aron's testimony

aron · 07-17-2008, 08:19 PM

I am very, very grateful that not only did I get saved but shortly afterwards I was plunked down by God in the middle of one of the 'local churches'. There is a line that I love in Paul's first epistle to Timothy, in chapter 3, where he says "I write to you that you should know how one ought to conduct themself in the house of the living God..."

I learned how to conduct myself in God's house during my stay in the local churches. I had been an unruly teenager, very antisocial and antiestablishment. I got kicked off the schoolbus, got in trouble with the school, got in trouble with the police, got in trouble with neighbors and schoolmates. I was very rebellious. My morals were bad -- I would steal, cheat, and lie. I would bully and threaten those whom I could. My poor parents!

After high school I was too smart to become a worker in a factory. I became a drug dealer. It just sorta happened...I was doing drugs and hanging out with drug users and there were some opportunities and I took advantage of my good fortune. I liked to lay on the beach and congratulate myself on being so fortunate, as I watched all the workers driving to thier jobs.

But it wasn't all good. When problems arose, as they inevitably do, you can't go to the police. My group got robbed and we had to settle it with violence. This lifestyle went on for several years. I think my parents didn't want to know what was happening. They were just glad I was out of the house. I occasionally had a job for a short time, but as I said I was bad at rules. And I had a drinking and drug lifestyle to attend to, and work interfered with that.

At one job I had, someone spoke to me about Jesus. I was working in the mailroom and in front of all our fellow workers (there were about 5 or 6 of us in the room) this fellow accosted me about my faith in God. He had made a declaration of God's goodness, and I made a snide remark and he just went at me in front of all these people. I was quite taken aback by his boldness. I never forgot that man. Years later, I began to consider God, and one day I was reading the Bible and I believed. It was one of the gospels and they were writing about Jesus, what He said and did, and I thought, "If this guy isn't real then I don't want reality. This is what I want. This is why I came to earth. To see this man." I was so clear. Jesus is the one for me.

I began to church-hop and soon I met the saints and I was in the front row. We'd sing and there would be a row of empty seats in the front, opposite me. Eventually, the 'brothers' would troop in, with their shiny brown shoes and their shiny leather briefcases. They had been praying in the elders room at the start of the meeting and they all walked in together. I was very impressed. Then the saints began to pray. Not just the men in front, but all the people there. Again, very impressive. We got into the Bible, verses after verses after verses. All I could handle. The saints were very nice. I went into their homes, met their children.

But I had no social skills, no graces. I didn't know how to hold a door open, how to say 'please' and 'thank you'. It was quite a change. But I wanted to change so I forced myself. They were very nice with me. Nobody tried to force me to do anything. I just went to the meetings and read the Bible and prayed and called on the name of Jesus. I loved it when I called a song and everybody sang it and enjoyed it. It made me feel like I belonged, like my experiences, my touch with God mattered. Or when I prayed or spoke and somebody would continue in the line of my prayer or speaking when I was done. "Hey, they are listening to ME!" Wow. I loved it.

So I in no way consider myself an opposer, though that is how I heard about people who were "against the recovery". I had a great time, people were very nice to me, the elders were not bossy, I got into the Bible, it was wonderful. I am very grateful and appreciative for the experience. My family was somewhat concerned with what I had gotten myself into, because they were not religious and my new friends were obviously very religious.

But it certainly was an improvement over my former lifestyle. I remember my grandmother, when I was in the height of my rebellion, telling me she would come and visit me when I was in prison. But God was merciful; instead of prison I ended up in the local churches calling on the name of Jesus! Yay!

I am very, very grateful I got saved and got plunked into the local churches. It was a good experience for me. Eventually the same voice within that had led me thus far told me to meet with other christians. I needed other perspectives. So I did. I had some prejudices at first because I could quote so many verses, sometimes more than the pastor, that I was arrogant. But I quickly noticed how much some of these other christians loved God, and how much they enjoyed thier salvation. Sometimes more than me! That made me stop judging the walk of others.

I left because I was taught in the local churches that all christians were one, and I wanted to practice it. I didn't want to sit in the same room forever with the same people and pretend we were one with all the christians out there who we were either ignoring or saying how 'poor' they were. I didn't like that part of Witness Lee's ministry at all. I also needed to learn how to think for myself and I really didn't see that opportunity arising. It's okay to make mistakes. I don't have to be perfect. I want to learn and grow and try new things.

So I left. But I am not upset at how I was treated, or what I was taught. It was a good place to start my christian voyage. I truly believe God put me there by His sovereign hand. But eventually I wanted to see other christian fellowships and I moved on. I disagree with the characterization of 'christianity' as 'degraded'. Everything on this earth is degraded. Only God is pure. Those who judge others are just showing how much they lack.

I wrote this testimony to make 2 points:

1. To get saved and come into the local churches is not always a bad thing. It can be a pretty good experience. It was for me.

