Originally posted by Evee
Hey thanks folks,
brotherjim thanks for the advice.
I hope you don't get to surprised at the questions I ask.
I will probably ask more shocking ones in the future.
I feel like you may question if I am born again christian but not to wonder I am.
My maturity may not be where you are or someone else but I am born again never the less.
I have to tell you the fellowship in church has not helped but stunted my growth.
I would like a suggestion as to what church you would suggest.
I felt a slight bit of judgement in your tone.
Forgive me if I am wrong.
Yes we do have much to be thankful for.
Dearest Evee,
Thank you for considering my words.
I wasn't questioning your born-again status whatsoever - just didn't know because you didn't say.
Any maturity I may have was not always there - I'm two decades in the Lord, plus was brought up in it (dad a Sunday School Super., and grandad a missionary to Trinidad, etc.). So a lot was merely by circumstance. But even the first ten years after getting saved, I was likely a better sinner than anyone posting here - and very ignorant of some of the most basic tenets of our faith. Also, any maturity I have was totally by Grace, the Father's sovereign will I be molded as such to help others (I would much rather be alone and living in the mountains, 4 or 5 miles from any other human and definately not on-line.)
So, no, I hope the Holy Ghost will bear you witness to believe, I was not judging you whatsoever - not even "a slight bit." And there's nothing for me to forgive - I was not offended, and I understand how someone could easily come to such a conclusion.
It's very, very sad what you say in regards to fellowship, as I know personally how hard it is to find a church to feed us. But remember the words of Jeremiah (Chap. 3, I think) where he says the problem of our not being fed is not on the part of the pastor, but when WE turn to God with our WHOLE heart, God WILL raise up pastors to feed us.
More important than being fed the Word at church, however, is that we are planted among other believers. They're a pain in the butt, and as we submit to the Word that commands us to assemble - and also to love all others unconditionally, we will begin to grow in the GRACES of God out of its necessity for putting up with all the junk in peoples' lives. Then as we grow in Grace, the Holy Ghost will grant a corresponding growth in the knowledge of Him - even if He has to teach us Himself.
Growing in the knowledge of Him without intermittently growing in the Graces of Him, yields a life puffed up with pride - whereby we become mostly useless to God and ourselves.
"Knowledge puffs up, but Grace edifies" [paraphrased - I think].
May God richly bless you, and begin with providing the Grace for you to put up with some believers somewhere.
In His Love for you, your brother, jim
