

The Confessional Lutheran Difference

 

In a Confessional Lutheran church, the emphasis is on the gospel. It is understood that it is the gospel that saves. It is the gospel that empowers. (Romans 1:16) Every sermon includes the gospel. The promise of what Christ has done and is doing for us.

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature" - 2 Peter 1:3-4

Holy Communion emphasizes the gospel, because it is the gift of eternal life, the gift of Christ's body and blood. (John 6:51, 54) His promise of forgiveness. (Matthew 26:28) Baptism emphasizes the gospel, because it is the promise that Jesus died and rose again, for the one who is baptized. (Acts 2:38-39, Romans 6:3-9)

Everything, everything, is about Jesus. It isn't about you. It isn't about me. It isn't about our faithfulness, our obedience. It is about His faithfulness. And it is about His faithfulness, His promises, that we need to be constantly reminded. "Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you." - 2 Peter 1:12

"The law is good! 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' it’s something we should strive to do, but not because you’re going to get something for it and not because it proves you are a Christian. Jesus proves you are a Christian, baptism proves you are a Christian, the Lord’s Supper proves you are a Christian—to you. God is proving it to you!" - Reverend Jonathan Fisk

"How do I find a church?" part one

I have had several Christians who have left cult groups ask me this question, so I decided to dedicate a section of my blog to trying to answer.

I chose my church based on the gospel. There are churches that don't preach the gospel consistently, that seem to preach good morals and such, but not make the gospel clear. I didn't want my children to grow up in a church and mistake Christianity for being a good person. Read this article, maybe you will know what I mean: http://beliefsoftheheart.com/2013/07/23/i-wonder-if-sunday-school-is-destroying-our-kids-2/

So... my choice of church was based on the distinction of law and gospel. This is how we make the gospel clear. Obviously, both God’s law and God’s gospel come from God which means both are good. But, both do very different things. Serious life confusion happens when we fail to understand their distinct “job descriptions.”


"Whoever can't properly distinguish law and gospel is no better than a heathen or a Turk."-- Martin Luther was saying that nothing distinguishes Christianity from Islam or Judaism once you confuse the law and the gospel.

And Saint Paul writes about this quite a bit in the book of Galatians:

"Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ." (3:1-5)

After I listened to a radio program on understanding law and gospel, I knew which church I belonged to. Here is a link to the radio program: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WhiteHorseInn/~3/mGOg1ZeyGzI/wi20120902.mp3

My feelings as I was received as a member of Christ Lutheran Church today...

I wanted to mention first that I became a member of the universal church, Christ's body, before this. I received the Holy Spirit and confessed my faith in Jesus in 2011 and was baptized in 2012. This baptism was into Christ, not into the church where the baptism took place...

Church membership then has been a separate step for me. You may remember in previous posts that I had decided to become a member of a church and completed classes to that affect, but it wasn't "official" until today.

In some ways becoming a member of the church was similar to a Jehovah's Witness baptism. I was asked questions in front of the congregation. I can't remember the exact wording, (Those who know the real questions, please forgive me!) but it was something like this: Do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried, and rose again 3 days later? "I do." Do you believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God? "I do." Do you intend to receive the gifts that Christ bestows upon you? "I do." Do you intend to live as a Christian with the help of God? "I do." Do you intend to be a part of this congregation? "I do." Do you agree to support this congregation with the help of God? "I do."




So it started out as confessing my faith in Jesus. It is always wonderful to do that! Then ended with agreeing to be a part of the congregation.

To become a member is described as being "received". I like this wording. It shows how it is, that I am received into the family. In this was very different from becoming a member of Jehovah's Witnesses, not only did I never feel accepted, but you have to go through steps, first you are a "publisher" keeping track of time spent in the "ministry" (trying to get more members). To join this church, I didn't have to prove that I am worthy by performing a certain number of works. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Leading up to this, my health has been poor and my finances have been poor. I miss church more often than I attend, do not volunteer in any capacity, and I have very little to give. But they are so willing to give to me. (Tearing up.) I hope from this point forward that I can be more involved in the church, but I also know that if that doesn't happen, I am loved.

