How To Go To Hell: An Observation of Cons and Libs

Originally Posted by philjones

I would say none. The decision to turn one's back on God is individual and personal. Take off your hair shirt and realize that you are not responsible for their failure.

Thanks~ But I know I have caused some to leave God because of what I taught as truths during my days as UPCer. I hope they have found peace and moved on with God~

Originally Posted by CupCake

Thanks~ But I know I have caused some to leave God because of what I taught as truths during my days as UPCer. I hope they have found peace and moved on with God~

You are free to flagellate yourself if you wish but I assure you that it was a personal decision. I backslid for 18 years and tried to blame everyone in Pentecost. Once I finally got honest with myself it was pretty clear who decided to walk away from God... it was ME... the same guy who decided to smoke that first cigarette and drink that first beer and snort that cocaine and seek satisfaction in everything ungodly... not another soul could make that decision for me.

I fear that you think more highly of yoursaelf (in a low sort of way) than you ought! I assure you it won't be brought up when they stand at the great white throne judgement!

Originally Posted by philjones

You are free to flagellate yourself if you wish but I assure you that it was a personal decision. I backslid for 18 years and tried to blame everyone in Pentecost. Once I finally got honest with myself it was pretty clear who decided to walk away from God... it was ME... the same guy who decided to smoke that first cigarette and drink that first beer and snort that cocaine and seek satisfaction in everything ungodly... not another soul could make that decision for me.

I fear that you think more highly of yoursaelf (in a low sort of way) than you ought! I assure you it won't be brought up when they stand at the great white throne judgement!

I understand and agree with what you are saying, I'm still human so I feel...

[OGIA]

Originally Posted by philjones

You are free to flagellate yourself if you wish but I assure you that it was a personal decision. I backslid for 18 years and tried to blame everyone in Pentecost. Once I finally got honest with myself it was pretty clear who decided to walk away from God... it was ME... the same guy who decided to smoke that first cigarette and drink that first beer and snort that cocaine and seek satisfaction in everything ungodly... not another soul could make that decision for me.

I fear that you think more highly of yoursaelf (in a low sort of way) than you ought! I assure you it won't be brought up when they stand at the great white throne judgement!

Interesting, brother. I was thinking this very thing about why so many seem to be so bitter on here (and elsewhere). I wondered what it is that makes someone feel so good while continuing to harp on things like the UPC and those "mean spirited, old UCs of yesteryear". I thought about myself as a teen, just after receiving the Holy Ghost. I thought of how much I really didn't care for my first pastor (who was my cousin). I thought of how much I grew to dislike him, within a short time and in the years after I backslid.

I then thought of why I backslid. I chose to. Period. Plain and simple.

No one has made any of you who and/or what you are today. You made choices that made you the way you are -- UC, UClite, modC, or liberal. Bro. UC preaching all those years about "NO RED DRESSES!" didn't make the liberal what he/she is. Bro. Liberal preaching against Bro. UCs stance all those years didn't make the UC what he/she is.

The Bible said not to be a stumbling block, but I don't recall God saying I'd be the one to choose hell for someone. Heaven, either.

I'm glad you're back, bro! I'm glad you made that choice after you came to your senses in the pig's pen like I did. I'm thankful for His mercy and grace that made it all possible!!

Lot's of good posts here (and a few of them others )... but I got delayed on my way to Mississippi today to preach and don't have time to reply right now.

Perhaps after Church!

Blessings on all...

Originally Posted by OGIA

Interesting, brother. I was thinking this very thing about why so many seem to be so bitter on here (and elsewhere). I wondered what it is that makes someone feel so good while continuing to harp on things like the UPC and those "mean spirited, old UCs of yesteryear". I thought about myself as a teen, just after receiving the Holy Ghost. I thought of how much I really didn't care for my first pastor (who was my cousin). I thought of how much I grew to dislike him, within a short time and in the years after I backslid.

I then thought of why I backslid. I chose to. Period. Plain and simple.

No one has made any of you who and/or what you are today. You made choices that made you the way you are -- UC, UClite, modC, or liberal. Bro. UC preaching all those years about "NO RED DRESSES!" didn't make the liberal what he/she is. Bro. Liberal preaching against Bro. UCs stance all those years didn't make the UC what he/she is.

The Bible said not to be a stumbling block, but I don't recall God saying I'd be the one to choose hell for someone. Heaven, either.

I'm glad you're back, bro! I'm glad you made that choice after you came to your senses in the pig's pen like I did. I'm thankful for His mercy and grace that made it all possible!!

There is a lot of good stuff in this post.

Late night... tired and zapped from preaching so I won't post much tonight.

There are a lot of validity in many of the posts. I think we have ALL seen someone who thinks they are exempt from what others should be held to morally. That is what I mean by 'entitlement' attitudes.

Originally Posted by CupCake

Here lies your answer~ What make you think they know so much!

CupCake,

There are some people who DO know more than they live... but feel entitled - because of their strong message or some other virtue - to live less. THAT is what I'm speaking of.

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Good thread and warnings.

I do have a question for Steadfast.

"allows some liberal Pastors to have affairs"

"allows some conservative Pastors to have affairs"

Are we talking here specifically about "affairs" as in sexual imorality?

Stephen Hoover,

You can put ANY sin in the place of 'affairs' or 'sexual immorality' and it wouldn't change the premise of the thread. ANY kind of sin that we justify because of some other virtue in our lives makes us guilty of a 'spirit of entitlement'.

[CC1]

Steadfast,

While lots of "sins" are debatable and change from church to church and pastor to pastor (sleeve length, skirt length, wedding rings, etc) there are some that are moral in nature and clearly taught in the bible.

Adultery is one of those and my observation over the years of observing this sexual sin and ministries is this;

- Sexual sin seems to occur on an even basis in preachers regardless of their
stripe of Pentecost. Ultra cons deal with the issue, Conservatives,
moderates, liberals, and ultra libs.

- While one can accuse the lib or ultra lib who falls into sexual sin of doing so
out of a "shallowness" in their walk with God since they don't hold to the
old extent of "seperation" How do you explain the ultra conservative or
conservative who at least visibly walks the walk and definitely talks the talk
in every way other than the sexual sin he is committing. I know of preachers
who have screamed and hollared from a pulpit, speaking in tongues, worked
the altar laying on hands, prayed, had sessions at church on "holiness" (I
listened to the tape series) and all the while was having an affair.

- My point is that while it is true that not holding to seperation the same way
as old time Pentecostals do could open a door to sin I don't think that is the
key.

- I believe the key for every man is between his two ears and God. For
various reasons a man no longer clearly hears from God and allows Satan
to attack him with a spirit of delusion that he can engage in the sexual
immorality and still be right with God.

- I believe for a man to get in the condition that Satan could delude him in
this manner one or more things happen.

- A man begins to consider himself to highly. He becomes focused on his own
works and not God's word. Then either his great success or great struggles
can become a justifier in his own mind that he "deserves something".
Particularly if he is not getting that something at home. It opens a door to
the enemy of our souls.

- A man finds his prayer life lessoning for one reason or another. For some it
is during a time of struggle and the heavens seem like brass. A routine is
broken and over time the spiritual life stops growing even though the
outward signs may still appear to be there as they are done from habit and
instinct. This can also be related to bitterness over a disappointment in
human relations. Another person, preacher, or district, has done you wrong
and you stew on it until a seed of bitterness is born and it grows
smothering out your spiritual life.

There is more but I hate long posts and this is enough to digest for now.

[The Dean]

Liberals will go to Hell over compromise;
Conservatives will go to Hell over entitlements.































Makes sense to me.