ATW - Time with Donna Rowe

AfterTheWell

Summary
In this episode of After the Well, Melissa Lapin and Donna Rowe discuss their personal experiences with spirituality and encountering God. Donna shares her journey of growing up in a family without a strong religious background and her search for a deeper connection with God. She recounts a pivotal moment at the age of 17 when she felt a profound encounter with God, which brought her peace and a sense of purpose. They also discuss the importance of personal experiences with God and the need for individual exploration and understanding of spirituality. Donna Rowe shares her experiences with cults and the challenges she faced in finding a supportive community after leaving. She discusses the importance of feeling understood and validated, and the difficulties of navigating religious structures and expectations. Donna emphasizes the need for personal growth and transformation, and the journey of rethinking and redefining one's relationship with God. She explores the concept of righteous consciousness and the work of the cross, and the freedom that comes from letting go of religious rules and striving. Donna also mentions her exploration of Trinitarian theology and the hope she has for a new way of experiencing God. In this conversation, Donna Rowe and Melissa Lapin discuss the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit and following His guidance. They emphasize the need to pay attention to where God is leading and what He is teaching in the present moment. They also highlight the significance of studying church history and understanding the early church fathers. The conversation touches on the theme of surrendering to God's quest for knowledge and having a profound relationship with Him. They discuss the freedom that comes from letting go of striving and the fear-based beliefs that have been perpetuated in the church. The conversation concludes with the importance of discerning the spirit behind the messages we hear and seeking a community that fosters safe exploration and growth.
Takeaways

• Personal encounters with God can bring peace and a sense of purpose
• It is important to explore and understand spirituality on an individual level
• Having a community of like-minded individuals can provide support and understanding
• Religious upbringing and traditions may not always align with personal experiences of encountering God Finding a supportive community after leaving a cult can be challenging, as many people may not understand or validate your experiences.
• Navigating religious structures and expectations can be difficult, and it's important to find a community where you can be open and honest about your journey.
• Personal growth and transformation are essential in redefining your relationship with God and letting go of religious rules and striving.
• Exploring different theological perspectives, such as Trinitarianism, can lead to a deeper understanding of God and a more authentic faith experience.
• There is hope for a new way of experiencing God and a restructuring of religious systems that may be polarizing and restrictive. Pay attention to where God is leading and what He is teaching in the present moment.
• Study church history and understand the early church fathers.
• Let go of striving and fear-based beliefs in order to experience freedom in Christ.
• Discern the spirit behind the messages we hear and seek a community that fosters safe exploration and growth.