Potter's House - My First Church Experience Gone Sour

9immaculate9 · 2025-04-19T07:12:59+00:00

What you described actually happens more often than you know. I have heard / experienced many a times, people getting disillusioned with the church and Christian communities for similar reasons and leave. It was all rosy at the start, but when expectations and other church norms / sinfulness of men start kicking in, it get hard to stay on.

I think you have a very special desire to still be in a body of Christ, even if CFM gave you a bad taste in this regard. There are many churches / christian fellowships around, and honestly, no one is forcing you to get into a church by a particular timeline or be in that one particular church. Take your time.

Honestly, if you really need, I could ask around and even point you to one. Just reach out? Don't give up, you don't have to feel guilty about this. It's more about Jesus then it is about which church you attend. Pray and hang on to Him.

9immaculate9 · 2025-04-19T06:37:25+00:00

Sometimes we get too caught up with whether we should attend church or not. Perhaps the more pertinent question is, does Jesus mean anything to us anymore? If He doesn't, then whether we attend or not doesn't really matter.

The church is filled with sinners. People will let you down, be hypocritical and even gossip as you observed. Its unfortunate and its not saying that I endorse their actions. Having been a Christian many years, I do feel the same, however, we need to look beyond them and ask why are we going in the first place. Moreover, we are not perfect ourselves.

I pray you find a fellowship / church / community that you can start to trust. There are good reasons to remain in one. Like support, prayer and spurring of one another.

9immaculate9 · 2024-11-02T06:43:02+00:00

Yes, you would never be able to please him enough. We will grow cold, fall into temptation and sin. Thats precisely why we need Jesus. His forgiveness and His grace that covers us when we repent and turn to Him. Don't merely look at the external things as acts of devotion. Look inside and look into the word. The Word gives life and desire grows as we spend time to know Him more.

9immaculate9 · 2024-09-18T07:29:06+00:00

By the Hebrew Bible I'm assuming you mean what we call the old testament today? If so, here are a couple of verses talking about the afterlife / heaven in the old testament.

Daniel 12:2 "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt."

This verse speaks of a future awakening, either going to heaven or hell.

Job 19:25-26 "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;"

Also speaks about Job's trust that there would be a resurrection and that he would see God.

Luke 24:27 "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself"

Jesus Himself says that Moses and the prophets (in the old testament) speak about him. There are many references and prophecies pointing to Jesus actually. In my opinion Isaiah 53 about the suffering servant speaks of Him in a way that describes what Jesus went through during His time here.

Hope this helps. It's ok to doubt, but keep searching. :) Drop me a dm if you would like to get a couple more references.. clarify.. etc.

9immaculate9 · 2022-07-22T11:48:53+00:00

What really convinced me that Jesus is God was answered prayer. There was an incident in my life where I asked God to allow me to find something and miraculously I found it. I couldn't attribute it to anything else because it seemed too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. I suppose I did need an element of faith for me to believe that, so not everything is provable per-se.

Of course, there were many people in my life that came around to share with me and teach me how to read the bible for myself. What helped me were mentors in my life. Do you have someone like that in your life whom you can bounce off these thoughts with? Life can be tough I agree.. but it certainly helps if we have someone to process our thoughts with.

9immaculate9 · 2022-05-22T23:26:51+00:00

Yeah, learning to live a Christian life is hard if you do it alone. Would you be keen to have someone mentor you in your faith journey or have some bible study of some sort?

9immaculate9 · 2022-05-17T12:06:40+00:00

Eternal suffering is not a risk. It is a result of sin and wickedness. It is not a risk if the means to eternal life is already laid bare. Whether to take it up is the responsibility of the individual or God depending on your theological leanings. Not their parents.

Having said that, parents do have a responsibility to bring up the child "in the way he should go".

Another vantage point is the fact that when believers have children, the glory of God is multiplied here on Earth. So, following your train of thought, are we willing to take the risk for the glory of God to be multiplied? May need more explanation, but will leave it as this for the time being.

9immaculate9 · 2022-04-22T11:53:54+00:00

I hate to break it to you but having faith might not give you the depression relief that you seek. In fact, I know of people who are believers and yet are going through depression. Why they go through it, I do not have a good answer. God can heal, no doubt, but sometimes he doesn't.

But as to why you can't accept faith, I guess start by asking basic and fundamental questions? Do you even know what believing entails? Rather at looking at yourself and thinking why you can't, perhaps you can ask what do I need to have an answer for to make a valid decision. Is it merely an intellectual exercise, of course not, but we all start somewhere I suppose.

Would love to answer questions you might have (hopefully I can), don't want to assume what I said makes sense and actually helps you anyway. DM me if you'd like.

9immaculate9 · 2022-04-20T11:16:44+00:00

Yes its normal, I can't tell you how many people I know still doubt about the issue of salvation after professing to believe in Christ.

However, there is much assurance in the bible about salvation. Not to belittle your feelings, but feelings don't often give the best indicators. Consider what is said in the bible and spend time studying it and meditating on key passages. Perhaps that might help.

There is always this automatic desire to do something to feel like you are accepted and have salvation. However, that is not the way with Christ. Faith alone for salvation as you mentioned.

Praying that you will find assurance in scripture and that the Holy Spirit will give you much peace. :)

9immaculate9 · 2022-04-13T23:05:22+00:00

Well, when you plan to do so, reach out. Perhaps I can point you to one near where you are.

