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Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*
This is so true that it just brought tears to my eyes. 
I was just thinking about this yesterday... my kids have NO problem - or at least no resentment - over rules that my husband and I set for them. They may disagree with us, but they respect us and know that we love them and have their best interests at heart. We have a good relationship with them, and they don't resent us even if they disagree.
But the things that we don't allow them to do just because it's a 'church rule'. THOSE things they resent, strongly. And they start equating church with God, and yes, it starts turning their hearts away from God.
This is killing me right now, and I have to find answers!
Amen! You want to get a crowd on their feet screaming, just start preaching standards. Or preach a "gotcha" style message. People love it when other people are being nailed.
Preach about love, having character, giving to the poor... you can hear a pin drop sometimes. |
This is perhaps the single biggest reason I still have strong resentment to many things in the church I was in as a teen. My parents were mere proxies for the pastor. HIS will was done in our house. My parents were more concerned with my lining up with the rest of the kids in order for them to look good (and thus just as saved) as the rest of the perfect church-going, pew-sitting, black suit wearing head of the household, families.
And yes, when I became old enough to vote, I DID depart from it!
As far as your second part goes, I also agree. I've often said that any church standards (if taught) should be taught in private. When screamed over the pulpit, it becomes a situation where most people in the audience know who is NOT following the rules and many who are feel all the more saved as a result. Smug alert!
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