Unfiltered Christian Podcast
Welcome to "Unfiltered Christian," a podcast where faith meets authenticity. Join me as we share the raw and real experiences of our Christian journey, navigating the highs and lows of life. Through heartfelt testimonials and candid conversations, we'll explore the challenges and triumphs of living a life of faith. Whether you're struggling or soaring, this podcast aims to uplift, encourage, and remind you that you're never alone in your walk with Christ. Tune in for genuine insights, relatable stories, and a community of believers striving to grow together.
Unfiltered Christian Podcast
Ep 30 - Which Comes First: Denomination or Discipleship?
The journey to finding your spiritual home as a new Christian can feel overwhelming. With countless denominations, traditions, and communities to choose from, where do you even begin? In this heartfelt conversation, we tackle the question: should new believers research different denominations before choosing which to join?
We share our personal experiences navigating church communities and denominations, revealing how focusing first on developing a genuine relationship with God provides the foundation for all other spiritual decisions. Drawing from our diverse backgrounds—with families spanning Catholic, Moravian, Church of England, and Seventh-day Adventist traditions—we discuss how inherited faith doesn't always align with personal convictions as your understanding of scripture deepens.
The spiritual discernment that comes from prayer and Bible study often leads believers to unexpected places. Both of us share stories of feeling uncomfortable in certain church environments despite trying to make them work, and how the Holy Spirit guided us to communities where Biblical truth resonated. We emphasize that church attendance alone doesn't constitute a meaningful faith journey—intentional prayer and scripture reading must form the cornerstone of spiritual growth.
For those struggling with church hurt or feeling unable to find a denomination that aligns with their understanding of scripture, we offer practical encouragement. Whether you're meeting in home groups, engaging with online communities, or serving through alternative ministries, remember that God looks at your heart rather than your church membership card. Your salvation and relationship with God remain deeply personal, regardless of which building you attend on weekends.
Have you struggled to find your place within Christianity? We'd love to hear your experience navigating denominations and discovering where you belong in your faith journey. Remember, the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few—perhaps your calling extends beyond traditional church walls!
Thank you for Listening
To ask us a question email us @ unfilteredchristian1@gmail.com
hey guys, welcome to unfiltered christian. I'm shea and I'm cc, and today is my question. So should a new christian research different denominations before choosing which to be a part of? Or should a new believer say?
Speaker 2:a new believer, meaning they're baptised or they've just found. They've just found.
Speaker 1:God. They've just found Christ and they don't know what they know. They want to be a Christian but they don't know what they know. They want to be a Christian but they don't know what denomination to join. Should they research that? Should they look into that?
Speaker 2:my personal view is the world that we live in today. Um, the most important thing for you to do is have a relationship with um, your whore um, first, I think that you should build your strength in having a relationship with him, meaning praying um and reading um, and I think, praying to him and asking him like, if you want me to go into a church, like which church um should you go into um? Because church in itself is a whole nother dynamic, and I think you need to have a strong relationship with Yahweh.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, I like that answer.
Speaker 2:Hmm, I don't know if I've got another answer for that, because that's a pretty good answer. To be fair, because I was brought up um Church of England. So my dad are my dad and my mum is two different denominations. My dad is Catholic, my mum's Moravian. And for those that don't know Moravian, it's similar to Adventism, but on a Sunday. So that's where I've got like wearing skirts from and dresses, and men shouldn't and women shouldn't wear men's apparel. So I've got that from the Moravian church before I was, before I started attending like a seven day Adventist school and things like that. So my mum didn't want me to be Catholic, my dad didn't want me to be Moravian. So I was christened in Church of England and so when I go back home, I'm going to a Moravian church and I was going to an SDA church as well. And then when I'm back in England, I'm going to a Churchavian church and I was going to an SDA church as well. And then when I'm back in England, I'm going to a Church of England church I had.
Speaker 2:I was going to three different churches, learning three different styles of worship, and that's why I was saying that you need to find out for yourself, because a lot of it is dictatorship. And I think we said in a previous episode that people can push their beliefs onto you, but your walk and your salvation is individual. And so in the Sunday church I knew that the Sabbath wasn't correct. I had a conversation with my dad about it, because my dad's a good historian, and he also said that he knows that the Sabbath is Friday to Saturday and I started to feel uncomfortable. And then I spoke to the priest about it and he was just like, basically, sabbath days is done away with, and that didn't settle with me.
