My First Post

[MMM Timothy]

Just a brief introduction:

My name is Timothy.  I was raised in the Church.  My father was an Assemblies of God minister.   I grew up in a loving Christian family with a father who exemplified the best image that an earthly father could provide to our Heavenly Father.  Over the years it has been quite confusing to try to rationalize who I knew my Heavenly Father to be to what I was taught was going to happen to the vast majority of His beloved creation.  I finally began to consider the possibility that God had a plan to redeem all of his children (funny how hard it is to accept what seems so obvious).  Although I still have a wonderful loving relationship with my family, they think I'm a heretic when I start to share what I believe.

[RonnyTX]

Just a brief introduction:

My name is Timothy.  I was raised in the Church.  My father was an Assemblies of God minister.   I grew up in a loving Christian family with a father who exemplified the best image that an earthly father could provide to our Heavenly Father.  Over the years it has been quite confusing to try to rationalize who I knew my Heavenly Father to be to what I was taught was going to happen to the vast majority of His beloved creation.  I finally began to consider the possibility that God had a plan to redeem all of his children (funny how hard it is to accept what seems so obvious).  Although I still have a wonderful loving relationship with my family, they think I'm a heretic when I start to share what I believe.

Timothy, welcome to the Tentmaker forum. :-)  And I know what you mean, about being raised up in church. I was too and I have brothers, uncles and cousins who are or were preachers and Sunday School teachers. With me, I was brought up in a Calvinist teaching church. So earl on, I was taught to believe the bible said God was sending most people to hell and a few to heaven. But when God saved me, at 16teen years old, in that, God gave me love and caring for all people. I wanted everyone, to have a relationship with God, like I then had. But then, it was back to my home church, where I had been taught to believe, such was not to be. It got hard for me to even do every day like things, like shopping.  For at the local Wal Mart, I would see a lot of people, from the very young to the very old. And here I had been taught to believe, that most of them were going to end up, in a Jesus Christ created hell of eternal torment. :-(  And I'm just so thankful, that 6 or 7 years ago, God did show me better. God showing me that Jesus Christ, is truly the Saviour and that for everyone, from Adam on down! :-)

It's kind of funny in my family. All of us kids, we were all raised up in a Calvinist teaching church; but then my two sisters, they married guys who were brought up in Arminian/free will churches. So, some of us from my home church, we ended up leaving there and forming another local church. Nowdays, I have an older Calvinistic believing brother, who doesn't agree with how I believe now, on somethings.  I have an older sister, who got very mad when I told her I no longer believed hell was in and or a part of the bible.  And I have my oldest sister, who is also armenian/free will in belief; but she doesn't get so bent out of shape, because I don't see everything her way. :-)  In  fact, she likes the way I believe now, a lot better than when I was a Calvinist. :-)

Sorry, for talking so much. I am a talker! :-) LoL  And once again Timothy, welcome to the Tentmaker forum! :-)

[StevenL]

Hi Tim. Baptist / AOG background here. I have the same situation with family members. Church people get enraged at the idea of the reconciliation of all. I think it is somehow a perceived attack on the very (shaky)foundation of their own salvation. Either that or they know they're in darkness and just do NOT want their faithlessness to come to Light. It's a very frustrating situation... makes you kinda sick at your stomach after the confrontations with your 'believing' family. My sister won't even let me talk about religious things in her house. (I usually do anyway.) My brother cursed me, told me I was deceived, and then proceeded to toss his Bible out into the yard. My mother says... what difference does it make? And these are 'christians'. They're all waiting on Satan Claus though. No problems with the Fables at all.

But it does seem obvious doesn't it? AFTER He's shown it to you. But not before. What a great delusion! You'd think it would be enough to just think:  God is Love but he's going to torture most of creation for eternity? INSANITY. It truly takes a seriously twisted mind and heart to 'believe' such a thing. But most, if not all of us did (us church-children anyway.) And multitudes are still struggling to free themselves of the incongruity and wickedness of the idea while still being faithful to 'the church'. We need to be praying for these, I think.

Just hang in there with it. You've been granted to suffer with Him...and it may get even hotter. But that's where you'll see the Power. it's a great privilege that's been given to your from your Father.

[Lazarus Short]

Welcome, Timothy, to the best place on the www:  Tentmaker!

:friendstu: :gimmefive: :friendstu: :gimmefive: :friendstu: :gimmefive: :friendstu: :gimmefive:

[joeteekay]

Hi Timothy,
Welcome  :welcome:
We here all have similar stories.
I beleive you will find this site a joy to your heart.

