The reality of the slippery slope?

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Esaias

This is also a problem across the board, regardless of denomination. Church groups across western civilization are hemorrhaging at the seams, the kids hit 18 move out of the house and give up on church. Many give up on Christianity altogether. Many others give up on Churchianity.

Churches are increasingly being viewed as unnecessary and as not having anything worthwhile to offer.

Also, a lot of folks thought that Sunday School and one or two services per week was enough to save their children. It wasn't, isn't, and never will be. This has to be a daily thing, a continuous nonstop ongoing relationship with God, parents, and kids all involved.

sin brings forth death, the wages of sin any sin, small secret sins, participating in sin (even vicariously) via our culture, media, ect, kills a person off bit by bit.
You can't be conformed to the world 4 days/week and live for God 3 days/week and not pay the price.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Esaias

This is also a problem across the board, regardless of denomination. Church groups across western civilization are hemorrhaging at the seams, the kids hit 18 move out of the house and give up on church. Many give up on Christianity altogether. Many others give up on Churchianity.

Churches are increasingly being viewed as unnecessary and as not having anything worthwhile to offer.

Also, a lot of folks thought that Sunday School and one or two services per week was enough to save their children. It wasn't, isn't, and never will be. This has to be a daily thing, a continuous nonstop ongoing relationship with God, parents, and kids all involved.

I agree. Sadly, from my experience churches teach very little about holiness lifestyle and the home. Some marriages are in shambles and breaking up. No teaching on marriage and godly homes. Look the part, shout and give your tithes all the while not seeing the great need of the hour.

[TakingDominion]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

I agree. Sadly, from my experience churches teach very little about holiness lifestyle and the home. Some marriages are in shambles and breaking up. No teaching on marriage and godly homes. Look the part, shout and give your tithes all the while not seeing the great need of the hour.

Couldn't agree more

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by TakingDominion

Couldn't agree more

Man...families need to get really honest with fellow church goers, christians....so much focus on wearing that mask like everything is ok. Families are hurting and struggling under that mask trying to maintain that stepford image


Thats one thing we*me and katherine* have changed about ourselves....we dont try to pretend anymore....we are brutally honest about our pasts and our struggles even to the point where we might even be seen in a bad light or be judged.


We are honest because thats what we wished people would have been with us....honest...wish we could have seen those struggles and could have seen His redemption in the lives of others more openly.


It would have went a long way to helping us climb out if the hole because we'd see living proof of the battles of others being won...so now....we try to be to others what we wished we had.


We have seen God just open some major doors for people we have encouraged and walked beside and their victories have further emboldened us to continue on.


Driving a lot more and I have lots of time to think and meditate and let God speak. Last night while pondering all of this in the context of "They were made overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." God spoke to me and said,"You were made to overcome." Those words caused something to click in me and I looked back at every battle...everytime I thought "Well this is it" and there was this surge of power and boldness that came over me while driving drunks all night last night...I realized...I AM a overcomer and its through the words of OUR testimony that helps give others the strength to be overcomers as well.


You wanna get bold? Get sure. Lately thats one thing I have settled in my mind is that the hand of the Lord does not wane but He is able to keep what has been committed into His hand.


Every battle seems to bring greater courage and even though some "wounds" seem fatal they are not.


Upon research into my Scottish ancestry I found the Clan Stewart crest...on it is a Latin inscription that reads.


"Virescit Vulnere Virtus"


"Courage Grows Strong At a Wound"


As someone who struggled with fear and anxiety this spoke to me in a powerful way....I began to think of my life and the growth of boldness and courage and I began to think of all the times its written in scripture,"Fear not, be of good cheer, fear not and be of good courage" in the context of that motto.

[The Lemon]

I know I do not post often - more reading and trying to see other points of view on this site. There are more than a couple observations I have had in the 25+ years of being part of the UPCI:

1. Subjects like Holiness and the manifestations of it seem subjective in specific applications of Biblical principle - can vary greatly from church to church, and can also be geographic as well.

2. Even though some feel UPC is more liberal, in my state of MD I do know that we are really good at preaching and teaching what to do/not do - we are not very good at demonstrating and teaching the love of God - this is a broad statement, I know.

3. Demanding conformance does not equal transformation of thought or spirit.

4. We preach that we can't save ourselves, but that is not what is practiced by most - fit, form, and function usually are emphasized, even though it is under the premise of God working through us.

5. I have known and met many who deal with great depression, and some even medicated - this does not get talked about much, but I have seen a great deal of this.

6. There are many who do leave, who do not go to some extreme - yes some do, but not all. There are also many ministers who stay and are affiliated who do not believe or practice all of the AOF.

These are just a few things, and I'm not being critical - I love the people and respect the elders that I know. I have stayed in spite of quite a lot, including my own battles and issues both personally and doctrinally. Because I have been wrong about many things, I trust God to direct and have refused to just walk away - I would that God would correct me in my own struggles, then to make a decision that could possibly take me and my family out altogether.

[Truthseeker]

I am really frustrated when it comes to church.

[Apostolic1ness]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

I am really frustrated when it comes to church.

why?

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness

why?

A whole list of things. The current state of our assembly for starters.

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Also, a lot of folks thought that Sunday School and one or two services per week was enough to save their children. It wasn't, isn't, and never will be. This has to be a daily thing, a continuous nonstop ongoing relationship with God, parents, and kids all involved.

[jfrog]

I used to laugh off slippery slope arguments. They are a fallacy afterall. But I no longer find slippery slopes to be a laughing matter.

Slippery slopes are a real phenomenon. They occur because the foundation of a belief has deteriorated into tradition. Once that foundation is tradition and it gets washed away by an argument that reveals it's just tradition then the foundation is lost and if a replacement isn't quickly found then more and more beliefs that were built upon that foundation also crumble.

I believe standards at this point for most churches are based on tradition. Since whatever true foundation that started those standards has deteriorated into just a tradition then it's easy to show that standards are just a tradition and since tradition for the sake of tradition isn't revered in our movement then all the standards start crumbling away.

However, this crumbling of fundamental beliefs also causes other closely related beliefs to be examined and since one belief was based on tradition it becomes much easier to become convinced other fundamental beliefs were also wrong, etc. Before long you see people sliding away from almost everything they once believed, all because one foundation of our beliefs deteriorated into just being tradition.

The cure is to restore the foundation to something that isn't tradition and to remove any beliefs that are only propped up the current tradition based foundation.