WELCOME TO THE EX-FILES
If you have become discouraged with an institutional church or with organized religions in general, you are not alone. Many are discovering an exciting new direct personal relationship with the Father.Listening to the experiences of those who have left various churches or groups it becomes obvious that man's creative variations on religion share some common failings and fallacies. For that reason, many have had nearly identical experiences even though they attended different organizations.
A normal part of probably every human religion is to point out the errors of every other religion. Our human nature welcomes real or invented reasons to believe that "our" church is the "true" church while everyone else is "ignorantly misled", "voluntarily deceived", or "raving heretics that deserve to burn".
Human religions are also called "faiths". Many understand faith to mean an acceptance of things which cannot be seen or proven. All "Christian" religions include some teaching about having faith in God, in Christ, in their teachings and promises.
In practice however, what is required is a faith in men, in corporations and in rituals. To remain in good standing in any organized group, you are expected to have faith that God has revealed truth to those over you, faith that these men have a true and accurate understanding, faith that they will not lie to you or deceive you. You are expected to accept as truth whatever they present to you, or at least keep quiet if you do not agree.
God not only doesn't expect you to have faith in any man, he forbids it. (Look up all the scriptures under "trust" in Strong's Concordance.)Sometime between childhood and adulthood, we each begin to question those things which do not make sense to us.
Some organizations will talk about "proving the truth" but once you are a member, you are expected to accept all church teachings and the leadership's opinions as truth, even if it doesn't make any sense. You are expected to accept those things on "faith".
Human religions are "faiths" because they require a faith in other humans or in humanly devised systems of worship (religions and denominations). Faith in God is not limited to any human religion. Noah, who was faithful, was neither Christian nor Jew.A frequent question is, "Why are there so many different religions all claiming to represent and to worship and to obey the same God?". There are several reasons on both the group level and on the leadership level, most of which are negative including the "love of money".
There is another reason significant to this discussion.
In every set of accusations against any group, there is at least some truth. There is no perfect "human organization". There is no perfect human leader (Christ is spirit). There is no perfect religion as devised by men.Every member of every church has to make a choice of acknowledging or ignoring the truthful accusations about his organization. If he ignores them, he must sear his conscience. If he acknowledges them then he must seek a more perfect way of worship or resolve himself to hypocrisy. Christ instructed us to "seek perfection" (Mat. 5:48).
It is a difficult thing to admit to having been deceived. It is a painful experience to walk away from a family-like fellowship. It is probably even more painful to be driven away by disfellowshipment or by shunning.
Christ said that if you're popular, you're doing it wrong. He said that if you do it right, they'll hate you just like they hated him. "And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." (Luke 21:17).
This is not a consolation statement but a confirmation of a true faith.
Christ wasn't talking about being hated by pagans. The pagans didn't care about Christ then and they don't care about Christianity today as long as they are left alone. Christ was talking about the religious establishment of his day, not just the Jews. Orthodox Jews today do not hate "Christians" as long as they leave the Jews alone."If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:18-19).
The religious establishment of Christ's time corresponds to the mainstream Christianity of today."Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. . . . for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:22-23, 26).
Orthodox Jews are not followers of Christ. This prophecy is about followers of Christ being disfellowshipped from "Christian" organizations. The "world" of John 15 refers to the World Council of Churches to day and its member organizations. Within the Ecumenical movement of the world's "Christian" churches, even pagan religions are being accepted, "spoken well of"(Footnote). But if you publicly point out error, hypocrisy, or evil within your church, its leadership or its teachings, you will be disfellowshipped or excommunicated and you will be hated by your former "brethren".
There are both problems and advantages to leaving an IC, (institutional church).
The most common question in leaving an IC is, "Where will I go now?". Some start shopping for another IC while others give up on religion altogether, but there are other, more attractive options.
One of the best things about the Internet is the wide range resources available for comparing religions and doctrines and the experiences of others who are also searching for "truth".
The Problems of Leaving an Institutional Church 1. A sense of loss.
By the time one actually leaves an organization, he may feel, mostly, a sense of relief. But many feel a sense of loss, sometimes as great as if a family member had died. If your fellowship was a "family" atmosphere where you were comfortable for years and you are suddenly "cut off", it's the same as losing your "family" in a tragic accident. You may need a time of grieving and you may continue to have periods of sadness whenever you recall the pleasant memories.
The same rules that apply to dealing with a death, apply here. Hang on to the good memories, but don't live your future in the past. Get busy. Make new friends and new memories. Use your experience to help others get over it.2. A sense of betrayal.
We want leaders and ideals in which we can believe. The problem is that Christ was the only perfect man and everyone else, no matter how sincere or how fervent, or how educated, or respected, comes up short.
We want the "truth". One problem is that it's convenient and "acceptable" to get our "truth" prepackaged under "brand" name religions. The "accessories" are not optional and substitutions are not allowed. [Of course many people pick and choose what they believe privately and publicly just "live with" the "official church program". This is hypocrisy.]When, for whatever reason, we discover that our church's leaders are liars, thieves, child abusers, wife beaters, immoral, or just plain evil, then we feel betrayed.