Speaker 2:And then I started looking around at other churches, thinking that I need to be attached to a church first rather than have a relationship with y'all first. And I, looking back, I feel like that was my mistake, because I felt like I needed to have a church rather than have a relationship with him first. So when I couldn't, when I was going to, I think, I started going to Rurak and then I was going to all these different churches and I was looking for quote unquote home and I couldn't. I wasn't able to find home because I wasn't reading, I wasn't praying, but I knew that, okay, I didn't want to go to this church and that's when I started reading for myself and having a relationship with him, and at the time I was at university. So at uni we went to something called JAF, which was Jesus Alive Fellowship, and they had all different denominations there.
Speaker 2:And that's one thing that I loved about it, and we just studied the word and we, we was accountable for each other, and I think that's when I started going to the seven day adventist church in Colchester and that was really nice and it felt like a, a community, um and um, yeah. So I think what was missing was me having a personal relationship. So once you know that, okay, I'm strong with him, I'm confident in him, then the next, the next chapter, is to pray about. Okay, which denomination or which faith shall I go to? And I also feel like you should listen to yourself, because sometimes you might go to a church, um, and you might feel it out for a while, and then there might be certain things that's not making sense. Don't feel like, oh, I have to start all over again. It's like the holy spirit is talking to you and leading you to where you need to be.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's good, that's really good it sounds. I think that's the correct um advice. Um, I think that can be given. I I think I did the same. I did it the way that you said that you would have liked to do it. So I chose to start my relationship with Elohim first and, if I can remember right I don't know I feel like that's something you told me to do, because I feel like I don't know if you told me or I just felt like it's something I should do.
Speaker 2:I think he was battling between Sunday church and Saturday church and I was saying that there's no right way or wrong way like pray about it, asking for direction.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cause I, I, yeah. I feel like I vaguely remember having that discussion and I do remember for a while I just didn't go to church. I just try to build my relationship with Elohim because I didn't have that Even when I went to church. That was non-existent. I didn't have a day like I didn't take time in a day to pray and do all those things. It was non-existent. It was very focused. I was very focused on being in church, going to church, what am I going to wear to church, what's happening in church, but not actually, um, the purpose or direction, or why am I? You know, like there was none of that. There didn't exist. And, and, to be honest, what I will say, it is easier to just go and look for a church. It's harder to. When I say harder, I don't think that's the word I'm trying to use, because I'm not trying to make it sound negative it requires more focus for you to even Dedication.
Speaker 2:it requires more focus for you to even um dedication it requires dedication.
Speaker 1:It requires dedication to focus on your relationship with Elohim, and that is deeper than even looking for a church. It's like it's more important. It's more like you have to be intentional, um, and I feel like that is bigger than even trying to suss out a church. Like you said, like through prayer, through building your relationship with him, you'll work that all out and I'm so happy. I did do that, um, but now, speaking about it, it's a confirmation.
Speaker 1:What I did was correct, because I was buying devotionals and, you know, bought a diary and did all these things before I actually found church. And I was battling, like I literally didn't know. I felt uncomfortable going to a Sunday church. Um, that was just me, and the funniest thing is that I hadn't going to a Sunday church. That was just me. And the funniest thing is that I hadn't been to church for like eight years. So it just was a make. If I did, I probably went for someone's wedding and I don't know. I don't even know what else I went to church for, but maybe a christening or something like that, but I don't actually, I wasn't even active in church for so many years. So when I was trying, I was just.
Speaker 1:It was just weird because in my mind, the last church I left was a seven day adventist church and I was used to like church on a saturday. It's the sabbath, but I didn't practice the sabbath fully. And when I say practice for anyone that doesn't know, I didn't. Um, you know, sabbath starts from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, um, and I wasn't doing that type of practice, like I was still working until the sunset on a Friday, but on a Saturday itself I did not work, um, I didn't really do anything. Um, so for me it was such such a struggle, it was like a battle. You know, it's a spiritual self having a battle and I was so convinced I was not meant to, even though it was uncomfortable, I was like, oh, maybe it's because you haven't been to church for a while.
Speaker 1:So I was so convinced that being in a Sunday church was the best decision for me, so convinced that being in a Sunday church was the best decision for me, I was like, yeah, I don't want to. I don't want to go to an Adventist church, like it's just. You know, I had all my my own preconceptions and whatever I had in my head that I thought was happening in church, um, and I just thought, yeah, that's not the place for me, it's not gonna work out. You know all these different things I had in my head and I just thought, yeah, that's not, that's not the place for me, it's not going to work out. You know all these different things I had in my head and I just thought, yeah, that's not the place I'm meant to be. And I really tried, yeah, but it just didn't work. I felt so uncomfortable being in a Sunday church Because I was like, hang on, because my job is the shift work and so me having my Saturdays off was so that I worked on a Sunday. So I was like so what am I gonna do now? I don't feel comfortable. Working on a Saturday, and Sunday would be when I have to go to church, but then I have to work on the Sunday because that's a compromise. So what am I gonna do? And it was like this battle I was going through, like how is this gonna work? So, um, in the end I literally went back to my church through Cece's invitation. To be fair, there was a crusade going on and we had a pastor that was coming from America and I went, and I will never forget the feeling of.
