John,
I recall back in 1992 or 93, I had not yet met brother Gary, but Jesus was working in my heart nonetheless. I had attended a Congregational Church group ( a liberal denomination), and for some reason I just wanted to get involved, to be an active member, so I joined a planning committee that wanted to arrange some Bible classes and some children’s groups. The five of us met in a back room with the (woman) pastor, who was pregnant at the time. She was a real control freak, wanted to do everything, and run the whole show. It occurred to me that she would probably be too tired during her pregnancy to carry the responsibility of running several committees in addition to her obligations of pastoring and writing weekly sermons (which were always very intellectual and elaborately scripted.) Well, being the helpful, sensitive guy that I am, I made the mistake of gingerly implying that she ought to take it easier, especially during her pregnancy. Oops! Wow, she snapped back at me with a harsh remark that was very unfitting for a pastor, and I think she even embarrassed herself by her temperamental reaction. She was a very proud woman. That really put me off. I never went back there again.
In another church, a year later, where I’d become more familiar with the pastor over several months, I asked him about speaking in tongues, and whether or not that happens at a person’s baptism. (I had just begun to read the Pioneer Tract Society’s tracts)
He chuckled, condescendingly, and said, “No, not everyone speaks in tongues, but we’re going to be having a class on Wednesdays to learn to speak in tongues. You wanna take the class?” At that very instant, I felt a deep compulsion in my gut to run from this man—-and I did—–and that was my last participation in Xty. A few months later I met Gary, and subsequently you and Barbara, in the spring of 1994.
I am still amazed that God enabled me to discern the wrong attitudes and wrong doctrines in Xty so early in my walk with Christ. Feels good to be rescued. Now look what His mercy has bestowed upon those who love Him!
Brad