When we realize that our church's doctrines or practices are contrary to scripture, we wonder if we have been deceived by others, or by our own lack of understanding or by both.
A natural reaction is to determine to never be betrayed again which is good. One way to do that is to decide never to trust any man again with your salvation, which is also good.
What some do, is to decide to never have anything to do with religion again which can be either good or bad depending upon what you mean by "religion".There are three common choices at this point.
You can mistakenly associate God with all human religions and resolve to have nothing to do with any of them, including God.You can look for another brand of Christianity which is in your opinion, "most nearly the truth" (which is another way of saying, "the lessor of the evils".)
Or you can prove for yourself that God exists. You can prove for yourself that the Bible is his inspired word (even though it has been tinkered with to a limited extent). You can have faith in Christ and in God's promises, study privately to seek truth, seek God with all your heart and practice your "faith", worshiping in "truth".
3. Family conflicts.
If leaving an IC creates a division within your family, it can mean a life-long conflict. If all are being Christ-like about it, there should be no insurmountable problems. The reality is that those still involved with the previous fellowship almost always become persecutors which says something about the organization and its "fruits".
Christ said that this would probably be a cost we would have to pay, but that it was do-able, temporary, and that we would be rewarded accordingly. (Luke 12:51-53; 14:26)
4. Discouragement because of any or all of the above.
The Psalms are a good place to deal with discouragement. Prayer helps. Setting new goals and staying busy achieving them helps. If you truly seek truth and study regularly, you'll forget to be discouraged.
The Advantages of Leaving an Institutional Church
1. Freedom of conscience.
Believe what you prove as truth, not what others tell you to believe.2. Freedom of thought.
God promises you the spirit of a sound mind. Mindless obedience is not required.3. Freedom of expression.
Say what you think, not what others tell you to think or say.4. Freedom to question.
We learn by questioning. To forbid questions is to forbid learning.5. Freedom to learn.
Lectures are the poorest way to learn anything.
Self-motivated independent study is the best.6. Freedom to grow in knowledge and understanding.
You are not limited by someone with no real life experiences.7. Freedom to grow into a closer relationship with God.
Going to God shouldn't feel like waiting in line at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles.8. Freedom to offer fellowship to whomever you choose.
Pick friends and teachers who inspire and challenge you.
You are not limited to those with whom you hold nothing in common except a church address.9. Freedom to seek truth whenever and wherever it may be found.
The world is full of resources and people.
A B.A. in theology doesn't make one an expert in marriage, childrearing, finances, or car models. It doesn't even make one an expert in theology.10. Freedom to worship in truth.
No more compromises. No more hypocrisy. No more lies.
"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
The Ex-Files contain articles and links to web sites with helpful information
for anyone who:
1) Has left an IC or any organization.
2) Has been "put out of" an IC or any organization.
3) Is thinking about leaving an IC.
4) Is thinking about joining another IC.
5) Is interested in comparative religion.
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Copyright M.H. and G.H. 2000. All rights reserved.Footnote: Selected quotes from:
THE TROJAN HORSE IN THE TEMPLE,
The Hidden Agenda of the Ecumenical Movement
by Alan Morrison (Pastor, Eindhoven International Baptist Church),"In the historical growth of the Ecumenical Movement we can trace a three-phase development in ecumenical thinking. In the first phase, the emphasis was on creating some genuine unity among all those throughout the world who professed faith in Jesus Christ. In the second phase the emphasis shifted to include all those who were members of any denomination or religion. In the third and most recent phase, the concept of 'ecumenism' is being widened to its ultimate possibility, that every human creature should be included in the idea of the Church: the whole inhabited world in its absolute universal sense, rather than in the potential universal sense of the Gospel offer.
In other words, phase one of the Ecumenical Movement epitomized the Church in terms of a universal brotherhood of Christian faith; phase two stylised it as a universal brotherhood of religious faith; while phase three, of which the majority of Christians are entirely unaware, is emphasising the universal brotherhood of mankind as a whole, regardless of religious affiliations. Thus, religious syncretism and humanistic universalism are realised within a movement which professes solely to represent the Christian Church and the interests of Jesus Christ."
2: FROM ECUMENISM TO SYNCRETISM
'Religions of the World Unite!'"Many Christians do not realise that in the World Council of Churches there has been, over the years, a subtle shift from exclusively inter-denominational ecumenism to syncretistic multi-faithism. This extension of ecumenical fellowship began in earnest with the retirement in 1966 of the first General Secretary of the WCC, Dr. Willem Visser't Hooft. He was an ardent lifelong opposer of syncretism. . ."
1.Universal dialogue
This was first apparent at the Fifth Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Nairobi in November 1975, when representatives from non-Christian religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, were for the first time invited to present papers. After hearing the plea from the new Secretary of the WCC for a dialogue with 'people of other faiths, people of other ideologies or of none', a handful of members walked out (including the Bishop of London, Graham Leonard), protesting their impotence to change the syncretist direction in which the WCC was heading."
