postlaestadianrevival

When I left the OALC it was like jumping out of an airplane not knowing if I had a parachute. We began looking for another church immediately. It was scary. I was surprised by how friendly people were at the churches we went to. I wasn’t friendly. I just wanted to go home! I didn’t know howI was supposed to act or what to think! I was shy and awkward. I remember going camping with my family that spring. I was sitting by a fast moving stream , watching the bubbles on the water being whirled downstream, around rocks, into logs, completely at the whim of the moving water, I felt like I was one of those bubbles. Just zooming downstream with no control over my own destiny. Still waiting for the parachute to open--if there was one.

It took several years to become secure in my understanding of God. All the false things I had relied upon were taken away and the replacements had to be examined closely before I could trust them. My knowledge ofGod was so limited. I think the first building block was when I was reading about the tabernacle in the old testament, and learning that the way things were placed in its interior formed the shape of a cross. People had followed that model for hundreds of years, in the tabernacle, then the temples, Solomon’s, Nehemiah’s, and Herod’s.It was there all of the time. It wasn’t a detail that the human mind could have contrived. This discovery filled me with excitement and confidence in God’s word.

We moved to a new town. We changed churches because of the move, but it was not a good church for us. It was mostly elderly people and there seemed to be a bit of competition going on. I was asked to be Sunday school superintendent, and also helped out with the youth group--it was flattering, but in no way was I equipped for such responsibility. I was uneasy with some of the teaching there--so after about a year we moved on. (It was this experience that made me very cautious about the Pentecostal type churches.) I think we visited almost every church in town, we were trying so hard to make a good choice

God had prepared a place for us, not far from our new home. We loved the preaching, and endured the music. But after the last experience we were determined to get solid preaching, the music was not a priority for us. (Anyway the music either got better or I became less particular because I have no issue with it now).

Our pastor teaches from the bible, he preaches from the bible, he counsels from the bible. Is he perfect? Not even close! But he cannot be pressured into compromising the truth.
That is what matters.
I know that many people who leave the OALC have little information or experience to go on when searching for a new church. I think a new church is especially needed when first leaving the OALC because you need friends, you need fellowship, and you need to learn what is true and what is not true.

All churches are not equal. Churches of the same denomination are not equal. After going with a mission team to several churches of the denomination of my current church I have seen some that are not churches I would choose to attend with my family. Like families, some church congregations tend to be dysfunctional. (The more they try to change, the more they stay the same.)

The following site offers some tips on finding a healthy bible based church http://www.victorious.org/findchur.htm

Here is something I use to help me in my church search. It's my personal creed. It may help others as well. I defend the Protestant cause without apology and so I've articulated the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation as follows. These ideas were cherished long before Martin Luther and his Reformation as well:

I confess Christ alone as head of the congregation
because scripture says God "gave Him to be head
over all things to the church" and "there is salvation
in no other."

I confess scripture alone as containing all that is
necessary for salvation because God tells me "you
shall not add unto this word; neither shall ye take
ought from it" and Christ's prayer shall be respected,
"Sanctify them through the truth: THY WORD IS
TRUTH."

I confess grace alone, because the Scriptures
testify "by grace are you saved through faith."

I confess faith alone, because the New Testament
church confesses "We maintain a man is justified by
faith apart from works of the law" and that "in me
dwells nothing good" and my inheritance is
"among them that are sanctified by faith." Also the
Lord says "Apart from me ye can do nothing," and
the Apostles confess in scripture "Without faith it
is impossible to please God."

I confess God's glory alone, because "by grace are
you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is
the gift of God, not of works that no man may boast"
and "every knee should bow and every tongue shall
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father."

AMEN!

I would set questions to the pastor or elders of a prospective church: Do you confess Christ alone as head of the church and only source of salvation? Do you confess Scripture Alone as the only authority and containing all that is necessary for the Christian's life and salvation? Do you confess Faith Alone as the only basis for our righteousness and justification....etc. If they cannot answer with a simple Yes, I would say such a church is not going to be a good place to nourish your spiritual health. Another major problem is that many churches claim scripture alone but don't take it as God's word in its entirety or not as God's infallible word or both. Such ideas themselves come from outside of scripture, from the liberal publishing houses and humanistic books. The Apostle Paul says ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God. Therefore, the Bible in its entirety is the Word of God. The Bible does not simply contain the word of God. It alone from the the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation is the Word of God.

I am curious how close the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church is to the OALC you are all talking about, what your perspectives/views on it are. I see several similarities & I know it was a break-off from Laestadian at some point, I'm just not sure when, why, etc.

I'm dating someone who believes very strongly in this. After a year of dating I am only beginning to get an understanding of it. I have met several people who go there, and they have all been very nice to me (the outsider). They don't drink but they all chew & smoke! I would go so far as to say that it is encouraged - which right off the bat seemed odd...