See this blog post where I talk about my first visit to this church: http://onemediator.blogspot.com/2012/10/for-where-two-or-three-have-gathered.html

How could I join a church after being a Jehovah's Witness?

There for a while I got hung up on proving that there were no better denominations. Then I realized that I can rest in Jesus and not research every denomination out there. I can just ... be home.

I am already saved. I am done searching and/or proving. My faith is in Jesus, not a church. And the church reminds me of that. So this shirt illustrates nicely how I came to join a church. Just calm down, shut up and get in the pew!

Finding a faithful church that brings peace instead of fear, and calming down enough to attend or join is something that is a challenge for most ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. (Please be aware that this isn't about finding the perfect denomination!) So in this blog, I am going to devote some posts to talk about how we can go about finding a church and determining if we should stay there.

I was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. So why did I get baptized again?

In a Jehovah's Witness baptism the one seeking baptism does a lot of studying on Jehovah's Witness doctrine and passes a test to show that they understand it. Then the day that they are baptized they are asked two questions:

1. On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
 

2. Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism." -Watchtower - 1985 Jun 1 p.30

Then they are dunked. Nothing is said upon dunking.

So you see, when I was a JW I was not baptized into Jesus, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So when I was saved, one of the first things I wanted to do was to get baptized the right way. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:35-37)

Getting baptized in a Christian church automatically results in disfellowshipping, so I waited a few months so that I could use that time to share the gospel with my family before they cut me off. I was saved, had received, and was even filled with the Holy Spirit during that time.


I was baptized at a Baptist church about 6 months after I was born again. I was baptized into Jesus. (Galatians 3:27) I now go to a Lutheran church. Since I have been baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, into Jesus, there is no need for me to be baptized again. Knowing what I know now, I would never get baptized into a church. Only into Jesus. 

It is possible to be born again (saved) prior to baptism, (John 5:24; 7:38-39) and I know that I was. But I also believe that baptism applies Jesus' death and resurrection to me personally. (Romans 6:3-9) I can look to my baptism for assurance that I have indeed been born again, because this is God's promise to me. (Acts 2:38-39) I have no problem with baptizing my children, even infants, because I have no problem telling them that Jesus died for them. I also see that God's Word says that baptism saves. (1 Peter 3:21) And if there is anything that I can put my faith in, it's God's Word. 

More thoughts on church:

"We cannot, like God, look into hearts to see who are the true believers. We can only go by what we hear people say they believe. That is why, broadly speaking, the Church includes all those who assemble around Word and Sacrament, that is, all who say they believe in Jesus Christ as our one and only Lord and Savior from sin because He died and rose for us. This is the Church we are able to see-- the community of the baptized gathered around the Word of God and the Table of the Lord-- everyone who participates outwardly in the life of the congregation. Here both believers and hypocrites are all mixed together.


In the narrow sense, the Church includes only believers in Jesus. It is a fellowship of faith and of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts by the Word of God. Only God can see the heart. -- Lutheranism 101

Maundy Thursday with a former Jehovah's Witness

Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday and Thursday of Mysteries) is the Christian feast, or holy day, falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels. It is followed by Good Friday. -- Wikipedia


I have been attending a Confessional Lutheran Church for some time now, so I was familiar with most of the service. Confession (the congregation confessing together that we have sinned), Absolution (the pastor announcing forgiveness of sins), Confessing/reciting the Apostle's Creed, prayers for the congregation and praying the Lord's Prayer together, readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the gospels, the sermon, songs of praise, and even Holy Communion. 

But communion was different for me today. I was acutely aware that Jehovah's Witnesses held their "Memorial" on Tuesday, and that for 35 years I also mocked my Savior. For 35 years I refused the gift of His body and blood. But not this year. This year when the Lord's Supper was commemorated, I obeyed. I received Him.

