Just Wondering.....

[Esther]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

What's a Baghwan?

Baghwan Shree Rajneesh, the Indian guru who attracted thousands of followers at his Oregon commune in the early 1980's before being deported from the United States, died yesterday of heart disease at his commune in Poona, in southern India, members of his entourage there told reporters. He was 58 years old.

He died Jan 1990

[Margies3]

This whole discussion on here as well as on Rhoni's thread had just been sad.

I understand if someone is hurt. I feel for her. I truly do! And I sincerely believe that as Christian people, we have to be the ones to rise above when someone lashes out in their hurt.

But I also wondered at the time about her calling the Apostolic church a cult. Maybe I was reading it wrong. But my first thought was that if anyone calls someone else on here "a name" (as in a bad name) that is grounds for being banned. Am I right about that?

So while I don't think that we as Christians need to backlash. And while I also don't want to ever be accused of telling administration what to do....... I still wonder if that kind of statement is acceptable?

What a can of worms. YOW!!

Plus, one more observation I've made. Rhoni made her original statement. And LCS responded. And then we haven't heard from Rhoni since. And here we all are attacking each other. Does something seem wrong with this picture to the rest of you, too?

Maybe we could all just take a few minutes to PRAY FOR RHONI and also for the rest of us. You all are my friends. I don't like seeing us hurt each other.

By the way, just for the record:

1) I understand Rhoni's hurt, but I do NOT agree with her calling anyone "cultish"

2) I read thru LCS's answer to Rhoni. I seriously did not feel like she was harsh. I think she stated what she had to say and left it at that.

What I'd like to see is for everyone to just reach out in love and prayer now. Let's stop taking sides and all get on GOD's side.

[LadyCoonskinner]

Originally Posted by Margies3

This whole discussion on here as well as on Rhoni's thread had just been sad.

I understand if someone is hurt. I feel for her. I truly do! And I sincerely believe that as Christian people, we have to be the ones to rise above when someone lashes out in their hurt.

But I also wondered at the time about her calling the Apostolic church a cult. Maybe I was reading it wrong. But my first thought was that if anyone calls someone else on here "a name" (as in a bad name) that is grounds for being banned. Am I right about that?

So while I don't think that we as Christians need to backlash. And while I also don't want to ever be accused of telling administration what to do....... I still wonder if that kind of statement is acceptable?

What a can of worms. YOW!!

Plus, one more observation I've made. Rhoni made her original statement. And LCS responded. And then we haven't heard from Rhoni since. And here we all are attacking each other. Does something seem wrong with this picture to the rest of you, too?

Maybe we could all just take a few minutes to PRAY FOR RHONI and also for the rest of us. You all are my friends. I don't like seeing us hurt each other.

By the way, just for the record:

1) I understand Rhoni's hurt, but I do NOT agree with her calling anyone "cultish"

2) I read thru LCS's answer to Rhoni. I seriously did not feel like she was harsh. I think she stated what she had to say and left it at that.

What I'd like to see is for everyone to just reach out in love and prayer now. Let's stop taking sides and all get on GOD's side.

Just as an FYI....Rhoni did respond...check out post numbers: 39, 41, 45, 47 just to name a few.

Not trying to be mean, just don't want anyone thinking that I attacked her for no reason at all...then started this thread......

[Pragmatist]

I was just amused at the comments about power, position, and financial gain. If anyone knows LCS and CS they know that is certainly not true about them. It was so far off as to be entertaining.

[LadyCoonskinner]

Originally Posted by Pragmatist

I was just amused at the comments about power, position, and financial gain. If anyone knows LCS and CS they know that is certainly not true about them. It was so far off as to be entertaining.

Thanks Prag...means alot!!!

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by LadyCoonskinner

Just as an FYI....Rhoni did respond...check out post numbers: 39, 41, 45, 47 just to name a few.

Not trying to be mean, just don't want anyone thinking that I attacked her for no reason at all...then started this thread......

I apologize, LCS. I guess I just got so caught up in all of the responses that I missed those. Next time I will look more closely before I post something.

And please don't think that I was attacking you with that statement. I was trying to say that from my observation, it looked like Rhoni had thrown the bone into the yard and then closed the door and backed away so everyone could fight over it.

I didn't think that you had started this thread for no reason. You had stated early on that you would come back later to respond to Rhoni. I just figured that that was what this thread was. I have more respect for you for keeping your word and making it easy to find than I would have if you had said you would come back and then decided not to bother.

[ChicagoPastor]

I probably don't post enough on AFF to get involved in this issue.............BUT I feel the need to stick up for Sis. Coonskinner...

power, position, and financial gain are not the reason the "Coonskinners" exsist.