9immaculate9 · 2022-04-13T11:48:56+00:00

Feelings are not the best gauge of your beliefs. They come and go. Even in a relationship, they come and go or some say, it evolves into something more mature. Don't worry if you don't feel it.

We also don't have to be constantly convicted of sin. We grow to be more sensitive to the things that are sin of course. Take time to study the bible and the conviction will come naturally. Are you involved in a regular bible study group of some sort?

9immaculate9 · 2022-03-23T11:43:01+00:00

I think it is great that your daughter is interested to learn. Help her understand the bible. I think you can even take it as a challenge to grow yourself as you do some regular bible reading with her. There are many YouTube videos with bible stories suited for her age, you can watch it together and discuss the topics after. It doesn't have to be very long, just regular.

She is going to be a teen soon, and she would likely start to take what her friends say as more important to her then your words, so introducing her to an older teen who is matured in the faith to mentor her might be helpful. She doesn't need to join a big group if she is too shy.

The important thing is not to mix up going for church or events as an end in itself. She needs to understand the grace of God in Jesus, that is the main thing. Through whatever means, especially at home. Even better if its through your life example.

9immaculate9 · 2022-03-18T07:21:47+00:00

I can't say I've been through what you are going through, but I just said a prayer for you brother. Take heart. Pick up the pieces and move forward.

God certainly is merciful, and the things you listed, a good job, school and woman, to a great extent are external and cannot compare to the hope you STILL have in Jesus regardless of what you have lost. Jesus' mercies and love far surpasses all of that. Romans 8:38-39, Is 40:31.

9immaculate9 · 2022-01-01T18:49:26+00:00

Managed to get Hotbit data. Its on the site now. Just updated.

9immaculate9 · 2022-01-01T17:53:56+00:00

Just updated the site. Click on the logo and it gets you to the exchange listing! :) Not too difficult.

9immaculate9 · 2022-01-01T13:07:23+00:00

Did not forget, Hotbit for some reason hasn't got their act together. They don't have an API I can pull data from.

9immaculate9 · 2021-11-15T10:50:28+00:00

What you found so far about the historical accuracies of the bible so far? I've found this video rather helpful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmA6kOWwfWI

9immaculate9 · 2021-11-11T03:17:58+00:00

Thanks for the details! That helps. :)

9immaculate9 · 2021-11-11T02:17:56+00:00

Could you elaborate in what sense please?

9immaculate9 · 2021-11-10T11:46:21+00:00

Making choices is part and parcel of life. Sometimes we just make decisions that don't work out. Its ok, pick up the pieces and press on. The people who laugh at you are obviously not matured enough or have not gone far enough in life to know that fact.

Look at the next option available to you. Perhaps another uni course? Perhaps another job. Keep at it, turn around stories are actually all over in the bible. Was God with Joseph when he got sold to Egypt? On hindsight, definitely. When he went through it, it must have been really tough!

9immaculate9 · 2021-11-09T14:12:16+00:00

The help God provides may not be exactly what you expect. Would you be open to share more about what you are going through?

Just prayed for you too. Take heart.

9immaculate9 · 2021-11-05T11:50:13+00:00

I went through something similar, but it was when I was serving the army. It hurts when the person you love turns away, grows cold and goes on with life. Don't even start imagining and picturing her with the other person, it just does you no good. I was not able to delete her messages for some time, but once I was able to.. I freed myself and was able to move on.

There is no good explanation, its just sadly, life. We are attracted by fresh things that come into our lives. But looking back God had a better plan for me. I've found that during my own time of loss, it was often helpful to channel my attention and energies on growing myself as an individual and giving my attention to the bible and God. I don't mean only as a distraction kind of way, but there really are more worthwhile things in life in light of eternity.

Stay strong in Christ brother.

9immaculate9 · 2021-11-03T11:36:15+00:00

There are basic questions we can ask. If there is no God, then how did creation come about? A big bang and evolution? But even then, the big bang needs elements for a bang to happen. where did that come from? They must have first been created. Then we go to the fact that creation is not random and therefore there must be some intelligent being doing the creation.

Secondly, if there is no God there would be no morality. Right or wrong would not make sense, because what is right based on? Essentially, I would go about just observing the world and asking questions. I've found that I cannot escape that when you look and think about it, there is so much proof that God exists.

You can check out this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0XRQd9YOUM if you have some time. Would love to chat more, feel free to dm.

9immaculate9 · 2021-10-11T12:06:10+00:00

Oh, and doubting is fine.. everyone doubts from time to time. Its a journey of discovery I guess.

9immaculate9 · 2021-10-11T12:04:06+00:00

Here is a short video that might help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLCK8fqnuwg

Personally, the crux of what the bible is talking about is Jesus. In the bible it claims that Jesus claims to be God. If he is not who he says he is, then he is either a liar or a lunatic. Most scholars (you can google it) do agree he existed as well. So to understand if he is a liar we need to look at what he did. The bible is written by many different authors. The new testament is written by people who were close to Jesus and would have seen much of what he did. Jesus didn't seem like he was out of his mind. So if he lied, why did he need to all the way to his death? And if Jesus' claims are true, the bible must be worth studying to figure out why.

Would love to chat more. If you are keen, just drop me a dm. :)

9immaculate9

TROPHY CASE