Here's the latest post with an anonymous friend... I hope they'll stop by again
Hello anonymous!
I'm glad you took the time to come back and tell the rest of your thoughts.
I agree with you totally about the Preachers, and I believe they are preaching what they believe to be the truth. I've always respected that they weren't afraid to call a sin a sin, and admit their own daily sinfulness as well... And I agree with you that they do their best in guiding us on the right path whether you believe their word is coming from God or not.
I appreciate your advice to not "look at what the Church doesn't offer, look at what it does." Before we had children, my spouse and I could go and "listen and take in the good, and leave everything else". We knew there were things that they preached that we didn't quite believe or agree with, but we felt the good outweighed the bad... Then we had kids, and everything changed. We found that with kids, you can't "listen and take in the good, and leave everything else".
Kids need consistency. If there are things they see in the home life that would be considered sin at OALC, they worry their parents are going to hell. Try explaining to a child, "I know that's what the preachers say, but here's what we believe" and not feel guilty when they ask you if they're going to hell for watching Barney.
From watching other children raised "in and out of the church", they're usually messed up to some degree. They don't truly fit in with OALC because they have secret "allowances" they take, and they don't really fit in with "worldlies" because of the guilt of being with "worldlies". They have difficulty finding a mate in the church due to their "allowances" they take, but a worldly mate isn't likely to truly embrace the OALC "Christianity"...
I agree with you that many OALC are the kindest people I know. It was me who said it was like a large family, and that part I will miss.
I'd be interested to know more about your comment "The more I was around Christians and the more I studied the word of God, I was happier than I had been in a long time." Are you referring to gatherings? Tell me about your studies...
I am glad that you've found happiness there, and truly wish you continued happiness and peace. For some, I believe it is the right way.
We now attend a Bible based church. It does not focus on the enlightened teachings of a man, but the teaching of God's inspired Word-- the Bible. We have no secrets about what our church says vs. what we do to confuse our children now... We acknowledge our sinful nature and our unworthiness. We rejoice in Christ's love that paid the ransom for us...
I agree with the previous poster who said "Your approach is a very healthy approach. It's also healthy for those who struggle to embrace it, and for those who cannot embrace it, to pursue a happier, more satisfying path."
Without my children, I could take the good with the bad. I don't believe it's healthy to raise children "in the church" unless you're ready to follow the OALC teachings. When it comes to your kids, I believe you should get all the way in and live by their "rules", or get all the way out of the OALC.
I believe God led my family and I to do the latter, and have never felt closer to His Word.
I truly wish you God's Peace :)
posted by Left the OALC at 10:46 PM
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