Speaker 1:I remember sitting in my church and I remember a position I was sitting in. I remember I wasn't even fully sitting forward in church because I didn't want to, I didn't want any attention, I didn't want anyone to notice. I was even there. I just wanted to sit down and just process. I just wanted to sit down and just process. And I remember I sat there and I felt the most comfortable feeling that I've had since I've been trying to visit churches and I didn't visit many churches as well, I didn't. I tried. I thought I'd found a church, because I found a Sunday church that started at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and I thought, oh, perfect, I can go to work, I can go to church. Great, so there's a balance, right.
Speaker 1:And I had such a traumatic experience in that church. I remember I physically just ran to the train station. It was. It was horrible, um, it was absolutely horrible, and I thought, no, I could never go there again. But anyways, I sat in my church and I just remembered looking around, going oh my gosh, this is home, this is literally home, and I felt all the feelings like I'd missed it, I'd missed being there.
Speaker 1:Um, everything sounded correct to me. You know what was being preached sounded correct, like it. Just I just connected with it. But that was just through me. Now I know when I think about it. Now this is through me, um, having my own relationship with Elohim. Don't remember praying that prayer, but I probably did, with him guiding me back to where I meant to go and, um, because I'm sure I took that advice and did pray about it and it just felt like that was correct. But I completely get it.
Speaker 1:I think like knowing the word, or at least having an idea of the word, or connecting with the Holy Spirit will guide you, even in those early stages, because I probably didn't know the word the way I do now, but the Holy Spirit guided me. Still, um, when I say it and that's what I mean in regards to like things sounded correct, it's like other places I went to, things did not sound correct and, like I said, bearing in mind I wasn't sitting in church those eight years, I wasn't in a church, I wasn't listening to sermons, but somehow you, just the Holy Spirit, will speak to you and you just know, like what's been taught here is not correct. Something doesn't sound right. You don't know what it is, but you just know that it's not right. You just know it's not correct. So I think that is what I had even in those early stages Like this is not right, this is not connecting, this is not working.
Speaker 1:And I didn't go every single week after that. It wasn't like, oh my gosh, yeah, that's it. But I knew I was meant to be so in time, even if it was like one week, a month or every other week or whatever it was. Um, the one thing about establishing a church life is that you have to be intentional about. You have to be intentional about that journey, if that's what you're, if that's what you're doing and, um, at that time, my life wasn't adaptable around church, if that makes sense. It was still new to me how to restart again, but I just knew that that's where I was meant to be. I was like, yeah, this is where I'm meant to be. And I think I did go more than once that week when that speaker was there because I really enjoyed it. That speaker was there because I really enjoyed it, um, and that's how I eased myself back into church.
Speaker 1:So definitely remember that it comes with time. I think that's what I can say through my own experience. It comes with time, um, you're not going to just find it and find a, a church like that or find a denomination, just like that, um, and you literally have to do what is for you, because even me, going back to that church, my family, because of what had happened to me in church, I went back to the same church, um, that I got hurt in and it was. We have to remember that we're all sinners and sometimes hurt people, hurt people, and that can be in any environment. And I'm not trying to say that you should go to church to get hurt. That's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying that I could have hurt someone in church. You know we all do things.
Speaker 1:If someone hurts you at work, would you leave your job Like, would it be that simple? Would you just walk out Because someone has said something to hurt your feelings or whatever it is? I don't think you'd necessarily do that. So I did already leave for so long based on that hurt. But I worked on healing from that and even when I went back in I wasn't still 100% there.
Speaker 1:You know it did used to pop up at times, but that the feeling of knowing that I was meant to be there outweighed those negatives. And then that's when I had to pray, and there's something that someone said to me recently that one of our pastors preached, because one of our pastors said that this is your father's house and don't let nobody come and tell you that you should not be there. So, even still, through trials, if you feel that that's your church or that's what you're meant to be, that's your home, the individuals in there should not stop you from being there. But obviously it's a difficult situation. That's a whole different podcast about church hurt. I think we've been meaning to say we're going to do one of those podcasts about church hurt. It's a whole different scenario dealing with that.
