Does It Have To Be A Sin?

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

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.