Welcome. A little about me and this blog
Welcome. A little about me and this blog
"Why Reformed Journey?" you may ask. This blog is
my way of expressing my frustration with the abundance of false teachings
floating around today. It is also my journey from growing up in a very
charismatic church to becoming a member of a biblical, orthodox Presbyterian
church. (To be clear, the Presbyterian church we attend is not one of those
very liberal, unbiblical Presbyterian churches you may have heard of. I hope
this will become clear to you as you read through my blogs.)
Also, I want to make clear that I don't believe that the
Presbyterian Church as a whole is the only true Christian denomination, of course.
We attend our church because 1. In our small town, there are few options,
and 2. I have found that the Presbyterian church's underpinning beliefs (mainly
stemming from the Westminster Confession of Faith) are the most faithful to a consistent
reading of the whole word of God.
I grew up in a Pentecost/charismatic church, and for 30-plus
years, I didn't really (nor was I really encouraged) to study theology
and God's word for myself. In 2020, my wife sent me a documentary movie called "American
gospel", which began this journey. It wasn't immediate. There were no angels
singing or bright lights from heaven, etc. I liken it to pulling on a thread. I
started to listen to some solid bible teachers explain God's word, and slowly
but surely, my previous charismatic beliefs began to crumble.
I reached a point where I felt uncertain about my beliefs.
While I held on to the fundamental tenets of Christianity, such as Jesus being
the son of God and the only way to salvation, I was confused about the
supernatural elements of faith, such as miraculous gifts, tongues, and
supernatural experiences. To find clarity, I began systematically studying the Bible. I read the previous verses that I believed had a certain meaning and reexamined them in their original context to understand the author's
original intent and how it fits into the larger picture. I didn't set out to
become reformed in my beliefs, but it's where God's word inextricably led me. That
is the story for now. I am sure I will share more of my
story as I continue to blog.
I urge you to approach the information presented in this
blog with a critical mind, just like the Bereans did in Acts 17:11. It is
essential to study the word of God for yourself and not just rely on what
others say. Please don't take my words at face value. Instead, use them as a
starting point to develop your own biblically-based understanding of the
scriptures, salvation, sanctification, and God himself. May my words inspire
and guide you towards a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.
Soli Deo Gloria
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