They are Christians...period. They fear the Lord, live their convictions, and reflect Christ.

JMO

[LadyCoonskinner]

Originally Posted by Margies3

I apologize, LCS. I guess I just got so caught up in all of the responses that I missed those. Next time I will look more closely before I post something.

And please don't think that I was attacking you with that statement. I was trying to say that from my observation, it looked like Rhoni had thrown the bone into the yard and then closed the door and backed away so everyone could fight over it.

I didn't think that you had started this thread for no reason. You had stated early on that you would come back later to respond to Rhoni. I just figured that that was what this thread was. I have more respect for you for keeping your word and making it easy to find than I would have if you had said you would come back and then decided not to bother.

Honestly, I wasn't shoot at you. I just wanted to make it clear that I did not "attack" her unprovoked. Sometimes when people open a thread and see how many posts and pages, they skim the material and will evidentally miss some things and then make unwise assumptionsl, that's what I wanted to clear up.

I almost didn't bother, but felt like I needed to make myself clear on why I responded with such emotion....be blessed my friend.. Love ya!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Pragmatist

I was just amused at the comments about power, position, and financial gain. If anyone knows LCS and CS they know that is certainly not true about them. It was so far off as to be entertaining.

Not sure where this post is. Was it really said about the Skinners?

[Pressing-On]

LCS,
I'm glad you were able to express your thoughts and feelings on this thread. I have always viewed you as kind and fun to engage with here. I haven't been hanging around the last few days because of all the drama. I don't like feeling upset and at odds with people I care about. I'm the only one that can remedy that - it's called logging out! lol

I'm also glad that you brought up and discussed the "cult" issue. IMO, it's been the underlying issue for a lot of things we have discussed around here.

I heard a preacher say, "When people call us a cult I find that amusing. The reason being, if they stuck around here long enough they would see how much we all disagree on so many things." LOL! Truth!

What has especially hurt me is when I hear it said, "Now that you don't have the extra baggage, you can get closer to God." I'm thinking of the many times God has spoken to me, guided me in prayer, opened his Word to me, ministered to me, loved me, encouraged me, etc. WHILE I carry some of those things they call baggage. This is a hurtful thing to me.

It is hurtful to me when people say, "Yea, when I was in the Mothership....etc." These words are all derogatory and don't make for productive conversation. It's doesn't bind us closer together - its divides us.

When people look into the Word of God and feel that "long hair" means "uncut", when they feel that wearing pants is "man's apparel", when they interpret - "In like manner women adorn themselves in modest apparel,........not with gold, pearls and costly array", and they do that with all the sincerity and fear they can muster - Can I come to this person and force them, counsel them, try to coerce them, intimidate them into viewing those verses my way?

We wouldn't have so many books, commentaries, and Bibles with various interpretations written if it was that easy.

The best we can do is follow our heart - like you did when you felt God convicted you of wearing pants. If some feel these things hinder their walk with God, then they also need to open their hearts, ask for direction, and serve where God tells them to serve.

I'm sure every person takes their interpretation of the Bible seriously. It's a fearful thing to think you may have it wrong. It's a fearful thing to change things when you are not sure. I respect any man that is fearful to change things they've been taught or what they read as truth.

So much has been spoken of the hurt some have endured under the strong fist of Conservatism. I don't deny these things. But I did notice one thing when I homeschooled with so many families of different faiths - they were having trouble with their pastors, leaders, musicians, church members, etc. This isn't a problem in one organization nor one sector of anything.

God has healed me in my hurt where I stand and where I serve. Some have left in order to be healed and serve. I'd do well to remember His great mercy. We were hurt dreadfully by a pastor and his wife. He sent me and my husband a letter in the mail. I read it in the parking lot before I drove home. I was so full of anger! As I was driving home, I wish I could remember the song, God brought peace to me in my car that day. Totally took that anger away. One other occasion I had to lift my hands in church and ask him to remove my anger. I had to come to Him more than once. I believe He changes things deep inside when we come to Him again and again. Anger, in my life, is a fearful thing. I'm afraid of anger!! It can turn into so many savage things - bitterness for one.

Anyway, after my attempt at expressing myself, I hope that we can come together, expressing our views without it seeming like we are putting each other's commitment, consecration and experience down. It isn't the right thing to do. We all have to make heaven and to the best of our ability, we have to follow the path God has chosen for us.

I would like to continue posting here. I love a great many people and would miss some dreadfully, but if we are going to pit ourselves against each other, I can't be a part of it. I won't be a part of it. I think we can all work this out. I feel in our hearts we know it's the right thing to do and we want to do the right thing.