For those that left the UPC...

[noeticknight]

Originally Posted by jfrog

A work sponsored dress code ends at work. A church sponsored dress code ends at church.

Not entirely. One main difference between work-related dress codes and those pertaining to church is asceticism. Asceticism can be (and often is) practiced by any group of people (or individual) with or without any kind of spiritual motivation. That is why the Apostle Paul warned of this: "Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh."] (Colossians 2:21-23)

In other words, wearing a short-sleeve shirt makes me no less holy than eating pork hot dogs. No offense Epley.

[noeticknight]

Originally Posted by pelathais

My in-laws took to the new stuff (Three Stepper "Water & Spirit" salvation, no pants on women and no uncut on women) with all the zeal of new converts. But every time the old family picture books came out there were many inevitable questions. I especially like the pics of the church picnics where all of the Pentecostal ladies are wearing slacks and have trimmed bangs. Then I'd pull out a recent Pentecostal Herald and see the same ladies, older now and with their hair done up in beehive fashion.

Good stuff. It just proves that even the UPCI isn't "100%" UPCI.

[Mirth1981]

Originally Posted by Falla39

I mean no offence in saying this, but the original poster of this thread has no
children. All of my life, it seems that it was the mother's concern for their children
that caused mothers to feel the need for God.

No offence taken. That is what you have seen in your life experiences. You have seen women feel their need for God because they were concerned for their children.

I don't think you were trying to say that I don't feel my need for the Lord because I don't have children, and as a result I'm questioning the "old paths."

I appreciate your spirit..you seem like a very sweet woman.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

No offence taken. That is what you have seen in your life experiences. You have seen women feel their need for God because they were concerned for their children.

I don't think you were trying to say that I don't feel my need for the Lord because I don't have children, and as a result I'm questioning the "old paths."

I appreciate your spirit..you seem like a very sweet woman.

I have several children, and I'm in the same place as Mirth.

[Mirth1981]

Originally Posted by ForeverBlessed

God set me at liberty I kept hearing this scripture ringing in my ears Romans 8:15 You didn't receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear once again. Instead you received the Holy Spirit, who makes you God's child. By the Spirit's power we call God "Abba." Abba means Father.

I turned to studying the word, especially Romans for a while, the more I studied and prayed, he just set me free as I realized my place in him. Now I truly understand Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

If I am walking and abiding in him, there is no one that can condemn me, no one can judge me, no one can take away my freedom and liberty in him. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks, it is what my Father thinks about me. I am confident and assured that he loves me and I am his. What more do I need?

The longer I am out, the more I study, the more the Spirit reveals to me more every day.... I think different, there has been a true mind change. I can be studying and things will jump out at me when I realize what the scriptures are truly saying without hearing everything revolve around pet scriptures or concepts of religion I was raised with. wow... it has been amazing.

I can relate to what you said about experiencing a "mind change". I have noticed lately that the Scriptures have had such a deeper meaning in my life. I feel like I am viewing the world in a dfferent way...in a more loving way even. I feel more love and mercy for the lost...and even for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

[Mirth1981]

Just a quick update regarding my husband. He has been doing some research on his own. He told me today that he talked to his family this week, and they admitted they had the same questions and feelings that I've been having. This really surprised me...I full expected for them to be upset at me. He told me to give him more space and more time to think and pray about things.

I think it was ForeverBlessed that expressed how much she disliked "change", which made it harder for her to leave an organization. That is how I am too...I don't deal with change very well. I like the familiar and the routines..and the structure. I fight fearing the unknown. There is a large part of me that likes the traditions of the church, because I like traditional things. It's what I've known for most of my life. It's become my identity.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Falla39

Bro. Blume,
You know good and well that I know and you know I know, that following the leading of the Spirit entails a lot more than just "hair".

Amen, but it looked odd to put following the Spirit beside uncut hair. It was just the way you said it. lol

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

I can relate to what you said about experiencing a "mind change". I have noticed lately that the Scriptures have had such a deeper meaning in my life lately. I feel like I am viewing the world in a dfferent way...in a more loving way even. I feel more love and mercy for the lost...and even for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I think you have hit on something good here. I fear that some people and no one in particular on this thread are maybe an inch deep and a mile wide. I would venture to guess that some people come in the church and hear the list of can't and the standards and they are told it is of God so why would you want to go deeper with a God that is a taskmater? That was one of my issues was I loved God and longed to know Him more but also thought the old example that Life is a triangle with God at the highest point and the closer you get to Him the less room there is to move. I don't buy that. I think the close you get to Him the more grace and mercy you get and you might feel you don't need to move much. I am just affraid that something in the human nature clicks and says I am not going to deep here because if things are this restrictive just under the surface what is it going to be like at it's truest depths? While this is not the proper conception I feel it is fairly accurate in most cases. It was with me.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Good thoughts. I think that it is best to be careful, but not to just the shark

I'm still trying to figure out what you are saying here!

Falla39

[On The Wheel]

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

Just a quick update regarding my husband. He has been doing some research on his own. He told me today that he talked to his family this week, and they admitted they had the same questions and feelings that I've been having. This really surprised me...I full expected for them to be upset at me. He told me to give him more space and more time to think and pray about things.

I think it was ForeverBlessed that expressed how much she disliked "change", which made it harder for her to leave an organization. That is how I am too...I don't deal with change very well. I like the familiar and the routines..and the structure. I fight fearing the unknown. There is a large part of me that likes the traditions of the church, because I like traditional things. It's what I've known for most of my life. It's become my identity.

The more he searches the scriptures with an honest heart, the closer he will come to the bedrock of Christian faith.

I will say there has been a certain fear that has come upon me of late, which may grip him also. Not that I will find scriptural support for stands that I do not take, but rather that I will find no, true hermeneutically sound scriptural support for positions over which my peer group and I have used to condemn godly people to hell for years. Then what must we do?

I'm afraid scripture is forcing me to embrace those within the body that have been anathema to me all my life. That alone will separate me from my current, UPCI peer group regardless if I or may wife make any personal changes ourselves.

I have also noticed a marked discontent within previously closed ranks, regarding some of our traditional fixations on outward dress, or the aristicratic posturing of the many in the ministry. Our identifiers have become less about Christ and more about being followers of (insert big pastor name here), or how we look on the outside.

I am not one to pick. It's my desire to return to the old paths that truly are the good way.

Blessings for you and your husband. Your journey will be arduous but rewarding.