Mrs.Lpw my comments are not made to offend any one...they are just observations I have made within the Pentacostal/Apostolic movement if you go back and read all of my comments not just one I think it starts around 7 or 8 you will see my true motive.
People who hold to a personal prefrence is wonderful but is wrong for them to try to place a personal conviction on everyone.
Mrs.Lpw my comments are not made to offend any one...they are just observations I have made within the Pentacostal/Apostolic movement if you go back and read all of my comments not just one I think it starts around 7 or 8 you will see my true motive.
People who hold to a personal prefrence is wonderful but is wrong for them to try to place a personal conviction on everyone.
I appreciate that you didn't mean to offend. I'm not personally offended, because I don't fit that broadbrush sterotype... There's a whole church full of people in my area alone who don't. A whole district full, in fact.
The Blue Denim Whale comment didn't originate with you, nor did you use it, that is a huge part of my irritation.
I think we would differ on what we believe is personal conviction and what we believe is Biblically based, but I do still get frustrated when people paint those of us who don't cut our hair as having a mess of split ends, those of us who don't wear make up as having pimply faces, those of us who don't wear pants as being blue denim whales.
I think we can have a lot higher level discussion without those sterotypical broadbrushed statements. I feel that strongly.
Your post would honestly have just gotten brushed off, if it weren't for Renda saying we might now have an alternative to the "blue denim whale" comment.
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
My apologies never do I wish to be a stumbling block to anyone.....I just ask please read
all my posts and you might find we have more incommon than you think.
It should be noted that this extreme sectarian focus on outward standards was not a part of the original Apostolic movement in the book of Acts nor does it seem to be a part of the original Pentecostal organizations. Organizational unity was centered around the Apostolic doctrines of the book of Acts and not standards. Although they had holiness standards at the local level in the days of Howard Goss and A.D. Gurley, "dress codes" were not the bulwark of the movement as some would believe. In comparing the dress of the church of that day and society in general, one cannot see radical differences.
Most all of the women in the world wore their dresses and hair long. Even many women movie stars of that era, wore long hair and long dresses. So what distinguished the early modern day Pentecostal churches?
The Pentecostal movement of the early 1900's was known predominately for the various peculiarities that accompanied the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking with other tongues.
This was the foremost bulwark that unified and identified the early modern day Pentecostal church.
Agreed that isn't all there is to it, but it does affect every area of our lives including the clothes we wear!
My good Canadian compatriot, why is it, though, that clothing is always emphasized the most and is the first thing folks think of when "holiness" is mentioned? Something is wrong when clothing is the first thing people think of when holiness is mentioned. Imagine reading all the verses in the bible that mention holiness, and think about clothes. I mean, think of it -- CLOTHING?
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
My good Canadian compatriot, why is it, though, that clothing is always emphasized the most and is the first thing folks think of when "holiness" is mentioned? Something is wrong when clothing is the first thing people think of when holiness is mentioned. Imagine reading all the verses in the bible that mention holiness, and think about clothes. I mean, think of it -- CLOTHING?
That's exactly what we thought of when we read those verses. Holiness and the way you look were one and the same in my mind.
This morning I read more of the New Testament scriptures in regard to Grace & Legalism and this is what I found:
Hebrews 7:11: If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood [for on the basis of it the law was given to the people], why was there still need for another priest to come? - one on the order of Melchizaek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
17-18: For ti si declared [of Jesus Christ] "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizadek". The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless [for the law made nothign perfect] and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 24: but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26: Such a High Priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set aprat from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once and for all when he offerred himself. For the law appoints high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after teh law, appointed the Son, who has been made forever perfect.
Hebrews 9: 7: For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
Hebrews 9:13: By calling this covenant "new" he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
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James 2: 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all.
James 2: 12: Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
26: Such a High Priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set aprat from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once and for all when he offerred himself. For the law appoints high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after teh law, appointed the Son, who has been made forever perfect.
This is why my salvation is "complete in Him."
I am not more saved once I evolve into being clean shaven.
I am not more saved once I throw away my shorts.
Doing these things can help me with my daily walk with the Lord in the way that there is a Holy commitment involved, if I do these things to honor the Lord.
The minute the intent of my heart becomes to preserve my salvation or to please others by doing these things, my commitment is vain religiosity.
The UPCI churches I've attended make it impossible to do these things for the sole reason of honoring the Lord because it is expected and often mandated-- violating the Spirit of Grace by which we have been called.
__________________
"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
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