Bible Discussion Thread

I was baptized as a child into the roman catholic tradition. Refused entry into the priesthood at 15, and again at 17, because I simply asked questions about faith, doctrine, dogma, I left the 'faith' for many, many years, on a fruitless search for 'truth'. Forty-odd years later, around 4 weeks ago, I experienced a sudden, and unexpected inner explosion of ache/pull/urge/anguish/joy...I had to come Home to Jesus. What to do? The first port of call, of course would be the RC church. I went to Confession (that's a given) and attended Mass. I've been about 4 times, attended a 'bible discussion' and, as a result, had the scales ripped away from my eyes: hypocrisy, emptiness of conviction, scripture cherry-picking, wokeness, unquestioning popery and a failure of the people to even begin to make me feel welcome and included. Despite this the 'feeling' inside is stronger than ever. I know that God through His Spirit and with the unstopping Love of Jesus is urging me on to seek and find my place in the Church. People in my life are astounded by my conviction, are lost for words by my sudden commitment, and are listening patiently as I share the Faith. All I need now is a body of people to share my Love of Jesus with.

To Shaunm1963,

I am 60 years old and was born, raised, served as a lector and Eucharistic minister, and taught CCD for 30+ years in the Catholic Church until 5 years ago when God pulled me out of the miry clay of deception. It was then that I was offered the gift of Eternal Life through and only through Faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Of course I accepted. As I said that was 5 years ago and I can honestly say that they have been the best 5 years of my life. Please remember this one saying in regardS to church.

"CHURCH IS NOT WHERE WE GO IT'S WHO WE ARE."

You and your family are in my prayers. Jak

Hello. A Catholic priest cannot forgive you or anyone else's sins unless the sin was against him personally. But The Lord Jesus Christ can, so go to Him only. Then you will not have those problems of not being accepted. The Lord Jesus will direct your paths.

Hi, I was just about to switch off the laptop, decided to glance at the email and there was your message! Not significant, ordinarily, but since I awoke this morning I've been in a deeply heated internal debate, praying furiously, pleading that the Holy Spirit at least just give me a nudge, a hint, anything, as to which direction I should take, which path to follow. The more I look into the Roman church the more I find serious issues. I could go on here at length but the character count would soon expire! The Pope, the head of all of it, is just so wrong, so unholy and so corrupt. How can I be a part of something whose figurehead takes audience with a crucifix-in-urine-dunking artist, whose second in command writes porn books. The church itself at ground level has very little 'community' - I'm disabled and by the time I have, with my stick, 'walked' up to the back of the church at the end, the lights are being turned off, and there's nobody there to say goodbye to; a lonely experience. Your message has been the clincher (is that a word?). I've decided that tomorrow I'll attend the only other viable option (the C of E has gone woke, so count them out) and that is the local Independent Methodist Church. I've no idea what to expect, but I did contact them recently and they said I'd be made most welcome. A new start! They did tell me that their statement on topical issues and scriptural policy fully endorses 1 Corinthian 6:9, which I'm happy about (I won't go woke, ever); God's Word IS God's Word, after all. So, thank you for your Spirit-filled and Spirit-timely input. Shaun

Shaunm1963 , great post , thanks so much for sharing that . My great great grandad was a Methodist minister . I am not but I do know a few and they seem to be on the ball , I hope it goes well for you there , if it doesn't , please remember that you yourself are a miniature temple :) . Come back and let us know how it goes please . May God bless you and keep you close to Him , through Christ our Sinless Redeemer .

Will do....and thanks!

What an awesome testimony ! Thank you so much for sharing and also your other excellent post . The Bible is where you need to be , all day every day . God is there ,Jesus is there and all true believers are there with you . You are such an encouragement to us all , it's so uplifting to hear that God is still calling people out of this World and into His arms . One word of caution , be very choosey with whom you share your joy and remember , all other Christians are just sinful humans , they / we are imperfect , so we might disappoint you :) . When I first was saved , the congregation I went to were not very welcoming , they were a lot older than me , most of them , they were very insular and it's a good job that my reason for going there was NOT to find friends . I don't think that it helped me much as I was an attractive young single woman in those days , so none of the men would talk to me in case their wives disapproved and none of the women wanted to know me either . I had three friends ,and old widowed lady and a married couple old enough to be my parents . No one else even looked at me . As I said , I wasn't looking for friends , I was looking for God , and I found Him in the Bible . He's been with me always but I didn't know it then , I know it now :) . Stay on here with us and tell us more about your journey , love to you in Christ .

Hey Jema, Thanks and Wow! I have complete empathy with you. After the parish priest and the priests at the Mill Hill Mission in London all refused me entry into priest training (because I asked too many questions, I think) I joined a prayer group at the sixth form college. They identified as a Catholic Charismatic Renewal Group. I have never felt as lonely. So, tight and excluding, and if I ever questioned anything, or disagreed, they let me know their disapproval and so I eventually drifted away. I 'looked into' Zoroastrianism, or at least what is considered Western Gathic Zarathushtrianism - reading the Gathas of Zarathushtra - beautiful writings of upliftment and the right way of living: Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds...but, providing no 'Hope'. I read the texts of Gnosticism - the Nag Hammadi writings: deep and profound but involves taking the New Testament away from the Old, thereby rendering Jesus with no historical nor prophetic context. The return to the catholic church recently has revealed that the church is not a warm and welcoming sentiment, just individuals, families and cliques that want nothing to do with anyone outside their space. And, the Scriptural interpretations are becoming increasingly worldly (progressive/liberal). I discovered this part of the KJV website by chance and I don't mind opening up: apart from my Mum there's nobody I can actually share my faith with. I'm married but my wife doesn't even believe that we live on afterwards, and has no spiritual/religious leanings at all; it's hard and the gap is widening...! I've been in touch with the local Independent Methodist Church, so I may attend a Service in the week. I have no idea about them, but the alternatives here are CofE (woke), Brethren Evangelical, or Pentacostal. I struggle to understand the differences and similarities and expectations. I'll report back on the Independent Methodist Connexion in due course. ps I was an attractive young man once...ah, memories!