On a recent trip to Denver I was able to meet with five of the people who read this blog and discovered that I wish I knew you all a little bit better!
So this post is your opportunity to let me get to know you, and allow you to introduce yourself and get to know one another.
In the comment section below, tell us a bit about yourself, your story, and where you are at with God, church, and Christian theology right now. What big issues are you facing? What big questions do you have?
If you want, include a line about where you currently live (e.g., which city) so that others who may live near you can connect with you, or maybe I can connect with you if I travel to your area.
If you blog, please include a link to your blog in your comment, and state in a sentence or two what your blog is about.
If you have written a book, please link to where people can learn more about it and buy a copy.
Keep up the good work–keep challenging us, brother!
Hi Jeremy,
I came back to Christ in 2004 on Thanksgiving night ( a great reason to be thankful ) listening to Dr.Gene Scott on shortwave. I have been on a wonderful pilgrimage during which God has revealled His Majesty and Grace many times. In 2005, my house was struck by lightning in August. Prior month, I had just moved my family to another area here in Philadelphia, Pa. We were having problems making settlement, and then in June, everything seemed to fall into place and July on 2005 we made the move to our new home. I hold to the 5 Solas and if something is not clearly stated and explained in God’s Word, I’m not doing it. I do not blog, but I enjoy reading blogs that are based on the truth of God’s Word. I belong to the church that Jesus built.
Thanks for introducing yourself, Ed. Good to meet you online! I hold to the 5 Solas as well, though usually when people say this, they also identify themselves as a Calvinist. I am not a Calvinist. If you are, I hope we can still get along! ha!
I am a friend of Levi Jenkins, Albuquerque, who told me about your site. We have recently moved to Thailand. Although I am with missions agency that trains church leaders with many courses, my real love is teaching Hebrew and Greek. If the Lord gives me one “wish” before my funeral it would to be to do something that significantly progresses the free grace movement. Have a couple of friends who are interested in working on the needed trilogy: completely new translation from Greek NT; commentary explaining the new translations; a systematic theology that is built totally from scripture and lets Calvin, Augustine, Arius, Arminius, etc. rest in their graves. I think the biggest and best step in that direction thus far is a book I had the privilege of proofreading: Final Destiny.
Hi. All in brief… Brought up in church from Moses Basket up; a UK-Carib Pentecostal, then a small ‘family’ church, then a large evangelical one. Always Word hungry, with questions.
I have not gone to an established church, so to speak, for nearly 2 years. I now assemble and fellowship as/when with like-minded believers.
There is a recurring theme of the new covenant; temple made without hands. It was suggested by Jesus, mentioned on Mars Hill, in Hebrews, in Corinthians and even Stephen got stoned for suggesting it. We are the temple of living stones – the new one that Jesus promised to build. But He also promised to destroy the old one. Not only that Jesus Saves, the concept of Spirit and Truth worship being not having to worship in a temple and support its obligations was a key part of the ‘good news’.
When we gather together the aim is to exhort and encourage each other in and through our good works.
If anything concerns me at the moment, I’m having difficulty with what is the old wineskins and descendants of the old covenant practices and mentality, and whether I ought to abide it or shun it. I guess that’s another job what the Spirit is here for; to direct I these matters. And Jesus’ command to love and don’t judge will also help.
Thanks for this.
Thanks, Mark.
How did you meet the people with whom you have been gathering for two years? Just curious…
Thanks for givings the chance to introduce ourselves, Jeremy.
I’ve been a faithful reader of your blog for almost 3 years now.
I am too progressive for conservatives and too conservative for liberals. I was a member of a very cultic church for about 12 years. That experienced showed me the importance of critical thinking and study of scripture, theology, and church history. I’m not a member of a church at this point, but am looking forward to join a healthy one at some point.
I am a Calvinist–but one whose theology has been largely shaped by Karl Barth, Thomas F. Torrance, and Jurgen Moltmann. The topics that most interest me are: theodicy, escathology,
The two bloggers I respect the most and that have helped me the most are: 1. Bobby Grow over at the Evangelical Calvinist Forum (http://growrag.wordpress.com/) and 2.You.
I have tried to become a blogger on and off (for the past three years) but have failed miserably for various reasons, the main one being my not being sure exactly why I should blog and what I should have as a goal. I’m not giving up on this writing hobby of mine. I think I have finally come to realize what I want to use my blog for and what I want to pursue theologically. Topics that I will soon be exploring are: hell, homosexuality, and Christian origins. My blog is titled Kingdom Blogmatics (http://kingdomblogmatics.blogspot.com/) I have zero readers as of now and 1 post. lol
I’m 33, live in Los Angeles, and am married to Desiree. We have a wonderful two year old son (John Luke).
Thanks for reading, Juan. I love your comments. Thanks for the high praise about my blog.
I am not a Calvinist, but like you, I love Barth, Torrance, and Moltmann.
If you want to blog, keep plugging away at it. I find that it helps to write my books online. This gives me LONG series of posts to keep me publishing on a regular basis. But that is just what works for me.
I grew up in the church, and I was about as dogmatic as they come for a long time. About eight or nine years ago I realized that much of my enthusiasm was in fact a mask to hide my own doubts about God and Christianity. I decided to reevaluate my faith, and that reevaluation continues to this day, though I think I have learned a few things along the way. The most important thing, I think, was coming to terms with the depths of God’s grace.