Speaker 2:It really is. I also like to put because, for me, I, right now, I don't belong to a denomination and I also feel like, depending where you are in the world, you might not have a church local to you or whatever Don't feel like you are not accepted because you're not going to a building where people worship. I think that's very key, um, and I know that there's many platforms that are online. Like you know, you can have a service at home, like listening to certain people online, certain sermons. There's so many like youtubers out there that give them their top tips. Um, because I know for some people, depending on your situation, your environment, that you might not be able to leave the house or your family restricts you from worshiping, or you just don't want to go to a church building right now, that is okay. Or you don't want to be a part of a denomination, that, too, is okay. Because I think sometimes we focus on what um like what denomination are you? Are you catholic? Are you church of england? Are you this, are you that? But, like, y'all's not looking at all of that. He's looking at our heart, and I think you need to look at your heart and your relationship. Um, do I do.
Speaker 2:I think that a church, going to a church, is important. As of right now, I don't know as where I am right now. I don't know because I'm doing my own research with certain stuff. However, I do attend church sometimes, um, like if there's special events going on, but I think where I am right now is like the fact that we're in end times. I want to be able to hear the holy spirit without other people having their input of if I say this, and that's another thing.
Speaker 2:If you feel like Yara is telling you something and then somebody else interjects your feeling, that's fine. Everybody's on different walks, everybody's on different levels with Yara, but don't let somebody deter how you feel. I get it all the time. There's times where I haven't been at church for so long and the first people's thing is that, oh, where have you been? But nobody will check up on you. Sometimes going to church is lonely. You could be in the building by yourself. Um, church can feel cliquish. Church can feel a lot of different stuff, but there is positives work where you have a community, where you have to pray, but there's a group that the church has called iron sharpens iron and that's international. That's not actually a building. It's held on zoom, so sometimes you could have a church-like community without the building. You could have brothers and sisters praying for you without their building. So don't feel like wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, is that you need to find a building to feel accepted.
Speaker 1:Y'all accepts you yeah, I think that's a good bit of advice to add in, because I feel like what we're talking about is going to apply to each thing we say is going to apply differently to each individual. So what I'm saying might apply to one person, what you're saying might apply to somebody else. So, completely, I completely get that. Hmm, there's something you said, actually, that I have a question about in regards to, because I know that you don't belong to denomination anymore and you were saying that you're not sure about church. Well, if you have to go to church, but what do you think about the early church when they had church? So they didn't have church in a church building, isn't it? They have church in their homes. So what do you think about that?
Speaker 2:because I can't really talk on it because I don't have biblical facts.
Speaker 2:I don't want to say certain stuff and I know everybody's going to have their opinion, but whereas this is like worldwide, because I don't, I've been studying it because there's there's a even in the. There's a verse in the bible that says that you shouldn't even travel on the sabbath. So I've been researching that because it seemed like, for example, if I was traveling on a friday to your house and the sun set, I would have sabbath with you, I would keep sabbath with you. So my mind is just like where did the church building come from, if we're meant to be? And again, some people say like the law is done away with, um, and we're under, we're saved by grace, but for me, I believe that we should still follow the law. Obviously, we don't sacrifice animals and stuff like that anymore. Um, however, there's just, I feel like, where we are in the world, people pick and choose what they want to do, just like in life. So that's why I don't want to open that Pandora's box, because we'll be here for a long time.
Speaker 1:Fair enough, I hear you Okay.
Speaker 2:But me not having a denomination is I just don't want to. But me not having a denomination is I just don't want to be attached to anything anymore, Because I feel like as Adventism there's so much stuff that I don't agree with. So, even though I'm baptized and I still have my membership, I just don't identify as an Adventist anymore.
Speaker 1:What can you say? That looks like for you right now. What do you mean? Hmm, I feel like I knew what that meant from that question. So like becauseI. Yeah, so what does that look like for you? You don't belong to the denomination, so what does that look like for you? What is that? What does your life look like without the same belonging to anything?
Speaker 2:still the same, because the most important thing is that I serve y'all and I follow his word. So a lot of people think that being a vegetarian or being vegan is adventism. It's not. It says it in the bible, um says it in Leviticus. So there's a lot of things that we cling on to and we say like this and I just don't feel like that. So, for me, has my life changed? No, and I think again, like what what you just said is like, because I'm no longer adventist. What am I? I'm still the same person. I still believe everything that I believed in. There's just a lot of things I didn't believe in in Adventism and I thought to myself if I don't believe in this, how can I call myself Adventist?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, I'm still me. No, but it wasn't. I wasn't meant to say like what are you? It's more like what does it look like? What does your life look like? What does that look like?
