[PastorBobHall]

Someone asked me where I am from & what standards I am against, My church life has been in the Western Canadian District, I live in Alberta.

What about standards? The answer is 'none' - I am not against any. God wants to see obedience in us, no matter what the standard. In the garden they had one rule & no one has ever had to abide by that standard since - don't eat from a certain tree. The fruit didn't hurt them - disobeying God was the sin.

There are many wonderful churches all over the world & many do a few things differently, follow rules or standards other places may not. The exercise for our Godliness is to be obedient where we attend. That can show a great fear when some people avoid the structure of church God established because they 'don't agree with the pastor's standards'. Looks like the wolves influencing some sheep to cut themselves out of the flock.

Obedience is the key & the ministry & church body must have standards to represent Christ. The error comes when a standard is called a sin when it is not, causing criticism of other churches & abuse of authority from controlling people. Well, it causes a lot of trouble.

What must I do to be saved? Find a truth church to get the help in staying prayed through & full of the Holy Ghost. Whatever standards they have, be mature enough to understand that God is watching for obedience in all things. There are many times God calls upon us to 'obey Him' to help reach the lost, work a miracle through us, speak through us, etc. He cannot use & save people who do not learn to be obedient to the Spirit.

Rom.8:14 For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. If you are not obedient to Him - you won't follow Him - you will be lost.

There are 2 problems: the treatment we receive from abusive leaders & the obedience unto God in standards & giving. Don't let the one destroy the other.

It would be my greatest joy to help people who have been hurt by the confusion & frustration of dealing with standards, to understand them better, and see them dig in & get full of God! Salvation is smooth, easy, thrilling, exciting, when you live in God's will for your life. You deserve it & I encourage everyone I speak with, to get the victory over the past & live victorious in the present. God has shown me a way to destroy those bad memories once & for all.

God bless
Pastor Hall