I struggle with the idea of church. I loved church when I was young, and I would never have believed it if you told me I would be so disillusioned by it someday. I can’t pretend that I am certain about things I am supposed to be certain about, and I can’t deny that I believe things that I am perhaps supposed to reject out of hand. Most churches, rightfully, require you to agree with their doctrines to a large degree before you can get involved in ministry, so I feel somewhat ‘pushed out.’
I live in northeastern Pennsylvania, near the border with New Jersey, where I grew up. I wrote a book on moral philosophy called ‘Morality Is The Problem’ that traces step by step how I have come to understand the gospel, sin and God after several years of thought and study.
It is available here:
Morality is the Problem
I also have a blog on Goodreads.com where I discuss theological and philosophical issues.
It can be found here:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6949089.Jake_Yaniak/blog
I can’t remember how I found your blog. A few years ago, in a moment of lonely desperation, I googled something having to do with ‘Christians against biblical inerrancy’ (for some reason you were on the first or second page of search results…) because I was trying to find out if there was anyone else who was thinking about the Scriptures in a different way from what I had encountered. I was very pleased to discover that you really look at these issues honestly, without feeling the need to make your beliefs conform to what others demand. It was a huge encouragement at the time.
Wonderful. Thanks for sharing the links. Our stories are very similar! Keep writing and thinking!
I’m 73 years old, very happily married and living in Deltona, Florida. My dad was a church organist for sixty years, so I had exposure to a number of Christian denominations. I describe myself as a person of faith but not of doctrine. I see value in the communal worship experience for those who need it and criticize no one’s method of seeking the Truth. I know what I don’t know, and I can believe what I’m not smart enough to comprehend. As far as others are concerned, I try hard to leave nothing left unspoken and no one left unloved.
I’m an author of ebooks of my own under the name “Clay Reston” and ghostwrite, edit and publish for others. I’m also a songwriter.
Thanks for introducing yourself some more. I think one of the most valuable things we can know is how much we don’t know!
Grew up in a believing, but not a church-going environment. Started attending a local youth group around 7th grade. Ended up going to seminary and into ministry for a while. Seminary did not prepare me for the reality of church life. I left the ministry when my wife filed for divorce.
I stayed with the church. Became an elder even. But then a change happened. I started to question some of the things my church taught. No one had answers. One minister even told me, “I don’t have time to debate theology with you.” We ended up leaving there. The next place ended up being worse. Although they claimed to be a place of healing, they too did not like questions. We ended up being asked to leave.
I have blogged about that experience extensively, a part of the healing process I guess. (http://notaprettysite.blogspot.com)
Now I read a lot. I find that what I read in the new-Calvinist blogs and books makes a lot of sense, and answers a lot of questions for me. Unfortunately, finding a church home has been a struggle. But I press on, in hopes of landing in the right place someday.
That is my experience with seminary also. It prepares you for lots of things, but few that have anything to do with real life … or even real ministry.
Thanks for mentioning your blog. I will come check it out.
Thanks for the invitation. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your work: it’s thoughtful and wastes few words.
There’s not much to say about me: I’ve known God for about 30 years, prayed and studied the Bible over the years, changed churches when I’ve moved away (left town for work/study), or if the church moved away (it happened twice – kinda like having your whole family run away from home!), and raised a family.
I’m currently working on a couple of my own books between paid consulting jobs. thatbibleblog.com is just an experiment in journalling in a different way. It seems to be working for me.
It sounds to me like there is a lot more to say about you than what you’ve said! I am glad you are using the blog as a way of journaling. I think that was kind of how blogging began!
I’ve considered myself a Christian my whole life, since I grew up going to church, but realized not quite a year ago that I really knew nothing about the gospel of Jesus. Now I’m on a journey! I know that there’s deep truth to discover, and I really think that there are so many Christians out there, as well as non-believers, who don’t truly know the gospel, the mystery of God. It’s so much more than just, “I’m a Christian, now I should be a better person and live a better life.” And I’m not saying that I know it all! Like I said, I’m on a journey.
I do have a blog, http://www.angelawilhite.com. It’s a blog about my family (including a whole bunch of pictures of my kids, which I’m sure are of no interest to anyone but my own family, ha), but since our faith defines our family and our life, my blog includes reflections on that faith in Christ, and my journey in understanding God and His purpose through Christ.
I’ve enjoyed your blog (this is the first time I’ve commented, though), and it has really made me think in different ways than I have always been taught. Thank you for writing!
Thanks for commenting! The main thing about blogging is to make sure you are writing on something that interests you. It sounds like you are doing that, so good job!
We are all on this journey together, and thanks for letting me walk with you for a while! It means a lot to me.
Hi Jeremy,
I am a graduate of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and a newly commissioned officer in the US Army as of a few days ago. I grew up in a non-denominational family with loving parents who taught me about Christ and took me to church and camps when they were able. I have them to thank for helping cement the foundation of my faith.
For most of my life I had an interest in topics about God, spirituality, and religion. I was drawn to research more into my faith because of the awesome sense of mystery, beauty, power, and truth that comes with everything about God. Here is my story.
