Your experience when you dropped "dress standards" - Page 16

Hoovie · #**151** 06-06-2008, 06:23 AM

I was about fourteen or fifteen when I started hiding a belt and a baseball cap and wore them in leiu of my "approved" Old Order Mennonite hat and suspenders when I got the chance. I wanted more freedom and soon made plans to get a drivers license and leave home.

As to how I "felt" - liberated. I did not feel I was turning my back on the God of my fathers... actually it was during this time I was actually finding God.

COOPER · #**152** 06-06-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmatthew

For those of you that left "dress standards" please share with us standards keepers just how it came about and what you did.

When and How did it happen?

What was the first thing you did (what standard did you do away with first)??

How did you feel??

I put on a pair of shorts! I felt white

CC1 · #**153** 06-06-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I was about fourteen or fifteen when I started hiding a belt and a baseball cap and wore them in leiu of my "approved" Old Order Mennonite hat and suspenders when I got the chance. I wanted more freedom and soon made plans to get a drivers license and leave home.

As to how I "felt" - liberated. I did not feel I was turning my back on the God of my fathers... actually it was during this time I was actually finding God.

Ah.....that slippery slope. First it is a belt instead of suspenders and a baseball cap instead of an approved one and the next thing you know you are starring in a prime time reality TV show and dabbling in community theater!

Steve Epley · #**154** 06-06-2008, 09:37 AM

Please do not be offended but I did read the thread and yes I saw a journey but it was a backward journey and not a forward journey. Since Iam not new here I know nearly none of the posters who have been 'delivered' believe the new birth message any longer and some do not attend an Apostolic church period. To me your "liberty" is "bondage."
I am saddened by your testimonials rather than feeling good for you. I have seen the same attitudes in homes that broke up what once was love became a burden and home exist no more.
I will say this I am happy living the way I do and do NOT feel deprived or in bondage in the least. If I am a prisoner it is a prisoner of love.
"I love my Master."

Sherri · #**155** 06-06-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Please do not be offended but I did read the thread and yes I saw a journey but it was a backward journey and not a forward journey. Since Iam not new here I know nearly none of the posters who have been 'delivered' believe the new birth message any longer and some do not attend an Apostolic church period. To me your "liberty" is "bondage."
I am saddened by your testimonials rather than feeling good for you. I have seen the same attitudes in homes that broke up what once was love became a burden and home exist no more.
I will say this I am happy living the way I do and do NOT feel deprived or in bondage in the least. If I am a prisoner it is a prisoner of love.
"I love my Master."

I don't think you're in bondage, Bro. Epley. I believe you're doing exactly what you feel like you're supposed to do according to scripture and to please the Lord. I wouldn't want you or anyone else to change one thing, unless God directed you to.

However, there are some of us who have gone through transitions, because we felt it was the right thing to do according to scripture and by the leading of the Lord. We also love Him with all of our hearts and if He ever directed us to return to the former ways, I would do it in a heartbeat. I only live to please the Lord and to do His work. My life is totally dedicated to the Kingdom of God.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating.........when I lived by all the rules of UPC, I did so out of obedience, not bondage. I don't resent the way I lived or feel like I missed out on anything. It was where God had me at the time, to get me grounded in the Word and disciplined.

CC1 · #**156** 06-06-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

I've said it before, but it bears repeating.........when I lived by all the rules of UPC, I did so out of obedience, not bondage. I don't resent the way I lived or feel like I missed out on anything. It was where God had me at the time, to get me grounded in the Word and disciplined.

I was with you until this paragraph! I also did things out of obedience but did resent that I was in a religous system bound up in extra biblical rules and regulations that I felt were contrary to a Biblical approach.

MissBrattified · #**157** 06-06-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Please do not be offended but I did read the thread and yes I saw a journey but it was a backward journey and not a forward journey. Since Iam not new here I know nearly none of the posters who have been 'delivered' believe the new birth message any longer and some do not attend an Apostolic church period. To me your "liberty" is "bondage."
I am saddened by your testimonials rather than feeling good for you. I have seen the same attitudes in homes that broke up what once was love became a burden and home exist no more.
I will say this I am happy living the way I do and do NOT feel deprived or in bondage in the least. If I am a prisoner it is a prisoner of love.
"I love my Master."

Bro. Epley, my post just pointed out that some things we do out of respect for the pastor or assembly we attend, and not because we share the conviction. I still believe nearly exactly the way I did 10 years ago, with the exception that now I can express my beliefs a lot better. But I do know how to evolve from one place to the next based on who I am around. Some people would call that hypocrisy. I just call it being respectful.

While we attended our church, I kept the rules, and never complained about them. But once we left, I no longer kept them, because they were just out of respect for where we were and who we were under. The things I do out of respect for GOD haven't changed.

My point is--if someone is doing something because of what their pastor says or their church teaches, then it would be reasonable to think that when they are no longer under that pastor or attending that church, they will no longer adhere to those rules.

Steve Epley · #**158** 06-06-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

I don't think you're in bondage, Bro. Epley. I believe you're doing exactly what you feel like you're supposed to do according to scripture and to please the Lord. I wouldn't want you or anyone else to change one thing, unless God directed you to.

However, there are some of us who have gone through transitions, because we felt it was the right thing to do according to scripture and by the leading of the Lord. We also love Him with all of our hearts and if He ever directed us to return to the former ways, I would do it in a heartbeat. I only live to please the Lord and to do His work. My life is totally dedicated to the Kingdom of God.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating.........when I lived by all the rules of UPC, I did so out of obedience, not bondage. I don't resent the way I lived or feel like I missed out on anything. It was where God had me at the time, to get me grounded in the Word and disciplined.

I do indeed respect your honesty but then again you folks do not embrace the new birth message of Acts 2:38 being essential, I do understand Eddie never did and you was raised in a church if I remember correctly that also did not. But I see a connection with folks although much fun is made about the 'slippery slope' it looks like a fact to me and this forum is proof of it. CC1 was raised in a strong new birth church even the liberal church which he was home Tx. preached the new birth message however in time he no longer believes the necessity of the new birth message. So it is a progession but backward I am afraid.

StMark · #**159** 06-06-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Please do not be offended but I did read the thread and yes I saw a journey but it was a backward journey and not a forward journey. Since Iam not new here I know nearly none of the posters who have been 'delivered' believe the new birth message any longer and some do not attend an Apostolic church period. To me your "liberty" is "bondage."
I am saddened by your testimonials rather than feeling good for you. I have seen the same attitudes in homes that broke up what once was love became a burden and home exist no more.
I will say this I am happy living the way I do and do NOT feel deprived or in bondage in the least. If I am a prisoner it is a prisoner of love.
"I love my Master."

I'm glad that we still have a few folk around that can balance this forum out.

rgcraig · #**160** 06-06-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Bro. Epley, my post just pointed out that some things we do out of respect for the pastor or assembly we attend, and not because we share the conviction. I still believe nearly exactly the way I did 10 years ago, with the exception that now I can express my beliefs a lot better. But I do know how to evolve from one place to the next based on who I am around. Some people would call that hypocrisy. I just call it being respectful.

While we attended our church, I kept the rules, and never complained about them. But once we left, I no longer kept them, because they were just out of respect for where we were and who we were under. The things I do out of respect for GOD haven't changed.

My point is--if someone is doing something because of what their pastor says or their church teaches, then it would be reasonable to think that when they are no longer under that pastor or attending that church, they will no longer adhere to those rules.

And for this very reason is why people that are not grounded in the Word and have their own personal convictions will step WAY too far left when they are no long under that pastor.