Monday, October 12, 2009

Facebook Fan Page

The other day, I was invited to join a group started on Facebook called, Fans of the book, "It's Okay Not to be a Seventh-day Adventist." I was so surprised!

One of the first comments to a post was by a man named Rickie Currie. He told a very heartbreaking story of leaving Adventism. If any of you get a chance, read it at this address:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=142849851633&topic=10607

Since I didn't have a traumatic experience within Adventism, in fact quite the opposite, it is really difficult to hear stories like these. However, since leaving, I hear them all the time. I think it is especially important for current Seventh-day Adventists to read and hear these stories. Even though I know they will brush them off with some excuses, there truly are a lot of people out there who were spiritually wounded within their church.

It is just my humble opinion, but I think in many cases the wounds need to heal before they transition into another church. Many inactive Adventist no longer attend an SDA church because of an experience of abuse, sexual, spiritual, or physical. These people really haven't given up the doctrines, just have distanced themselves from the abuse. They still are attached to the prophecies and often fear opening themselves up to another denomination. For these people I think they need to heal with their Adventist past first before they can really transition. Now I don't mean in all cases. Sometimes if the abuse was severe, they don't need to ever go back.

However, it would be healing for both sides to confront the wound and heal it.

Hopefully, we can get a few current, active and generous Adventists on our fan page and they may facilitate in that healing process.

Please join us, everyone! It will be a venue for some interesting discussions.
God bless,
Teresa