This message scares me??
 

I heard a message from a UPC church yesterday, that was emphasizing to put Jesus first. I understand that but he seemed like to the state of, instead of watching TV you should be reading your bible. Instead of doin any type of pleaseure, we should put God First. Instead of reading the paper or reading a magazine, you need to be reading the bible or your affections are not right.

I mean where is the line? How much should we be reading and praying 24 hrs a day?. Am I wrong, if so correct me please cause I do want to be right with God and know I have a lot of things to work on. Does anyone know what I am talking about. Has anyone heard of a message like this before? When I heard this message I was very stressed.

If this is true then who is really saved???

Re: This message scares me??
 

A very common message (unfortunately) with lazy logic.

Usually this is employed when they want to rail on something they don't approve, unfortunately, the logic isn't exclusive to just what they don't approve, but all things less important than Jesus. It's a false argument and situation. Jesus comes first, he is our object of worship, no one and nothing else. That doesn't mean we aren't enjoying the life he's given us -- we are cautioned to not make those an end in themselves.

Re: This message scares me??
 

Oh yeah, Im sure he meant you should read and pray 24 hours a day. At some point this anti-UPC stuff just get's silly

Re: This message scares me??
 

1. I don't think our works save us, but I do think it's important to pray and read the Bible to maintain our relationship with God.

2. IMO, this is an old, manipulative tactic. There's nothing wrong with reading books, looking at magazines, listening to the radio, watching tv, OR for that matter--gardening, mowing the lawn, grocery shopping, going for a walk, checking the mail, golfing, running errands, and working a public job.

I agree--put Jesus first. That doesn't mean that you're not allowed to do anything else besides pray and read the Bible. :rolleyes2

Re: This message scares me??
 

Peter used the same sort of argument when he said not to wear jewelry but to do.....

It doesn't mean never read a newspaper, sheeeesh come on guys. Use your brains

Re: This message scares me??
 

I thought that he was stating that we could not enjoy life. Example. I bought a corvette. I like cars fast cars. Did I sin for buying it? I dont worship it but know where it came from. What about other who like hunting and fishing etc. You should be reading your bible and goin to church every service or praying instead of doin those things.

Re: This message scares me??
 

I lived that way once and I'm sure it was because I had heard messages like that. I lived that way once and I felt closer to God than I would have thought possible. I lived that way once but will never do so again and will always advise anyone from going down that path.

Re: This message scares me??
 

I doubt the preacher disapproves of people reading the newspaper. It's an old tactic used to try to motivate people to lay aside unnecessary things in exchange for more "important" things, but it doesn't really work.

I don't believe that preachers who say things like this have bad intentions. They're just trying to get people to pray and read their Bibles more. I can understand that. It doesn't work, but I can understand the effort.

Re: This message scares me??
 

Prax, I've heard that a thousand times. He may not mean that, but the logic employed to get people from going to "ball games" implies that. It's silly logic... I'm not sure I read anything in this post that said "UPC." Why so quick?

Re: This message scares me??
 

It's far from silly. It is preached that way. It is also encouraged and never advised against. I lived it Prax.