At first when I met this person they never talked about their church...almost like they were ashamed of it. Of course, like anything, these lies of omission rear their ugly head eventually. By now, when he finally tells me the truth, I feel we've been together long enough to at least give it a shot & attend a service, see what it's like. Show other Christians the same love/respect that God intended us to. Not so. These 2 ministers sat at the front of the church & literally bashed all other churches. They said they are the one true faith & all other "Wordly Religions" with their Bible studies & statues, are not giving Glory to God. This came up several times in the sermon. I felt like no matter what Bible verse they read, this was the message they took out of it & preached to the congregation. As I sat there in the congregation I started to tear up. There were a lot of good things I heard, too. All of this was trumped by the "wordly religion" bashing. My arguement is this: Why do you need to judge other Christians, when the Bible itself says not to judge others, but let God be the final judge. Also, if they are the one true religion, why are there only 3,000 members? & how come they never talk about it? If it is truely one religion, then shouldn't they be trying to get their other "brothers & sisters" involved? Get new members to join?

My boyfriend would love me to convert, I could never & he just doesn't get why. He really believes that IALC is the one & only true faith, as referenced in the Bible. He also said that he would never "tempt" himself by going to another church, (I am Catholic).

Anyway, I guess I went off on a tangent there. Obviously, there is a lot I don't know, so if there is anyone out there that can give good, objective insight, I would appreciate it. I think I need an outsider perspective, though, because all I get from the inside is: That's what the Bible (as interpreted by a human being) says & That's just what we believe.

I was in the LLC, but same concept as the IALC. Once you have been born and raised in this type of church, its most likely you will stay in the beliefs. People leave, but most people stay. I am guessing it is unlikely your boyfriend would ever leave this church, he's hoping you will convert. My question is, why is he dating you? That is supposed to be taboo since you are considered an "unbeliever". Its so drilled into your head that this is the truth and to believe otherwise is wrong. They just truly believe it is true when in actuality it is false. You can't change them. I would suggest move on. Obviously he hasn't been truthful with you from the start about his faith, why is he dragging you along. Best of luck. There are many churches out there that believe they have the full truth and the rest of the Christians are chopped liver. I stay away from those churches.

This is going to sound so pathetic...but I do want to change him. I wish I knew what to say or do to break him out of this cult-like behavior. If I see it & he doesn't, am I supposed to just ignore the behavior & abandon him? I am confused as to what God wants from me here. Am I supposed to accept him & let this continue, or am I supposed to point out all the things I see? I don't know. It's so hard to tell someone that their religion, of all things, is wrong. I think if he just took time to study the Bible & God's Word, he could get the real message. But that's not something he'd ever do, he's been told all he needs to do is listen to the ministers.

I have asked him what he is doing with me...everyone, & I mean everyone, marries someone from that church. He says we could work it out, but has no logical suggestions how. He also is insistent that his kids go there & are baptised there. He refuses to be open to my church, but I'm supposed to give him a chance. So I guess have to swallow the truth that he does expect me to convert.

At times I wonder if they told him to marry someone outside the church just because they need to expand their blood line. He is somehow related to almost everyone at the church - very limited dating options there, although one of his brothers is seemingly distantly related to his wife, but they don't acknowledge it. His mother & his sister in law had the same last maiden name. I've tried to ask, but the subject gets changed quickly & no one will defend it. I think it's a don't ask, don't tell policy.

They make it really hard - everyone from this church is very nice, kind, generous - they are all the things that I expect from a Christian. But no matter how nice to me they are, they do see me as an unbeliever, and that couldn't be farther from the truth.

What was it that made you want to leave? (loaded question huh?)

I understand that you want to change him and expose the truth in hopes that he will see it. You can try! But in all reality its very hard to change their minds. I've tried it with my family when I found Christ and they just accused me of being lied to by Satan. Its so ingrained in their mind that they are right and everyone else is wrong, to even think they might be wrong would be a sin. Its just really sad. You can't change people unfortunately, I wish you could! I guess prayer is all you can really do and be true to yourself and what you believe. The people in these churches are for the most part really nice, down to earth, loving people. I think thats what keeps them in, the bonding and fellowship.

I left because I didn't believe what was being taught. I didn't believe our church, about 0.0001% of the population were the only people that were going to be saved. And also the "guidelines of the Holy Spirit", as they called them, such as tv, makeup, earrings, movies, sports, etc. I didn't believe those to be sins. I think alot of people in the churches have these same issues but choose to stay and remain silent. To speak out is, well, grounds for dismissal I guess you'd say. Accusations of, just have your sins forgiven, just believe it, its true. Your only choice really is to leave or stay there and be quiet. I chose to leave. I couldn't sit in church every Sunday and listen to the lies. I go to a wonderful church now and have learned so much more about what it really means to be a Christian. A follower of Christ, simply. Feeding the poor, reaching out and helping those in need, being an example of Jesus to the world. There are so many ministries in other churches that help people, and then to look at the church I grew up in and they do nothing to help anyone else. And they are supposed to be the "true Christians". Amazing, eh.

I guess for me if the LLC was telling the truth, then I'd rather not even be with God. Why would I want to be with a God who would turn his back on the 99.99% of the rest of the people on this planet who have faith in Jesus and the bible, people who give their lives to Christ and want to follow HIM, people who pray and earnestly seek him. And God would just ignore them, I doubt it! I know it isn't true because of things I've experienced, my changed life, others changed lives from getting to know Christ. Reading the bible helped too, to get Gods word on your mind so you know the lies when they are thrown at you.