The first website that I came across stunned me. I had known and believed that Jesus died for me along with everything else about the gospel, but I was being called out by the articles I read for the sin in my life and for my failure to make Jesus lord over my life. I was astounded by things they were saying that I never would’ve thought were sinful (Owning/watching TV, going to the movies, Rock music, reading anything other than the KJV, belonging to different types of Christianity and many others). Such a strange feeling of guilt stayed with me because I loved all of these things and didn’t really intend on giving up, but I also wanted to do right by God so I could know I was born again.
A few years later I expanded my research and came across other websites. One in particular was similar in many ways but a bit different. It condemned all the same things the first website did, sometimes even more harshly. God help you if you supported the New World Order by voting Republican or Democrat, disbelieved conspiracy theories, were Catholic or anything other than Baptist, believed in Lordship Salvation, listened to any music with a beat, read anything other than the KJV, etc. But what drew me to this website was that it was the first time I was taught in depth about Eternal Security and how salvation is a free gift from believing in Christ for it. The articles concerning this quoted many scriptures that supported it against what I learned from the first website and so I clung to them.
For many, many years since I have focused on nothing other than trying to figure out the truth behind salvation. I am here today with a lot of different thoughts and fears that have stemmed from all the arguments, heretic hunting, and finger pointing between the Free Grace position and Lordship Salvation position. I have read both positions with all the problem verses, including your articles, and yet I remain afraid because I know that I’m still a huge sinner. I listen to rock music, I enjoy going out with my friends and having a good time, I have problems with lust, pornography, being judgmental, hateful, and unforgiving, my prayer life and bible study are practically non-existent. I could keep going on but while I’m not afraid to discuss my sins that’s not where I’m trying to go with this. My fear comes from how easily my sin entices me when I’m stressed or tired, how sometimes I feel guilt and remorse when I sin but other times I do not, how easily I give up trying to abide in Christ.
By the teachings of one interpretation I am going to Hell, and while I hold to a Free Grace position I cannot help but be terrified when someone shows me scripture that supports that, whether or not their understanding of the passage is correct or not. I am also afraid that if I increase good works in my life and allow it to comfort me that I am guilty of trusting in my works and will also be damned. I’ve asked for change, I’ve admitted that I cannot do good on my own, I’ve asked for my sinful loves to be turned into hates but in many areas I haven’t seen much progress if any. Maybe my motives aren’t pure and my heart is asking out of some evil that I don’t understand, but if God doesn’t hear me because of that then there is no hope for me. I don’t know of anything else that I can do. I’m afraid but I’ve placed all my trust in what Christ did, it has to be the only way.
Justin, I dont normally respond to individuals on Jeremys blog but I was so touched by your sorrow that I just wanted to say “hang in there”.
As you’ve known Jesus all your life and from what you say I would say your are a true believer.
Holy Spirit has been guiding you in your search for The Truth. When you feel bad it’s because He is convicting of your issue’s and your realisation of that means you have the HS in you.
Trying to stop doing the things you don’t feel are right and not doing the things that you feel you aught to do is nothing new Paul had the same problem. Romans 7 v 14 to 25. Plus Romans 8 v1.
So Clive how do I change ? We can’t change ourselves only He
can. I’m 72 in July and have only been a Christian for 34 years and have sinned on a regular basis and am to ashamed to giveyou yhe details. However I appologise promise to repent then do it again and keep saying sorry and ask Him fir the strength to resist temotation. I am sinning less often and cant remember some if the stuff I used to do. I find the sins of omission harder to do than the comission ones now.
I know God loves me and you to bits, warts and all, so dont feel guilty as thats the accuser so tell him he’s a liar and tell him to clear off in the name of Jesus.
Eventually you will find your resisting and winning more than you are losing. Thats all He asks, when we are weak He is strong, it’s a win win life. So go and enjoy it, when the devil says go tellnhim NO. Your a soldier you know the drill. Your brother in Christ Clive
You are a great encourager, Clive. Thank you for caring enough about us to make time to put pen to paper (so to speak).
Justin,
Congratulations on becoming an officer! Quite an accomplishment.
I speak for a vast number of people when I say that you are not alone in what you think, feel, and fear!
One thing I am learning is that God loves us no matter what, and that when we learn to rest in His love, the fear of failure fades away. The perfect love of God casts out fear. Interestingly, rather than cause us to sin more, this knowledge that we are fully loved by God no matter what begins to cause us to sin less. It takes time, of course, and there are many mistakes along the way, but knowing that God love us and forgives us no matter what is the key to learning to live without fear and without crushing guilt.
I realized I never took the chance to thank you and Clive for your encouragement. It really has made a good bit of difference for me. While I can’t say I haven’t had my ups and downs with my problems since this post I’ve had periods of peace and joy that are more intense and longer lasting than I’ve ever experienced. Also my attitudes on many things seem to have been changing for the better. Slowly but surely I feel like I’m actually starting to grow and it is an amazing feeling. Thank you all for your fellowship.
Wonderful, wonderful! Thank you for coming back to say it was helpful. Most often I never hear back and wonder if this actually helps anyone. Thank you! Those ups and downs will continue (I have them as well – often), but just keep remembering that Jesus loves you NO MATTER WHAT!
