Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship - Articles of Faith

[Mr. Will]

Sam I think you are totally right. But here is my quandry. I was raised in and have been in ultra-conservative UPC as an adult.Now I wonder about what is opinion (and I do realize much of what I've been taught is opinion) and what does God really want and expect of me. But when one questions things in my church you get the guilt trip of being rebellious laid on you, and the old "because you love not the truth, God will send strong delusions that you'll believe a lie and be damned" talk. I don't see it that dressing to someone else's expectations and preferences is "loving the truth", but I do believe the Acts 2:38 messages is the truth. Is there a peaceful way out? I have found myself wondering about folks who have "gone Charasmatic, but now realize my doubting of these people could very well have been more a product of years of conditioning, more than the "leading of the Spirit". Am I on a journey that is just going to be difficult, or is there a peaceful way to work this out. I have been wrestling this for a couple of years.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Mr. Will

Sam I think you are totally right. But here is my quandry. I was raised in and have been in ultra-conservative UPC as an adult.Now I wonder about what is opinion (and I do realize much of what I've been taught is opinion) and what does God really want and expect of me. But when one questions things in my church you get the guilt trip of being rebellious laid on you, and the old "because you love not the truth, God will send strong delusions that you'll believe a lie and be damned" talk. I don't see it that dressing to someone else's expectations and preferences is "loving the truth", but I do believe the Acts 2:38 messages is the truth. Is there a peaceful way out? I have found myself wondering about folks who have "gone Charasmatic, but now realize my doubting of these people could very well have been more a product of years of conditioning, more than the "leading of the Spirit". Am I on a journey that is just going to be difficult, or is there a peaceful way to work this out. I have been wrestling this for a couple of years.

You will have to read the Word and come to your own conclusions on stuff like this.

[JustSmilin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Will

Sam I think you are totally right. But here is my quandry. I was raised in and have been in ultra-conservative UPC as an adult.Now I wonder about what is opinion (and I do realize much of what I've been taught is opinion) and what does God really want and expect of me. But when one questions things in my church you get the guilt trip of being rebellious laid on you, and the old "because you love not the truth, God will send strong delusions that you'll believe a lie and be damned" talk. I don't see it that dressing to someone else's expectations and preferences is "loving the truth", but I do believe the Acts 2:38 messages is the truth. Is there a peaceful way out? I have found myself wondering about folks who have "gone Charasmatic, but now realize my doubting of these people could very well have been more a product of years of conditioning, more than the "leading of the Spirit". Am I on a journey that is just going to be difficult, or is there a peaceful way to work this out. I have been wrestling this for a couple of years.

I agree with Sam in that you need to study and decide for yourself what it is that YOU believe. Maybe ask yourself if some of the things you do is because it's what you believe or if it's just because you're told it's right. Is it a "Heaven or hell" issue? (Meaning, wearing a short-sleeved shirt vs. a shirt that goes to your wrist in my opinion, isn't a "Heaven or hell" issue.) Only you can decide whether or not it's something that you can work through with staying there or leaving. Personally, I don't think making sure you're doing what you do is Biblically sound is rebellious. I think it's wise.