Are Beards The Mark Of The Beast?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Are YOU attending a church? Do you have any ministry in your life?

This forum is no replacement for the above.

In spite of your efforts to pastor me and spiritually advise me, I know that this forum is no replacement for ministry.

And yes, I do have some ministry in my life.

I have been visiting a church on and off. It seems so, fake. Everyone all dressed up, smiling all weirdly. The preacher is a good preacher. But, he's speaking to a crowd. You know, always the upbeat happy joyful man, with a keen sense of humor to warm the crowd up. The music leaders take over and start a good song and people start jukin' and jivin'. The preacher preaches a sermon, normally taking contextual queues, twice now he used Scripture to preach the Gospel of the UPCI and not the Gospel of Christ. No one really talks to each other during service, and after church folks say, "That was good fellowship wasn't it brother?"

They have no clue what real fellowship is.

I'm used to passages being read by an elder, discussed by the group, emphasis on the text itself and it's actual meaning. Questions are welcomed. Lots of food, discussion, life sharing, people without lawn mowers being hooked up with a mower or a brother or sister offering to come mow it. Talking late into the evening and going home. The location of meeting rotating through member's homes, so communication is rather steady.

None of this exists in this "church". Nobody calls between services. Nobody seems to want to open up. Everybody is smiley, too smiley. Everyone walks around like they are perfect little dolls or something. One girl told my daughter she'll go to hell for her jeans. My daughter told her, "You're mean, why would I want to go where you're going?" lol I had to explain to her that kids don't understand what they are saying and can just be cruel sometimes. My son said, "Well, being a bully will send a person to Hell." I had to stop them from discussing the "controversy".

Frankly, and I mean no real harm here. It might be well meaning. But... it's stupid. Manufactured. And the people have no "Christ-likeness". It's all kinda of skin deep. They're pretty good at being "Pentecostals" though.

I'll have to take my concerns to the pastor. But being new, I'm expendable. Why would he even care to hear me out? I know how it will go.

Christina isn't too thrilled. Nobody at all has spoke to her. Everyone seems to talk to me. She tried to speak in one short discussion on the power and prayer, the guys just looked at her and then addressed me, like she never spoke.

Frankly, it's feels like I'm back in some form of spiritual preschool.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Aquila

In spite of your efforts to pastor me and spiritually advise me, I know that this forum is no replacement for ministry.

And yes, I do have some ministry in my life.

I have been visiting a church on and off. It seems so, fake. Everyone all dressed up, smiling all weirdly. The preacher is a good preacher. But, he's speaking to a crowd. You know, always the upbeat happy joyful man, with a keen sense of humor to warm the crowd up. The music leaders take over and start a good song and people start jukin' and jivin'. The preacher preaches a sermon, normally taking contextual queues, twice now he used Scripture to preach the Gospel of the UPCI and not the Gospel of Christ. No one really talks to each other during service, and after church folks say, "That was good fellowship wasn't it brother?"

They have no clue what real fellowship is.

I'm used to passages being read by an elder, discussed by the group, emphasis on the text itself and it's actual meaning. Questions are welcomed. Lots of food, discussion, life sharing, people without lawn mowers being hooked up with a mower or a brother or sister offering to come mow it. Talking late into the evening and going home. The location of meeting rotating through member's homes, so communication is rather steady.

None of this exists in this "church". Nobody calls between services. Nobody seems to want to open up. Everybody is smiley, too smiley. Everyone walks around like they are perfect little dolls or something. One girl told my daughter she'll go to hell for her jeans. My daughter told her, "You're mean, why would I want to go where you're going?" lol I had to explain to her that kids don't understand what they are saying and can just be cruel sometimes. My son said, "Well, being a bully will send a person to Hell." I had to stop them from discussing the "controversy".

Frankly, and I mean no real harm here. It might be well meaning. But... it's stupid. Manufactured. And the people have no "Christ-likeness". It's all kinda of skin deep. They're pretty good at being "Pentecostals" though.

I'll have to take my concerns to the pastor. But being new, I'm expendable. Why would he even care to hear me out? I know how it will go.

Christina isn't too thrilled. Nobody at all has spoke to her. Everyone seems to talk to me. She tried to speak in one short discussion on the power and prayer, the guys just looked at her and then addressed me, like she never spoke.

Frankly, it's feels like I'm back in some form of spiritual preschool.

Unfortunately this has been my experience also. The Apostolic Church I once attended that had formerly been Charismatic was an exception. We did have real fellowship there.

Most of what I have seen is basically a building in which to hear preaching.

[berkeley]

We’re not obligated to follow Leviticus re: beards.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by berkeley

We’re not obligated to follow Leviticus re: beards.

Who said we were? Did I? Did Aquila?

And yet in most Apostolic Churches we are obligated to shave.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Who said we were? Did I? Did Aquila?

And yet in most Apostolic Churches we are obligated to shave.

Chosen.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by berkeley

Chosen.

Gotcha

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Unfortunately this has been my experience also. The Apostolic Church I once attended that had formerly been Charismatic was an exception. We did have real fellowship there.

Most of what I have seen is basically a building in which to hear preaching.

Sometimes I detect a barrier with deeper intimacy. The "standards" can be so high in people's minds, they feel they must be "perfect" to be accepted and not bring the wrath of the pulpit. As a result, those whose lives aren't perfect tend to only offer superficial depth to the relationship. Because if they let you get too close, you'll see that their lives are still imperfect in various areas.

When holiness is removed from love and grace, people often have to distance themselves from genuine fellowship so as to maintain their image of perfection according to expectation.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Sometimes I detect a barrier with deeper intimacy. The "standards" can be so high in people's minds, they feel they must be "perfect" to be accepted and not bring the wrath of the pulpit. As a result, those whose lives aren't perfect tend to only offer superficial depth to the relationship. Because if they let you get too close, you'll see that their lives are still imperfect in various areas.

When holiness is removed from love and grace, people often have to distance themselves from genuine fellowship so as to maintain their image of perfection according to expectation.

Many Apostolics expect perfection concerning THEIR STANDARDS....but I have found few who expect if from Christ's.

I would agree that love and grace is a MAJOR part of holiness. We can be dead and cold without it.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Many Apostolics expect perfection concerning THEIR STANDARDS....but I have found few who expect if from Christ's.

I would agree that love and grace is a MAJOR part of holiness. We can be dead and cold without it.

Amen.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Most of what I have seen is basically a building in which to hear preaching.

I wanted to revisit this, because it is so true.

In previous generations, the local church had congregants who were more local. In today's world, people commute quite a distance to churches. What this means is that few truly live near one another, see each other during their daily lives, and have reason to actually be invested in one another's lives. As a result, a good number do just show up to hear a sermon, shake some hands, and return to their daily lives and can not see a brother or sister until the next church service.