Hi Jeremy
I became a Christian four years ago and have felt a bit of a failure ever since. I think my problem was that I expected to feel something and felt nothing. Everyone else was more excited about it than I was! People around me seem to feel the presence of God at least some of the time. They talk of having an experience of His love.I have never felt this. I have gone to the front of my church to have hands laid on me to receive ‘baptism of the Spirit’ many times, but felt nothing and did not receive the gift of tongues. So when I am in Christian circles I feel I don’t belong and am putting on an act. Sometimes I feel I have not changed one bit since becoming a Christian, despite the fact that I am meant to be a ‘new creation’.
However since discovering your blog, at last I feel a glimmer of hope. I am trusting that Jesus will get me to eternity despite my failings. I take comfort that others seem to be struggling so much too – it makes me feel not so alone.
PS. love your thoughts on the God of the Old Testament. I hope one day that our paths will cross Jeremy. You have helped me more than you will ever know.
This sounds so much like my story I thought it should just be in the response section of it. I’ve been a Christian for 15 years, but seems like 2. I go through high highs, as if I am certain of God and we are walking as one. Then low lows when I question His existence completely. Presently, I am at one of the lowest lows (coming off one of the highest highs ironically). My husband is athesist. I like to call him “evangelical atheist” because he feels he has found all the answers and wants to share with everyone and make all the who disagree feel ignorant. He does make good points though and I struggle to hold faith when he can make such great claims against God. This is especially why I have enjoyed Jeremy’s writings on the violence of God in the OT. I am finding I have more and more questions and finding I am getting angrier and angrier at God for not making everything more obvious and clear.
I live in Farmington Hills, MI with my four children all 4 and under. They keep me going most of the time so studying is not something I get to do to the extent I would like. I love reading this blog because it is short enough that I can read it but has enough “meat” to get me to start thinking and questioning. Thanks!
Ragan, don’t give up on your husband, I was like him at one point in life. My wife came to Christ before me and was always trying to talk to me about God. She would bring over people to the house who “knew” more than she, but I enjoyed trying to make them feel foolish. Atheism to me seems to be an inner doubt, or sin selfishness wrapped in pride. My experience is that they don’t want to confront their own sin, and the reality of being accountable, so they become evangelistic. I gave my life to Christ not after a mountain of words and logic, but by seeing my wife’s quiet example of living out her faith. Keep praying for him, I am proof that Christ can change a heart that once appeared hopeless.
Suzanne,
Thank you for the kind comment. I have never had “the feelings” either. Well, maybe once in a while a tingle down my spine and a shiver on my arms, but I occasionally get that when listening to music or watching a good movie too…
It is too bad when some churches teach that in order to know you are a Christian, you have to have certain behavior or certain feelings. It makes people like us wonder what is wrong with us or whether we are truly Christian.
Anyway, I hope you are learning to see that God loves you and is with you no matter what. He does’t care if you speak in tongues or not. He just likes being with you … just as you are.
Dear Jeremy,
Receive my warm greetings from Burundi.
i have prepared for you this mail from where God took me from my sins to where He reached me and how i found interest of taking Bible studies online which led me to start an Evangelistic Ministry here in Burundi.
the first of all,i start this by my testimony so that you can know me better.
My Name is Samuel Manirakiza(Manirakiza means in English(God saves),i am from Burundi
i was born in October 26th,1991 and raised in christian family.
i am the oldest in nine children the almighty God has given my parents.
My father is Pastor and archdeacon in Anglican church and my mother is a singer in the women choir.
In my growth,i began to commit sins like drinking alcohol,smoking cigarettes,stealing money from the house,being a talkative person in my classmates,being trouble some among the teachers.
Every day my father came to school according to the accusations from the errors i could have been committing.
And thereafter,when i was sixteen i began to meditate and think of how i can give up all such sins and i ask the Lord to make me understand His ways of percepts so that i can meditate his wonderful works and then i dedicate my life to GOD.
now at church i am a singer;i play musical instruments.
the Bible says in 1 JOHN 1:8 that if we claim to be without sin,we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.if we confess our sins,He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
unless the Lord had given me help i would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.but the Lord has become my fortress,and my GOD the rock in whom i take refuge.
now i am the Online Bible student at Internet Theological Education by Extension-Kenya under Internet Biblical Seminary.
this is my experience i am having in my online BIBLE STUDIES.
I knew about IBS (Internet Biblical Seminary) two years ago where i found the best friends i had never met before. I knew teacher (Leroy Judd) who taught me a course on the Incredible Journey.
I got to learn a lot and in the process of that first course I grew in my faith in Jesus.
From then on I met with another blessed person online called Martin Munyao who has become the friend of mine who kept in contact with me many times and who taught me another course in Galatians. From this course I have learned that “The just shall live by faith” (Gal 3:11; Rom 1:17).)
Even though as at times studying online has been a challenge for me due to lack of computers and internet access, I am still able to work in a cybercafe cafe and do my studies. I have been forced to improvise methods of working both online and offline. But thanks to God who has been so faithful, I have continued my studies very well as God is our Shepherd we shall not be in want.
Now we praise the Lord for the ten laptops our Brother Tim and George and others at iTEE-Kenya have collected so that they could support this work.
