Outside the Catholic church... I briefly attended two fellowships ( in the span of 3 years )... before moving to where I am now.
Both churches have split.... and it was UGLY.
Both churches believed in the callings of prophets... apostles... evangelists.... with heavy emphasis on tongues... prophesy... and prosperity.
The first church I attended... the pastor died and appointed his brother to take over.... The church split after this occurred.
The second church split came yet again... after the pastor passed away and the wife wanted to take over.
Both instances... there was minimal biblical training/teaching.... simply people who were "prophesied over" and told to
start a church. Both fellowships had a heavy emphasis on BEING mentored by someone who claimed to have prophetic
giftings.
I did not know better at the time... and thankfully I moved before any damage was done.
I am taken back to something Major said somewhere in one of these conversations. It was a question/query/understanding.
Is it NOT our personal responsibility to ENSURE that we are receiving TRUTH? That statement demands we do our homework... our own
due diligence to research the history and beliefs of the churches/fellowships we are attending.
Another point is oversight and accountability.... If no one is accountable to a higher level of committee ( I don't know how to properly say this )...
I believe this is a very dangerous thing. We have seen SCANDAL explode like wildfire in this last decade due to this very thing.
I am in the process of trying to get a hold of a set of books by Dr. Vernon McGee ( Thru the Bible )... This is going to be a costly venture of which I need to save up... however... I am not comfortable going through scripture on my own for the purpose of study... and so.... I have been encouraged to use Dr. Vernon McGee's study notes.
It is the FORUMS that have prepared me for a time of STUDY. It is the trust in the forums and several pastors here that have encouraged me to dig deeper... and I am grateful for that.
WE never know what being KIND and PATIENT will do to someone who comes into these forums.
I am so thankful that these forums have collected some very wise and educated men who are willing to share their gift of teaching. I have benefited GREATLY from this. I am grateful for this.
Both churches have split.... and it was UGLY.
Both churches believed in the callings of prophets... apostles... evangelists.... with heavy emphasis on tongues... prophesy... and prosperity.
The first church I attended... the pastor died and appointed his brother to take over.... The church split after this occurred.
The second church split came yet again... after the pastor passed away and the wife wanted to take over.
Both instances... there was minimal biblical training/teaching.... simply people who were "prophesied over" and told to
start a church. Both fellowships had a heavy emphasis on BEING mentored by someone who claimed to have prophetic
giftings.
I did not know better at the time... and thankfully I moved before any damage was done.
I am taken back to something Major said somewhere in one of these conversations. It was a question/query/understanding.
Is it NOT our personal responsibility to ENSURE that we are receiving TRUTH? That statement demands we do our homework... our own
due diligence to research the history and beliefs of the churches/fellowships we are attending.
Another point is oversight and accountability.... If no one is accountable to a higher level of committee ( I don't know how to properly say this )...
I believe this is a very dangerous thing. We have seen SCANDAL explode like wildfire in this last decade due to this very thing.
I am in the process of trying to get a hold of a set of books by Dr. Vernon McGee ( Thru the Bible )... This is going to be a costly venture of which I need to save up... however... I am not comfortable going through scripture on my own for the purpose of study... and so.... I have been encouraged to use Dr. Vernon McGee's study notes.
It is the FORUMS that have prepared me for a time of STUDY. It is the trust in the forums and several pastors here that have encouraged me to dig deeper... and I am grateful for that.
WE never know what being KIND and PATIENT will do to someone who comes into these forums.
I am so thankful that these forums have collected some very wise and educated men who are willing to share their gift of teaching. I have benefited GREATLY from this. I am grateful for this.
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