Then after communion, the Lord's forgiveness still on my lips, tears still in my eyes... was the stripping of the altar. The candles were snuffed out. The wine was removed. No longer was the Bread of Life on the altar. And we read a Psalm together, as we usually do, but this time it was Psalm 22. The words of the Lord of Life as he died. The events of the night as he was crucified. For me. For you.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.  In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.  They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.  But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.  All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:  "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."  Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.  From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.  Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.  Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.  Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.  My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.  Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.  I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.  They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.  But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.  Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.  Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.  I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.  You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!  For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.  From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.  The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever!  All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-- those who cannot keep themselves alive.  Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.  They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-- for he has done it.

for more information on Maundy Thursday see http://www.orlutheran.com/html/holyweek.html

Update on me and church membership

I have joined a congregation. I am not there every Sunday but when I am we hold hands and pray the Lord's prayer together. We confess our sins as a group, all of us sinners and beggars coming to receive from the Lord. We confess our faith together and read the Psalms together. We pray together for the prayer requests of the congregation. We receive forgiveness. We partake of the Lord's Supper together. We are a family, and I love it.

Church Membership

Trying to show true doctrine to JWs and X-JWs presents a challenge with church membership. As soon as they find out that you belong to a church, they assume that you illogically accept church beliefs that are unbiblical. A lot of Christian X-JWs let that keep them from ever becoming a member of a church. I let it hold me back for a while.

Finally I decided that I just want to be a Christian and get on with my life. I don't want to be identified to myself and others as an X-JW anymore, so to get over my fear of church membership I had to just jump in. Now I have finished membership classes at church, and I don't think I can do it... I get very nervous, afraid of being rejected if I miss a couple of weeks in a row. I have missed a month now. (I have an autoimmune disease and my daughter has been having chronic digestion problems.) And I feel that when I go back I can't promise to be a church member.

My beliefs

Jesus Christ is the central message of the Bible. (John 5:39-40) Jesus is speaking literally when He says, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.” (Luke 18:31)

The gospel is the power of salvation. (Romans 1:16) The GOSPEL. If your church does not proclaim the GOOD NEWS of what JESUS has done, and is doing, FOR YOU, and instead preaches what you should do, then find a new one.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 For through Christ we all have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:18 not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ. Philippians 3:9

1 John2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

I take Jesus at His Word. I quote scripture without explaining away what He plainly says. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:38 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:54

I have been a Christian for two years. After a year, I had found a local Lutheran Church Missouri Synod church that agrees with me on these things and I am no longer afraid; I have decided to join and receive the gifts in the church that Christ has prepared for me.

Why do churches use the term "Services"?

"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve."- Matthew 20:28

Jesus serves:

1. By proclaiming God's Word:

"Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." - John 15:3

2. By baptizing:

"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Ephesians 5:25-27


3. The Lord's Supper:

 "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." - Matthew 26:26-28
"For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." - Luke 22:2

4. Proclaiming forgiveness:

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." - Luke 7:48

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." - Mark 2:5

The Church serves:  

1. By proclaiming God's Word: 

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” John 21:16

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

2. By baptizing: 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," - Matthew 28:19



3. The Lord's Supper:

"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

4. Proclaiming forgiveness: 

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;" - John 20:21-23


"I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake." - 1 John 2:12

How is my Christian religion different from Jehovah's Witnesses?

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that we must try really hard to be good enough to enter paradise. Jesus teaches that He is good enough, and my sins, ALL of them, are forgiven, even though, as a sinner, in reality, I am never good enough. And that he accepts me, and gives Himself to me, not just 2000 years ago when He died, but everyday. Everyday, this Holy One, mingles with me, even me! He gives me His very own perfect blood to cleanse my dirty blood even of the dirt that I have caused myself! He comes to me. He saves me, when I don't deserve it. He lifts me up. It is His work, not mine.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27) He wants a holy Bride, without blemish, so what does He do? He makes us holy!

My God is nothing like the God of the Jehovah's Witnesses. My God eats dinner with tax collectors and immoral women, He touches the demon possessed, the leprous, the dirty beggars, the Romans and the Samaritans,

He washed His disciples feet!