Speaker 2:basically, it's the same.
Speaker 2:I just don't say I'm Adventist okay, okay well, at least don't go to adventist church, because there's just only certain things that I disagree with.
Speaker 2:Until I can find something that I'd be like okay, yeah, this is like concrete and I'm not a hebrew, israelite, if that's what some people are thinking, but it's just until I find something that I'm like this is solid, then yeah, and that's why I was saying to people like it doesn't matter where you go, if you go to a synagogue or here or there, and you're just trying to find something that suits you.
Speaker 2:Until your answers your question, it's okay because, um, there's a lot of people, for example, like Shay's, adventist, but sometimes she goes to church with her service users on a Sunday and you know, you could still get a word from anywhere Like sometimes the Lord could be speaking to us at different times, like I really want to go to like a Jewish synagogue and see how that's like. See how that's like, and we can all learn something, because one thing that I realize is that different people will be saved from different denominations and when they come to the truth. So this, this podcast, is not to cast down like other christians who are not adventists, like no, it's about being unfiltered and talking about how hard the walk is trying to be a better steward for our father.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I completely agree. I completely agree because we can only give our, our views or opinion. It's not like we're telling you that this is exactly what you do, everything you, every decision you make or everything you do you have to pray about and your relationship with Elohim is individual. Decision you make or everything you do you have to pray about and, um, your relationship with Elohim is individual. So only through that conversation with him and his guidance, where you know, like, what's the right thing to do, what's the, what direction you should go, what should happen, um, yeah, but hopefully from if this is something that you're battling with hopefully from this conversation someone has been able to get an answer to that question, because I'm sure so many people are battling right now with those questions like what should I do? Where should I go? Should I go, should I not go?
Speaker 1:um, hopefully you've through, because sometimes you know you might pray and then you hear something and then the answer comes so hopefully you've heard that answer, um, and if not, keep praying um, keep seeking out the answer and and Allahumma Qaidu, yeah, out the answer and and he would guide you with that, yeah and do your research, research into churches.
Speaker 2:Don't just be like, oh, you know, like this is normal for me because you know where we've been brought up, like that, like you know, like this is normal for me because you know where we've been brought up, like that, like you know, you go to this church because your parents go to this church. But what do you know about that church? Uh, it's like, for example, when I started researching about the Church of England church, um, how it even came about? It came about because henry I think it was henry the eighth um wanted to divorce his first wife because she wouldn't give him a male hair to the and he wanted to marry somebody else to give him a boy. But biblically, the bible says that you can only divorce if you commit adultery. So when he went to the pope, the pope um said no, yeah, he can't give him that, and he broke away from church and then started his own church, which was church of england.
Speaker 2:Um, so we need to research the background and stuff because, like, a lot of people are a denomination and they can't even tell you the fundamentals or what it's about or the reason of it, but they would just proudly say I am blah, blah, blah, um, but what is the meaning behind it? So I think you need to research why you are that person, why you are that denomination. How did it start?
Speaker 1:what was the fundamentals on Um? It's true, yeah, yep, you said it. Well, that's what we have to do. It's true.
Speaker 2:And if you don't find anything, it doesn't mean that you're a reject or anything like that. No, no that's true.
Speaker 1:Yeah, research is important. I think a lot of people did anyways, um, especially like others that choose a religion, not even just a denomination. I just wanted to aim it at that. But there's a lot of people that do their research on on what religion they want to be. That's how they make the decision about whether they even want to be one, because I think sometimes after a while, some people say they did research and they don't want to be any. Because I I think sometimes after a while, like some people say they did research and they they don't want to be any of them.
Speaker 2:It's like oh, yeah, and sometimes research is not asking anything. People will tell you that, oh, it's joined because of this, joined because of that, um, and then you think, okay, and you gotta remember we go by feeling so it'd be like, oh, that seems nice, yeah, I'm gonna join, but do your own, do your own research and study and you know, even when we talk about sabbath and stuff like that, research it for yourself, um, look into it. Um, because again, many people would say I worship on the sabbath. If you ask them why, they can't even tell you. They just be like, oh, because the bible says so, but why? Where does it come from? Like, look into it.
Speaker 2:Some people even say like there's no, there's no correct day it's gone away with.
Speaker 2:We're saved by grace. We need to read and study and we need to like. There's so and that's another thing there's so many different branches of Christianity. Even when you're about to watch something on TV, pray, pray before you watch it. There's so much things out there right now.
