I started my Christian journey back in 1989. My wife and I got saved(received Christ as our savior) and wanted to serve God immediately. We were attending and became members of a very conservative bible church. I was told that I needed to cut my hair and get new clothes cause I couldnt represent God in jeans and short sleeves and tennis shoes. So, the head deacon took and paid for my haircut and new clothes. I didnt know any better so I just went along to be able to serve. I felt the call to go into full time Vocational ministry and after counseling with my pastor and deacons I was instructed to attend a bible college. Fast forward and I finished college and became a pastor of a Baptist church. There were 4 families in this church that controlled the purse strings. Fast forward and struggling time and again against them I resigned. Went back to my local church and was promply accused of trying to take over the church because I got involved with so many ministries and was more pleasant to work with than the pastor. Fast forward and our pastor resigned and told me that I was the only one he could rely on to be faithful to watch over the flock until a new pastor could be found. I "candidated" for my church but they wanted me to quit my full time job which provided medical insurance and a wage that allowed me to take care of my wife and 5 children. So, they chose someone I told them would ruin their church with his false doctrine concerning Isreal. Fast forward I left the church and quit going for 13 years. Completely discouraged and disenfranchised with the legalism and cliques that church as a whole has become. I dont think there is enough time to communicate everything in this venue but maybe as time goes on I will be able to. It was so bad that my kids grew up hating church because of the things that happened.....including my one daughter being molested by someone much older than her and it was pushed under the rug by the leadership. Unfortunately my family kept this from me for several years because they knew I would kill this individual. So my wife and daughter tried to take care of it by going through the proper channels. I completely understand that no church is perfect but no one let alone a whole family should have to go through what our family endured.
My wife and I found a church where we live after all these years and took a chance. It is a community church, non denominational, but the pastor has been spot on with his doctrine and his theology and preaching is always with the Love, understanding and joy of our heavenly father that we can literally feel. He never compromises Gods word but we can be admonished and feel the love in the admonishment from the Lord without feeling like we are less than. This is a thumbnail sketch of our spiritual journey and I hope it is inspiring and helpful in understanding where I may come from with my comments. God bless you and have a great day!