3: FROM SYNCRETISM TO UNIVERSALISM
'People of the World Unite!'"A major shift in ecumenical thinking occurred when there was a subtle but far-reaching change in the way that the word Ecumenism can be defined. In his second BBC Reith Lecture in 1978, Dr. Edward Norman, Dean of Peterhouse College, Cambridge, rightly noted the fact that 'The word ecumenical itself has changed its meaning, and is now used by the World Council of Churches to mean, not just fellowship within the different Christian bodies, but within the entire human race'. "
"When the second 'Parliament of the World's Religions' was held in Chicago in 1993, a 'declaration of world ethics' formulated by Dr. Hans Küng and rooted in the so-called 'Golden Rule', which would later be ratified by the United Nations, formed a major part of its considerations. Entitled 'A Declaration of a Global Ethic', the motivation behind it is clearly shown in Dr. Küng's statement to his U.N. audience in the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium on April 15th 1992: 'If we want to overcome fundamentalism we have to do it in a constructive way'."
"The year of 1993 was designated as 'The Year of Inter-Religious Understanding and Cooperation', and numerous 'Interfaith Summits' were held throughout that year as part of the centenary celebrations of the first 'Parliament of the World's Religions' a century beforehand in Chicago."
"Also sponsoring the Parliament was the 'Covenant of the Goddess', a witchcraft-based pagan cult popularised by the feminist witch, Starhawk.75
Over 4,500 delegates from all over the world attended, including representatives of Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic 'Christianity', and those of Baha'ism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, Native American Shamanism, Wicca (witchcraft), Shintoism, Neo-Paganism, the polytheistic Native African Yoruba cult, Sikhism, Taoism, Unitarianism, Zoroastrianism, etc. The Parliament, chaired by Dr. David Ramage, President of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, was opened with a silent meditation led by Sri Chinmoy, official spiritual guru to the United Nations . . . , followed by some 'blessings' from a variety of religious influences. One of these was brought by a High Priestess of the pagan Temple of Isis, whose devotions were given 'in the name of the 10,000 names, the spirits, the birds, reptiles and trees'.76
For almost $1000 per head (including hotel accommodation), those attending could indulge in a great many activities and experiences. There were keynote presentations from a number of well-known religious personalities, such as Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, United Nations Peace University Chancellor Dr. Robert Muller, Dr. Hans Küng, Mother Teresa (who was unable to attend through illness), comparative religionist Diana Eck, Harvard Divinity School liberal theologian Harvey Cox, and the ubiquitous Dalai Lama. More than 500 seminars were held, with such titles as 'The Role of the High Priestess in the Temple of Isis', 'Euthanasia', 'Human Abduction by UFOs, Its Significance for the Future', 'Humanism, The Modern Alternative to Traditional Religion', 'The Return of the Goddess', 'AIDS as Social Symbol', 'Christian Reflections on the Bhagavad Gita', and 'Spiritometry, the Scientific Step Towards God'. There was a variety of 'interfaith celebrations, meditations and contemplative vigils', coupled with 'sacred art, music, dance, poetry and theatre'. There were 'Neo-Pagan' concerts, Theravada Buddhist group chantings and other exotic entertainments. Ta'i Ch'i and Hindu meditations were held before breakfast each morning; and in every nook and cranny of the hotel during that week, characters could be found posing in meditational asanas from every tradition imaginable!
In spite of all these syncretistic activities, the Parliament has received the official sanction of many professing Christian leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey, who said in a statement of support: 'Few things are more important to our world today than the growth of mutual respect and understanding between different faith communities'.77 One has to stretch the term 'faith communities' some considerable way in order to make it embrace Neo-Paganism, Theosophy, Shamanism, witchcraft and polytheism, all of which figured so prominently at this Parliament.
Ironically for a conference which was supposedly dedicated to 'promote understanding and cooperation among religious communities', it was dogged by its own disputes and factionalism. Four Jewish organisations withdrew from sponsorship after a few days when Louis Farrakhan of the controversial 'Nation of Islam' was allowed to participate. The Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago also withdrew on August 30th because 'it would be inconceivable for Orthodox Christianity to establish a perceived relationship with groups which possess no belief in God or a supreme being'.78 One proposal put forward by the American Indian Committee requested that New Agers, neo-pagans and those practising wicca (witchcraft) should stop using Native American sacred rites just to make money out of Shamanism79, a request which was highlighted by the fact that one of the sponsoring religions, the witchcraft-based Covenant of the Goddess, successfully applied to the Parliament's organising committee to hold a wiccan Full-Moon Ritual in Chicago's Grant Park during the conference. As a further example of the 'promotion' of religious understanding and cooperation at the Parliament (and providing an invaluable glimpse into the hidden agenda of the Ecumenical-Interfaith Movement), a priest from the Orthodox Church, in a seminar on the subject of 'Satanism in West Texas', said that 'it is good to study the Fundies [Fundamentalists] so that you will know your enemy'."
Source:http://www.diakrisis.org/Trojan.htm#FOOTNOTE
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