Introduction and Testimony

[newman263]

An Introduction: I was an adult unbeliever before I was saved and baptized in the ‘Recovery church’ in Taiwan. Over the years, I have educated myself firstly through the church life with the abundant materials from WN and WL, then later with precious materials I researched and found in Christian bookstores and on the internet. At present living in the US, I am still meeting there, but also regularly interacted with Christians from other groups, like in Bible studies. Many years ago, I have come to believe that my conscience should be at peace to go meet with any other Christian group to seek supply of Life and Spirit, with or without the intention of leaving my present group.
A testimony is attached as a pdf.

=========== Introduction and Testimony =========
An Introduction: I was an adult unbeliever before I was saved and
baptized in the ‘Recovery church’ in Taiwan. Over the years, I have
educated myself firstly through the church life with the abundant materials
from WN and WL, then later with precious materials I researched and found
in Christian bookstores and on the internet. At present living in the US, I
am still meeting there, but also regularly interacted with Christians from
other groups, like in Bible studies. Many years ago, I have come to believe
that my conscience should be at peace to go meet with any other Christian
group to seek supply of Life and Spirit, with or without the intention of
leaving my present group.

A Testimony:

Dear saints,
I am currently still meeting in a Recovery local church. I was an agnostic
unbeliever (grew up in a family with no religious faith) before becoming a
Christian as an adult. I had the opportunity to occasionally hear the gospel in
some denominations over the years. Yet I was untouched by the gospel until
one day someone led me to a Recovery local church meeting (in Taiwan).
From my first day there, the corporate Spirit in the meetings was so strong
that the gospel words came alive to me and made me a devote believer from
the day of my baptism. Right away, for years I diligently pursued the Lord in
meetings, in church life. There were so many meetings a week to occupy me,
and so much “church” materials to learn from, that I did not want to bother with
looking outward to go meet with any other denominations or reading their
ministry books (in the pre-internet age).
After being told repeatedly how much Christianity is degraded overall, I
became quite curious. Eventually, after about ten years of church life, I felt I
was “constituted “(with the truth) enough to check it out for myself, that is,
more exactly how degraded or NOT degraded Christendom was.
It was around that time that I migrated to the USA, where Christian churches
and Christians (including the self-professed) are evidently much more
widespread than in Taiwan. After getting a job in a large company, I found out
about and joined an existing regular weekly noontime one-hour Bible study in
my workplace. That initial bible study experience, once started, was
consistently so good, that I ended up regularly attending the bible studies,
eventually for a great many years. I learned a lot from the attendees who
were from different denominations. I believed they also appreciated learning
something from my sharing. With only company employees attending,
therefore without a “pastor” nor a permanent leadership, it was a miracle to
me that the bible studies went on week after week for so many years. This
testified to the continuing zeal and harmony among the attendees. I
appreciated it and had come to regard it as an important part of my church
life.
There was one essential condition upon which I stayed or continued in the
bible study sessions: I made sure that I remained in harmony with other
believers yet without compromising the essential truths in the Bible (as I
understood it). Otherwise, I would have stopped attending.
Here is how I practiced “standing on the local ground of oneness” as an
individual Christian, when attending bible study in the workplace: I come
representing nobody, no church group, but myself, a Christian, a sinner saved
by grace. I come assuming no ecclesiastic title/position, but that of a brother in
Christ. I do not come to speak on behalf of “my” church. When I speak or
share, it is not on behalf of any minister or ministry I may have been a follower
of. I come to speak either simply for the Lord, or simply for myself. I come to
seek spiritual fellowship hoping to find oneness and joy in Christ with the
attendees, all of whom I regard as belonging to the Body of Christ. (Romans
12:18 – “If possible, as far as it depends on you (me), live in peace with all
men.”). Lastly, if anybody found out and wanted to label me as a Christian
belonging to the “Recovery” church, I would be neither proud nor ashamed of
that label.
The following was, and still is, my attitude towards Bible studies in the
workplace: 1) I would not join if I did not think I can learn anything from others.
I would not join if I thought I had nothing spiritual to offer others. 2) I had no
intention of coming to steal sheep. I also conceded the possibility that I myself
as sheep might be stolen successfully by some denomination. 3) I would not
continue to attend if I had no chance of sharing (speaking) anything. 4) I had
no intention at all to “take over” the Bible study, for instance by trying to
become one of its leading ones.
I joined this forum with the same attitude as above, hoping for a mutually
helpful fellowship in the Lord with all. May the Lord bless you all.

[bettercountry]

Thanks for sharing your testimony. And welcome to the forum. May the Lord continue to lead you in your journey of obedience and faith.

[newman263]

Amen that. Thank you.

[GraceAlone]

newman263, welcome! Thanks for sharing your testimony. I really appreciated the attitude and specific intentions you held around attending that Bible study at work. You showed the kind of humility and practical unity that should be a model for believers wanting to actually practice the oneness of the Body of Christ.
I also commend you for the curiosity you showed after 10 years in the Recovery to explore what else was out there instead of just continuing to make assumptions. I think many of us are praying that people we know and love will have that curiosity awakened within them.

[newman263]

In my introduction, I neglected to mention something important: I am a brother in Christ (not a sister). Please accept my apologies.

[PriestlyScribe]

Originally Posted by newman263

Over the years, I have educated myself firstly through the church life with the abundant materials from WN and WL, then later with precious materials I researched and found in Christian bookstores and on the internet.

Welcome Newman263! I was refreshed by your testimony. Because you seem to be not only a "Berean" but also a treasure finder I would like to offer you this resource for further study and enjoyment: The Writings of F. B. Hole

May God keep your heart soft as you pursue Him with others!

P.S.

[newman263]

PriestlyScribe: Thank you for your comments. I intend to read on F.B.Hole.