Reply to becoming aware:
Certainly Jesus spoke in parables, but the wording in James is too specific to reasonably regarded as a parable.

"They do turn their backs on 'backsliders', but why? Because they have been taught to! It's not their fault! They honestly believe that this is the correct Christian approach. Separatism."

I like that Guest, and really get that, we left over 4 years ago and as you see from my previous posts the Lord has directed my self and our family wonderfully.
After the split of 95, I did exactly as you said, I totally snubbed of, felt awkward around, avoided all my friends who had left, I walked on the opposite side of the road when seeing them, Giving them that faint pleasant smile while thinking "Oh" God not those backsliders, and remembering that Ill gotton phrase of "Those that went out from US were not of US".  Which now when you realise that the body of Christ is all Christians, not just a "select few in a particular organisation" now means those that "were" walking in Christ and who now act like the "Dog that returns to its vomit" Phrase that they also use, as those who infact do turn their back on God totally and go back to their old ways, i.e. Drugs, free Sex, getting drunk every night etc etc, NOT someone who has just come to there senses and who has freed them self from the legalistic authoritarianism, proud and dogmatic control that the Wolves have over them.  I say wolves because no Shepard would let a member rip other members off for 60 Million .

We now have experienced exactly the same from folk who are still in, and you know I don't hold anything what-so-ever against them, because I did exactly the same, simply because that is what we were taught to do. NOW I know differently, so NOW I act differently.

DrMont said
"RCI will never change, as do not want to change.

My belief is that RCI,GRC will never change, they will continue until there's 3 people left. They will call it the last Days, the great falling away etc,etc.........

Why will they change if they genuinely believe they are doing the 'right thing' and preaching the correct doctrine?"

You have got that totally right, I mean if Simon Longfield or Victor S, including all of the Pastors involved cannot see that they have acted inappropriately in the handling of the Glenn Duker fiasco in victimizing the victims and supporting the perpetrators. With so much guidance that the scriptures offer when dealing with such issues is not adhered to and ignored then "WHAT HOPE IS THERE" for that organization.

When folk leave they will just see it as "part of the great falling away".  Falling away from what!!! an organization???? What nonsense.

DrMont you said "Once you leave, it will hit you like a ton of bricks as to how silly the whole thing is and to how gullible you have been"

I get that, My family and I have gone through many light bulb changing moments since leaving, One example being, At an AOG I was fellowshipping, I was telling a brother (also ex-rci) that we wanted to visit another church, that was not part of the AOGs. As we began to talk about this he was a bit louder than me and spoke openly. I quickly took the conversation to another room and told him to lower his voice for fear of being told off for visiting another church. He then replied "Relax, your free now, your allowed to visit other places its OK". At that moment I just stopped a light bulb came on in my mind and a weight was lifted from me,  as I DID NOT realize up till then  how much CONTROL the RCI oversight had had over us. And you're right MM I often wonder how on earth did I allow myself to get misled so badly.  We have had many moments like that since. We  went through 4 years of untangling our minds (thanks to brother Keith Moore and his Ministry in the US and the other churches we visited) until we finally decided what we were looking for, and when we did, "we stopped and prayed then the Lord graciously led us to it.

Hi Shadow, Kids "leaving the church is leaving the body of Christ" going back to the old ways we all came out of and not returning, and even if they do they can return if their repentant, what RCI fail to see is that the "Body of Christ" does not just revolve around "THEM" or any "particular organization" for that matter, it is all believing folk in all areas, including the "out of church Christians" who are those that have become so disillusioned and hurt by the whole church thing, they opt out of the whole system altogether. We did that for two months, but we had put our partitions to the Lord for a place good enough for our kids that was away from the fluffiness and watered down gospel of other places out there. We prayed, we watched our favorite preacher on DVD, and we waited. Two months later the Lord saw our faithfulness and led us to where we are now, and low and behold another two months later both kids receive. There’s many folk in RCI doing what your doing, there are many folk who's minds are being opened, by listening to "non approved DVDs & daring to go to the Christian book shop and taking a peak at other non approved reading material.  You really are not alone at all in this. 

