For those who want to know...RULES at my church!

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

been under the same mentality. major issues at work.

Yes those that need to have serious control can be anywhere!

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Esther

Your problem Michlow is you got your eyes off of Jesus and put it on man. Man will always fail you, Jesus will not!

If you would begin again to worship Him He will heal you.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by aquestioninggirl

What Mich said is so sad but because of the teaching I have many friends who believe the way she does or believe what they were taught when they were young and think there is no way in the world they will make it to heaven if they have to follow all of these rules so they just decided to live as bad as they want!

That is my real concern with teaching standards as salvational.

Originally Posted by Michlow

STS, I didn't mean to scare you! You know me, too transparent for my own good. The truth is, everything I ever learned about God was distorted and twisted. God to me is someone who can't be trusted. Someone you can never please. Someone who is arbitrary and capricious. Malicious, cruel, and unjust.

Would you want to serve a God like that? Yeah, me neither.

A part of me knows and accepts that they were wrong, that the god they serve is not the real Jesus. But because all my former beliefs and concepts were built on a highly faulty foundation, most of it has crumbled into dust. And I find it extremely difficult to trust anything.

Furthermore, I don't trust any of the tools that one would normally obtain answers from (not to mention that I don't necessarily believe that there ARE answers to obtain).

My signature actually sums it up fairly well. I do believe in a divine creator, a higher power, a God. And I do believe that he is Jesus. But that is as far as I am willing to go.

Churches, demoninations, doctrines, rules, heaven/hell, even the concept of the Bible being inerrant, are all things that have no meaning to me.

And the truth is, I am happier than I have been in as long as I remember. Peaceful, you know?



I can't say that I know Jesus better than I did before, but I can't say that I know him less either. In fact if anything I question what I ever really knew in the first place. Even further, I question if God even intended for us to ever have the answers.

I been there. I had to erase everything I knew and start all over.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Thad

why was this post so ugly ??

Thad he underline this post meaning click on that and it would take you to Sis. Beezer post that you keep bumping.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Well, I know that you and I both have seen some pretty unbelievable stuff, but this is the most extreme case I have ever heard of.

I really would like more information, like when did this occur, is the Pastor still in that church, does she know if these things are still happening? I cannot imagine anyone getting away with this stuff in this day and age.

If it is still going on, somebody needs to get the police involved. Extreme standards are one thing, but this is criminal activity!

I want to know the same thing! I have PMed her and waiting on more info.
You ought to let BRO M jr & Sr read this one

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Esther

Your problem Michlow is you got your eyes off of Jesus and put it on man. Man will always fail you, Jesus will not!

If you would begin again to worship Him He will heal you.

I agree with this, but sometimes, depending on your circumstance, the man is all you can see. He is blocking out Jesus. If you have never lived that, it is hard to understand.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by Esther

Thad he underline this post meaning click on that and it would take you to Sis. Beezer post that you keep bumping.

OH! No need to get all huffy about it Esther


BTW where in the world is reverand Strange ??

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Thad

I want to know the same thing! I have PMed her and waiting on more info.
You ought to let BRO M jr & Sr read this one

I'm wondering if this was a independant church or in an organization.

Originally Posted by aquestioninggirl

I was under the impression that the presbyter could have done something but chose not to.

From what I understand there is really nothing anyone can do ... each church is antonymous...they are affiliated, but not owned or controlled by the UPC...other than remove him, I don't know what could have been done, and that would have been greatly contested by a few...who have been there forever and have no where else to go...and are ok with all the rules, even if they don't have salvational basis...some people are more comfortable letting others do their thinking and make their decisions...it not up to me to correct them...compared to the others that have posted our situation was mild...not that it makes it OK..