Hi again everyone,
I had an unusual call this week and this post prompted me to share it with you all.
First a quick background of my LC life. I was 21 when I got saved through the sharing of the gospel by the LC saints in 1975. I quickly moved into a sister's house.
I was very active and committed to the Lord and the church life. But by 1978, as we know the church life was murky. So I left.
Fast forward, in 2005, I visited my old church locality where a few of the saints from 1975 I knew well were still there. We had a nice 'family reunion' and truth be told, I was contemplating and praying as to return to the 'LC'. But it did not sit well even though I still loved the saints and felt a connection with them.
Btw, I live in a total different state from my church 'roots'. I was in the church life in California and have not lived in California since 1978!
We did not stay in touch after my visit but we exchanged telephone numbers.
NOW... to what transpired this week. I got a call from a sister I lived with back in the day. Boy. Was I surprised! She called to tell me that a sister we knew had recently passed away and wondered if I had lived in her household. I had not but of course I knew her. We were in the same 'locality' back then.
What was even stranger is that this sister and I briefly corresponded through this forum several years ago. She and her parents and siblings had left the LC in the 80s I think.. but a few years ago, her parents went back and there was a huge fallout between them as she was upset they returned.
I was told the mom had been caring for her daughter while she was stricken with cancer and that made me feel good knowing there was reconciliation in the family.
But why would I need to be contacted ? I have not had any contact with anyone since 1978/79 except for the brief visit to Cali in 2005.
I truly believe the Holy Spirit led my sister/friend to call me. We had good fellowship and fun reminiscing of our days when the church life in our locality was fun, good and healthy.
We did not talk much about the 'church life' as it is now. We prayed for the family of our sister / friend who is no longer suffering and is now in the Arms of the Lord.
And so... I now have it in my spirit to pray for my LC friends. But as the old song we used to sing:
NO..NO.. No, no. no. I'll never go back anymore.
Blessings to all..
God is GOOD. Jesus is our King and Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Friend, and Lover of our souls. Praise His Holy Name forevermore. Amen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NeitherFirstnorLast
I had a really good day yesterday, and just wanted to share it here.
We had some very dear friends from our old "church in Winnipeg" and Home meeting group in-province here for a family reunion, and my family and I (though not related by marriage or blood) were invited. To be honest, I have been leery of going to meet with them, although my wife has always kept in touch. It's not that I am afraid that they will try to convince me to return to the group, it's that I have worried that they might start asking why we left; and asked, I will have to honestly answer. I tried that, once before, and it lead to offense and abject fear. The sister I was addressing that time literally ran from the room and closed the door. I don't want to hurt these people. I love them, and yesterday brought that home again.
I enjoyed seeing them, I enjoyed their welcome. We talked, caught up on where we're at in life, played games, ate some food and watched our kids play together. There was no agenda on either side, and that was encouraging.
I know I have said it before, but I will say it again - there are some very dear saints in the local churches. The fact that there are some genuine Christians there doesn't mean the teachings in the local churches are all good - I think there are genuine Christians in the Roman Catholic church too, after all, and the faults I see in the teachings of that church.... well, you know what I mean. Anyway, knowing that there are real brothers and sisters in an LSM fellowship should keep our tone and our handling of those ones on the level of loving family (and I'm reminding myself of that as much as any of you).
As Paul wrote, we should "be prepared in season and out of season; (to) correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction..." 2 Timothy 4:2. But in writing that, Paul was speaking specifically of Preaching the Word - not of preaching the unrighteous sins of a sinister false-apostle. I think, if our heart is really for the brothers and sisters left behind in the "fog" (to borrow a term of Mike's), we will see that the best thing we can do for them is to live out our faith in a real way for them to see; and do that with all honesty and sincerity, confessing our own failings and trials as well as the victories and encouragements. In short, love them: for Christ said "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35.
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