Try asking folk leading questions in your church, like for instance have you heard of this web site, gauge there reaction, approach cautiously some will either put there rci hands up and be against all things non rci, while others will say otherwise and will let you in a bit. One bit at a time, trust occurs, gradual openness about things takes place. That’s how our eyes were opened when folk approached us; we welcomed their thoughts, and then found other like-minded folk within the system. Then we all left “LOL” and all have never been happier. :)

Ps, goto    www.aimoo.com
as Uncoolman has said, you need to create login, there first with a User name, and Password,
Then you can create a log in on this forum, you can use the same details

Hi Galien, I thoroughly do emphasize with you, having read all your posts over time, and totally get why you don’t attend anywhere, we were there for a while but because of the kids, and as most folk do you live for your children, we couldn’t afford to give up.

I guess with us we got into, and valued Keith Moore and the late Kenneth Hagans ministry, this opened the door to our minds and made us realize there was a lot more out there that we were not being told. Which is why we left Revival, along with our dismay at the Glenn Duker scandal. We never gave up believing that things would go right,  We got into the word, Prayed, Asked, Sort, spoke to the Holy spririt and believed for direction and it has happened.
I still hold true, to the importance of the Holy Spirit and the ability to communicate with him and value his guidance. We have just not given up believing that things would be right.

Brother Moore speaks on this and has for down load the “Thanksgiving Victory series” (all free of charge). This impacted us big time, he reminded us that when you ask for something, immediately thank him afterwards, that’s when things happen, thanking God for receiving even though you have not yet received, that’s faith believing.

1Corth15v57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our lord Jesus Christ
2Corth 2v14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and makes manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place and finally

Mark11:24 Therefore I say to you all things whatsoever you shall pray and ask for, BELIEVE that you have received them (my reference to thanking God after you have asked), and ye shall have them. This has really helped us and others I know. Apply it, and really believe it,  See what you think. Just don’t give up that’s all, and I guess that's why we are living in this alternative reality *grin*  (I loved that bit).   J

Im_Out

Hi Faithful Shadow,

My exit from many years in RCI/RF was similar to that of Talmid regarding the "salvation message" being unbiblical.  It really is"another gospel" than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The doubts that I had which made me believe that what was preached in Revival was indeed wrong weighted heavily for a very long time before I left.  I kept thinking that I must wait to be lead by the Spirit.  I was unable to make an informed decision with the evidence that the Spirit had already put before me.  Conveniently preferring to await a dramatic sign, until it became a complete cop-out. 

For a very long time I understood that how RCI and RF used speaking in tongues as proof of salvation was wrong.  That our salvation should hinge on the proof of a few syllables off the repetition of sped up halullujahs is such a flimsy salvation and open to abuse. Tongues also becomes the main focus.  They openly object to others who believe in the Christ's atoning love for all who believe. 

As Talmid said reading and studying "Please Consider" is a good way to go.  Revivalists do preach another gospel and it can be shown as that.  It really is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Also 'How to Read the Bible for all its Worth' helps open up understanding of contextual interpretation, something sadly lacking in RCI/RF with their liking for proof texting confusion.  It is not a bad thing to open up and train the mind in discernment by becoming more enquiring of the things many people accept as totally correct because it comes from Revivalist pastors. Even the choosing of these pastors can be quite questionable.

When I finally left I had to weigh up the evidence which was rapidly mounting against my remaining a Revivalist regardless of having    to leave family/relatives behind.  It has been a good move for me spiritually.

God Bless you in all you do and decide.  I pray for you.

Epi 

Faithful Shadow,

Unlike some others on Speaking in Tongues and receiving the Holy Spirit I still believe in this message but there are many other areas of the Gospel that RCI neglect.

Nor would I ever tell anyone to leave RCI. Our faith is in Christ and not with any denomination. The best friend we will ever have is Christ and that is where our strength is.