Speaker 2:Um, that is just deep like I think even there's so many people that's relying on chat gtp.
Speaker 2:Soon, the world that we live in right now, soon chat gtp is going to be giving people error and then we're just going to be led by it because it's like, oh, like, like we're becoming like, oh, let me ask chat gp, let me just press my phone and ask Google for the answer, and there's nothing wrong with that, but soon we're going to be so dependent on it, not even going to have a book.
Speaker 2:And this is why I'm saying to pray and to pick up your physical Bible For those that if you can pick up a physical Bible where you are rather than your phone, pick up the physical Bible, because soon we're going to enter where they're just going to get rid of certain stuff, like we're in. We're in the end times, so we need to be so bounded in doing things the natural way, because ai is just the movies they've shown, so many movies where technology just takes over and just ruins mankind and they're still not learning. But we ourselves that were saying, oh, I'd never use this. I remember back in the day when contactless came out, it was like I ain't doing that. Now, every minute, people don't even have a card, they're just tapping their phone, me included. It's just be careful what you're doing, hooray. I'm even seeing things now like with AI being able to just do sermons, and I think there's one church I think is it in like the Catholic church where AI will be doing sermons now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've seen this so I think it's a church in Germany that's actually done that. They're using like a hologram or something of someone to do a sermon through AI or something like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so for us and ourself, we're going to be in a world where the Bible says it already Don't trust no man, Because we our we ourselves, we're sinners. So it's important for you to have your relationship with him so you could hear the Holy Spirit and read your Bible for yourself and I know sometimes it's hard because we're so used to like I could go to Shay and say, oh, can you, what do you think about this in the Bible? And she could respond. Sometimes the Lord takes longer to respond and certain things like that, but he will answer you, he will. He will lead you to the correct path. And the fact that you're having feelings of like, oh, which should I join or where should I go, that that's the Holy Spirit talking to you.
Speaker 1:So just keep at it, he will guide you yeah, amen, amen, something you said that I think I've forgotten now. But, yeah, I think that is the the best thing you can do. Simplest prayer may seem it's the best decision that you can make. It's the best thing you can do. It's just prayer about stuff. Sometimes, as much as I like to pray, even I forget to pray about certain things, like something like oh, did you pray about? And I'm like I don't really think about that. You know, I don't know why. You know, I think that's something definitely like I myself personally have to work on being more intentional with, because at this point, like you said, we're in end times. You literally have to pray about everything because there's so much happening that we just need direction and it might seem really small, but that one quote-unquote, small decision at that time could make a massive and long-lasting effect. So it is really important.
Speaker 1:I know someone that uses chat, gbt for devotionals and stuff like that, and it is really dangerous. I did watch a sermon about that the other day as well, talking about AI, what it's doing to the world, and it's really dangerous. I was using it a lot, not for that, but I was using it for something and it was um, it would like, because it, because it's ai, it starts to like adapt and it's like, oh, would you like this prayer or whatever, and like the prayer would sound so amazing. And you're like, oh my gosh, like that's what I would have liked to say, but you didn't, it's not from you, and like I had to check myself and I was like I use it for like other stuff, like professional stuff, because it's great for that, like it helps me to articulate things that I struggle to articulate myself.
Speaker 1:But in regards to to do with God, that's a no-no, because I'm thinking to myself like the whole point of your relationship with Elohim is because he knows you, for you, not you coming with this. Because that's the struggle I used to have when I started my journey. I used to think that my prayers needed to be these bad boy prayers, like I should be quoting this scripture, and I used to feel like a failure with the way I prayed and that affected me a lot, because I just felt like my journey would never be the way it needs to be, because I don't know how to do it, the way other people do it, and I had to let that go. So it's gone off subject here, but it's just important that you just bring your own self and your own words to Elohim and trust me, he will. He will answer. Might not be me, he will. He will answer. Might not be exactly today, but he will answer.
Speaker 2:I'll just say, like John 4, verses 23, it says but the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and in truth, for the father is seeking such to worship him. So it's all about worshiping him and going in truth and reading his word. Um, yeah, because many of us again can go to church. But, like I remember, I was lost in church. I was was going to church but I wasn't actually taking anything else.
Speaker 2:I was going to hang out with friends? Yeah. But I'm not saying that church don't help, because it does. Once you find a church, as Shay was saying, there will be ups and downs. That's just life. Yeah, but if you can't find a church, I'm just basically saying it doesn't mean that he won't accept you or he would reject you yeah, that's definitely important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, don't feel, because you haven't found a church, that that's it. Like you're, because you like you might actually have a relationship with elohim, yeah, but because you're not in a church, you feel like you're not complete. Yeah, you're not doing no, like that's it, like that must be the end of it for me, um, and I get that feeling for that.
