This Is Why We Get a Bad Rap!! - Page 15

Michlow · #**141** 03-23-2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Good post! I agree and very clever/wise of you to include, "in unhealthy churches of all denominations"!

Wow, this is going down as a red letter day! First Miss B agreed with me, and then PO, who gave me a good post as well!

Pressing-On · #**142** 03-23-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

That is my point. She didn't want to. Not disagreeing that something got hold of her heart - that's obvious. I think you are stressing the "she couldn't stop herself" and I'm stressing "she didn't want to".

Isn't it intricately intertwined together?

As way of example, if I am committing adultery, I'm not going to stop myself if I don't want to. It's the same application, IMO. Both thoughts/actions are intertwined.

Does that make sense?

Pressing-On · #**143** 03-23-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michlow

Wow, this is going down as a red letter day! First Miss B agreed with me, and then PO, who gave me a good post as well!

I'll check back later to see if you are still posting. You might have fallen off your chair and hit your head!!!!

Pressing-On · #**144** 03-23-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KWSS1976

It was funny I was talking to my dad the other day about all the issues the UPC goes through with all the hair and dress stuff and I told him to be glad he was baptist I really think they are connected with god more than the UPC is..

I have a sister that is Baptist and she is instructing her daughters to wear dresses and her girls to have long hair. She's stricter, in many ways, than I have ever been with my children.

*AQuietPlace* · #**145** 03-23-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I think that description, for the most part, is years ago - at least in all the places I have been and people that I know - years ago.....

In the circles I'm in, let me ASSURE you it's not years ago!! Come get in the car with me some Sunday, and we'll go visit some churches.

(well, it'd probably take several Sunday to hit them all..... several years worth of Sundays as a matter of fact)

My kids were JUST at a youth conference where they heard that everyone was sinning who had or did any of the below (and much more):

long (below the middle of the ear) sideburns
split (at all split) skirts
short (less than 3 inches below the knee, but still below the knee) skirts
french manicures
boys wearing pink shirts
funky (anything beside traditional) hairstyles on boys
short sleeves
curled eyelashes
sports
Christian Rock
concealer
tanning beds

I could go on and on. Fortunately, my kids knew differently. But honestly, you'd be AMAZED at the stuff that's out there.

Still very present and going strong. Many conferences are nothing more than "see who can preach against the most things" affairs.

Sis. Alvear can back me up on this, she's heard it too.

I don't think this is very prevalent in the UPC anymore, but very much present in independent circles, and a few other Pentecostal organizations. (and this is why many independents consider the UPC to be very liberal... because they themselves still are very, very, very, very, very dogmatic and conservative)

So when *I* say conservative, the above is what I'm referring to. Generally not talking about the UPC at all.

rgcraig · #**146** 03-23-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Isn't it intricately intertwined together?

As way of example, if I am committing adultery, I'm not going to stop myself if I don't want to. It's the same application, IMO. Both thoughts/actions are intertwined.

Does that make sense?

Yes, it makes sense.

However, I guess I'm seeing it from another angle. If you were committing adultery would you get on a blog and announce it to everyone to let them know where you heart has taken you?

Pressing-On · #**147** 03-23-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

I wasn't laughing AT you, but that post made me laugh out loud.

Let me ASSURE you it's not years ago!! Come get in the car with me some Sunday, and we'll go visit some churches.

(well, it'd probably take several Sunday to hit them all..... several years worth of Sundays as a matter of fact)

My kids were JUST at a youth conference where they heard that everyone was sinning who had or did any of the below (and much more):

long (below the middle of the ear) sideburns
split (at all split) skirts
short (less than 3 inches below the knee, but still below the knee) skirts
french manicures
boys wearing pink shirts
funky (anything beside traditional) hairstyles on boys
short sleeves
curled eyelashes
sports
Christian Rock
concealer
tanning beds

I could go on and on. Fortunately, my kids knew differently. But honestly, you'd be AMAZED at the stuff that's out there.

Still very present and going strong. Many conferences are nothing more than "see who can preach against the most things" affairs.

Sis. Alvear can back me up on this, she's heard it too.

I don't think this is very prevalent in the UPC anymore, but very much present in independent circles, and a few other Pentecostal organizations. (and this is why most independents consider the UPC to be very liberal... because they still are very, very, very, very, very dogmatic and conservative)

We have an independent church in our area that is of what you speak. Whatever they need to do is fine with me. But, for clarification, I was speaking from the UPC viewpoint.

Pressing-On · #**148** 03-23-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Yes, it makes sense.

However, I guess I'm seeing it from another angle. If you were committing adultery would you get on a blog and announce it to everyone to let them know where you heart has taken you?

If the situation was tanking me and I couldn't get out of it, there is no telling what I would say or do. I'd hope I'd walk away before I destroyed myself.

KWSS1976 · #**149** 03-23-2009, 03:00 PM

PO which Baptist group does she belong to?

*AQuietPlace* · #**150** 03-23-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michlow

Please don't beat me up for this...

But there are two things I have noticed (I can only speak of my personal experience) that occur in unhealthy churches (that exist in all denominations).

1. No one would ever deny the importance of being filled with God's Spirit. It is absolutely vital to the Christian experience and new birth. The absolute necessity is preached over and over with great fervor. And yet, it seems that (again in unhealthy churches of all denominations!) that once a person is saved (indwelt by the Holy Ghost), they are constantly bombarded with the subliminal message that as necessary as the HG is, He is not truly strong enough to lead us and keep us. And, if by some chance that He is, we are not smart enough to follow His lead, or hear His voice.

That, I believe, is one reason why principles are skipped overly entirely and one's spiritual walk becomes instead a list of rules.

2. The second problem that I feel that occurs (in unhealthy churches of all denominations!) is that often God will speak to an individual (often in leadership) about an area in their own life, and direct them to either do (or not do) a certain behavior. Often this individual will assume that because the Lord asked it of them, He must in fact mean it to apply to believers everywhere.

When these things happen (in unhealthy churches of all denominations!) you often have individuals who are never taught to rely on their relationship with God, but instead are simply taught to follow the rules. Because they learn neither principles, or to follow the leading of the Spirit, they don't know how to handle situations where the rules are not explicitly spelled out.

No beating you up, I completely agree with you.