I would never have a problem going back to RCI as I still “love” them but I would not get through the door as I am a trouble maker and would continue to be in the Pastors faces in areas they have wrong.

The most important thing is that we continue to be led by the Spirit. FS if the Spirit continues to lead you to visit other denominations as well as RCI then God bless you. And if you get found out by RCI then God bless you again.

Another Guest.

Another Guest - I couldn't have said it better myself. Everything you said is exactly what I believe too. And that is the true freedom of Christianity - being led by the spirit and being truly contented with what we've been given. I think this forum is a wonderful tool to help each other along the journey, especially with healing some gaping wounds.

LOL MothandRust! I need 'kindergarten' level teaching when it comes to the complexities of Bible interpretation! Thanks for the email - I'll use it if I have any questions.

Epi, I'll definitely take it on. I've read one article so far, and although some of it was hard, I'll keep reading on to see if I can put the pieces together. Maybe being at RCI, some of the terminology is either a) not addressed or b) used differently. You did all that with a young family? All I can say is that I have huge respect for you. That's massive.

God Bless! FS

Somehow my unfinished post has been posted so I'll continue :- 

Also other sayings like "falling away" "backslidden"  "foresaking the fellowship" will all weaken confidence the confidence of those who should get out and at least have a look.

Yes, FC, patience/longsuffering is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Joy is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Please don't lose while you're patiently waiting in Revival.

God Bless you

Epi

Hi FS

Ep said * A strategy that I would use were I in your shoes would be to make friends when you visit that other church.*   
This was extremely important to my family when we left, fortunately it was a bit more personal in that the family were old close ex-rciers who had left with the 1995 morals split. And greatly assisted us in seeing things more clearly, this support really did help. It also buffered the feeling of going into the unknown (or outside side the RCI bubble of life).  While still in rci we like you FS were in close contact with many like-minded individuals trying to figure things out and how to release  our selves from the place and slip away. (Christmas time is always a good time to disappear go and holidays never to return). 
We have also lost close informal contact with family members who have since taken the "Keep us at arms length and keep the conversation safe stance" which has been a little upsetting, but we soon got over it, the benefits of being out far out weighted anything else. Quite possibly like us, close friends are watching you and your  progress. Our close friends who were watching us consequently, also left after seeing our courage and realizing that the world out side the rci bubble really wasn’t that bad.  Another great encouragement was meeting and talking to ex-rciers who have taken this journey, Chances are you and I have run into each other, as I was there for about 30 years :). I also admit you do go through a grieving stage, because the place does become such a huge part of your life. It does take time, and trust me you soon be able to move forward.
Keep strong FS, Walk in the light that the Lord is guiding you now, one step at a time, I admit it really is a leap of faith when leaving but, certainly a leap worth taking


Im_out

Hi TMT,

You say that if anyone had reasons to leave it would be you.  I'm wondering why exactly you stay.  You must have had your own set of problems with RCI so why stay on?  So many do, turning the other cheek all the time.  No-one has to put up with the rubbish that has been dished out to people in the past.

You say a lot of changes have been made but do they inform people of them?  Some, as you say still believe that to leave RCI is to lose salvation.  Something which is a 'whole lot of garbage' in your opinion.  I know this would go against the grain but I think RCI pastors should apologise to their members, humbly admitting that it was wrong and these attitudes do not apply any more.  This is along with a whole lot of other things that need to be changed.

Is the morals stand which (presumably) brought about the split still in operation?  Are people still permanently excluded from Church fellowship because of it?  Understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in a Church should make it a place which operates and practices as a reconciling community.

Where other churches are concerned, the majority of other churches preach the same Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ which  the apostles preached.  Revival Churches who along with UPC (maybe a few others) elevate the tongues phenomena as proof of salvation to the exclusion of the Gospel of Christ.   The Holy Spirit almost becomes an independent figure because of this over-emphasis on tongues.

Not strange at all that RCI etc are picked on.

God Bless

Epi