Just Wondering.....

[Pressing-On]

LCS,
I'm glad you were able to express your thoughts and feelings on this thread. I have always viewed you as kind and fun to engage with here. I haven't been hanging around the last few days because of all the drama. I don't like feeling upset and at odds with people I care about. I'm the only one that can remedy that - it's called logging out! lol

I'm also glad that you brought up and discussed the "cult" issue. IMO, it's been the underlying issue for a lot of things we have discussed around here.

I heard a preacher say, "When people call us a cult I find that amusing. The reason being, if they stuck around here long enough they would see how much we all disagree on so many things." LOL! Truth!

What has especially hurt me is when I hear it said, "Now that you don't have the extra baggage, you can get closer to God." I'm thinking of the many times God has spoken to me, guided me in prayer, opened his Word to me, ministered to me, loved me, encouraged me, etc. WHILE I carry some of those things they call baggage. This is a hurtful thing to me.

It is hurtful to me when people say, "Yea, when I was in the Mothership....etc." These words are all derogatory and don't make for productive conversation. It's doesn't bind us closer together - its divides us.

When people look into the Word of God and feel that "long hair" means "uncut", when they feel that wearing pants is "man's apparel", when they interpret - "In like manner women adorn themselves in modest apparel,........not with gold, pearls and costly array", and they do that with all the sincerity and fear they can muster - Can I come to this person and force them, counsel them, try to coerce them, intimidate them into viewing those verses my way?

We wouldn't have so many books, commentaries, and Bibles with various interpretations written if it was that easy.

The best we can do is follow our heart - like you did when you felt God convicted you of wearing pants. If some feel these things hinder their walk with God, then they also need to open their hearts, ask for direction, and serve where God tells them to serve.

I'm sure every person takes their interpretation of the Bible seriously. It's a fearful thing to think you may have it wrong. It's a fearful thing to change things when you are not sure. I respect any man that is fearful to change things they've been taught or what they read as truth.

So much has been spoken of the hurt some have endured under the strong fist of Conservatism. I don't deny these things. But I did notice one thing when I homeschooled with so many families of different faiths - they were having trouble with their pastors, leaders, musicians, church members, etc. This isn't a problem in one organization nor one sector of anything.

God has healed me in my hurt where I stand and where I serve. Some have left in order to be healed and serve. I'd do well to remember His great mercy. We were hurt dreadfully by a pastor and his wife. He sent me and my husband a letter in the mail. I read it in the parking lot before I drove home. I was so full of anger! As I was driving home, I wish I could remember the song, God brought peace to me in my car that day. Totally took that anger away. One other occasion I had to lift my hands in church and ask him to remove my anger. I had to come to Him more than once. I believe He changes things deep inside when we come to Him again and again. Anger, in my life, is a fearful thing. I'm afraid of anger!! It can turn into so many savage things - bitterness for one.

Anyway, after my attempt at expressing myself, I hope that we can come together, expressing our views without it seeming like we are putting each other's commitment, consecration and experience down. It isn't the right thing to do. We all have to make heaven and to the best of our ability, we have to follow the path God has chosen for us.

I would like to continue posting here. I love a great many people and would miss some dreadfully, but if we are going to pit ourselves against each other, I can't be a part of it. I won't be a part of it. I think we can all work this out. I feel in our hearts we know it's the right thing to do and we want to do the right thing.