The Power of the Church

[Carpenter]

It is very hard and almost impossible to deny that the large UPC is packed with power, influence, stability and is far reaching from coast to coast.

That is why it is so hard to compete, it is difficult to reason with and you will likely never overcome its power in a micro-family sense. The problem is that when at this level you have a disagreement with the church from either a theological or operational sense, every time you enter the doors, you are forced to compromise your principals and do it long enough and it will leave you a hollow shell of a person who has absolutely no spiritual confidence in themselves or even the word of God. I know so many families who behind closed doors are in agony yet they continue to smile and try to convince everyone that everything is fine, the problem is that they cannot compete with the power of the church.

Poor powerless people, we have power to tread upon serpents and scorpions but no power outside the collective power of the church.

Sorry if I offended, but after talking to three independent families who all are saying the same thing, it is a burden I had to share.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by The Kid

It is very hard and almost impossible to deny that the large UPC is packed with power, influence, stability and is far reaching from coast to coast.

That is why it is so hard to compete, it is difficult to reason with and you will likely never overcome its power in a micro-family sense. The problem is that when at this level you have a disagreement with the church from either a theological or operational sense, every time you enter the doors, you are forced to compromise your principals and do it long enough and it will leave you a hollow shell of a person who has absolutely no spiritual confidence in themselves or even the word of God. I know so many families who behind closed doors are in agony yet they continue to smile and try to convince everyone that everything is fine, the problem is that they cannot compete with the power of the church.

Poor powerless people, we have power to tread upon serpents and scorpions but no power outside the collective power of the church.

Sorry if I offended, but after talking to three independent families who all are saying the same thing, it is a burden I had to share.

I guess the question that comes to me is what KIND of power, influence and "stability" does this kind of church have?

Is it power to control or power to serve and bless?

[noeticknight]

Originally Posted by The Kid

It is very hard and almost impossible to deny that the large UPC is packed with power, influence, stability and is far reaching from coast to coast.
That is why it is so hard to compete, it is difficult to reason with and you will likely never overcome its power in a micro-family sense. The problem is that when at this level you have a disagreement with the church from either a theological or operational sense, every time you enter the doors, you are forced to compromise your principals and do it long enough and it will leave you a hollow shell of a person who has absolutely no spiritual confidence in themselves or even the word of God. I know so many families who behind closed doors are in agony yet they continue to smile and try to convince everyone that everything is fine, the problem is that they cannot compete with the power of the church.

Poor powerless people, we have power to tread upon serpents and scorpions but no power outside the collective power of the church.

Sorry if I offended, but after talking to three independent families who all are saying the same thing, it is a burden I had to share.

The bolded portion is an illusion. The power belongs to individuals, the "ordinary," you and I. The only power organizations and their constituents enjoy, is the power that individual Christians relinquish to it. Organizations and the leaders who operate them can only maintain their viability if they have willing, submissive members. In fact, the saints of God are not ordinary at all. They are royalty. Many just don't realize that yet.

This is why taking a stand, and even rejecting certain church cultures is necessary for many. As somebody already stated, "Many are leaving the traditional church structure, in order to preserve their faith!" I'm always inspired by Christians who have the courage to take that stand for truth as they see fit, in spite of the overwhelming pressure to keep conforming.

[Carpenter]

Originally Posted by noeticknight

The bolded portion is an illusion. The power belongs to individuals, the "ordinary," you and I. The only power organizations and their constituents enjoy, is the power that individual Christians relinquish to it. Organizations and the leaders who operate them can only maintain their viability if they have willing, submissive members. In fact, the saints of God are not ordinary at all. They are royalty. Many just don't realize that yet.

This is why taking a stand, and even rejecting certain church cultures is necessary for many. As somebody already stated, "Many are leaving the traditional church structure, in order to preserve their faith!" I'm always inspired by Christians who have the courage to take that stand for truth as they see fit, in spite of the overwhelming pressure to keep conforming.

This is correct and it is just an indication of the brilliant system of how the church is self-regulates in preserving the culture. The preacher doesn't have to preach on standards, you know why? The power of the church, they self regulate because people are terrified of running into one of their fellow churchmates while out of the Apostolic uniform.

The other day there was a sermon hammering home the message of a woman who cut her hair and someone posted her picture on facebook.

Another example of the power of the church. Yay!

[noeticknight]

Originally Posted by The Kid

This is correct and it is just an indication of the brilliant system of how the church is self-regulates in preserving the culture. The preacher doesn't have to preach on standards, you know why? The power of the church, they self regulate because people are terrified of running into one of their fellow churchmates while out of the Apostolic uniform.

The other day there was a sermon hammering home the message of a woman who cut her hair and someone posted her picture on facebook.

Another example of the power of the church. Yay!

And I'm sure God is smiling from his lofty throne somewhere in Heaven. A more appropriate thread title would have been, "Groupthink," or "Holy Conformation" maybe...