Gossip

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I was attending an UC Church where doctors, Psychiatrists, AA, ect were discouraged, we were to trust God for healing, deliverance, and mental health. Women were encouraged to have their babies at home. Sickness was evidence of sin (according to an elder in the church). Seeing a doctor was evidence of a lack of faith. I was trying to be obedient to what was being preached, and what I believed at the time. So you can be as horrified as you like, but I was a reflection of what I was being taught.

I am no longer an Ultra Con, and no longer hold unrealistically idealistic viewpoints or try to persuade others what route their faith should take.

A lot of us were taught this same thing Amanah. We were unwitting products of what we learned. I can think of many mistakes I made because of what I was taught. And if what we spoke did not reflect what we were taught, then it was considered to be disobedience or not having faith.

I just pray that God has mercy upon all of us humans who unwittingly misrepresent Him. Many who mature start to read what is in the Bible for themselves and see the contrast of what we were taught and what the Bible actually contains.

What is important is that we continue to grow and learn from our mistakes. I've made plenty.

Originally Posted by CC1

This thread is exactly why it is important for Christians to have a good pastor to teach them balance and context for all things spiritual.

I agree.

Some people wonder why there are so many unchurched out here in America. They wonder why people have the same beliefs as outlined in the Bible, but will not attend their local fellowship. When the local fellowship learns to stop being so abusive over "standards" and their own convictions that others do not share, and preach Christ and the shed blood...there will be great revival.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

The only bright side to this viewpoint is how awfully fun it is to accuse THEM of all manner of misdeeds and debauchery when they come down with something whether it be the flu, a cold, or more serious like cancer -which must mean their sins were REALLY bad.

Well, when sickness or troubles or whatever happen to anyone in the ministry... it is considered a trial of their faith, but if it should happen to anyone else, the Lord is punishing them for some wrongdoing - that mentality is what I grew up under... the ministry exempt from any "punishment" from sin and it is just a trial of their faith, but common saints in the church were somehow sinning because of the troubles in their life....

What terrible misconceptions people have lived under, and still do ... including some of my family members!

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Well, when sickness or troubles or whatever happen to anyone in the ministry... it is considered a trial of their faith, but if it should happen to anyone else, the Lord is punishing them for some wrongdoing - that mentality is what I grew up under... the ministry exempt from any "punishment" from sin and it is just a trial of their faith, but common saints in the church were somehow sinning because of the troubles in their life....

What terrible misconceptions people have lived under, and still do ... including some of my family members!

I heard that when the ministry was sick not only were they simply being tested, but the saints were STILL sinning for not holding the pastors arms up. The church members were screwed either way.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Amanah

There was a young woman in our church from that same time (years ago) who hit a guy on a bicycle. He was drunk and swerved in front of her. She hit and killed him. She was told (by that same elder) that it happened because of her uncut hair. If she would have stopped cutting her hair God would have protected her from killing that man.

Something tells me this particular elder was just a barrel of laughs to be around. I'm sure everyone left his/her presence feeling just a little better about themselves and looking at the world a little clearer, and having a bit more hop in their steps.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I heard that when the ministry was sick not only were they simply being tested, but the saints were STILL sinning for not holding the pastors arms up. The church members were screwed either way.

LOL! Not really funny, but true.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Amanah

There was a young woman in our church from that same time (years ago) who hit a guy on a bicycle. He was drunk and swerved in front of her. She hit and killed him. She was told (by that same elder) that it happened because of her uncut hair. If she would have stopped cutting her hair God would have protected her from killing that man.

Wow, unbelievable!!!... yet believable, because I have witnessed that kind of judgmental mentality.

A scripture comes to mind to refute this mentality "It rains on the just and the unjust alike"

Just because we have received the spirit of God into our hearts doesn't protect us from any sorrows that come from being a part of this world.

It is an elitist and legalist idea that by performing works pleasing to God that we will somehow be spared from any pain or suffering in this world, which is hogwash... just read Acts and come back and tell me how the apostles were spared from any pain, sorrow, or suffering...

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Wow, unbelievable!!!... yet believable, because I have witnessed that kind of judgmental mentality.

A scripture comes to mind to refute this mentality "It rains on the just and the unjust alike"

Just because we have received the spirit of God into our hearts doesn't protect us from any sorrows that come from being a part of this world.

It is an elitist and legalist idea that by performing works pleasing to God that we will somehow be spared from any pain or suffering in this world, which is hogwash... just read Acts and come back and tell me how the apostles were spared from any pain, sorrow, or suffering...

The only thing that keeps these type of people from driving me mentally insane is humor -usually at their expense. OK, not usually, always at their expense. It is great fun, as well as rewarding, to get under the skin and know that you can make an off hand comment (although very calculated) that will keep them awake most of the night gritting their teeth in pure anger. LOL

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

The only thing that keeps these type of people from driving me mentally insane is humor -usually at their expense. OK, not usually, always at their expense. It is great fun, as well as rewarding, to get under the skin and know that you can make an off hand comment (although very calculated) that will keep them awake most of the night gritting their teeth in pure anger. LOL

I love it RW - keep it up!!!

I agree, humor helps when you realize you just can't reason with.... stupidity and sometimes even with ignorance....

[AreYouReady?]

Well...if one actually believes what these people say, then they will go mentally insane.

[Amanah]

I was a whacko variety ultra con for 13 years before I escaped.