Rules

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by Esaias

My mom and dad, when first married, decided to visit a church. They were told they couldnt come in because they were wearing t shirts and jean shorts and sandals. Which was literally about all they had being poor. My dad NEVER visited a church again and died a zen Buddhist.

Sad

[Sister Alvear]

that made me cry...

[LOVE JESUS]

I want to ask what scripture did they use for some of the "standards"? BTW, if you don't do as the pastor believes, you are not asked to do anything whether it be a greeter or janitor or pray for people, teach or ANYTHING. I have never read of a scripture for sleeve length, skirt length, eye brows.

[diakonos]

Please don’t turn it into one of those threads.

[Sister Alvear]

Well, there are lots of rules that people may not have scripture to back up however I am sure many rules are for protection...IF given by a true shepherd.. Or even a group of elders... Some rules may be to keep up with the church across town or to try to make people feel they are more holy however this is not the purpose of this thread..just wondered about some rules in different churches...Most all churches have rules...

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Well, there are lots of rules that people may not have scripture to back up however I am sure many rules are for protection...IF given by a true shepherd.. Or even a group of elders... Some rules may be to keep up with the church across town or to try to make people feel they are more holy however this is not the purpose of this thread..just wondered about some rules in different churches...Most all churches have rules...

Several churches we've been with over the years had an unwritten rule (custom?) that women and men went to separate sides of the altar to pray.

A twoness church (Gospel Assembly) we visited a couple times had a custom of men and women sitting on separate sides of the building during service. My family always sat together, though (except maybe once, can't remember exactly) and nobody had a problem with it.

Most churches wanted men to have no facial hair. Most of the non UPC churches were long sleeves only all the time, in or out of the service. Some were no chewing gum or bottled water in the pews, no kids running the aisles before or after service.

A Campbellite church I went to for my brother's funeral had a no standing up and no hands raised during service rule (I was thrown out by the ushers for breaking that one).

[Evang.Benincasa]

Getting gum out of a carpet in a sanctuary the Apostle Paul never dealt with. Because if he did, he would of written an entire epistle about it.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Several churches we've been with over the years had an unwritten rule (custom?) that women and men went to separate sides of the altar to pray.

A twoness church (Gospel Assembly) we visited a couple times had a custom of men and women sitting on separate sides of the building during service. My family always sat together, though (except maybe once, can't remember exactly) and nobody had a problem with it.

Most churches wanted men to have no facial hair. Most of the non UPC churches were long sleeves only all the time, in or out of the service. Some were no chewing gum or bottled water in the pews, no kids running the aisles before or after service.

A Campbellite church I went to for my brother's funeral had a no standing up and no hands raised during service rule (I was thrown out by the ushers for breaking that one).

I remember those guys, I stopped in for a few services in my early days. I thought they were Branhamites of some sort?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I remember those guys, I stopped in for a few services in my early days. I thought they were Branhamites of some sort?

They are Sowderites, followers of William Sowders from back in the 20s. Sowders said both the trins and Oneness were wrong, God is Two! His followers used to hold him up as the Messenger and Elijah and the last day prophet and so forth. Not sure how they view him now, though. Generally seemed like nice people. After church they all gathered upstairs for a big dinner every Sunday. VERY conservative, open meetings, every meeting just happened as it happened (no program, think Pentecostal Quaker type meeting). Learned a cool praise chorus there: "I got a hold of Something, Something got a hold of me... So pour out your Spirit Lord, and have your way with me."

I think they baptise in Jesus name.

[Esaias]

Branham attended Sowders' "School of the Prophets" before launching out on his own gig.