Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

One thing I am constantly amazed at is the premise that everything that we "do" or "don't do" is dictated to us by the concept that it is a sin and you will go to hell.

The tithe... (this thread is not about the tithe so please don't start that up here)
Make up
Attitude
Modest Dress

And many, many more things.

Do/Don't Do this or you will (dramatic pause) GO... TO... HELL!!!!!!!!!!!11

Does nothing come from the heart? Can nothing be allowed to come from the heart?

Is nothing lived because it is God's wisdom and plan for the lives of His children?

Those who stop preaching certain modesty issues are sins... inevitably... they will then begin doing those things. WHy? Because I won't go to hell now... so Whooooo Weeeeee .....

Was it ever in the heart anyway?

Does anybody love holiness just because it is like our God?

Can anybody obey anything without a threat of hell over their head?

The measure seems to be... I will do all that I want to do that won't send me to hell. I will do nothing more than what is absolutely required for me to miss hell.

Where can you find... "No... I don't believe that doing this or that will send me to hell but I still refrain from it because I find it in keeping with the nature and pleasure of my God."

Where can you find... "No... I don't believe that I have to do this or that to be saved but I still do it because I find it in keeping with the nature and pleasure of my God."

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Thats why I go to a pentecostal chuch but tell people I am non denominational..LOL

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

LOL... You might have a good plan there. :)

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

It doesn't have to be a sin for me to make it (whatever "it" is) a part of my lifestyle, in an effort to be more Christlike. I may place whatever constraints I wish upon myself, in order to keep my feet on the straight and narrow.

However, in order for me to teach others that something is wrong, it needs to be supported in scripture as being wrong. If it isn't, it's just my personal conviction, and may or may not be relevant to anyone else.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

No in being serious I look at sin as breaking one of the 10 commandments...

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Just the Big 10? Nothing else?

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

That sounds mighty balanced to me. :)

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Well that pretty much told ya what God was wanting from us

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

To me the difference is sin is usually a heaven/hell issue.

I believe we've made many things that are personal convictions a heaven/hell issue and they shouldn't be.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

What about things that are not heaven/hell issues?

Are there any of those things that you still refrain from or make sure that you do?

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

I am still trying to figure out the conviction thing I see that being done nowhere in the bible..LOL I think most are scared to go outside the pentecostal box and step into chuch with makeup on.. It is funny men don't get convicted of anything...It is always the women..LOL

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Yes, because like MissB I try to be Christ-like.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Men are convicted of things... It is just that men & women have some struggles that are different from one another.

Many of the things that women struggle with are not issues that men have problem with... and vice versa.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Oh, but He was just getting started! He added a lot more!

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Right, and I think there's a difference between what you do yourself, and what you tell others they ought to do.

When another person asks me what they need to do to be a Christian, I don't go down my personal list. I point them to clear scripture for guidance. And I don't change that approach after they're converted. It isn't my place to dictate another person's personal relationship with God.

Even if someone asks me directly about why I believe or live a certain way, if it isn't something backed by scripture, I'm very hesitant to share. First, because they may not understand my reasons, and may feel unnecessarily condemned, and secondly, because that's between God and me, and I may not want to share all my reasons.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

I think I know where KWSS1976 is coming from. If you follow Matthew 22:36-40 and love God and your neighbor you won't have to worry about breaking the 10 Commandments. Everything else can be summed up in those two commandments.

I have a conviction against wearing rings but my wife doesn't.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

This is where I think "religion" goes wrong. When God tells me something, and I decide that if I need to do it, then everyone, everywhere needs to do it to!

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Really? Since when?

I know men with personal convictions about beards, mustaches, short sleeved shirts, coffee, blue jeans, pleated pants, shorts, colored dress shirts, jogging pants, going to amusement parks, attending major sporting events, to name a few...

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

FUNNY GIRL!

As for me, not gonna happen...sorry. :ursofunny

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

That is so true...true in my family and true in the church...

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

D4T,

You bring up the NUMBER #1 reason I left the UPC. What I did (living standards), I did from my heart, with all my heart. But the constant "go to hell" messages really disturbed me. I believe I would have gladly wore skirts daily etc. for the rest of my life if it were not for this. Now, I don't follow standards on sheer principle that it is NOT salvational. It has become more important for me to take a stand against the "go to hell" messages than to dress a certain way. To me, it's all about pleaseing God, whatever I do, whatever motives I have, however I live. I believe I please God when I take a stand against the notion that God is a mean Spirit in heaven waiting to strike us down with a lightning bolt. That's a more important message for me to send now at this point in my life. On the flip side, I understand those who don't feel as I do.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

I think it's because too many Pentecostals have ruled by the "law". (Pentecostal law) There's been too little emphasis on having a personal walk with God, and too much focus on following the rules.

As I was telling my husband last night... people are happy if you look the part. If you don't let down on the standards. You start letting up on the standards, and they FREAK OUT. Panic. But just keep those standards going and they're pleased as punch. You're doing real good.

But what about what's going on inside you? What if you don't have a close relationship with God? You don't find people getting all bent out of shape and panicking about that.

My desire for my children is that they'll walk closely with God all the days of their life. I don't really care whether or not they keep man-made standards all the days of their lives. As long as they're walking with God, he'll keep them on the straight path.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

D4T, I am more amazed at what "people" want to get away with to just get by & that if there are any requirements they are "Legalistic!"

Remember, the Apostle said that "some" would give heed to "seducing spirits" it may sound good but it may not be.

Now what was the question again?

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Yes, an anti-legalism attitude can go overboard (:whistle), but think of this: if God doesn't prohibit something, wouldn't it be wrong to say that He does?

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

If he were to do that for every conceivable situation we would need a library!

So he gives us Pastors & the five fold ministry & the word & prayer & hopefully between all of that a person can figure it out!

After all, smoking crack isn't specifically prohibted in the Bible!:thumbsup

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Mmmmkay.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Yes. Thank goodness there are those who can read the same scriptures I read and come up with tons of things that I missed! ;)

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Indeed... why should we be surprised that people cannot do what they have never been taught how to do.

When people have lived by this rule and that rule all their lives their working assumption is... if there isn't a rule against it... it is okay.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

D4T, I reject the "everything is sin" mindset.

It has been a looooong time that I even allowed myself to think in those terms.

Even though my Pastor is more conservative in some of the things mentioned, the UPC "go to hell" messages ILG speaks of are not anything common in my church.

I don't think the rank and file membership would accept such an approach at all.

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

I'm getting ready to sin...

Gonna eat a chocolate eclair..... ssssshhhhhh....

Re: Does It Have To Be A Sin?
 

I just thought about something. I think some of this stuff is exactly why people stop going to church. They feel like they can serve God better by just serving Him on their own. I know a few that have left the church and have not gone back. They don't do anything 'wrong' but they just stay away from church. They still pray and they still fast. They still worship God in their way. They give to the poor and they support many things.
I think all this kind of stuff gets to these folks and they feel like it is worthless for them to go. So they start staying home.
I don't advocate it but I think I now may have a little better understanding and feel a littel more empathy for them.