Should we teach others to rebel against standards?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

my husband has a beard, and several others in my congregation do also, come have church with us.

I wish you guys were closer.

[1ofthechosen]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Imagine if a pastor established a standard requiring prayer beads. Now imagine that it grew in popularity until multiple Apostolic organizations embraced the standard that we must all use prayer beads. You want to attend an Apostolic church, but every church requires prayer beads..

This is a great example Aquila. If someone preached that you need to go else where. Not only is that idol worship, but if everyone started embracing that within the organization they would be totally falling away. They couldn't preach idol worship and have the truth. That is a standard, that can not be submitted to. It would be against God totally.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by houston

But they’re not allowed on the platform.

And there ya go. I thought there was a church that would have welcomed my family completely (even if miles away)... aaaaaaand it is also going to penalize me for my beard.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Chris, how'd the Greeks use the word ἐκκλησία? You do understand it didn't originate in the New Testament?




Like I said, I know individuals who will preach and teach with scripture that you need to wear a beard. They will present arguments with book, chapter, and verse. They also don't believe women should shave. No cutting or shaving anything.




Yet, with the hair issue you only have philosophical debate, nothing more. Like everything else you argue for or against. Opening up your own church isn't an option because you are given to change, and you are still struggling on that.



You know Chris, that's maybe your problem. You really act like a dog that has been chained up in the yard too long, A beaten dog that flinches every time you lift your hand to itch the top of your head. You always see everything as being forced to do something. Probably ever since you set a foot in the church. Everything was a forced issue to you. That may be the reason you see the Apostolic ultraconservative movement as Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3.0?




Here is the guy who wants to be "BIBLICAL"

The Holy Ghost!!! That's what they need, not drugs.

Still no Scripture for the beard prohibition? lol

[aegsm76]

This fight is over beards.
The next would be over women wearing men's clothing.
Then, it would move to something else.
As stated before at the beginning of this thread, most of us have never heard a preacher say that beards are a sin.
But, there are things that are lawful for us, but not expedient.
There are some similarities here with the primary ones involved on this thread and the poster strict baptist (at least I think that is what his "name" was).
Meaning that you have closed yourself off so much, that you cannot bear to attend any church, because only you have the "truth".
I have never attended any church where I agreed with 100% of what the pastor said or did.
However, I did trust those pastors to make me a better christian and to help save my children.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Still no Scripture for the beard prohibition? lol

Chris, you don't have scripture prohibiting a beard or prohibiting facial hair. It is the preference of the church family. Whether they want beards or don't want beards. A matter a fact, if they want you or don't want you. If you don't like what a church family is doing, then you have a life choice. Look, you are currently no longer in a church group because you felt it was time to leave. That's your prerogative. You claim you want to be Biblical and believe in baptism strongly but would use a paper cup to IMMERSE someone? That's not immersion, that is dripping. So, l o l that.

[1ofthechosen]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

But, there are things that are lawful for us, but not expedient..

Thats exactly it! Hebrews 13:17 says it all "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Chris you have made it plain you don't want to go to a traditional church anyway? so even if there was a WMB church, you still would not be happy there, right?

The house church network we were a part of had a very large church building and campus. The majority of discipleship took place in the house churches. But they still had a building. I enjoy the house church experience. And, I've found it to be far more enriching spiritually than just sitting and listening to sermon after sermon after sermon after sermon. lol

It's almost like some kind of syndrome where the battered feel they deserve it, and the pastor feels it's his duty to batter. I've been in churches that were always "on the brink of revival"... for decades. Men wanting to serve in ministry were always "on the brink of their breakthrough"... for decades. And it was always some carnality, sin, or misunderstanding that held them back, hindered revival, caused them not to be ready.

When do y'all graduate? When do you enter the promised land?

Eventually... it all becomes the day that never comes. I used to predict the sermon with my wife. I used to say, "Look, at some point, he's going to take a rabbit trail. He'll digress for at least 5 to 10 minutes on how we're on the brink of revival, but we've screwed it up again somehow, and we all need to hit the altar... again."

And then there was something else that dawned on me. Every time I had my family all in it to win it, repented, at the ready, excited, and poised for revival... pastor would preach about how someone in the church was still not where they should be for revival. It go so frustrating realizing that you're giving it all you've got timewise, monetarily, in serving, prayer, fasting, etc... and somebody in some pew is holding it all back! The revival became the day that would never come. My breakthrough (which was promised to me under a prophetic utterance) became the day that would never come. It began to feel like... a trap. A dirty, rotten, stinkin', trap. When I left, a brother pleaded with me not to go. I told him, "Mark my words, bro... everybody will still be right here in 5 years. Nobody is going anywhere. That's the plan, I know it, they know it, and I have to go." Five years later, I visited. Yep, same ol' people, same ol' pews, same ol' someone messin' up revival, same men hoping to be released into ministry... all on the same pews. Only greyer. And clean shaven. lol

I'd love to go to a church that is actually like what I've heard about on so many occasions. A church full of love, grace, vision, and opportunity. But, they're few and far between around me. And if you have a beard, just chalk it up to it not involving you anyway.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

https://www.beardbrand.com/blogs/urb...topped-growing

Scroll down to the bottom. Where it talks about health, stress, exercise. All these three are important factors in hair growth and loss. Your hair on your head might disappear, but your beard should grow as long as a woman's hair. Sleep is a major factor in combating stress issues.



As for me and my house we will use Gillette!

See... EB... this is why I like you so freakin' much. After having it out and grinding my gears, you go and do something as truly loving and thoughtful as this. I hate you man, because I just can't hate you.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by 1ofthechosen

This is a great example Aquila. If someone preached that you need to go else where. Not only is that idol worship, but if everyone started embracing that within the organization they would be totally falling away. They couldn't preach idol worship and have the truth. That is a standard, that can not be submitted to. It would be against God totally.

But isn't putting a man's word above the Word of God a form of idol worship?