I tell people who still struggle with being “in or out” of church to go back to church and see if you can fit in. Many find they cannot, but sometimes they have to go through a tough experience to finally become obedient to what they intuitively knew was true all along. You don’t owe anyone an explanation as to why you don’t attend – thinking you have to defend and explain yourself is just the residue of religion. If you’re going to follow Him outside the camp and bear His reproach then it means being misunderstood and not being able to fully explain your actions. “I love you, and I love God, and this is the path He has me on right now” is the best way to articulate it, and leave it at that. Thank you for reading.

I’m not sure that “face-to-face” is necessarily more effective at encouraging and admonishing than by telephone, email, or social media. Paul wrote letters when he was physically unable to speak to his fellow believers, I would say those letters were more effective and memorable than anything he taught them face-to-face. I have found it a good practice to take what and whom God provides and use whatever means He allows to encourage and admonish. If we keep looking for a particular modality hard enough something will come along to fill the need but it is not necessarily God’s Will – or His best. Thank you for reading.

Non une religion ! Mais une relation avec Christ !

Merci frère Chip !

What Chip has addressed is so very true, we are not a popular group because we go against the “norm”. And as one of the responses stated. “it can get very lonely out there”. In saying all of this I have no desire to go back into the system and be subjected to some organizations or someones personal agenda of “self glorification” and “promotion”.

I have never lost sight of the true calling of the Lord and I will continue to walk this walk, even if I must walk it alone. Good lesson and good comments for all of you.

Mitch Culp

Yes. “He must increase.” Therefore He WILL increase, and He IS increasing. Everything else is decreasing. Rejoicing with you.

That’s awesome! Time to put all those people in your rear view mirror and look ahead to where God is bringing you now.

Well I thought Jesus is our covering! We are accused of being disobedient to the word of God. Always quoting “do not forsake the assembly”. April will be 2 years since my husband and I left the organisation. Tired of hearing how we are cursed, every single Sunday, because we do not tithe, that we rob God of what rightfully belongs to Him. Tired of manipulation because we do not pay tithes. New rules were brought in for the dancers (I was one of them, not a tither, but we gave offerings). The new rule stated that you had to be a faithful tither to be in the dance group. 🙂 Being told by the female pastor (pastor’s wife) that if people don’t want to get with the program, they must “GET OUT”. She shouted that while standing at the Lord’s table, ready to serve communion.
False prophets were always being invited to practise their divination on the congregation. The pastor’s ambition is to be like Benny Hinn, own a mansion, own a jet, mega church etc.
So many things, some I can’t mention. We just got tired of it all. We “GOT OUT”.
Immediately all contact via my church contact list on my phone was stopped by them.

I did speak up privately, respectfully to the pastors about my concerns, but I was accused of having an “unteachable spirit” if I refused a teaching by the pastor on tithing. 🙂 lol I agreed to the teaching, I’m still waiting for pastor to show me tithing in the New Testament. He admitted…it’s not in the New Testament, but it is the rules of the organisation and if you want to be a member, you have to abide by the rules. Just like that he said it. 🙂

I cried for such a long time after that, felt like I was in mourning. Many times I wondered if we did the right thing, but thank you Jesus for always being there, leading me into all truth, being my comforter. And no, we did not fall away from Jesus. We’re still going strong with Jesus. He never left us, we never left Him. We have relationship with Him! ♥

God led me to brother Chip and his teachings after we left the organisation. I was amazed! 🙂 Blessings to all and you and your family Chip Brogden.