Do You Ever Think Of Going Back?

Originally Posted by Rico

I have always felt that some people really do need all those rules or they just won't make it. They are boundry minded people and there's nothing wrong with that. I am not a boundry minded person, by any stretch of the imagination, but there are times when I look back and can see how those boundries benefited me in big ways.

And they still can, if and when they are of God.

My boundaries are still very similar for the more part, but yet they come from my relationship to the Lord, not from a pulpit.

I do not purpose to bash a pulpit, many good teachings come from them, howbeit it is all that some go off of.

This is why when a leader goes astray...so many follow.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Rico

I am not asking you this to pick, ok? I just know that you once were and aren't now. Have you changed any of what you preach because of getting out, other than standards issues?

No, Eddie never preached standards in UPC either, and he never believed that everyone was going to hell who hadn't been baptized like us or spoken in tongues. He didn't believe it when I met him, and has never preached it. Getting out of UPC only gave him the freedom to be more open about what he thought.

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by Rico

Brother, I think if a UPC church opened up close to you that didn't push the standards issue you'd be on it like white on rice.

You have got that right bro.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by keith4him

Well the scripture says that which is not of faith is sin...

let everyman be fully persuaded in his own mind...

Remember the law (performance based faith) was a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ, impossible to produce righteousness though.

But very effective in showing our sinfulness. When I thought like that, believe me I became very aware of my continuing sinfulness.

I know what it is you are talking about. It seems like you are never good enough, never do enough just right, never measure up. It can be crippling. But I know people that thrive in those legalistic environments also. People that can pray like nobody's business. People that live blessed lives, both spiritually and monetarily. It seems as if their faithfulness to being a rule abiding saint buys them a certain peace of mind and frees them in some strange way. Keep in mind, I am not talking about everyone. I know for myself going this ruled route ended in my becoming one of the crippled I mentioned a couple sentences back. But it wasn't always that way. The strongest in the Lord faithwise I have ever been, and I am talking about being able to get God's attention to move on my behalf, has been during my time in the uc ranks. I am not saying that dress codes and abiding by all that is what made it possible, but it does seem as if abiding by all that extra biblical stuff produced a discipline in me that paved the way for me to experience things I haven't experienced since. Make any sense to you? Probly not, huh?

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Sheltiedad

Rico, this mindset is how I was raised.... and this is exactly why I have no intention of ever going back. "If you aren't struggling in every area of your life, then you must not be enough of a threat to the devil for him to cause bad things to happen to you, therefore you are going the wrong direction"

S, it doesn't surprise me that you see it that way, but that is not how it was intended.

["GL"]

I was charismatic before coming into the UPC

and NO...., I never think about going back...

Quote:
Originally Posted by COOPER View Post
There are more blessing from Jesus than just Church, Thad.

Since I have been out of UPC and Church less We have been greatly blessed.

Here are some:

Our Marriage was saved.
Peace in the home
Family loves each other and the kids a are close.

God gave us a baby girl to adopt.

We purchased our first home that was built in 2000 with a $15,000. grant.

Less stress is in my life. etc, ect.

Originally Posted by Charlie Brown

Not one mention of being closer to God. That is telling.

From what I read Cooper is sharing what God has done for him and his family sense they left...A lot of blessings~

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by Theophilus

And they still can, if and when they are of God.

My boundaries are still very similar for the more part, but yet they come from my relationship to the Lord, not from a pulpit.

I do not purpose to bash a pulpit, many good teachings come from them, howbeit it is all that some go off of.

This is why when a leader goes astray...so many follow.

I think you have hit the nail square here! The thing that people that have not left can not see that there is happiness and holiness together. They see it is as sinning. They see it as compromising. It is not either of those.

There is so much outside the UPC and other organizations that is crazy when you think back to when you were under that old mindset how judgemental and legalistic you were. I for one look back at the old me and said there is no way any one could get into heaven the way I used to see things. I am sorry for that, so sorry! I have changed now though.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Sherri

No, Eddie never preached standards in UPC either, and he never believed that everyone was going to hell who hadn't been baptized like us or spoken in tongues. He didn't believe it when I met him, and has never preached it. Getting out of UPC only gave him the freedom to be more open about what he thought.

Ok. Gotcha now. So, getting out for you and your hubby was really your way of just being able to preach, teach, and pastor what you already believed anyway.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by "GL"

I was charismatic before coming into the UPC

and NO...., I never think about going back...

Oh !! you've gone back to charismatic??? O wow I wasn't aware of that