Here is my story. I have been lurking on this site for quite some time now. I noticed there is alot of bashing of those who are of the Conservative mindset. I really do not understand why this bashing takes place. From what I have noticed many of you used to believe or hold true to the same beliefs as many conservatives. My question is why did you change, was it you felt you was in bondage, was it that you just couldn't live it strong anymore? I am not trying to be confrontational I am just trying to figure this all out, and why there is such a backlash on us who try to hold true to our strong convictions. Just as there are so called Liberal churchs growing, conservative churchs are growing, and just as liberal churchs are flopping so are conservative. I do not care if you are a so called liberal or a conservative, I would bet all church have a little bit of the same problems. Neither side has the answer. I just wonder why there is this putting down of those and trying to pursuade us who want to hold tight to strong convictions we hold dearly, like I said earlier probably many of you held them tight as well at one point.
I don't see so much that it's bashing, really, but more discussion of why people hold on to those 'old paths'.
If you are doing it because you feel that it's something you can do for God, fine. If you are doing it because you feel that it makes you more holy, saved, etc....well, you got a problem.
I'm neither con nor lib, and I have standards in my life that I feel are best for me and my family, but it doesn't make us more holy or saved than those who don't hold to the same standards I have. At the same time, people don't bash me over my beliefs because they are mine and mine alone.
Stick around if you wish. You'll like it here in spite of our differences.
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
I don't think I put conservatives down, but I have seen the wisdom of some conservatives hurt and drive more than a few Holy Ghost filled converts away from the Lord. I myself have been hurt by conservative folks, and have found for me, living by someone else's standards, to be not, uh, wise-- especially when they try to make their standards a salvational issue (and then they vary from church to church, depending on where in the country/world you are).
If my salvation begins in the spirit, how can I be made perfect by the flesh?
Speaking in tongues is not a work of the flesh, but the way it is presented (in the Apostolic churches I've attended as a member), speaking in tongues becomes a goal in itself as if it is something one must do in order to be saved-- even if folks don't come out and say it like that, that is what is meant because that is what they expect the new believer to do: seek tongues like their salvation hinges on it. So even speaking in tongues becomes now, a work, something one must do, when the Bible clearly connects believing with salvation. Tongues will happen for the believer, change will happen, some changes for some believers, eventually. But I have seen it too often where the precious believer is discouraged and driven away from Jesus Christ over something that is not crucial-- whether it's tongues, facial hair, shorts or pants, the list goes on and on.
No disrespect meant to anyone, and I sure do miss the great times I had at the churches I have attended where I've been stationed and where I've lived. There are people that will always be dear to me, but I'm not dear to them because I don't attend their church any more. What they say and my experiences just don't add up.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
Last edited by Jermyn Davidson; 06-26-2008 at 01:21 AM.
Reason: wrote too much stuff
Here is my story. I have been lurking on this site for quite some time now. I noticed there is alot of bashing of those who are of the Conservative mindset. I really do not understand why this bashing takes place. From what I have noticed many of you used to believe or hold true to the same beliefs as many conservatives. My question is why did you change, was it you felt you was in bondage, was it that you just couldn't live it strong anymore? I am not trying to be confrontational I am just trying to figure this all out, and why there is such a backlash on us who try to hold true to our strong convictions. Just as there are so called Liberal churchs growing, conservative churchs are growing, and just as liberal churchs are flopping so are conservative. I do not care if you are a so called liberal or a conservative, I would bet all church have a little bit of the same problems. Neither side has the answer. I just wonder why there is this putting down of those and trying to pursuade us who want to hold tight to strong convictions we hold dearly, like I said earlier probably many of you held them tight as well at one point.
Heaven sure is going to be cool! I mean, when we get there we are all going to be standing in line TOGETHER and none of these issues down here are going to matter.
Mark should like this thread, he is a worse flippflopper than John Kerry. Mark can be liberal to his boys up in Elk Grove then he can be Conservative with his boys down in Burbank. Mark how does it feel to be all things to all people and be on both sides?