I have now finished studying ‘Genesis 1 – 11: A Real History of the Ancient World’ facilitated by brother Tim Patterson whom God has brought to our lives at a time as this for divine purposes. From Burundi, we started as three students while taking the Incredible Journey,and moved to ten students but we now are a group of 15 students taking the Genesis course. God used me to tell my friends about Internet Theological Education by Extension (iTEE-Kenya/www.itee-ke.org). They all embraced the idea to study the word of God online. We like studying as a team for mutual encouragement. I am proud of being a team leader to these fellow burundian brothers. Now we are working and growing together in the knowledge and grace of Christ.
with my fellow students here in Burundi,we started about 9 months ago an Evangelistic Ministry called Announcing Jesus Christ Ministry(AJCM).
we thought about starting an Evangelistic Ministry having objectives of :
-Preaching in the Hospitals and helping those in need.
-Preaching in prisons and helping the prisoners.
-Helping orphans and vulnerable sharing with them the good news,even other things according to how God will keep on blessing us.
-Sharing the good news with others.
I was chosen also to be a leader of this new Ministry.
On Wednesday 11th September 2013,we had the special day of prayers we named The opening prayers of our Ministry activities.we had enough time of sharing the good news among us and giving advice to one an other on how we can be the good examples in these new responsibilities wherever we will be.
we need your support of prayers,advice.
We need partners to work with us in our ministry.
Now we have our ministry Documents ready in order to register it in the Ministry of Internal affairs.
it is a hard work.we need your prayers.
i saw about you through Internet Biblical Seminary and join you at Till He Comes to keep on receiving your good news.i am really encouraged.
we are now building our ministry website.
our ministry email address is
an***************************@gm***.com
Blessings in Christ,
Samuel.
Thank you, Samuel. It sounds like you have a good heart and a vision for what God is leading you to do there in Burundi, and that you have a good mix of preaching the Gospel and serving people in need. Keep it up!
Thank you so much Jeremy for your encouragement words.
i wish to work with you at God’s time as i have seen that you are the facilitator at Internet Biblical Seminary.
Blessings in Christ,
Samuel.
I’ve been reading Jeremy’s blog for around a fortnight now and I’ve become an avid fan.I’m Godfrey from India.The insights on the love of God in this blog are astounding and I’m so happy that there’s no hostility towards different interpretations of the bible so as to reflect the love of christ and comprehend every single verse in terms of God’s love.I love Jeremy’s insight and Glory to God.I believe that every action of God is borne out of love and he is the source of love which sustains life. I’ve got to renounce self love and be consenting to the spirit of God to overwhelm me which seems quite a daunting challenge to me at the present.Hope that We all be filled with the spirit of our Father.Have a great day
Thank you, Godfrey. I have appreciated your comments. Yes, I don’t mind when people disagree, especially when they ask insightful questions with dignity and grace, as you have done. Thank you for interacting, and for reading!
I love the country of India. It is so beautiful and diverse. I spent 6 weeks there back in the 90s and will never forget it. We went to Bangalore, New Delhi, and Madras.
Hi Jeremy,
I came across your website several months ago from Stumbleupon. I could tell from the first time I read some of your articles that I was hungry to hear what you said about the topics you write about. I have lived in the deep south my whole life, come from a religious family and have always attended church until several years ago when our marriage started falling apart. Our daughter dropped out and left home at 16, got pregnant and later got into drugs and alcohol. She married but later left her child with her husband’s family and has been running ever since. We didn’t get any support from the church, I guess they felt our problems were our fault. Anyway we’ve been very desolusioned with the church for many years but put our faith in God and have tried to remain focused on His love and healing. We have come to believe that our daughter’s actions are not our fault, we love and pray for her but cannot allow her in our lives at the present time because of her abusive behavior. As of a few months ago we are back in church after about 18 years and so far we feel good about it, a lot of the people have changed from years ago and we’re trying to live day by day in Christ’s love. Thank you for your wonderful articles. They are truly a blessing to my wife and me.
Oh! Stumbleupon! I have often wondered if anyone visits my site from there. Ha! Thank you for letting me know.
I am so very sorry about what happened to your daughter. With three daughters of my own, I cannot imagine the pain and grief and worry you must feel. Yet worse than that, is the lack of support you received from the church. I am so very sorry about that as well. It should not be that way. I hope and pray that the church you are in now is water to your soul and that eventually, your daughter returns to you.
Thanks Jeremy, and hello all! My name is Brandon Chase. I live in Fort Worth, TX with my bride Marie and my two daughters, McKinley (8), and Delaney (6).
The cliff notes background: I grew up in church, the churches of Christ tradition. I went to church and had a transactional relationship with God, approaching Him the way I approached life, as something to win, do be good at. Baptized at 16, but not a new creation. Early in my marriage I found out I was adopted, my parents got divorced, and I began to act out and “process” feelings I was having – but not willing to share for not wanting to ever show weakness – through an inappropriate emotional affair.
It was those indiscretions that many years later lead me to confession. In the process of confession (agreeing with God), I met Jesus, for REAL. I saw Him through the eyes of my wife as she was Grace to me. I surrendered to Jesus at 1:30 in the morning on the couch in my living room after reading Psalm 51 and Romans 8 over and over and over again. I gave up, and gave my life to Him.
I have not been the same since.
Following Jesus from that point has been a crazy awesome adventure. I birthed and ran a ministry to men in which I saw close to 100 guys taste Freedom in Christ, and Father do amazing things. After a few years of this, I began to feel an angst, a Holy discontent over “church.” I was seeing and Living Life, but when I sat in the pew on Sunday morning, there was largely death there. I wondered “why?”