2. To leave the local churches and fellowship 'in christianity' is not a bad thing either.

07-17-2008, 08:19 PM	#1
aron Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Natal Transvaal Posts: 5,631	aron's testimony I am very, very grateful that not only did I get saved but shortly afterwards I was plunked down by God in the middle of one of the 'local churches'. There is a line that I love in Paul's first epistle to Timothy, in chapter 3, where he says "I write to you that you should know how one ought to conduct themself in the house of the living God..." I learned how to conduct myself in God's house during my stay in the local churches. I had been an unruly teenager, very antisocial and antiestablishment. I got kicked off the schoolbus, got in trouble with the school, got in trouble with the police, got in trouble with neighbors and schoolmates. I was very rebellious. My morals were bad -- I would steal, cheat, and lie. I would bully and threaten those whom I could. My poor parents! After high school I was too smart to become a worker in a factory. I became a drug dealer. It just sorta happened...I was doing drugs and hanging out with drug users and there were some opportunities and I took advantage of my good fortune. I liked to lay on the beach and congratulate myself on being so fortunate, as I watched all the workers driving to thier jobs. But it wasn't all good. When problems arose, as they inevitably do, you can't go to the police. My group got robbed and we had to settle it with violence. This lifestyle went on for several years. I think my parents didn't want to know what was happening. They were just glad I was out of the house. I occasionally had a job for a short time, but as I said I was bad at rules. And I had a drinking and drug lifestyle to attend to, and work interfered with that. At one job I had, someone spoke to me about Jesus. I was working in the mailroom and in front of all our fellow workers (there were about 5 or 6 of us in the room) this fellow accosted me about my faith in God. He had made a declaration of God's goodness, and I made a snide remark and he just went at me in front of all these people. I was quite taken aback by his boldness. I never forgot that man. Years later, I began to consider God, and one day I was reading the Bible and I believed. It was one of the gospels and they were writing about Jesus, what He said and did, and I thought, "If this guy isn't real then I don't want reality. This is what I want. This is why I came to earth. To see this man." I was so clear. Jesus is the one for me. I began to church-hop and soon I met the saints and I was in the front row. We'd sing and there would be a row of empty seats in the front, opposite me. Eventually, the 'brothers' would troop in, with their shiny brown shoes and their shiny leather briefcases. They had been praying in the elders room at the start of the meeting and they all walked in together. I was very impressed. Then the saints began to pray. Not just the men in front, but all the people there. Again, very impressive. We got into the Bible, verses after verses after verses. All I could handle. The saints were very nice. I went into their homes, met their children. But I had no social skills, no graces. I didn't know how to hold a door open, how to say 'please' and 'thank you'. It was quite a change. But I wanted to change so I forced myself. They were very nice with me. Nobody tried to force me to do anything. I just went to the meetings and read the Bible and prayed and called on the name of Jesus. I loved it when I called a song and everybody sang it and enjoyed it. It made me feel like I belonged, like my experiences, my touch with God mattered. Or when I prayed or spoke and somebody would continue in the line of my prayer or speaking when I was done. "Hey, they are listening to ME!" Wow. I loved it. So I in no way consider myself an opposer, though that is how I heard about people who were "against the recovery". I had a great time, people were very nice to me, the elders were not bossy, I got into the Bible, it was wonderful. I am very grateful and appreciative for the experience. My family was somewhat concerned with what I had gotten myself into, because they were not religious and my new friends were obviously very religious. But it certainly was an improvement over my former lifestyle. I remember my grandmother, when I was in the height of my rebellion, telling me she would come and visit me when I was in prison. But God was merciful; instead of prison I ended up in the local churches calling on the name of Jesus! Yay! I am very, very grateful I got saved and got plunked into the local churches. It was a good experience for me. Eventually the same voice within that had led me thus far told me to meet with other christians. I needed other perspectives. So I did. I had some prejudices at first because I could quote so many verses, sometimes more than the pastor, that I was arrogant. But I quickly noticed how much some of these other christians loved God, and how much they enjoyed thier salvation. Sometimes more than me! That made me stop judging the walk of others. I left because I was taught in the local churches that all christians were one, and I wanted to practice it. I didn't want to sit in the same room forever with the same people and pretend we were one with all the christians out there who we were either ignoring or saying how 'poor' they were. I didn't like that part of Witness Lee's ministry at all. I also needed to learn how to think for myself and I really didn't see that opportunity arising. It's okay to make mistakes. I don't have to be perfect. I want to learn and grow and try new things. So I left. But I am not upset at how I was treated, or what I was taught. It was a good place to start my christian voyage. I truly believe God put me there by His sovereign hand. But eventually I wanted to see other christian fellowships and I moved on. I disagree with the characterization of 'christianity' as 'degraded'. Everything on this earth is degraded. Only God is pure. Those who judge others are just showing how much they lack. I wrote this testimony to make 2 points: 1. To get saved and come into the local churches is not always a bad thing. It can be a pretty good experience. It was for me. 2. To leave the local churches and fellowship 'in christianity' is not a bad thing either.