 Posted Friday, July 22, 2005 9:30 PM
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Hi folks!
I haven't posted for months as I got really busy with a temporary teaching job. I missed this forum and would like to rejoin you all. As Linda has changed the design a bit, I thought I'd better briefly reintroduce myself because I don't know what would have happened to my former attempt at an introduction. (Can anyone enlighten me about where all the older entries are?)
Christian Science was introduced to me at age 10 by a well meaning family friend who was trying to help my mother back on her feet after a particularly traumatic family break-up . Mom grasped on very tightly to its seemingly positive message . As the only child left in a single parent home, I was taken to Sunday School and church for the next 8 years. Even while away from home at university I continued to attend services and Org meetings. Just recently I found an old journal from 30 years ago describing in detail what I was "learning" (and struggling with) in Sunday School at that time. Is it ever an eye-opener to rediscover one's old writings from a time when one was still immersed in CS. The style of writing is so obviously influenced by MBE.
While teaching in a remote community in northern Canada, I met aboriginal people who had willingly embraced Christianity - of an evangelical flavour. They would question my religious beliefs, as I was definitely not practising Christian values in my private life. At first I balked at their attempts to share the simple gospel with me, seeing their efforts as simplistic and beneath me (how condescending THAT sounds...yet fairly typical of a CSist's first reaction to the gospel message). To make a long story short, I saw Christ being lived out in these people's lives and was impressed that they had adopted what I would have then considered "white man's religion" by making it their own, despite the many failings of early missionaries' methods.
I believe that God allowed me to get out of my comfort zone to hear His fresh message of truth from another culture. It was there that I eventually "accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour" about 19 years ago. As the only one in the family to have taken such a radical step, it feels a bit isolating at times. My siblings and I are on good terms, as long as I don't "talk religion"! As for dear old mom, she's as dedicated as ever to her CS branch church, reading room duties etc. I love her dearly, and continue to share what we have in common, but it pains her that I have "left the fold".
Better sign off here. I'll try not to be so long winded, as I'd really love to dialogue with you all and I am aware that longwindedness is not easy to deal with! 
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Posted Saturday, July 23, 2005 9:23 AM
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Can anyone enlighten me about where all the older entries are?
Welcome back, Barb! It's nice to hear from you. Thanks for sharing your story.
Regarding the older threads -- many of them are still in the category labeled "General Comments" (it's about halfway through the category list). I have been gradually moving these threads into the new categories to make them easier to find.
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Posted Monday, August 03, 2009 7:39 PM
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| Hi, Barb. I, too, had to get out of the U.S. culture to hear and believe the gospel message. I believed in Christ while in India and visiting rural congregations with some friends. We thought we were going there to impart something to them, but I saw in them something I wanted...a joy in worship, a given-overness to love of God. It only took one testimony of a man who left Hinduism for Christianity...it was so simply stated. I just believed! Of course I know it is the power of the Spirit and not something in ourselves that gives us faith. Bless you! I loved reading your testimony!! IJ
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." I Peter 1: 8-9
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