Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanah
Votive Soul, I read your post on orthodoxy with great interest.
2 years ago I began attending bible school, sponsored by my local UPC assembly, mainly because I wanted to immerse myself in scripture and fellowship, and deepen my knowledge for teaching bible studies.
One of the classes I took was on the book of revelations. Even though I was taught that the rapture was pretrib, and have believed that all my life, upon reading some of the passages, I could see how some could take a midtrib position.
When I began to ask questions about it, it was made plan that the topic was not open for discussion, I was to accept the teaching, pre trib was *what we believe* and that was the end of it.
Before attending bible college, I received an English BA from Rollins College. I greatly enjoyed the discussions and hearing the opinions of others. This may be why I cant abide the stifling of intellectual curiosity and the insistence on strict adherence to *orthodoxy.*
On the other hand, there must be some truths that are not negotiable, are heaven/hell issues, that we must take a stand on.
Maybe *we* feel that its a house of cards, and if anything is questioned, then everything is up for grabs and he whole house will crumble.
It's disconcerting to say the least and I'm weary of the dictatorial feel of the church, while also wary of straying into false doctrine. I don't want others to be lost.
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My wife received an Associate's Degree in Theology and Christian Service from Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota just before we wed.
In one of her classes, taught by the president of the school, who is also the pastor of the connected church, she was taught that the Great Tribulation is actually fourteen years long, not seven as so many have claimed.
She was required to write an essay on the subject, and so she did, attempting to refute the claim. Her essay was rejected and she was told she had to write a new essay upholding the view taught by ABI, in order to prove that she at least grasped the concept, even if she didn't agree.
If she had refused, she would have received no credit, or a "0" for the assignment, and thus, would have failed the class and not received her Associate's Degree.