Hi,
My name is Chris. I live in Tennessee and have a wife and son. I am currently in search for a local gathering of Christians to fellowship with. As I have listened to the teachings on this site, I have become convinced and convicted to separate myself from congregations that either refuse to use the word of God (KJV) or accept worldly traditions of so called holidays. All of the churches in my area that I have found to use KJV celebrate pagan holidays.
Although I would attend church with my mother and sisters from time to time, I was not raised in a believing household. I was raised learning that it is okay to watch or listen to whatever was pleasing. I had a secular education and believed that the earth was billions of years old. Although I was led to believe that I was a good kid and had a heart of gold, I was lustful and had feet that were swift in running to mischief.
I would spend the summers with my aunt. One day, my aunt offered to allow me to either watch a video or go help in the garden (easy choice). A man by the name Kent Hovind (wouldn't recommend, see Christophter Johnson's video on leaven alert) had visited the local church, and my aunt got his creation seminars on VHS. My eyes were open to the deception I had been led to believe in school about the age of the earth. Once I started watching, I couldn't stop. After returning home, I found his website and continued to watch and learn.
That summer at my aunt's church, the pastor explained the gospel to me and how to be saved. I believe I had a knowledge of God, but I do not believe I had repented and was saved. My aunt bought me a KJV bible and had me promise to read it every day, but after I returned home I did not keep my word. I cannot even tell you where that bible is today. I returned to doing the same things I did before.
In high school I started smoking pot and drinking, but I maintained good grades. I started dating a girl that I knew was not a good influence and had relations outside of marriage.
I later attended college and started to drink often and experiment with drugs. I also had relations outside of marriage and had a heart full of lust. I had a knowledge that what I was doing was wrong, but I had a wicked heart.
It was in the middle of college that I met my wife. I agreed to attend church with her, and it was there that I believe that I was saved. The message shared convicted me of my sins and I had a sorrow for what I had done against God. I called on Christ's name in prayer and asked for Him to save me.
I began to study the word of God. I would listen to Les Fel[CENSORED] (would not recommend as he taught using concordances and lexicons) and study the bible. I found this website and was convicted about the things that I watched and listened to. I stopped watching tv and listening to ungodly rock music. As God revealed that xmas and easter were not things that Christians should have any part in, I was convicted to depart from the church I was attending.
Since that time, I slowly began to allow old things to creep back in. I would drink on occasion and justify it to myself. I would listen to and play ungodly music and play video games. I would attend family get-togethers for holidays as a hypocrite.
Thank God that He has chastened me. The Lord has convicted me to study His word and become more bold in the faith. I have done little for God's kingdom, but I pray that He will use me to minister to others. I look forward to meeting all of you on here and growing together in understanding.
