Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

At a recent conference lock-in I went to, I wasn’t expecting to have a good time but honestly I did for a little while that was before I was told by someone that they just got in trouble by their youth leader because they were talking to expected “fruit cakes” and that they needed to stay away from them. Okay people first off even if they were why in the world would you tell people to stay away from your fellow brothers and fellow Christian? I do believe what the bible says about homosexuality and I do not in anyway condone it but, they were not “fruit cakes” and just because someone dresses in their own style or comes from a certain city does not mean you can put that title on them. They were just sitting there not even knowing what these people were saying about them. I do understand that we need to protect our youth from hanging out with people that might be damning to their souls, but they were not. What is that saying about our faith to the world? How are we suppose to show love to our coworkers and strangers on the street if we are told stuff like this from our youth leaders? How are we suppose to win people to God if we can’t do these things? Didn’t Jesus eat with sinners and sit with them? love them? walk with them? come here for them? yes he did.

This same person started to put down people and my pastor and church. Just because she didn’t understand and she thought she was right. For one you do not come to a conference and do that, you shouldn’t anyway or anywhere but that totally cleared me of her for any future talks, there won’t be anymore. Her facade went back up after she left.

Anyway the point of this post is that the “fruit cakes” were the ones sitting there being polite and nice to people and being good people while the person that looked like they had it all together stood flat footed and deliberately put down my pastor, church and others then turned around and acted like nothing happened, but we are telling our people to stay away from people and dividing the church into groups. What would have happened if this was their first time visiting our kind of church and they seen or heard these people doing this? Something to think about I guess.

Didn’t we read about the Pharisees in the bible about being more “righteous” than others and exalting themselves over the rest?

Treat others how you would want to be treated.

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

Well, fruit cakes are supposed to be nice to people.... ;)

Feel better now?

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

Within a few months after I joined AFF, I realized that many of the people I most enjoyed reading the posts of were people I would never have fellowshipped with in person because of their lower standards or because they didn't attend 'a good church' (meaning an ultra conservative Apostolic church). I allso realized that I enjoyed their posts because they were much kinder and more respectful than those I'd judged 'right' by appearances. It was an eye opening, thought provoking, and life changing revelation. I hope the same for you.

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

We are commanded not to keep company with fornicators. No communion/fellowship is allowed. Fornication, from the Greek word porne means sexual immorality of any sort. Homosexuality, as an aberrant sexuality, is illicit and immoral. There is wisdom in not spending time with people "in church" who are actively living such a lifestyle.

They already stand condemned. Having a youth leader separate some young people from them isn't wrong.

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

I agree with your premise, but to counter... one must be careful to not judge someone as a "fruitcake" just because you've heard it from someone else. Sometimes gossip can spread like wildfire, and not have a bit of truth to it.

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

When you can look past someone's outward appearance, it is amazing how loudly the heart can speak through their words and actions. It is an eyeopener to realize that you cannot always judge the book by the cover that you've been accustomed to doing, but when you begin to look at the fruit in their lives, as the Lord Jesus told us too... that is a much better measuring stick.

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

Yes and I did mention that in the post, but they were not and they were as spirit filled as the next person.

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

I don't know id that was suppose to be sarcastic or what but actually I do feel better now thanks :)

Re: Facade & Pharisees in the church
 

Was this a UPC conf? Was that person UPC?