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

Originally Posted by Sherri

I find this thread very interesting and very sad. I don't doubt any of this because I knew a pastor in Illinois that was exactly like the ones you all spoke about. He controlled every aspect of every saint's lives. Thank God I never had pastors like this. My UPC pastors were all very kind and loving and had our best interests at heart.

I would hope that these controlling pastors are the exceptions and not the rule. I'm sorry that you had to go through these things.

Thank you...

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

So true

Sorry its an opinion not a fact...

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

I really wouldn't know I haven't been in a stadium in over 30 years, since BEFORE I got the Holy Ghost.

thats probably best so you didn't see those that sneek to the games!

[Whole Hearted]

Originally Posted by Sister Truth Seeker

thats probably best so you didn't see those that sneek to the games!

Those would be the backslidden hypocrites that attend games.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Amos

I'd say most Apostolics would agree that when folks quit church and drop their consecrations, and begin building again that which they destroyed, they backslid.

That is no crucifixion, just fact.

By drop their consecrations, I assume you mean dropping standards??? That is no indication that someone has walked away from God. You cannot judge another person's heart if they are trying to follow God, even though it may not agree with your ideas.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Amos View Post
I'd say most Apostolics would agree that when folks quit church and drop their consecrations, and begin building again that which they destroyed, they backslid.

That is no crucifixion, just fact.

So by talking to someone on the phone for MORE then 10 minutes (as ordered by their pastor) equals dropping their consecration?
Honestly the disconnect is so great here that I am convinced the only reason people keep up the conversation is for entertainment purposes!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Amos

I'd say most Apostolics would agree that when folks quit church and drop their consecrations, and begin building again that which they destroyed, they backslid.

That is no crucifixion, just fact.

I don't believe this is a fair assessment. My husband and I attended an ultra-conservative church for about 4 years, and in that time we obeyed rules that we didn't believe for ourselves. When we left, we believed exactly the same as we had when we arrived, and those things we had laid down in order to be in compliance with the church rules, we picked back up. How is that backsliding?

They weren't our consecrations. They were just rules we obeyed. I never once promised God or consecrated to God that I wouldn't wear denim or wear my hair down or wear a sweater, etc. That was something I agreed with the PASTOR to do.

So I don't think your fact is really a fact.

[chosenbyone]

Wow! Tonight was the first time that I sat and read through this thread, which took nearly two hours mainly because of just taking everything in that I read.

STS and others, thank you for sharing your journey with others here on AFF. I too had attended a "dictator" type church while living in California. Though I had been exposed to Oneness and baptized as a teenager, I never came to the full understanding of the doctrine until I joined that church.

That was why I had stayed there until I completed my stint in the Navy. What made it particularly difficult for me was I was a long distance runner and running was one of my biggest passions in life. From the beginning, I was told that anything that I did more than the time I devoted to praying and fasting was my idol and I had to stop.

I couldn't just stop running entirely, because I had already been appointed one the department fitness coordinators at my base. I was responsible for working with those servicemen and women with weight or fitness issues to where they could pass their PT test and lose weight, so they wouldn't be discharged.

I didn't have a choice in the attire I could wear which were Navy issued shorts and tee shirts. When it was known that I wore such immodest clothing it created a multitude of problems for me and my wife. I was a newlywed and it was difficult enough working through other issues without all the strife from our church "family". I walked around feeling doomed to hell by the treatment of people that I loved and respected. It was even mentioned that I should think about asking to be discharged from the Navy, but I had too much invested and furthermore it wasn't that simple. I joined the service so that I could have an education and a better future.

Well, I wished things would have turned out differently than they did 20 years ago. I came back to Texas divorced and bitter towards God. I was very thankful that God was there waiting so patiently and lovingly for me to develop the relationship he had always wanted with me. Additionally, I was thankful that God had allowed me to achieve my goal of graduating college.

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

How thick of a line is there between honoring, submitting to and pretty much obeying a pastor vs. the rules that were stated in the beginning post? Just curious and don't know if this has been mentioned yet.

Anyone?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

Anyone?

I'm not sure I understand your question; therefore, I can't answer it.