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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: ESCAPE (03/04/21)
When I was a child growing up, my mother always spoke about her faith in God. I never doubted God existed because of her strong faith. We belonged to the Anglican Church and she ensured I went to Church every Sunday, including Sunday school.

I attended the Anglican Church until my early teens. I was an active member but after a while I lost interest and stopped attending. One day I was watching a Christian programme on television. The topic was prophecy, and it was remarkably interesting. They offered free literature and a Bible correspondence course for which I applied. It was then I started learning to read the Bible and had a better understanding of it.

After some enquiries I found out there was a branch of the Church in my country. I made up my mind to attend. But in order to become a member they had to interview you. You could not ‘join’ out of curiosity, they wanted you to learn and accept their teachings.

Celebrations like Christmas, Easter, and birthdays were not part of their faith. They were called a cult, but that was not my experience. They just tried to teach and live by the bible as they saw it. Fellowship was an integral part of church activities. The members went out of their way to get to know you and help you along the way to becoming a true Christian.

After some years though, they started to change their doctrine. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior was their new teaching. It was no longer about works, but what you felt in your heart. This did not go down well with a lot of members and the church eventually split up.

Since then, I have been back and forth to different Churches. Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist and even back to the Anglican Church trying to find somewhere to fellowship.

I eventually found one that seemed relatively ok. The members of this Church comprised a lot of young people who were around my age at the time. They were vibrant and there were a lot of activities that encouraged fellowship. Convinced that this was the Church I was looking for, I baptized. But my experience after that was not good. They tried to force me to leave behind my friends and to associate only with the people in the Church. They cited 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” KJV. They were a part of the “ours is the only true Church of God” Churches. I had no choice but to leave.

I was back to hunting for a Church I could be relatively comfortable in, but sorry to say, I have not succeeded. They were either too lax or too legalistic. This made me realize that the most important thing is my personal relationship with Christ. Not so much what Church I belonged to. Of course, Church is important. After all, I learned all about the Bible from Church. However, Jesus came to set me free, and I am no longer under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14).

Galatians 5:1 says: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Legalism places us back under bondage. Submitting to a set of rules may be easier than living exclusively for Jesus, but this is not the life Jesus meant for us. When we place our heart, soul, and minds to truly live for Jesus it is then we experience abundant life.

I don’t know if I will ever find a Church where I can comfortably worship. Still, having escaped the legalism of what some Churches offered, I have discovered what it means to live for Jesus, and the freedom that life truly entails.
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This article has been read 485 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Virgil Youngblood 
03/13/21
Thank you for your beautiful well written testimony. I don't find denominations mentioned in the Bible. When we follow the scripture, and run from any "church" that teaches contrary doctrine, God will surely bless. But,you will not find a perfect church. May God lead you to where he would have you serve.
Ramona Cook 
03/16/21
It is my experience that very many Christians find your experience to be the one they have. There comes a time when teaching of the past, even sound Bible teaching, begins to place the call upon the student to put what has been learned into practice. The problem in denominational groups is right there! There is no place for new providers. So what many that I know are doing now, is starting their own groups and ministries.
Linda Lawrence 
03/17/21
Our story, our experiences, our seeking God can be very confusing and messy! But God is not confused, and thank His mercy, He rescues us eventually and sets our feet on solid ground. May we each keep growing in love, wisdom, and favor with God--standing firm in His sacrificial love for us.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/18/21
Your story is quite common, yet we don't hear about it as often as we should because people aren't brave enough to share their stories. You make some great points and I pray you find the perfect place for you and rejoice in the knowledge that your relationship with Jesus is most important. Congratulations on ranking 6th in your level. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.
C D Swanson 
04/09/21
This was a refreshing story that brought the reader to the core of what "Christ" is all about, love and His teachings.

Jesus and the Word along with a true intimate relationship and acceptance of Him, brings us threefold into His fold.

May your relationship with Christ continue to blossom as your roots grow deeper in your faith.

Thanks for your honesty and opening your heart to us, but especially Jesus!

Blessings~