From Seventh Day Adventist (I'm a 5th generation SDA) to the church that I"ve been attending for months now which is an Alliance church (Christian & Missionary Alliance I think). I feel really at home in this church more than any other church I"ve belonged to. It's just a scary jump to look at mainstream Christianity

I know that I have had some doctrinal problems with SDA's for a long time - esp with Ellen White and the whole investigative judgement, standing before God without a mediator and the whole "remnant" thing. I've been reading a book called the "The cultic Doctrine of Seventh Day Adventists" and it's been really enlightening.

I'm just wondering if I should just keep attending (and being involved in) this church without officially becoming a member. I'm thinking about maybe I should look at taking the membership class for this church - taking the step of becoming a member. That's one issue but then I have to think on whether it's worth having the SDA church officially remove my name or just leave. I haven't attended an SDA church for months and months and no one has contacted me from either the SDA church I had sporatically attended post-separation or the Filipino sda church (where my memember ship actually is because that's where stbx and his family are all members) Anyone have any stories or comments or anything?

Well....I'd suggest praying about having your name officially removed or not. You may feel you want to and need to do this.

I have not been SDA, but I did leave the Mormon/LDS religion and at first I was sure I'd have my name officially removed but the process to do this involved jumping through hoops that they (LDS) created and I realized I no longer believed in their teachings, so why do I have to follow their teaching in order to leave? I know that God knew my heart and that I did break all ties on all levels with the LDS/Mormons, so I decided to not officially have my name removed. (which I found is what most people do who leave the LDS church)

I have not officially joined any other organized church. But dedicated my life to Jesus Christ in November of 2005. I have found that for most Christian churches, it is not necessary to formally join their denomination.

You will have to determine what is best for you. Maybe you want the formal classes and to join your new church home.

By the way, my dh and I are seeking a local church to attend and one on our list to visit here in the next few weeks is our local Christian Missionary Alliance Church, which is the same denomination as you are attending.

Hope this helps and I'm happy for you!!! It was a difficult process for me to leave Mormonism, and I had a few years of being really lost and miserable while seeking other religions, but when I came back to Christ, I knew I was where I needed to be. Before, I had just a shadow of what I believe to be real and now I have IT!!!!

Congrats on your new affiliation and growth in Christ.

Michelle

I know this was months ago - but thank you!! I did decide not to jump the hoops to have my name removed - it was a difficult process to leave the adventist church but I also know that I've come to Christ and I'm where I need to be.

I did join the alliance church I have been attending the past year. I was amazed at the membership class that the statement of beliefs was so SIMPLE and basic Christian - do you belief in Christ stuff compared to the complex doctrinal SDA one! The SDA's have an awful lot of stuff & rules added to the saved by grace through faith Christianity.

I don't feel that I "had" to join though - it's enough just to have found Christ - my "joining" was more a statement of faith/commitment to the Lord for me more than my feeling that I had to affiliate with the Alliance denomination. It also makes it easier for me to be a "member" b/c I'm helping out with leading divorcecare groups at the church now.

Congratulations on joining! We have a good friend who's a CMA pastor in Connecticut and it's a great denom. I found that the important thing with joining a church was to be able to vote on important issues and to be under the spiritual authority/responsibility of a church. I love our church and it's been beyond a blessing for us. :)

so I decided to not officially have my name removed. (which I found is what most people do who leave the LDS church)


Which is why it continues to look like a rapidly growing church. Not judging you, as I haven't removed my name either and don't know if I ever will. But it does suck that those of us who have unofficially left remain counted, and the church claims our numbers.

Back to the OP, I'm happy that you feel so comfortable now! It's all such a process. I don't think many ppl are capable of jumping out of one and into another in one fell swoop.

My Dad is an SDA pastor/evangelist. Leaving the church was hard, but one of the best things I ever did. Good luck to you on your journey!