One thing I am constantly amazed at is the premise that everything that we "do" or "don't do" is dictated to us by the concept that it is a sin and you will go to hell.
The tithe... (this thread is not about the tithe so please don't start that up here)
Make up
Attitude
Modest Dress
And many, many more things.
Do/Don't Do this or you will (dramatic pause) GO... TO... HELL!!!!!!!!!!!11
Does nothing come from the heart? Can nothing be allowed to come from the heart?
Is nothing lived because it is God's wisdom and plan for the lives of His children?
Those who stop preaching certain modesty issues are sins... inevitably... they will then begin doing those things. WHy? Because I won't go to hell now... so Whooooo Weeeeee .....
Was it ever in the heart anyway?
Does anybody love holiness just because it is like our God?
Can anybody obey anything without a threat of hell over their head?
The measure seems to be... I will do all that I want to do that won't send me to hell. I will do nothing more than what is absolutely required for me to miss hell.
Where can you find... "No... I don't believe that doing this or that will send me to hell but I still refrain from it because I find it in keeping with the nature and pleasure of my God."
Where can you find... "No... I don't believe that I have to do this or that to be saved but I still do it because I find it in keeping with the nature and pleasure of my God."
D4T,
You bring up the NUMBER #1 reason I left the UPC. What I did (living standards), I did from my heart, with all my heart. But the constant "go to hell" messages really disturbed me. I believe I would have gladly wore skirts daily etc. for the rest of my life if it were not for this. Now, I don't follow standards on sheer principle that it is NOT salvational. It has become more important for me to take a stand against the "go to hell" messages than to dress a certain way. To me, it's all about pleaseing God, whatever I do, whatever motives I have, however I live. I believe I please God when I take a stand against the notion that God is a mean Spirit in heaven waiting to strike us down with a lightning bolt. That's a more important message for me to send now at this point in my life. On the flip side, I understand those who don't feel as I do.
__________________
Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it. ~Chinese Proverb
When I was young and clever, I wanted to change the world. Now that I am older and wiser, I strive to change myself. ~
I think it's because too many Pentecostals have ruled by the "law". (Pentecostal law) There's been too little emphasis on having a personal walk with God, and too much focus on following the rules.
As I was telling my husband last night... people are happy if you look the part. If you don't let down on the standards. You start letting up on the standards, and they FREAK OUT. Panic. But just keep those standards going and they're pleased as punch. You're doing real good.
But what about what's going on inside you? What if you don't have a close relationship with God? You don't find people getting all bent out of shape and panicking about that.
My desire for my children is that they'll walk closely with God all the days of their life. I don't really care whether or not they keep man-made standards all the days of their lives. As long as they're walking with God, he'll keep them on the straight path.
I think it's because too many Pentecostals have ruled by the "law". (Pentecostal law) There's been too little emphasis on having a personal walk with God, and too much focus on following the rules.
As I was telling my husband last night... people are happy if you look the part. If you don't let down on the standards. You start letting up on the standards, and they FREAK OUT. Panic. But just keep those standards going and they're pleased as punch. You're doing real good.
But what about what's going on inside you? What if you don't have a close relationship with God? You don't find people getting all bent out of shape and panicking about that.
My desire for my children is that they'll walk closely with God all the days of their life. I don't really care whether or not they keep man-made standards all the days of their lives. As long as they're walking with God, he'll keep them on the straight path.
Indeed... why should we be surprised that people cannot do what they have never been taught how to do.
When people have lived by this rule and that rule all their lives their working assumption is... if there isn't a rule against it... it is okay.
It has been a looooong time that I even allowed myself to think in those terms.
Even though my Pastor is more conservative in some of the things mentioned, the UPC "go to hell" messages ILG speaks of are not anything common in my church.
I don't think the rank and file membership would accept such an approach at all.
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
), but think of this: if God doesn't prohibit something, wouldn't it be wrong to say that He does?
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