This began a long, painful, but beautiful season of seeking, hearing, and then wilderness, as the Lord told us “Take a break, and follow Me.” So we quit “going to church,” and have been learning how to “be” The Church where we are.
It was during this season that the Lord prompted me to make my journey vulnerable, transparent to those who would be looking, and see. So I started blogging, and writing about the things He was showing me.
My blog is Zōē Perissos – which are the Greek words Jesus uses in John 10:10 when He describes the Life (Zōē) in Abundance (Perissos) He offers. You can read that at http://www.brandonchase.net.
Bloggers find bloggers, and somewhere I stumbled on Jeremy’s. And he’s my favorite. Thank you for how you minister Christ to me, Brother. I deeply appreciate you.
If you want to connect, hit me up over at my blog, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/brandon.chase.184, or on Twitter @ZoePerissos.
I have written my first eBook, “The Path Of Freedom: Few find it. Fewer walk it. Be one of the few.” and it will be released in a few weeks for free to blog subscribers. In the book, I tell more of my story that I summarized above, and I am exploring the Freedom we have in Christ, and why so few Christians seem to apprehend it, find it, remain in it, live from it, and grow in it – and why it matters. You can get more details on that, here: http://brandonchase.net/2014/05/09/an-update-on-the-ebook-the-path-of-freedom/
Thanks again Jeremy. Looking forward to connecting with your readers.
Be blessed, and may you have Life in Abundance.
Interesting story, Brandon! You’ve also had some great posts on your blog. I am looking forward to your e-book.
Thank you Sam. I appreciate you.
Thanks, Brandon. I love reading your blog and look forward to the release of your book! Would love to meet you in person some day!
Hi! Wesley from South Africa here. About 5 years ago I clearly heard God tell me to leave the institutional church. It never made full sense back then, but I soon discovered something far more glorious. While there was much good I could speak about before that time, that was really the turning point for me in experiencing a deeper life with Christ and with others. Since then I have come to look at almost everything anew. The church, The Father, The Kingdom, the Gospel, the bible, the atonement and so on.
I currently blog over at http://wrostoll.blogspot.com/ on a number of theological topics, like Jeremy, writing is how I lay my thoughts out and process things. I am also in the process of writing a book on the cross covering much of the ground mentioned above.
Thanks, Wesley! It is more glorious and liberating, right? I have found the exact same thing. Thanks for mentioning your blog. I will come check it out!
From all the posts I have read above it seems to me we all have been in the same boat of not knowing what we are born into when we are born again. I was born again 38 years ago. Just like a baby is born into this world we have to depend on mother and after to help us. Jesus is your helper when you are born again and father loves to give to you, it is a jounery.
When we miss the mark or sin father sin his child not the sin. He sees the blood of hid son not your mistakes. Go to http://www.dynamicministries . Bertie Berits is a great teacher and has a new book call Born from innocence . That book will birth freedom in you.
I live in virginia . My husband and I don’t go to church anymore because we R the church we go fishing.
Yes, there are lots of similar stories. Man of us seem to be on a similar journey, headed in similar directions. Nice to meet you online! I love fishing too!
So sorry , seems that I typed that to fast wanted to make corrections!
Depend on father and mother.
Father sees his child not the sin or mistake.
He sees the blood that covers you.
Hi Jeremy. Thanks for your blog. I’ve learnt so much from it the last two years or so. I found your blog by accident when I went through a searching stage after leaving the church.
I also live in South Africa. I’ve been a Christian most of my life but reached a point about two years ago where I couldn’t fathom returning to church. There were two many things I couldn’t agree with.
In my struggle, I followed other people and writers who had moved out the church. One of them of whom I looked up to far too much, has since left their faith. That shocked me so much and his arguments were very logical. I’ve begun to question lots of things in the Bible and very grateful to have read some answers on your blog. I’ve come full circle back to my faith and know it’s true but sometimes struggle with certain arguments. I still don’t want to return to church though.
God changed me and set me free after learning about his grace. I used to be a very religious, prideful Christian but who had so many bondages. Believing in His full grace has set me free in so many ways and I couldn’t go back to living under a works mentality. I occasionally write posts about what I’m learning about grace here – http://www.mirrorofglory.blogspot.com
Thank you for reading, Kathy, and for all you do there in South Africa. I am so thrilled that you are learning more about God’s grace and how to follow Jesus in freedom and love.
I was baptized in 1992, in the Evangelical Protestant Church. Where, I
served as choir director, and youth president. At that time we only
had two denominations in Guinea. They were the Catholic Church and the
Evangelical Protestant church. It came to a time that, I left the
ministry and focused on carpentry. We were leaving one village to
another doing some contract. I was apprenticed I didn’t have my own
will.
In 2000, I had carpenter shop on my own. But, I was not regular at
church. Before that time there were other denominations in Guinea.
They came about when the war was in Liberia. Those refugees that came
from Liberia some of them were pastors. They planted churches, but
most of those churches are closed today. Because, they gone back to
Liberia.
One day while in my shop working, a pastor by the name of Edmond
Wilson came to evangelize me.
I told him about my relation with God. He encouraged and prayed for
me. I decided to go to his church.
At this time I was speaking English but not that much. He asked me to
help translate from English to Kpelleh. That is my father’s language.
