Thank you, Saundra, for sharing your story. Sounds like you had a confusing experience!
I would say that a church that says you need to keep getting “saved” over and over is out of line with Christian doctrine. Yes, once saved, always saved is true.
If a church says that speaking in tongues is of the devil, I would say that is out of line too, as the Bible clearly lists it among the spiritual gifts. But it is not a necessary gift, some people have it and some don’t, as it is with the other gifts.
I think the issue of healing is confusing, but I would say that if a church teaches that it is always God’s will to be healed, and that if you don’t get healed it is a lack of faith, that is out of line too. I think most Christians would say that God heals when it is his will to heal, and if he doesn’t then it is not the person’s fault or lack of faith...but perhaps God has some higher reason for not healing in that particular instance. His thought are higher than our thoughts. I can see how it would be difficult to see someone in a wheelchair not get healed, while someone with a headache claims to get healed (who knows if they really did or not, as they may not have wanted to be accused of having a lack of faith in that situation).
That’s interesting that you were with YWAM, and were sent to “save” other Christians? I don’t know a lot about YWAM, although I do have an aquaintance who works with them. What exactly were you commissioned to do in the churches where you served? I’d be interested to know.
Yes I can see how it would make you feel sick to hear preachers contradicting each other. I have to say that there is a lot of crap out there...preachers and teachers who grieve the Holy Spirit by making people feel guilty or feel they are lacking in faith or what have you. That’s why Jesus got so angry with the Pharisees. They put burdens on people, while Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. That is why the Bible tells us to be discerning, to test the spirits, to be careful about false teachers and prophets.
I am sorry you had such a confusing experience in Christian churches. I don’t have any easy answers for you. I guess in my experience, I have used my intellect, the Bible, and spiritual discernment to test what is true and what isn’t true when it comes to individual teachers and churches. I do believe the Holy Spirit will help make things clear to us in our minds and hearts if we ask for wisdom. Thanks again for sharing your story!
“His thought are higher than our thoughts.”
Amen to that.
Oh, you asked about what YWAMers were doing in Belize. Actually, we were supposed to help the Christians there to be better Christians (among other things). For example, we were to lead Bible studies but I felt silly leading them in Bible study when they were better Christians than I. Also, one time a YWAM team came and I asked if they would help with Vacation Bible School over in the village. The leader said they’d pray about it. I remember thinking, “What’s to pray about?!” Sure enough, next day, she told me they prayed and the Lord said “no”. I was horrified and I told her that she was full of crap that the Lord would never have said no to that.
Anyway, we struggled with the Vacation Bible School and we had 100 kids show up but it was a glorious experience!! I let the Belizean Christian women do the leading and I did what they told me to do. It worked out fine but the experience with the YWAM team left a bad taste in my mouth to this day.
Sheeeesh.