Leaving "the Church"

Once you are in the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, you are part of a very large family. There are many wonderful things to be said about the fellowship these people share. The memories of "going to meetings" and traveling with the other "Christians" can be very strong, happy memories.
Figuring out there is a problem may not be a happy time, at least not at first. For a long time, I believed my doubts with the OALC were due only to my sinfulness, and unwillingness to believe "the Church's teachings". As an OALC Christian, you are expected to take the words of the preachers as coming from God Himself. You are not encouraged to study the Bible on your own. They believe you need the help of a preacher to understand what God was trying to relate to the Christians. So I believed that doubting the preachers was equivalent to doubting God.

At this point, I just want to encourage anyone with doubts in the OALC to continue your search for answers. You are not doomed for your doubts. You may be doomed by ignoring them.

You can post comments to this site and they can easily be "anonymous". You don't have to fill out any registration, so I pray you'll have no fear of being "found out."
I'll monitor the comments and try to delete any that are hateful &/or in no way constructive.

Others have been through the pain and confusion of leaving the OALC. If it's what you decide to do, I hope you'll find the love and support that you need. It can start here.


If you're thinking about leaving, some subjects to consider might include:

1. The OALC use of the word Christian. If you're not a member, you aren't one. The OALC is the "one and true saving faith". They are "the Christianity".
2. The OALC use of the saying the Church. The OALC is the Church, and leaving it equals leaving the Christianity. Leaving the Christianity means losing "forgiveness of sin".
3. "Forgiveness of sin" is the power OALC members have to testify your sins forgiven when you go to a fellow OALC member and ask forgiveness for your sins. When you feel the weight of your sinfulness, you are to go to another Christian to ask forgiveness, and the slate is wiped clean. All of the sins you had committed and confessed are washed away in Christ's reconciling blood, never to be remembered by Him again.

I must admit, it was a wonderful feeling to have the burden of my sins temporarily unloaded by "forgiveness of sin" at OALC. But it is so much more incredible to me that Jesus Christ fully paid the ransom to save me, and every other believer. He suffered and died for every sin ever committed. I am forgiven by believing that, not by any power of my own to finally humble myself to "ask forgiveness" from another OALC member.

Thanks for the recommendation

Here's a copy of the comments for yesterday. I found the book printed online in several sites including http://www.ccel.org/s/smith_hw/secret/secret02.htm, but think I'll be ordering my own copy to share with others... Thanks to anonymous for the recommendation! I've only read the 1st three chapters so far, but will definitely keep reading.

"I would like to recommend a book to ALL OALC members, former and especially current. It is called "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life". The author is Hannah Whitall Smith. This book was originally publised in 1870, the author is a former Quaker who perhaps went through many of the same struggles as some OALC members. This book offers with amazing clarity the simplicity of true faith that can belong to each one of God's children. It is available on Amazon for just $2.99 (this copy is published by Spire)and can be found in most Christian Book stores. I would suggest the complete and unabridged version so as not to miss a single page, but even a shortened version would be enlightening if that's all you can find. This is a life-changing book - I cannot stress strongly enough how eye-opening this book can be. It is scripturally sound - it would make an incrediblle bible study. God's blessings to all who read it and to all who visit this site! --Posted by Anonymous to I left the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church at 9/13/2004 08:33:07 AM "

Why I started this site

Thank you to anonymous... I appreciate your support! That comment is pasted here:

"Thank God Almighty, free at last! I left too, and I encourage anyone with questions to post them here. For anyone on the fence: Do you really believe that God reserves His truth and eternal salvation for an exclusively white and primarily Scandinavian sub-sub-subsect of Lutheranism? That all other churches are dead faith? That Christ who kept company with the prostitutes now forbids you to associate with "worldlies?" That you, beloved child of God, cannot trust the brain He gave you but must submit to another person's version of the truth? That All-Seeing God cares more about your clothing/hairstyle/media consumption than about the starving children of Sudan? Have courage! Look within and follow your true compass. --Posted by Anonymous to I left the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church at 9/12/2004 11:15:00 PM"

In order to understand why I started this site, I really believe you have to have been in the OALC. Back when my doubts were enough to make me look for others who had felt like me, I looked for info on the web. With a web search, there were posts from the past-e-mail website from Dec 16, 2001 where others who felt like me were posting. Oh what a comfort to find others with those same doubts! The address for those original posts is http://web.archive.org/web/20030728125328/www.pasty.com/discuss/messages/313/961.html?SundayMay1120030438am

When I finally decided to start this site to help others thru the awful phase I'd gone thru, I posted the address back on the past-e-mail site for 9/12/04 to make it easier for those doing web searches to find this:
"For any of those who were interested in the communication re: the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church back in Dec 2001 and revisited a few months ago... http://lefttheoalc.blogspot.com/ "

Almost immediately, I got an angry post back at their site:
"I read the message and I don't get the message you are trying to get across. To me the subject is getting old. Drop it already. Is there not freedom of religion? Freedom to choose what to believe in? I don't think any one really cares about your discussion here. It does not belong here. Please get over the bitterness and move on. "

I just want to make it clear at this point that I am not bitter. I am so thankful, and praise my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for leading me to His Word. I apologize to anyone who may have seen that post as bitter. Truly, that is not my intention.

I only posted the address at past-e-mail to help those who want to talk find a place to discuss what they are going through, and find the support they so desperately need.

The angry poster on past-e-mail ("Honey") must not understand the guilt, the fear, and the LACK of freedom of religion a person in the OALC experiences when they start to question the OALC beliefs. But I understand. And I want to have a place where we can talk. I pray for His guidance as I type, and thank Jesus for leading me to study the Bible and search for the truth.

A new beginning

Hello to any visitors to this site. My hope is to provide support to anyone who may be thinking of leaving the OALC. The voice inside you telling you to question the OALC is leading you toward Jesus, NOT away from Him. I pray this website will be a Blessing for many of us, and help us to be true Christians. Amen.