Later on he asked me to be a Sunday school director. I decided to go
back to school to learn English. Because I was working with somebody
that only speaks English.
A Liberian pastor who went to Nigeria to study theology after his
graduation decided to go back to Liberia, but passed through Guinea
for he had his family in the camp. He came to N’Zérékoré. He decided
to have a time with us. He told me this “God’s calling is upon your
life go and study”. I asked him, where am I going to study? He said
to me it might be Nigeria, Liberia or Ghana. He added study for God
wants to use you. From this time is started ringing in my mind, and
everybody calling me no longer a carpenter but a pastor.
I told God, if you really want me work for you, help me to be trained.
I when to my pastor, and told him about my going to study in another
country since there is no bible college neither a seminary in this
country. He told me that as for him, he didn’t go to any bible college
neither a seminary, but the Holy Spirit is upon him. So if I don’t
want to work, I can go. A voice kept on telling me you need to study,
I could not bear it but to obey. I decided to go.
Lots of questions came in mind, such as: no one is there to support
you. How will you pay your school fees? Who will you leave your family
with? Though the condition was many, but voices kept on telling me go,
I will provide. I told God if it is your will, I will do according to
your words.
In 2005 I left my family (my wife and my children) and went to
Liberia. As God could have it I met one of my friends who we all were
working together in Guinea and he started to help me. One man by the
name of Augustan was passing by and heard me singing. He stood and
asked whether I speak and write French well. I told him yes. He took
me to one high school to teach French.
I went to Liberia, during my second week. I was in search of Bible
College and God directed me to the Wesleyan College of Liberia. I took
my entrance and by His grace I was successful. But, I could find my
school fees where. I don’t have anybody to help, but with God all
things are possible.
My first day on the campus, I went for the information sheet. One of
the professors by the name of Rev. Dr. Orlando B. M. Wilson asked me
where I came from, and how will I pay my school fees. I told him of my
coming to Liberia, and how God will provide my school fees. He asked
me to be in his church. I told him that I don’t have problem with
that. I was in the church with him, without going to school because of
school fees. I was focused, for I trusted God to provide my school
fees.
I couldn’t be teaching, at the same time attaining the college. My pay
was limited. The school fees were three times more than my salary at
the school I was teaching. I asked God what to do. He gave me an idea,
to build my carpenter shop; from there I could have my school fees. I
did it, by his grace, I started school. God brought lots of people to
learn from me. They were doing the work, as for me I was supervising
at the same time going to school. God did that until my graduation,
but right after my graduation all of them went back.
In my sophomore I was licensed to preach by the Providence Baptist
Association Ordaining Council (PBAOC) by the help of Rev. Dr. Orlando
B. M. Wilson my pastor and my professor whose number is (+231 8866
74247). After my graduation I was ordained in the gospel ministry by
(PBAOC), by the help of my pastor. Not only this, but I was chosen as
the assistant pastor of the church. The church asked me to remain
there and work together in the ministry. I told the church about my
vision. They agreed for me to come back in Guinea. They also gave me
certificate of appreciation from the church (Harvest Time Baptist
church).
While thinking of my return in Guinea, God used my uncle who did not
call me during four years ago. He called me on a Tuesday evening to
come back help him coordinate his NGO (Travaux de Genie Civil) TGC.
Upon my return, I began to coordinate the NGO. Though it is a limited
NGO, God used it to take care of my family. I could not continue it
for the owner of the NGO needed my full time. I decided to teach, and
do ministry. I left the NGO and started teaching and doing farming
work to sustain my family.
After six weeks of evangelism. God used brother Gustave to start the
ministry on his veranda. By his grace we started service for the first
time on the 17/06/2012, at the hour of 10:00 AM and finished at 11:30
AM. We were five in number. Offering collected that day was 6500 GF,
the test from Joshua 1:6-9, on the theme “Be Courageous”.
After two months of services the owner of the house asked us to leave
from his house. God by our side, one of the brothers by the name of
Jackson asked us to start it in his setting room. There through our
prayer we were opportune by God to have place where we are leasing
now.
Rev. presently the ministry is having Sunday worship services, Bible
study as well as weekly activities. The ministry is helping in winning
souls for Christ and nurturing the spiritual life of converts and
other Christians. And now the congregation is about 75 persons.
Guinea is a Muslims dominated nation as I told you in the first
message. The need for soul winning and ministering to the spiritual
and physical needs of the people has greatly increased in Guinea. The
few people here are not equipped and most of them are not trained. To
find a Bible for sale is a problem, at the result people go to church
without Bible for themselves. How will they grow in Christianity if
they don’t have what to guide them?
In short, I thank God for the posts you send to me everyday, especially the one you sent on forgiveness, it was so great. My prayer is for God to knowledge you day and night, so that you can continually bless us.
Brotherly in Christ
Rev. Alouys Loua
Founder /Pastor Grace Church
Tel. (+224) 662-980-208/620-716-863
Email:
al*****@ya***.com
Wow. Thank you for the detailed story and introduction about yourself and your ministry!
I too enjoy your blog Jeremy, you constantly challenge my thoughts and beliefs, which I think is important for all Christians in their journey of growth. I think the Spirit directed me to your blog as I am having difficulty with organized religion.
