Letters From Leavers

I was “worship leader” at an AOG for years and Calvary Chapels prior to that. For me, I had to leave. I haven’t found a fellowship since that I know to be faithful to the Word and what it teaches. The problems I saw, in subtle ways, changed the meaning of being a Christian from one who walks with Jesus into someone that religiously attends a service at a “church” as if the word church meant an institution, not the people that serve Him.

The following is a copy of a letter I handed to the pastor and elders:
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Why I need to leave.

John’s message this morning was all about ‘prosperity’ and how God will let His people ‘profit’ with ‘prosperity’. I searched the scriptures quoted this morning and found that “prosperity” spoke plainly of NOT financial gain but: 1) good, pleasant, agreeable 2) a good thing, benefit, welfare. I’ve heard him before speak of praying for finances. The bible tells me I must leave in 1 Tim. 6:5.

1Ti 6:5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that GAIN IS GODLINESS: from such WITHDRAW thyself.

This is not my only reason for leaving. The biggest reason is John’s belief in the new (since 19th century) teaching of dispensationalism that claims that the church age began at Pentecost. The bible clearly speaks of the church existing as far back as those with Moses in the wilderness.

Act 7:38 This is he, that was in the CHURCH in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

John also teaches that the Holy Spirit and the church will be removed from this earth before Jesus returns. He also teaches that there will be a literal period of 1000 years after the return of Christ before the wicked are judged. This clearly goes against what Jesus taught us:

Jhn 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Jhn 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

There are many other minor reasons I am called out of this group. A big one is how Jesus told us NOT to pray standing in a house of worship.

Mat 6:5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues..

Another is the stage being called an alter. Altars are places to sacrifice animals, according to scripture. There was one pulpit in the bible. It was erected ‘outside’ the temple, outside the Watergate, not inside. No one has to ‘go’ to the altar to approach God. God can meet you right in your pew, not at the edge of the stage of the ‘house of God’.

I know that everyone has a different understanding of what scriptures say but this is the way I see it.

God bless U all,
Raybob Bowman