 Posted Thursday, February 15, 2007 10:54 PM
|
|
|
|
| I feel under pressure to participate in activities I don't agree with: serving in New Age festivals to promote the CS organization's view of Mrs Eddy's teachings and to join the local church to serve in other capacities. This is all done in a very subtle way as for example withdrawing friendship and support when you dare point out things that are obviously not quite right (have been accused of being too judgemental and that I shouldn't be pointing out other people's weaknesses). Everyone seems to be under pressure to recruit and be seen as sociable and open and to prove the validity of the teachings. This has been my 'support' group for a while, and as I live on my own, and don't have anyone else to share these issues with am feeling emotionally overwhelmed and in great pain as see no solution to this hypocritical mess but to give in and pretend everything is fine, when I'm suffering so much and there's no compassion nor healing going on apart from 'manifesting' good jobs and so on, in other words from making sure one is comfortable in matter. According to the Reading Room librarian it's all within my own thought and therefore my fault, I gather. Can you please pray for me that I can be delivered from this situation and find a true, unconditional friend or church of whichever denomination who is not looking to use me as a recruiter to aggrandise the CS organisation or any other material structure for that matter? Thank you for reading and for your prayers. I'm really feeling desperate and isolated right now with so much gossip and emotional blackmail going on. I long to see someone really living the teachings of the Bible or Science and Health. As far as I've seen, prestige and money and of course 'good intentions' (God save us from those) are the main motivators for those I've been in touch with and I really don't want to be a part of such a circus. And yes, I feel very angry, confused and depressed with everything I've witness within the CS organization and see no way out of it.
|
|
|
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 10:45 AM
|
|
|
|
Anonymous 16 February, 2007 12:54:21 AM,
Based on some of your spelling, syntax, etc., I'm guessing that you are not in the US, but perhaps the UK.
I am praying for you, but don't know quite how to provide any counsel regarding churches outside of the US. Of course, with my Calvinist tendencies, I would suggest you seek out a church that leans in that direction. Once upon a time, I might have suggested the Church of Scotland, but am somewhat distressed by what I've heard and read on their web site.
Given our acceptance of predestination, true Calvinists usually leave the recruiting up to the Holy Spirit (though we are prepared to come along side those who are in need of hearing the Gospel). We also put more emphasis on the Bible than on people and denominations.
Coming out of CS I found myself dangerously ignorant of the differences in denominations especially since so much of what I thought I knew resulted for biased teaching and experience in CS. I stumbled through a couple of denominations before finding myself where I am know. I tend, however, to consider the claim by any denomination as the true faith to be an indication they are on the wrong track.
Bible study independent of any denominational influence is a real key. Pick up a Bible and start reading and pay close attention to the context while, as much as possible, ignoring the CS overlays. Consider the 20-20 rule of examining the 20 verses before and the 20 after a passage while not skipping over the parts which conflict with CS. I've gotten a lot from reading the Bible in sequence from beginning to end using other resources only for helping to establish the historical context.
I suggest you not read the King James Version. It's a beautiful text and some believe it is the only true Bible. Reading that beautiful text, however, makes the CS overlays that much tougher to ignore. www.biblegateway.com provides free and easy access to multiple translations for you to compare.
I use the English Standard Version because I like their word for word translation philosophy though also use other versions to help get a better sense of the original texts since I don't read ancient Hebrew or Greek.
I use an electronic version most of the time though my hard copy Bible is the Reformation Study Bible. While it does include study notes from the reformed perspective, it's easy to only refer to those when you feel the need. Berbible provides free electronic versions for PC and PDAs.
Hope at least some of this helps,
Do Go Be Man
<><
|
|
|
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 2:26 PM
|
|
|
|
| Anonymous, My heart goes out to you. May I ask -- were you raised in CS and, if so, do you have any family members who are not in CS? I was in CS for 30 years before leaving for doctrinal reasons, but after leaving I discovered that the best things I learned in CS (love for God, a positive attitude, etc.) can be found in other churches without the negative aspects of CS. While in CS I couldn't have imagined being out of it, but now that I am out I cannot imagine ever going back. Don't be afraid to go elsewhere if that is what you feel God leading you to do. Do Go Be Man is right in suggesting that you spend much time in the Bible. Without the CS overlays, it will speak to you in ways you never knew possible. I am praying that God will lead you to a healthy group of believers with whom you can freely worship Him. Keep us posted, and let us know if we can help you in specific ways. Best wishes, Linda
|
|
|
|