I grew up in a family where God was not discussed. Though my parents took me to church for a few years as a youth I had no connection to God or church as I grew into adulthood. I guess you could classify me as an agnostic in those days, I had no reason to need God, or not need Him. In high school and college I developed a rebellious nature coupled with a hedonistic lifestyle. I experimented with drugs, sold drugs, and drank a lot of beer. After college my wife (then just girlfriend) and I moved in together. I continued on my path to destruction at this time experiencing two separate D.U.I.’s. My wife got a job managing a small apartment complex in downtown Kent, Ohio which pleased me greatly as I could hit the downtown bars without driving. God, however had other plans.
You see my wife had accepted Christ previously, having watched the movie “A Thief in the Night”, and her quiet witness was causing me to question my life path, and my belief system. During this time I ridiculed her friends, all the while having that inner prodding from the Holy Spirit, though I never told her. One day we went to visit a friend of hers who was a biker. He was drunk, loud, obnoxious, bragging about his new tattoo. The following week my wife asked me once again to accompany her to an evangelistic meeting, to her surprise I accepted. I only accepted so she would stop asking me for another year. When we arrived who do I see at the meeting but that same biker. As I spoke to him he said that he was “saved” the previous week after we had met. I was stunned by the change in his countenance from the previous week. The service started and I was still pondering the change in this man. I had over the last year challenged God to do certain things, like moving an object or other such silly things…which He did not. But here I am confronted by God’s very real power to change in this man’s life. The Spirit began to work on me that night. I realized I was a sinner in need of my Savior Jesus. At the conclusion of the service, for which I remember nothing of what was said, I responded to the call to come forward and repent of my sins. I wasn’t emotional, I did not see visions, did not have tingling, no tongues, no happiness. My wife told me later she thought nothing happened because I wasn’t all emotional. But the next day when I went to work, I knew at once that something had changed within me. The Spirit was prompting me at times when I ordinarily had acted, or reacted in a certain way, He now was changing me.
Now, some thirty years later, He is still prompting me, still changing me. The biggest change over the last few years has been my disillusionment with organized church. I was in a place where I was beginning to question my involvement, and just what was the purpose of church. It was at this time that I found Jeremy’s blog, and found much of what I was questioning he was writing about. It has been a blessing. I still don’t feel comfortable attending my current mega-style church, but I am confident God will lead if I have an open heart.
Thanks Jeremy
Thanks for sharing more about yourself, Ward. I am thrilled to learn that God is leading you in some exciting and challenging ways, and that you are willing to follow Him wherever He leads!
Hi Jeremy,
I came across your blog today after doing a search on Genesis 18:19, trying to find why some people were translating the word “know” as “choose”. I appreciated your article on it, and started reading more of your writings. A few months ago, I left my home church because I disagreed with our new pastor’s Calvinist teachings. Since then I have studied Calvinism in depth (and still reject it). I am approaching my Bible study with more diligence now, clearly separating out whether my thoughts on a particular scripture are totally based on the words, grammar and context of the scripture, or actually from a man made theological construct which may or may not be true. Anyway, I enjoy your writing and your approach to Scripture and Theology (so far) and look forward to reading more of your writings. I have not published on my blog for quite a while, but plan to get back to it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in your blogs and writings! Cheers, Joyce
Hi Jeremy, I enjoy reading your posts and I appreciate the opportunity to post a little about myself. I grew up in the organized church but after 50 plus years in the system, my wife and I became very unhappy and unsatisfied with the organization. Actually I had been feeling this way for several years but did not realize what was going on or what to do. We knew the church system was not what God intended when He said He would build His Church yet this was all we knew and were not sure why we felt this way. We finally left the organization two years ago and have enjoyed finding more and more people who feel the same. We are still in a time of detox and we have more questions now than ever, but we enjoy each new day living outside the walls of religion. My traditional religious views have changed so much over the past year and a half. Truthfully if I had met someone like me 20 years ago I would stay away from me. At that point in time anyone who had questions like we do now was a person to stay away from and pray for. We live in the Columbus, Ohio area along with our adult children and several grandchildren. I enjoy writing a blog once a week called Done with Religion. The link is https://donewithreligion.com and it is about living with God outside of religion and the traditional church system. Thanks again for this opportunity to get to meet and find out a little more about some of the people who follow your blog.
Jim, many of us have left that system, and many continue to leave. While I can read church history and come to the conclusion that for a very long time the church has been about lots of things that had little or nothing to do with Jesus, in my own time I can see it with my own eyes. It’s about power, control, money, politics, inequality between the races and genders, who’s in and who’s out (of the Kingdom, of the social group, and more) and many other things that don’t pass the “smell test.” Recently someone told us “They don’t really believe what they claim to believe. They don’t live it. I’ve never been able to find a group that lives what Jesus taught.” Very sad, but that has been the experience of many.
I am reminded of a man we know who is in his fifties. He has been a pastor since he graduated from college and seminary. He’s trying to make it to retirement. He has told me that he sees all of these things. He sees the church’s need for money to maintain their properties and pay their employees’ salaries. He would like out of the system, but doesn’t know what else he would do. (I know many other pastors in similar circumstances.) His church is trying to not lose income so they can pay for those things and continue to exist. That’s all they know. They’re chasing dollars and the people who have them. They have almost no interest in those who don’t. They have bills to pay. Maybe that system has to die to allow for the birth of something new. Hopefully that something new will look a whole lot more like Jesus.