BORN-AGAIN CONFUSED

[Dindin25]

Hello all, i am a born again Christian. I have so many questions as to how to find the right church to attend, certain beliefs to aquire and avoiding confusion when people of different denominations tell me different things. Consider the fact that i am the only one who is born again in my household and have very few true Christians friends, it is very hard to get advice and fellowship when needed. A little about me before i continue, i became born again at a chiropractic school where a teacher helped me change my life.( Not sure exactly what denomination)but God spoke to him and my teacher taught me the basics of what i needed to know about born again christian life. I then left that school and fell away for some time. I eventually decided to come back to God and really give my life to Him finally.

The major problem i am facing here is i recently been dating a SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST that i am just learning about.  I have heard that SDA's have their reputation for being a "cult". Yesterday he explained that to SDA's hell doesnt exist and when we die we "sleep" and wait for the second coming to be judged. Also the whole vegan/vegetarian thing is very strict as well. I am having a really hard time with this because i do not know what is truly right as a Christian and what isnt. I am easily influenced when taught something i dont know about. I am confused about who to believe/take advice from.. How do i know which church is a true and right church, what the bible really says and how can i understand what the bible says myself? I have prayed for God to show me the Truth and reveal things i do not understand. I do not want to be sucked in to this "cultish" religion but how do i know whats truth and what isnt? He has mentioned us getting married and he wants his wife to be SDA but now i feel as if i will make a huge mistake.

[Lively Stone]

It is important to fellowship with other Christians, because we are a family and I am happy to see you desire what God desires for you. It would be a good thing to go back to that person who influenced you for Christ and find out where (s)he attends church and start from there.

Ultimately the only wise course of action is to pray and ask the Lord to lead you to a fellowship that believes the bible, teaches the bible, and doesn't focus on performance for righteousness, but that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and it is by His blood we are cleansed of sin and made right with God through our faith in Him. God wants you to be firmly established in your faith and being a part of a good church will help you to do that, so He is the one to whom you must turn to in order to find it. We shouldn't go looking on our own strength. Ask God and then wait on His lead. He will do it!

There are many Christians in the SDA, but there is much error in its doctrine, so for your spiritual sake, stay away from them. There is no such thing as soul sleep, and there is a Lake of Fire that we call hell.

You obviously have two dilemmas. You need a great church family that God will lead you to, and you also have a decision to make about the man you are seeing. Let God point you to a great family of God, and then let Him lead you regarding your relationship. He does say that we mustn't be unequally yoked together.

IMHO, these doubts you are having are brought about by Holy Spirit, who wants to lead you in His truth. I think it's a good thing. It serves to point out to you that you will find trouble in your relationship, should you marry this man, whose beliefs are not in line with scripture.

[chosenone]

Dindin welcome to Gods family

Anyone who doesn't believe in hell(when Jesus speaks of hell a lot) and thinks we have to be vegans/vegetarians, is to be avoided.
I personally wouldn't go near an SDA church. Far too many errors.

Make some investigations of local churches on line and go along to a few. Ask God to make it clear where HE wants you to go. A Vineyard or New frontiers church is usually a good bet.

Listen to some good teaching. Joyce Meyer is an excellent teacher, and her programme 'Enjoying every day life' is on many God TV channels every day.

[Dindin25]

Thank you both for your advice..i will keep praying and i will do more research on churches i can start attending..I def saw a red flag when i started learning more about SDA and what i was getting into with him.  I appreciate your input :)

[Mog19]

Welcome to our family Dindin!!!
It's really hard at first to get to grips with things but don't worry, God will lead you to where He wants you to be!!!

Firstly, what kind of person are you? I mean, are you quiet, traditional?? Or do you enjoy a little more pep?? More up beat?? 

I personally like a more modern church group, I like heavy metal so a quite church group isn't my thing!! Lol.  When I'm in a more traditional church tho, I still feel the Holy Spirit with me!!!
God has allowed different churches because we are all different. And I guess it's easier to learn somewhere that you feel comfortable. If that makes sense!!??

I think the right church group for everyone is one that teaches GODS WAYS! NOT MANS!!!
The whole meat thing with the SDA, I'm not sure about because I don't know much about them. What I do know is that Jesus ate meat. People have always eaten meat.  And Jesus said that its not what goes into the body that makes you unclean it's what comes from your heart that makes you unclean.
Other then that? I don't know!!!

Visit a few different churches. god will lead you to the right one, even if it takes a while to find it!!!

Gods teaching are consistent. Always.  If a church differs from or add to or takes away from Gods word, then it's a wrong church!!! 

Just remember, we are all here to help each other!! We may not always agree with each other, and sometimes it leads to squabbling but we are all one in Christ. We all seek to please Him. And we are all loved by Him.

[Colbyj00]

Hello:) I just wanted to say, God understands that we get confused at times. He loves us & wants to guide our footsteps. His path is always the right path. I was raised in churc & have known God my whole life, but it took me a long time to realize I wasn't giving Him COMPLETE control. The bible says that God will finish the good work He started in us & He surely will if we let Him. W become perfect christians overnight, its a process & He will help us make the changes we need to.it sounds like you are doing the best thing you can do by praying & asking God to help you. God is truth & His word is the truth so don't let different people with different opinions influence your decisions. As long as you go by what the bible teaches you'll be on the right track! The bible can be a little hard to understand but God will help you. Keep praying for knowledge & understanding of His word. He will reveal it to you in wonderful ways. He is truly amazing! God bless you! I wish you the best in your walk with the Lord.

[Avalanche]

Just wanted to say I feel you.... I'm in more or less the same boat. Well, not exactly, I'm still dating the same non-religious guy.

And soul sleep is what happens to me in a traditional church... the music puts me in some sort of half asleep state....

[Mog19]

There are times when I like the traditional hymns, like Avalanche said, it's kind of trance like, peaceful, calming.  Sometimes I need that!!

I tend to get very emotional and blubber a bit, weather I sing older hymns or newer songs. 
I was confused by this, I thought well why am I crying, it's supposed to be a happy thing I'm doing!!
Then an older woman in my church group said that it was the Holy Spirit filling me with so much love and praise that it was too much to contain!!

I hope that you find a nice church group with people who can help you on your journey!!!

[Avalanche]

Actually, my trance-like state is NOT a good thing. It literally puts me half to sleep, about around the second line I'm not singing but yawning. I don't know the words to a single Dutch hymn, despite 'singing' them for years. The result was that I literally missed out on most of the rest of the service too. Nothing I can do, I've tried everything because it's a very unpleasant sensation.

[Mog19]

Lol, didn't realise you meant it that way Avalanche!!!!