Some people are witch hunters. You'll find these sorts of people read a lot of information about paganism and cults, and are simply and unhealthily too much on the lookout for that sort of thing.
I knew a couple like that. They would more quickly point out the witchcraft in rock music to sinners before they would relate the gospel.
The 'witch hunters' are usually people who have no idea what they are talking about. People like myself, however, who came into the Truth from a background with the occult, are not 'witch hunters' but we certainly do notice a lot of things some folks might not otherwise.
For myself, going into a church meeting, where the decor is generally darkened, with what to me (and obviously several others here on the board) look like pictures or paintings of pyramids, would certainly get my 'spidey senses' tingling, and make me pay very close attention to everything else going on, especially the music and the specific teaching/preaching being done. I would in fact be looking for other corroborating evidence. If I began to see a pattern of 'almost could be looks sorta like' new age type things, 'coincidences', I would probably just not come back. If however I saw nothing else amiss, but just the weird painting on the back wall, I would chock it up to either a)bad taste in art, or b)somebody there has some issues and they are slipping in unnoticed, possibly even unknown to themselves even.
You would be surprised how many people in Wiccan, neo-Pagan, and Satanic circles make it their 'mission' to get involved in churches in order to wreck havoc. Yes, it's not a silly conspiracy theory, it really happens. (Atheists sometimes do the same thing, by the way.)
A couple coming to a church and being disturbed by artwork that to them looks worldly and possibly occultic should not cause us to say 'Wow, what a bunch of weaklings, easily offended...' but it should cause us to follow Paul's example and teaching and consider how all eyes are on us and we should abstain from even the appearance of evil. Which is the greater problem, some Christians who are troubled by what they see? OR other Christians who could care less about offending their brethren?
I told somebody that I had posted this knowing full well that the homers would show up trying to justify the absurd conclusion this person made from those murals. If anything they look more like trees than pyramids. LOL!!
I feel sorry for someone who is so looking for offense that they see things that are not there. We have a artists rendition of a lion representing the lion of Judah but I suppose to some people that would mean we are worshipping animals.
Many times it seems Pentecostal people are afraid of anything different from what they know. If services are done in a different way or the church building and decorations are not traditional they freak out and try to make it something evil.
Like the person posting on here that couldn't believe their eyes that the sanctuary has the lights dimmed but the stage doesn't during the praise and worship portion of the service. Oh heavens no! Must be Hollywood! Yet they probably think someone who will scream and yell and run up and down aisles drawing the attention of everyone is wonderful never questioning that persons motive. All because that is the Pentecostal culture they know and are familiar with where something different is suspect and must be evil.
__________________ "I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
I told somebody that I had posted this knowing full well that the homers would show up trying to justify the absurd conclusion this person made from those murals. If anything they look more like trees than pyramids. LOL!!
I feel sorry for someone who is so looking for offense that they see things that are not there. We have a artists rendition of a lion representing the lion of Judah but I suppose to some people that would mean we are worshipping animals.
Many times it seems Pentecostal people are afraid of anything different from what they know. If services are done in a different way or the church building and decorations are not traditional they freak out and try to make it something evil.
Like the person posting on here that couldn't believe their eyes that the sanctuary has the lights dimmed but the stage doesn't during the praise and worship portion of the service. Oh heavens no! Must be Hollywood! Yet they probably think someone who will scream and yell and run up and down aisles drawing the attention of everyone is wonderful never questioning that persons motive. All because that is the Pentecostal culture they know and are familiar with where something different is suspect and must be evil.
Nobody here made any comments questioning your integrity or character, or that of your church. Yet YOU have now disparaged half the people (if not more) in this thread alone.
Is that the fruit of your church's ministry and teaching?
Nobody here made any comments questioning your integrity or character, or that of your church. Yet YOU have now disparaged half the people (if not more) in this thread alone.
Is that the fruit of your church's ministry and teaching?
Lighten up , Esaias.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
so my stupid radio is digital but the tuner seems to be bordering on freaking out completely.
sometimes it just jumps from AM signal to some wild idunno uber low frequency thing? picks up stations I don't know what that is?
well, I have to giggle it a bit to get it to set on my station. my main one is 660 AM KSKY. It conservative talk.
well to get my station to come in in a stable way without the tuner freaking out, its on 666am. I get to look at 666 all day long.
Now what im listening to is conservative talk. im not a Satanist. I wonder if some folk would walk in here freak out and not be able to sleep all night because my radio is the anti-Christ?
CC1 your mountains look like pyramids. I don't care though. while its not my cuppa tea, im good with everyone working out their own salvation with fear and trembling!
I celebrate those you baptize and those that receive the Holy Ghost in your assembly.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Nobody here made any comments questioning your integrity or character, or that of your church. Yet YOU have now disparaged half the people (if not more) in this thread alone.
Is that the fruit of your church's ministry and teaching?
Wow, that is quite a leap in logic. I don't think it is disparaging to point out that there are things within OP culture that many of them fully embrace without questioning anything or anyone's motives but some of them leap to wild conclusions when they see or experience anything that is outside of their norm.
__________________ "I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
Ok here's some honesty for ya. Your church's décor is of little concern to me, but it's doctrine is offensive to anyone with a love for truth.
I have no problem with someone disapproving of my church based on doctrinal differences. I do have a problem with crazy wild conclusions based on nothing but a vivid imagination and a lack of critical thinking.
__________________ "I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
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