I appreciate your candor. I grew up in an AOG and Pentecostal church, becoming part of the ministry at 14. As I began to research the Bible for myself, I saw clear discrepancies between what the Scriptures said and nominal Christian doctrine. I had questions but the answers given didn't line up with the entirety of Scriptural testimony.
I left by age 19 and haven't looked back. All false religions have shards of truth and Christianity is no different but I wasn't getting the unadulterated truth. Honestly, it took years after leaving the religious systems of men before I really knew anything about God and how he deals with men.
False teachers abound and these places are full of signs and wonders, as you imply, but I know that Satan is a master deceiver and seducing spirits can fool even those who are devout. Amazing things and miracles are not necessarily an indication of Godliness or that He's involved. In fact, the only thing that Satan cannot counterfeit is the cross. He can't go there. It's against his very nature.
That said, it rains on the just and the unjust. I know that God has done amazing things for those who don't believe and still don't after but that doesn't mean they're His.
Some falsehoods as examples:
Eternal torment in Hell.
Satan was once an angel of Heaven.
God approves of Christmas, Easter, etc.
The rapture.
You must go to a church.
You can accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (instantaneous salvation).
Just a few. I know that you'll disagree, which is fine, but I'll be happy to show proof with the Bible itself and Godly logic if you wish.
I appreciate your candor. I grew up in an AOG and Pentecostal church, becoming part of the ministry at 14. As I began to research the Bible for myself, I saw clear discrepancies between what the Scriptures said and nominal Christian doctrine. I had questions but the answers given didn't line up with the entirety of Scriptural testimony.
I left by age 19 and haven't looked back. All false religions have shards of truth and Christianity is no different but I wasn't getting the unadulterated truth. Honestly, it took years after leaving the religious systems of men before I really knew anything about God and how he deals with men.
False teachers abound and these places are full of signs and wonders, as you imply, but I know that Satan is a master deceiver and seducing spirits can fool even those who are devout. Amazing things and miracles are not necessarily an indication of Godliness or that He's involved. In fact, the only thing that Satan cannot counterfeit is the cross. He can't go there. It's against his very nature.
That said, it rains on the just and the unjust. I know that God has done amazing things for those who don't believe and still don't after but that doesn't mean they're His.
Some falsehoods as examples:
Eternal torment in Hell.
Satan was once an angel of Heaven.
God approves of Christmas, Easter, etc.
The rapture.
You must go to a church.
You can accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (instantaneous salvation).
Just a few. I know that you'll disagree, which is fine, but I'll be happy to show proof with the Bible itself and Godly logic if you wish.