What do you make of the Alpha Course?

boyzone

I've recently been invited to attend an Alpha course at my local Baptist Church and for the last 2 weeks I've gone along. Its all been very amiable and pleasant until this week. THe subject was "why and how should I pray?" Ok, straight forward enough you'd think - right? Well, I thought so, especially as the minister said all questions are welcome, including the tough ones.

So after the Nicky Gumbel video presentation we all sat round in a circle and began to discuss prayer.

I brought up a prayer that I uttered in all sincerety when I was 18 years old. I had a new baby, a new husband and had just moved to a new area at that time and was was feeling isolated, lonely and overwhelmed by my responsibilities. I distinctly remember asking God for help. I wanted company and I wanted a christian friend to speak to. I even remember shedding tears I felt that lonely.

Within 10 minutes of that prayer, Jehovahs Witnesses knocked on my door.

Now of course I immediately presumed this was an answer to my prayer and began to have a bible study from that point on. 21 years later I since discover that JW's had lied about their past, about their choosing by Christ in 1919 and had misapplied numerous scriptures to their own ends. By that time all my friends were JW's and I'd brought up my 4 children in this faith. Therefore the cost of leaving this false Organization was considerable for all my family.

So I ask the group who sent Jehovah's Witnesses to my door? I give them 3 options.

1. God sent them and I was wrong to leave. I should seek reinstatement immediately incase armageddon arrives and I'm dead.

2. Satan heard my prayer and sent them to my door to fool a young, naive, vulnerable girl.

3. Neither sent them. It was coincidence that they knocked on my door just then.

First off everyone started talking at once and it was hard to get a clear answer. Then the minister took charge and said he felt God was not responsible for sending JW's to my door. He made it clear that he believes they are a false prophet and God definately wouldn't have sent them.

Ok, said I, so what about Satan? Did he send them?

Again there was a babble of noise (the group comprised of people already christians so this Alpha was kinda preaching to the converted). THe general consensus ended up being that Satan isn't permitted to hear prayers and therefore he wouldn've been the one to send the Witnesses.

So I said "then it must have been coincidence", to which to my surprise the minister came back with, "I don't believe in coincidences, I believe in God-instances". To which everyone nodded sagely at his wise words.

I must admit to being left dumbfounded. Now what? Again everyone started talking at once and they all began to feel I misinterpreted the arrival of JWs as an answer to my prayer because I was vulnerable.

Ok, thats fair enough, but God knew I was vulnerable, he could see that when I prayed. Why didn't he protect me from a cult?

I also pointed out that it was natural that I would think JW's were my prayer answer - lets face it, if YOU were praying for help and 10 minutes later JW's called, wouldn't YOU presume they were an answer? No reply.

Then came the clincher. The minister began to relate his experience with depression and how it took several months to rise out of this state. Once he'd experienced this, he was in a much better position to understand and help those in a similiar state.

Of course I knew what he was getting at. He was trying to explain that my experience as a JW could be used to help others. Ok, again he had a valid point, but did God really give us bad things just so we can learn from them? I reminded him of the scripture that talks about a father giving bread to his son and not a stone. How come I asked for "bread" but got a "stone"?

Again the babble of overlapping conversation began to take over as I sat quietly. The minister's voice cut through the noise and said "If you didn't want to come back next week, we'd understand, we wouldn't pursue you".

At that point the meeting broke up and we all took our leave. I'm not sure if I'll go next week. Not only didn't I get my question answered, I got the feeling they'd rather I didn't raise too many awkward questions despite inviting me to do so.

I guess my point is do you think its worth going again this week? And do you think there's a 4th option to my question I haven't thought of?

thanks

BZ

wobble

I firmly believe that it was coincidence that sent the Dubbies there,otherwise it is too much of a miracle, God would have had to issue the territory map that your house is on to those Dubs a long time before you prayed.

The WT love quoting experiences like yours, but of course we would need to know how many people are praying and the Mormans or Southern Baptists call, and more likely how many people pray and get no answer , to make an assesment of it's validity.

Please let us know if you carry on with the Alpha course, I would love to know if it is the waste of time you have made it seem.

Love

Wobble

snowbird

BoyZone, when I read your post, the Scripture below immediately popped into my head.

I believe, in your case, there is a 4th option: The JW's are unwittingly paving the way to God for many.

You and I are one of those many.

Genesis 45:4-8 "Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt. MSG

Sylvia

thomas15

Oh my, BZ, that is a hard question to answer. I guess, just to add some white noise to my response is that no one is perfect. After reading your whole story it is tempting to state that your question is so complex and thought provoking that the answer should have taken some thought. But in reality as I was reading the story I too was at a loss of words and perhaps if I were at your meeting, I would have been an active part of the problem.

I would say this, the fact that you have taken the time to write the whole story indicates to me at least that you have questions and really want the answers and you think the Alpha course may have those answers. The rest is up to you. People, even pastors who have not been involved in controlling groups like the WT or studied then in detail have no idea what you have been through. If I could offer one bit of advice, call the pastor and speak to him in private about the matter before you decide.

Take care,

Tom

greenie

I agree with Tom. I think you should talk to the pastor on your own. You were asking a group of regular individuals, most of whom probably haven't even met a JW, a really deep question. Have you ever had that experience were people feel like they need to give you an answer, to say anything, just to be helpful, even if they don't have a really good answer.

sir82

Snowbird,

The group already suggested your reply:

I must admit to being left dumbfounded. Now what? Again everyone started talking at once and they all began to feel I misinterpreted the arrival of JWs as an answer to my prayer because I was vulnerable.

Ok, thats fair enough, but God knew I was vulnerable, he could see that when I prayed. Why didn't he protect me from a cult?

I also pointed out that it was natural that I would think JW's were my prayer answer - lets face it, if YOU were praying for help and 10 minutes later JW's called, wouldn't YOU presume they were an answer? No reply.

Just out of curiosity, how would you respond to her questions (bolded above)?

Surely there are less painful ways to "pave the way to God" than to spend 20+ years in a cult and suffer the loss of friends & family in the process.

snowbird

Why didn't he protect me from a cult?

Because He knew she would someday open the eyes of many who may not possess her strength of character?

if YOU were praying for help and 10 minutes later JW's called, wouldn't YOU presume they were an answer?

I would - and did!

Sylvia

Deputy Dog

snowbird

You're turning into a Calvinist

snowbird

snowbird

You're turning into a Calvinist

Matthew 16:23 But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works." MSG

Tee hee hee

Sylvia

JeffT

A number of years ago I got into an argument about this with a really strict fundamentalist at work. I was a Christian before I was a JW, and I have always viewed leaving the WT as getting to a place more in line with my beliefs, not "leaving my religion." As such, I considered my time as a JW as an opporunity to learn something and be better educated to help others. I can invision God saying "Yeah, Jeff is making a mistake but I can do something with that."

This fundamentalist said I couldn't have been a Christian before JWism because God wouldn't allow me to join a cult. He quoted John 10:

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all [d] ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

My response was "and here I am."

He had no answer.

What do you make of the Alpha Course?

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