Apostate?

[joeltan]

Part of my growing up was that I was involved in a religion that beleives it is the only true religion. We would go knock on doors at 9 in the morning to spread the good word that had been given to us. Because we were commanded by Jesus to go out and be witnesses.

At the age of 17 i decided to be baptized. Yes there was a series of questions and meetings we had to go through to understand fully what it means to follow christ. At the time, I was not doing this for myself. I was doing it for my g/f , and family and to look good in the eyes of those who watched over me. So even though I made the public dedication, it was heartless and unfounded.

Shortly after that I became a very bad person. Very Dark and shady with things that I would do. Everything from pre-marital sex , lying,stealing. My G/F of that time became pregnant. And because of the way i was raised. I decided it would be best to try and change my life and become a family.

Things did not work the way that i thought they would and I turned into the person once again that I didnt want to be. From commiting fornication/adualtry with other women, to drugs and not following the law at all.It took me going to jail and some other things to realize that my life is not what I wanted it to be.

I had spoke with men in CMA (christian motorcyclist association) about questions i had. From the trinity, to Jehovah and were the name originated from and all other questions you could possibly ask. These men and familys took me in and showed me love. Love that I had missed from my own personal (blood family) members because i had been disfellowshipped.
Disfellowshipping is when you are cast out for not repenting or turning your back on Jesus.

Members of my own family will not talk to me this day. And its been 10 years. They only talk to me if they have to, If something trajic was to happen. My oldest brother use to love me so much, and im sure he still does but i hardly ever am able to talk to him. He has Crohns Disease and I know his time is short . He is in so much pain. Thats why my favorite scripture is Revelation 21 vs 4

Now, After turning my life around and being sober (so to say) of the things I use to do. Kelly and I have been happily together for 2 years. I plan on asking her to be my wife.But because I have not gone bck to the religion i once knew. I am considered to be an apostate because of the things I am doing now. I may not know everything there is to know about God but I do know

That Christ Jesus died for my sins, and by me excepting him into my heart (whole heartedly) will give me everlasting life.

But by the things that I do, such as, going out and talking with people about my faith , and the motivational speaking. It is considered wrong in the eyes of those i once knew.My second to oldest brother didnt know how to look at me today when he said that he had seen us in the magazine we were featured in.

Apostate? I dont think so. I am doing what God has asked me to do

What do you think?

[ProZach]

what denomination are you Joel? i am nondenominational Christian. and what were you before?

[joeltan]

jehovas witness then. i would like to think I am nondenominational now

[J Blox]

Joel, i haven't met you, but..


I think you are on the right track. Your family on the other hand are a bunch of ignorant asses..

I don't down people for having faith because everyone has different things that get them through to the day. So you do what you have to, but when you take your faith and use it to be ignorant, thats retarded.

All you can do is be a good man(person) and at the end of the day(in my opinion), if there is a god and that isn't good enough. (In my opinion) Thats not the "heaven" I want to be in and "God" can go fuck himself.

[old man roger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeltan Part of my growing up was that I was involved in a religion that beleives it is the only true religion.

dont all religions think their religion is the only true religion ?

joel you know me and you know im not a religious person but if you believe you are doing what god wants you to do then how can your family hold that against you , i mean if you tell them you have a personal relationship with god and you are doing what he wants you to do then how can they ?

i understand alot of religious people put god first even before their own children but when a parent can just write their own child off for not following the religion they [the parent] chose to follow that just solidifies my belief that if there is a god he would have nothing to do with religion ..

it's been a while since i was in bible school [raised catholic and went to catholic school] but isn't there a parable about a lost sheep and though not exactly fitting for your situation doesn't it seem your parents would want to have you back rather then just ignore and shun you ? to me either their religion is flawed or at best misinterpreted..


i mostly try not to talk religion on websites because it usually just gets people made but you asked what we think

joel you just be you and im sure life will treat you just fine and if your family chooses not to associate with you then that's their loss

[joeltan]

my parents are ok with what I am doing, They have fallen away from the Religion also. so its mainly my siblings.. And yes they want me to come back to the religion. But I do not want to. I am happy with my relationship that I have outside of there religion

[old man roger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeltan my parents are ok with what I am doing, They have fallen away from the Religion also. so its mainly my siblings.. And yes they want me to come back to the religion. But I do not want to. I am happy with my relationship that I have outside of there religion

have you made a real effort to reunite with your siblings ?

i really shouldnt talk because i have a brother i have only talked to once in about 13 years nothing to do with religious belief

[joeltan]

yes, thats all i would like to say on that

[old man roger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeltan yes, thats all i would like to say on that

i understand , i would need hours and hours to explain my relationship with my one brother get along with my other brother and my sister fine but my oldest brother not so much

[joeltan]

its a crazy life man,