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StMark - look Brother, you just pray for me okay?? Pray that I will become
a better person like you , maybe more spiritual like you???
My observation to you (new guy/girl) is this, it goes both ways on here. If you can only see the negativity coming from the liberals, you need to be more honest with yourself.
I consider myself moderate, some especially a lot from the area that I am in would consider me a liberal. That is the problem with labels, they are subjective and usually never completely correct.
My personal take on what goes on here on the forum is that for the most part I see people trying to work together and be respectful of each others differences.
It disappoints me when I see someone who would be considered more liberal act mockingly toward a conservatives lifestyle or beliefs, but what I find is that although that may happen, you will almost never see one of those people question the conservatives salvation or attempt to put them in hell.
What is the most troubling is I cannot say the same of most of those who call themselves conservative. And all of the justification of "that's the way I believe it, I didn't say it, God did" types of speeches do not make it right and do not make the spirit that it is said in right.
Here is my story. I have been lurking on this site for quite some time now. I noticed there is alot of bashing of those who are of the Conservative mindset. I really do not understand why this bashing takes place. From what I have noticed many of you used to believe or hold true to the same beliefs as many conservatives. My question is why did you change, was it you felt you was in bondage, was it that you just couldn't live it strong anymore? I am not trying to be confrontational I am just trying to figure this all out, and why there is such a backlash on us who try to hold true to our strong convictions. Just as there are so called Liberal churchs growing, conservative churchs are growing, and just as liberal churchs are flopping so are conservative. I do not care if you are a so called liberal or a conservative, I would bet all church have a little bit of the same problems. Neither side has the answer. I just wonder why there is this putting down of those and trying to pursuade us who want to hold tight to strong convictions we hold dearly, like I said earlier probably many of you held them tight as well at one point.
There certainly are a lot of Libs here no one can deny that.
When you first come to a forum like this it can be a shock.
It's not for everyone. But if you like to debate then join in
and defend your faith
Heh, I only say about 10% of what I really want to say... to keep it simple, I believe that a large majority of what I was taught in the church had absolutely nothing in the bible to back it up, outside of some traditions which had been passed on for a few generations and gradually "became" fact... to the point that they will point out scriptures and claim that they say certain things, while if someone without the cultural conditioning reads the same scriptures they cannot find anything resembling what people in the church claim that it means. In fact, this lack of biblical evidence to back up certain beliefs and traditions is what led me to question even more things, to the point that I question things that I'm not comfortable writing here.
Here is my story. I have been lurking on this site for quite some time now. I noticed there is alot of bashing of those who are of the Conservative mindset. I really do not understand why this bashing takes place. From what I have noticed many of you used to believe or hold true to the same beliefs as many conservatives. My question is why did you change, was it you felt you was in bondage, was it that you just couldn't live it strong anymore? I am not trying to be confrontational I am just trying to figure this all out, and why there is such a backlash on us who try to hold true to our strong convictions. Just as there are so called Liberal churchs growing, conservative churchs are growing, and just as liberal churchs are flopping so are conservative. I do not care if you are a so called liberal or a conservative, I would bet all church have a little bit of the same problems. Neither side has the answer. I just wonder why there is this putting down of those and trying to pursuade us who want to hold tight to strong convictions we hold dearly, like I said earlier probably many of you held them tight as well at one point.
I probably am a little left of mainstream UPC. Most Apostolics want to claim their practices go back to the first century yet they want to hold to 50-100 year old traditions as if they are salvific. If it isn't in the Bible I am not interested in what you believe, especially if you (using the term generically) want to base my salvation on your rules. I don't have a problem with most of the rules myself but I truly hate to see them put on new believers especially.
I particularly hate the so called platform rules which serve to create second class citizens in the church who are not worthy to participate in ministry because someone has some weird idea that you cannot have a beard and lead people in worship, you can fill in a host of other items here depending on the church you attend.
The question is am I liberal for allowing things that others don't, or am I conservative because I will only accept what is in Scripture?
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"Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." ~Aesop
Re: Enough Already!
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