Speaker 2:I had that feeling because you also got those people who are like street preachers, like they don't have a church, that every day, like they will just go out. Or if they have after work, they will go out and they will just spread the. Or if they have after work, they will go out and they will just spread the word. Because when you look at john the baptist, he was going around saying get ready for jesus, and spreading the word, and I think that's that's where we need to be. We need to be out in in the road telling people about him in different ways. It doesn't mean have to be like being a street preacher, because I can't do that, but you know the people who we meet with. We can spread the word and the love of him. Um, because if everybody was meant to stay in church 24, 7, how will people know about him?
Speaker 2:true, I was just gonna say that because, even, even, like um the yashua yashua, which is the name of jesus, like even he was just going out and spreading, he wasn't in the temple all the time so that's, true, just take each day at a time because you hear people say that but then they don't actually do it.
Speaker 1:you're like, oh, you know, how are you going to be in church every week when you're not even spreading the word?
Speaker 1:And I'm like, but you're just saying it, you're still not doing it. Um, and it's true, and it came up in a sermon even recently for me, like he was talking about that, like um, because I'm not a street preacher myself, I don't see myself doing that but he was just talking about, like that scripture that speaks about, um, the harvest is plenty, but the labor is a few. And he was just like you know, a lot of people say that it's so hard to bring people to Jesus. And he's like it actually really isn't that hard, it's really not. It's like, you know, you just have to be out there. And he didn't really say anything. But I kind of got where he was coming from, because he was like you know, there's people that want to hear about Jesus. You're just not speaking, you're not out there, you know. And I was thinking for real, because I'm like I don't even know if I can see myself just going sparking up that conversation.
Speaker 2:But I think it's the way of life. I think your way of life because the bible says that we're called to be peculiar, so your way of life. People should be like oh, like you do this different. Or like you know, yeah, like, for example, shay. Like when she's on her walkabouts if she sees somebody that is homeless, she will help them.
Speaker 2:Um, witnessing is in so many different ways ways, and we're made in his image that you could be like helping somebody in your workplace, helping somebody on the road, helping somebody like. I remember back back back in the day, um, like the church that we go to, we used to help in the community. I don't know why, I don't know if it's still going on that shade, I'm not anymore like that, but we used to do so much. So, like every other suburb, we had a rota where we would visit people who are like home alone or don't have anybody, or visit people in the hospital, and we would spend a sabbath with them. Um, rather, and then, because there's a lot of people that's alone, there's a lot of people that don't have anybody, so sometimes it's okay to go and visit friends and family member and like spend time with them as long as it's, as long as you're still obeying the sabbath, um, it's, it's fine.
Speaker 2:There's so many people that you know haven't seen anybody because we're we live in a generation now where everything is on the phone, video calls, true. Um. So, like there's nothing wrong, like we're going to, like, you know, bring somebody food and sit there with them.
Speaker 1:Um but, you haven't seen to and make time with them yeah, it's true, I used to think I was wrong at first, like people used to make you feel like you know, that's not what you should be doing, and then you're looking saying, actually, that's not actually true. Um, you know, jesus was out here healing on the sabbath. You know, if the work needs to be done, the work needs to be done, um, and I don't think they do as much as they used to, for sure, like, not not down to the t, where it's like there's a rota and you're specifically going out to see someone. But they still do visits for shut-ins and and things like that. But the one thing we did do the other day is that when we did communion sorry guys, still losing my voice here when we did communion, um, they did have those who went out afterwards to do a communal service to those at couldn't attend um. You know, and yeah, I don't know why it.
Speaker 1:I'm not involved in that area, but I just have this feeling that the world's getting harder but we're doing less for each other, um, in regards to like being around each other and stuff. I feel like the stuff you're talking about used to be so much of it, um, and we don't do it as much anymore, and I think it's something that I myself, I think I need to start praying about. What more can I do with those surrounding me? Um, because I I never used to see myself always being at church every sabbath and being involved. Don't know where it's come from, but it has happened, um, but I used to think that that's what I was, that's meant to happen, that's how it's supposed to be. Quote unquote supposed to be.
Speaker 2:She said something that I want to interject, that the holy spirit has said go on. If you have a role in church and Yara is now calling you to be somewhere else, don't let the church hold you back. That's another thing. That word was for me. I heard that Because I feel like sometimes we're put in positions and he's calling you to do something else.
