Former Worldwide Church of God Pastor

[Gray Ant]

I was a WCG pastor for almost 20 years and with the denomination 30 years.  That means I believed a load of legalistic junk and taught it for most of that time.  In the 90's, when the denomination repented, I soon became a proponent of the church's reformation.  I went back to get a master's to correct my theology.  It was a real joy and blessing.

I have not pastored for 4 years now.  Even though my theology is so much better, my heart is in deep sorrow.  I guess I expected the Church (the mainstream) to be in so much better shape than it is.  I am profoundly disappointed with the Church.  I've been everywhere - to almost every denomination in the spectrum.

I would like to pastor again, but I can find no church now that I can wholeheartedly support.  It grieves my heart to see so much denominational pride, arrogance, party spirit and division.  Perhaps because I was so steeped in it, I am supersensitive to legalism.  However, instead of faith based on explicit Bible statements, I find man-made rules and legalism everywhere.

Now some of you are going to get mad at me and say who am I a former cult guy to sit in judgment of the Church!  You are of course right.  I have no right to judge anybody.  However, I can discern and that discernment causes me to grieve deeply.
 

[AJ]

Praise God...are you looking for a perfect denomination? If so i doubt you will find it...we need the Holy Spirit to guide us in all things...some denominations tell you you dont need to be water baptized, some do...some tell you you need to speak in tongues, some dont...some let their congregation raise holy hands in praise to the lord, some dont. Some tell you what to wear,some dont. There are some who do not walk in the spirit, there are some that do...also we are told that there are tares among the wheat...we need to grow together. So my advice would be to try find a congregation as close to the truth as possible, and LET a man be ignorant if he is ignorant as Paul plainly stated. And most of all let the Lords Holy Spirit shine fort in you...we are the light of the world we must let it shine.

The best congregations i find, are the ones who let you worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth

God Bless you

[AJ]

Sorry brother i forgot this was in the Prayer Request section...i will be praying that the lord will lead you. Cheer up my friend.. if God be for us, who can be against us?

Praise the Lord

[JudgeNot]

Gray Ant,
My prayers also - IM me - I'll be glad to "talk".

In Jesus we live, and in Jesus our God we never die.
JN

[jive4005]

Lord, I ask that You send Your perfect guidence to GA... today. In Jesus' name, amen

Deke

[Symphony]

I hear you, Gray Ant.

Our churches honor God with our lips, but our hearts are far from him.

I don't think any "cult" just has a monopoly on that.

Thank you for your post.