Last week's article in this series discussed the church we found and loved, and that there was a family going there that also went to the second church that kicked me out.
The next week when we went, me met another family that attended, that we used to know. This family was from the first church that kicked me out. I guess it's a small world, LoL. I was hoping to talk with the wife of that family after services, but she immediately went up to someone to handle something, and we were tired, so we didn't stick around after church very long that time. We grabbed some sandwiches and such from Wal-Mart, then headed home, where we had a quiet, relaxing Sunday. Saturday was busy, and we also had plans for the following Monday, so it was nice to get rested up on Sunday.
Seeing the family from the first church that kicked me out didn't give me as intense, or as much mind overload as the first family did. It did remind me though, that the underlying problem with the second church was my Autism, and that church's cult-like overboardedness with patriarchy, while the underlying issue with the first church was really about Pastoral Authority.
That pastor (of the first church that kicked me out) thought he had authority in my life, to tell me what I can and cannot do on the internet. Granted, if I was sinning online, it would have been awesome of him to call me on it, because perhaps God was using him to call me to repentance. However, I was not sinning. To the contrary, I was trying to help do my part for the Kingdom, as a fellow ambassador for Christ. While I struggle, and have immense trouble conversing very much in real life with people, I can let my light shine online. The written word, along with making YouTube videos, are very helpful for me, in helping to do my part for the Kingdom.
The pastor's beef was that I was writing Bible studies with conclusions that he disagreed with, over doctrine which does not alter or interfere with one's salvation. I don't see why that should ever be an issue. After all, isn't iron supposed to sharpen iron? Instead of telling me to shut down my blog, or get out, he could have shown me scriptures, where he thought I was wrong, and I would have either come away having learned something, and would have changed my articles, or I would have shown him scriptures as well, and perhaps he would have come away with a changed mind.
While 1 Peter 4:17 is the Scripture I got in regards to the second church that kicked me out, the following Scripture is what comes to me a lot, in regards to the first church that kicked me out:
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." -1 Peter 5:1-3
Another Scripture also comes to mind:
"But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." -Mark 10:42-44
Dear Christian - watch out if you have a pastor who claims Pastoral Authority over you. This is not a Scriptural doctrine! By doing so, they display a lack of knowledge of the Scriptures, and are therefore unfit to direct your life. ALL Christians are to submit one to another:
"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." -Ephesians 5:21
So far, it looks like this is going to be the last article in this series, as I think we found our local church body to fellowship with, and we plan to stay there, Lord willing. Should that change, I will then add a part 12 to this series.
Meanwhile, this Church Shopping journey appears to have come full circle. Two churches (not counting the third that we just visited a few times) kicked me out. Both for lame reasons, and not Scriptural ones. Two families from both of those churches goes to the church we currently attend, and we get along with both families just fine. Perhaps we'll even form friendships. This current church seems to carry the good from both churches. All families at this church homeschool, communion is taken every Sunday, and this is a very scriptural, and joyful church, which also has meaty, Spirit-filled teaching.
This church brings the positive components that I loved from both of the other two churches, and marries them into one church.
I'm happy with my family's church choice. It's nice to be a part of a group of local Christians again, partaking of Communion, and gathering together to study the Word of God together each week.