[eaglesway]

Hi Timothy,

Welcome to Tentmaker. I used to minister in the AoG as a lay evangelist and Sunday school teacher. About the time I was ready to enroll at Lakeland Bible College, God started lobbing bombs into my nice little package of fundamentalist/pentecostal theology.

It was somewhat upsetting :o) LOL

I am so grateful, and tho I still have friends from that persuasion, I am glad to be a heretic, lovingly standing witness that God has always had a better plan, for His whole creation- and as I frequently say.

It will all come out in the wash. :o)

Believers who hav heard even the most superficial version of our gospel will feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, who leads us and guides us into all truth, when they read certain portions of scripture that were locked to their understanding before. It is is all over the scriptures and He is the ultimate teacher, the faithful witness.

"Behold, I am making all things new! Write these words for they are faithful and true!"(Rev 21:5)

[MMM Timothy]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!  I am new to this forum thing and hadn't thought to check back for a few days and when I did I saw everyone's comments.  My apologies for leaving you all hanging.  I have been fairly private in my search process and have only discussed my thoughts with a few of my family members and friends.  I'm not really thinking that there is a huge need to proselytize and am not wanting to confuse those who are weak in their walk.  For me this whole revelation has brought such peace and freedom.  I see people with news eyes of love and acceptance and don't feel the need to judge them and correct their wrong thinking or behavior.  Maybe I'm wrong in thinking this way but for now it gives me such peace.  I'd love it if everyone could know and believe the way that I do because I want them to know God in the same way but I believe the Holy Spirit will lead each one to this truth and if I can be useful in that I will be happy to help.  I do not claim to know all the answers and would not presume to know how/what God has planned.  I do hope that those I love can avoid any punishment but I have peace in the knowledge that it is in God's hands and He will do what is right.

God Bless

[eaglesway]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!  I am new to this forum thing and hadn't thought to check back for a few days and when I did I saw everyone's comments.  My apologies for leaving you all hanging.  I have been fairly private in my search process and have only discussed my thoughts with a few of my family members and friends.  I'm not really thinking that there is a huge need to proselytize and am not wanting to confuse those who are weak in their walk.  For me this whole revelation has brought such peace and freedom.  I see people with news eyes of love and acceptance and don't feel the need to judge them and correct their wrong thinking or behavior.  Maybe I'm wrong in thinking this way but for now it gives me such peace.  I'd love it if everyone could know and believe the way that I do because I want them to know God in the same way but I believe the Holy Spirit will lead each one to this truth and if I can be useful in that I will be happy to help.  I do not claim to know all the answers and would not presume to know how/what God has planned.  I do hope that those I love can avoid any punishment but I have peace in the knowledge that it is in God's hands and He will do what is right.

God Bless

Beautiful post. Excellent position. :o)

[marie glen]

Amen! :thumbsup:  :iagree:

And welcome to Tentmaker forum!

...It's interesting to me to read how others here have been involved in the church(es), and also how they have learned the truth of the full gospel.

I have a good friend.. though only by phone in the past and now only on Facebook, who pretty much ignored it if I said I wasn't sure there was a hell.. but now only in touch through writing , and also being more firm and established in the belief, I've been a bit more outspoken. She's polite about it.. and the thing about social networking, she just posts a hell and damnation link every so often. I know she thinks I'm a heretic who has fallen from the faith.. That I'm being unfaithful to the faith (and thus to the Lord?) ..I'm a Berean heretic..! Well not, but I think that would make a cool nickname for  anyone when in internet conversation with brothers and sisters who believe in hell..etc. A good thing about Internet is you can quietly leave when or if it gets rowdy. :laughing7:

But I know I'm right.. and I will just continue to plant seeds or whatnot as the Lord leads. She really is such a sweet girl.. But she does have that fierceness.. posts in that spirit, which makes me cringe.. such a bad witness!

ET is such an insult! An affront.. blasphemes His 100% pure and GOOD nature and character! Every day! It's shocking any believer / lover of the Lord believes it! ..But we can pray for their freedom!

I'm thinking lately that being taught by 'the church' / church doctrine has become (for some long time now?) an idol! But Jesus on the very eve of His execution, said "do this" the bread and the wine.. our daily bread of God, and the daily new wine.. "The Spirit will teach (us) all things" ..."will guide (us) into all truth"..

God bless you brothers!