User talk:LenlenBunting/Sandbox

http://thebereans.net/forum/index.php?topic=4422.msg138750#msg138750

Ironbrew bagong salta (newbie) Offline

Posts: 10

The gospel is a dangerous tool in the wrong hands.

View Profile Re: The INC (1914) People Wants To Ban The Bereans In Wikipedia « Reply #94 on: September 30, 2005, 05:06:38 PM » I do believe it's time for me to come clean. And if anyone wants to quote my post, please link back here or quote in full, not piecemeal.

I've been posting under different names at the 70213/Doctrines forum periodically since 2000/2001. I'm a current member of the INC, who due to unique circumstances, is unable to leave the church at this time. I will not reveal the reason why, but I am not being forced or coerced into staying against my will by anyone affliated with the INC.

The only church I've known all my life is the INC, and in my youth, I truly felt I was following the truth and would gladly give my life for the INC if I had to. As I grew up, I began to question some of the teachings and practices within our church, such as supporting elected candidates, whether or not "Church of Christ" is written in the Bible or if there is truly one path to salvation. I found myself unable to defend some INC teachings and reconcile them with myself after hearing opposing viewpoints.

In my humble opinion, there have also been some subtle changes in practices over the years, with the ministers referring to the "Church of Christ" instead of just "Church," asking to link prayers with "the spirit of the Church administration" instead of the Holy Spirit and about 80% of recent lessons being about why the INC is true, why one should stay in the INC, why Brother Felix Manalo is the last messenger or something along those lines, while in the past, lessons like those would be only make up about 15% of the total amount. Again, in my opinion, it seems that recently, the Church has focused more on convincing members to stay inside instead of matters regarding one's faith and conduct.

I've also seen some of our officers (who pledge to be "model members of the Church") gossip about the leaders of one of the CFOs in our locale and one even admitted into doing things (in the past, and I do believe that person) which goes against INC teachings severely and most Christians would not agree with. The thing is that their families are well-known in church circles and also hold offices of their own. Even if I would tell their actions to the minister, I run the risk of being "snubbed" by their families and the friends of their families, which is a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation, which would put me in direct conflict with some of my brethren.

It is difficult to ask questions in the INC from my perspective, since the Q&A forums usually require you to add your name to the paper sheet and it's embarassing to ask the minister or other officers too many questions, as it is stated in the INC that "contending with the Church Administration is tantamount to contending with God," and our lessons place emphasis on unity and how disagreement is bad.

In the forums, things weren't much better. The first time I asked a question (which was about the INC supporting candidates,) my so-called "brethren" chastized me for disagreeing with the Church, and called me disparaging terms, which totally stunk, for lack of a better, PG-rated term. They would also respond by insults and by bringing the same Catholic abuse scandal whenever someone would raise a point in the forums. At this point, I was already questioning my current beliefs and hearing all this didn't exactly strengthen my faith in the INC.

I discovered the Wikipedia INC article and registered under the name Onlytofind. This was obviously the wrong place to put my personal experiences (experience and some of the things I read) and opinions down, and after my experiences at the forums, I got off on the wrong foot with Glenn, Emico and Ealva (another INC member), and from there I think everyone reading knows the story by now.

I can understand that there are some truly unobjective people who would use my post as a rallying cry against the INC. Although I have my disagreements with the INC, the majority of officers and members one would find in there are decent people who want to do what's right, and are pleasant people who truly care about others. I pledge on my honor and before God that all events, to the best of my recollections are accurate, but this post is taken from my personal experiences and opinion and should be treated as such. My suggestion for anyone wanting to find out more about the INC objectively is to ask current members, visit their services, compare it with the criticisms you hear and come up with your own opinion.

To Glenn:

You obviously have more guts than me and I respect you for that. I really don't want to see anything bad happen in regards to your posts online and my suggestion is to take some time off and come back posting under a few different usernames. The Internet gets less private everyday and you'll never know who you'll run into. Some are totally nuts, like Disco/O'Gowan/AO, who celebrated the death of elderly INC members. Sick.

I'm posting under these fake names, but as you can understand, I'm concerned for my privacy.

Listen, I was wrong to approach you, Emico and Ealva in such a hostile manner, although I ask for understanding in my past experiences. I felt you were playing favorites in the Emico situation and that's what led me to my remarks, which were exaggerated and incorrect, created in a heated situation which I understand was inflamed by my presence and attitude.

I apologize and seek forgiveness for the hostility on my behalf and on my part, pledge to forgive and forget any hostility shared.

It is written on Emico's Wikipedia userpage that he is a former member of the INC seeking to rejoin it and the Talk:Iglesia ni Cristo page does feature a post from him where he talked with INC officers and tried to work with them to improve his behavior as well as taking steps to rejoin the Church.

He seems really unhappy to be out of the INC, and I would really like to see him back inside. He's not a bad individual, I was much too hard on him, and from what I can see, he can get back in the INC if he works at it. I think I'll e-mail him when I get the chance.