Speaker 2:Um, just as you look in the bible, he called people all the time that you know, in the middle of like fishing or whatever, and you're thinking, oh, how am I going to feed my family? But he's like come with me. So there's times where he might lead you into a whole different ministry, a whole different, whatever it may be. Um, and you might get some people saying that, oh, who's going to pick up the fork? But you're still doing his work. You're just doing it somewhere else. Um, yeah, I think that's a key thing, and the verse that shay was talking about was Matthew 9, 37 to 38. It says and then he said to his disciples the harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore, pray to the Adon of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.
Speaker 1:Amen.
Speaker 2:And yeah. And then just to break it down for some people who might think what is that? The harvest basically means that the souls, people who are ready to receive the truth of Yahweh's word. And then you've got the labourers are those willing to share the gospel, pray, teach and serve. Yahshua was saying that there's so much spiritual work to do, but there's not enough people answering to the call. Yeah, there's so much spiritual work to do, but there's not enough people answering to the call. So your call might not even be to be in church. There's even people I can't remember her name, but there was a girl that she goes around singing around the world and she's blessing people. You've got people who travel um and build schools and do this, and you know there's so much that we can do, like missionaries and stuff. So just pray about. Sometimes you're not meant to be in a physical denomination or a physical church, but he's called you to do his work.
Speaker 1:Sometimes he wants you out there yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because he might send you to a country that doesn't even know about him and you're there to spread the word. So, yeah, as long as your life represents him, read and pray to him and talk to him, give him everything and he will take care of you and guide each and every step. It's not easy with dedication. Sometimes you feel like I'm tired to read. We're all there. You know. We all have moments where we we read a chapter and it's amazing. Then you enter another book and it's, it's just like nah, and that's fine. But those are the times where we just pray and say like, yeah, I'm finding this difficult, I'm not understanding, help me. We just give up and just turn on the tv or scroll through our phone or, you know, do whatever. But we really need to say and I think you know the most important thing is, whenever I'm struggling to read a chapter, it's because I need it, but my mind is not processing it.
Speaker 2:So I have to sit down and pray about it, and then when I actually get it, I'm like oh, like I needed this. So, and you also got to be, give yourself grace, because we're all going through things individually as well financially, physically, mentally um, and just give that to him too, oh, amen, that's definitely what I say, that that's also a word.
Speaker 1:It would definitely mean more to you.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I don't think I have any more closing remarks. I think that was a great ending. Like we said, just continue to be prayerful, continue to seek his word. Nothing wrong with Seek his word, nothing wrong with Seek his word first. So funny, I was listening to I'm going to add into this Like I was listening to a commentary the other day, because I struggle with sometimes with what I'm reading or what the what that chapter may be Not telling me, but what it's about, and so I found a commentary that I like, um, that goes through it and then will explain like, oh, this was, I don't know, based off of this, of this or whatever it was right.
Speaker 1:And, um, there's something that she said that I loved, that made me think this is the right commentary I'm listening to, because you know sometimes as well you don't know, and she said that before you go and look, she said it's okay for you to come and listen to this commentary or listen to any other one about the chapter that you're reading, but before you do that, make sure that you have tried to understand what you're reading first and that you've gotten something from it before you seek out something else. Because she's like you need that for yourself, and I love that. It just it was so powerful because it showed me that she's not just trying to get views and just trying to get people to watch. It's like, make sure you're getting. You're getting it for yourself, you know, and so that's what's important. It's important for you to be getting the word and getting everything the food, for yourself. That's my closing remarks and I think I'm going to say a prayer now for us to end.
Speaker 1:All right, precious, holy and wonderful, father, king of Kings, lord of Lords, alpha and Omega, beginning and the end, father, thank you so much, lord in Heaven, for this episode.
Speaker 1:Thank you, father, lord in Heaven, for being in the centre and placing this question out there. Whoever this podcast was for, I pray that you may draw it to them, that I may be sent to that individual or they may come across it. Heavenly Father, gracious God, whoever's listening and they're battling with what to do in regards to a church, home or denomination or whatever it may be, father, god, help them on that journey and that path, because only you can answer them, lord, only you can give them the answer that they need, and wherever that answer may come through, whether it's through your word or through them, sending someone to pass them the answer. May they know it's you speaking, father Lord, in in heaven. May this podcast also even bless us as we walk away from it as well, and may we be able to be what you need of us to be and who you've created us to be. Thank you so much for loving us and caring for us, and thank you, father Lord, for your time. We love you, lord. May your blessed name as we pray.
Speaker 2:Amen, amen, amen and amen.
Speaker 1:And we'll see you guys soon. See you soon.