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:20

I wrote a post a while back, angry that everyone was pressuring me to go to church. I want to clarify a few things:

When I first received Christ, he led me to a very loving church. They showed me the Romans Road and they showed me the love of Christ, comforting me and listening patiently to me. I was baptized there, and and through their love I learned about God's love for me. The church was for me... it wasn't something I was pressured into. It was what Jesus knew I needed.


But then things started to change. My family didn't thrive there. I felt pressured to go, and the reasons people gave me for going just didn't seem right. They seemed the same to me as going to the meetings when I was in the cult... an obligation. I was very discouraged about church, and very adamant that I was fine without it. I lost sight of the real reason of going to church.

So I wrote that post, defending my reasons for not going.

I have been listening to sermons on the radio and continuing with prayer and study, and I realized that Christ was calling me to a different church. So now I go, but not because I am listening to people who are pressuring me to do so... no, rather I humble myself and listen to Jesus and realize that perhaps those "pressuring" me were right.


Yes, in the scriptures the church is speaking of the body of believers, the Bride of Christ, but there is nothing wrong with using the other common definition. God has provided churches to do the work in the book of Acts... to teach the gospel, to provide the sacraments. Everyone's needs are unique, however, and He knows this. There is nothing wrong with the church I was baptized at, and God is definitely using them for His work, but each denomination and each church has a different flavor.

God does not wait to give Himself to us at church, but He did establish sacraments, and most people who do not go to church are not taking advantage of these gifts. I had not been to church in a while, and at His calling I went Sunday and received the Lord's Supper. I am renewed, energized, and using my spiritual gifts again...My joy in the Lord is once again strong and overflowing. I don't know if this church is where I am to stay, I don't know where other people should be, but this I do know... Sunday that church, and His body and blood received there was His gift to me.

I would be a Christian if there were no churches at all.

That is actually how it happened; having jumped into Jesus' arms, I still believed that EVERY church/denomination is Babylon the Great.

"Do not forsake the gathering of yourselves together as some have the custom..."

Why is everyone insisting that I am a member of a church and encourage and be encouraged by the people there? People I do not yet know and trust! I am overwhelmed by adding new people to my life already... over the past year I have "met" friends and family that I had not seen in over 20 years.

"The church is not a building. It is simply the sum total of all of those in Christ, His believers. It is not an institution, but you should be surrounded by other believers that build you up in the faith."

And people say that and *still* insist that I am not following John 13:34-35 and Hebrews 10:24-25 because I am not attending church. Seems a bit of cognitive dissonance is going on outside of the JW cult.

We can and should fellowship and encourage outside of church. How many people that attend church actually do that? Or do they just attend and listen to a sermon and then leave? We support the body and love our brothers and sisters when we nurture true friendships within the body of Christ. I have my Lord Jesus Christ and His word to strengthen me and I have my close circle of Christian friends and family to encourage and be encouraged in turn. We can partake of the Lord's supper outside of church since every Born Again Christian is a priest.

Going to church stirs up old feelings of being judged and loved based on my attendance. I also feel that I need to fight against group thinking, accepting certain beliefs and doctrines based on the majority, rather than basing my beliefs on God's word and the Spirit's leadings.

Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another" Yes, we can certainly gather together, exhort, consider on another and stir up love and good works without a church. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:20

Christianity is not my God.

I actually feel like an outsider. So deeply attached to Jesus, but not part of cultural Christianity... seeing some of the same things in the culture and in church that I saw from the cult I was in when Jesus pulled me out, and other times having fears that I will experience the same things, unfounded or not.

I feel no need to defend "Christians" some are just part of the culture, using the name, attending church, following rules... others may be true Christians but have some fault that is considered more offensive. That's okay. I don't need to defend Christians the way I used to defend the people that belonged to the cult I was in. I don't even need to defend myself. No one said we would be perfect.

I see this getting hurled around as an insult to Christians: "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." Gandhi

It doesn't bother me. In fact, I would much rather you love and cling to Jesus ALONE. Reject me, reject church... Go to Him. Go to Jesus alone.

Christianity is not my God.