Introducing Myself

[Bracy]

It occurred to me that I kinda popped into the debates and discussions in this forum without introducing myself. Please pardon me for not being more considerate.

It was about 5 years ago when I discovered the Torah. I was raised as a Southern Baptist and educated in Christian private schools. About 5 or 6 years, I experienced a crisis in my life which forced me to seek counciling, and come out of denial about several personal faults, issues and tendancies that I possessed. As it turned out, I quickly discovered that not only did I need to come out of denial about my *personal* issues, but also needed to come out of denial about many of the doctrines and traditions that I had been taught. I realized that I had to finally come to grips with many of the contradictions and inconsistencies that I had noticed in the doctrines and teaching with which I had been educated. Once I was willing to come of denial, HaShem in His great mercy lifted the veil from my eyes so that I could finally see the beauty of his Divine Torah.

As an addition to my introduction, I would like to state clearly that my purpose in participating in this forum is not to convince anyone of my position or to change to my way of thinking. I'm a seeker of truth as we all are, and I value the truth more than I value being "right." I have found that participating in discussions such as these helps my scriptural studies immensely. It provides me with a topic to focus on, and allows me to throw out ideas into the arena and see how well they stand up. I figure that if I present my best case, and someone challenges me with their best case, the truth can more easily be revealed. So if, at times, I appear "stubborn" in my position, I hope you can understand that I do not mean to be so, I just need convincing. Rest assured that I *am* listening, and that I *am* constantly questioning my own position in our discussions, and I'm not unwilling to admit when I'm wrong when I'm convinced of it.

To put it simply: I believe in Yeshua, and I believe in the Torah. This much I know to be true. Everything beyond that is less certain.

[Tishri1]

Welcome to the family:groupray: Bracy

[christinepro]

What kind of doctrines and traditions are in the Baptist faith? I don't know too much about them. I felt the same way about Catholism. It just wasn't for me. I have allot of work ahead of me in becoming a good Messianic but I sure like what it is all about.

[Bon]

Welcome to the forums Bracy,

That is what I like so much about MJ's and MB's (Messianic believers)......There is a deep rooted desire to learn and grow....and look for the truth without bias or the influence of man-made doctrines or traditions.

I pray that you find your place here, where you will feel comfortable and at home as we learn, share, and fellowship with one another.

Shalom be with you.

Bon

[visionary]

Welcome Home... said the Lord to his prodical Son.

[Bracy]

Thanks for the kind welcome, everyone. :)

christinepro:

What kind of doctrines and traditions are in the Baptist faith?

Not all of the doctrines and traditions that I had been taught were necessarily "Baptist" doctrines. Some I had been taught by the Baptist church, others from the non-denominational Christian private school that I attended from 7th-to-12th grade ("Bible" was one of our required classes). In my opinion, the most dangerous doctrine I had been taught by the Baptist church, and the one which had the greatest influence in leading me away from the commandments of Elohim, was the doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved" which teaches that one can never lose their salvation.

Other doctrines that I had been taught, either by the Baptist church, my Christian private school, or the number of Non-Denominational and "Bible Churches" that I attended are: (1) the anti-Torah doctrine that "Grace" is somehow opposed to the Mosaic Law, (2) Replacement Theology, which teaches that HaShem was "fed up" with the Jews and "replaced" them with the Gentile "Church," and (3) Understanding God's Will, which taught that, since HaShem wants the very best for us, He has a "personal will for our lives" (i.e. who we should marry, what college we should attend, what career we should choose, what job we should accept, what house we should buy in what neighborhood, etc.) and we must earnestly pray that He reveal His will to us when we face these decisions, and so on.

[MyLittleWonders]

Welcome Bracy! :)

[AlikhnKwizad]

Hi Bracy-

When I was young I was in a Baptist church. DH grew up in Bible Church. Before we discovered MJism we were both in Non-denom. churches. :)

Do you go to a MJ congregation/ synagogue/ home group? How has the transition been for you into MJism?

shalom~

[gabriele]

Bracy wrote: "I'm a seeker of truth as we all are, and I value the truth more than I value being "right."


Hi Bracy I'm new here too! As long as you have this attitude, you will always know the Truth!

gabriele

[christinepro]

Thanks for the kind welcome, everyone. :)

christinepro:



Not all of the doctrines and traditions that I had been taught were necessarily "Baptist" doctrines. Some I had been taught by the Baptist church, others from the non-denominational Christian private school that I attended from 7th-to-12th grade ("Bible" was one of our required classes). In my opinion, the most dangerous doctrine I had been taught by the Baptist church, and the one which had the greatest influence in leading me away from the commandments of Elohim, was the doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved" which teaches that one can never lose their salvation.

Other doctrines that I had been taught, either by the Baptist church, my Christian private school, or the number of Non-Denominational and "Bible Churches" that I attended are: (1) the anti-Torah doctrine that "Grace" is somehow opposed to the Mosaic Law, (2) Replacement Theology, which teaches that HaShem was "fed up" with the Jews and "replaced" them with the Gentile "Church," and (3) Understanding God's Will, which taught that, since HaShem wants the very best for us, He has a "personal will for our lives" (i.e. who we should marry, what college we should attend, what career we should choose, what job we should accept, what house we should buy in what neighborhood, etc.) and we must earnestly pray that He reveal His will to us when we face these decisions, and so on.
I guess I wasn't raised with the "once saved always saved" doctrine, but rather one of guilt of eternal damnation and Idol worship. I was sure raised with Replacement Theology. As for Gods will, I sure hope he takes care of me. I have been in the driver’s seat for too long and have done a lousy job of it. I have a new philosophy. I will feed my camel but I am no going to steer it. If things don't go the way I want, I try to tell myself that there is something else better around the corner. I always said I wish I could find a religion that was Jewish and believed in Jesus and I am so happy I found it.

[Devasha]

About 5 or 6 years, I experienced a crisis in my life which forced me to ..... come out of denial about several personal faults, issues and tendancies that I possessed. As it turned out, I quickly discovered that not only did I need to come out of denial about my *personal* issues, but also needed to come out of denial about many of the doctrines and traditions that I had been taught. I realized that I had to finally come to grips with many of the contradictions and inconsistencies that I had noticed in the doctrines and teaching with which I had been educated. Once I was willing to come of denial, HaShem in His great mercy lifted the veil from my eyes so that I could finally see the beauty of his Divine Torah.

This has been my experience, too, almost word for word, and that of many others I have met and gotten to know on this path. We end up discovering that getting to the end of ourselves is the best thing that ever happened to us. ;)

Welcome, Bracy. I've greatly benefitted from your posts. :thumbsup: :wave: :clap:

[visionary]

:wave: This has been my experience, too, almost word for word, and that of many others I have met and gotten to know on this path. We end up discovering that getting to the end of ourselves is the best thing that ever happened to us. ;)

Welcome, Bracy. I've greatly benefitted from your posts. :clap: ;) Me too.. so you should feel right at home with us... since we are on the same path in our journey to draw closer to Yeshua.

[jgonz]

Welcome! :wave:

[Vaneeza Malkah]

Shalom, Welcome

Even though I'm new here, its been a blessing reading all of the posts here. I can relate very much to your story and I too am a former baptist.

[CovenantRay]

Shalom Achi:

Welcome to the neighborhood and the family.

CovenantRay :prayer: