looking for a balance who can relate

live4him · #1 11-05-2011, 11:30 PM

I have been pentecostal for more than 30 years and have been struggling with my views on certain things. all I have ever done was point fingers and condemn. where do u draw the line when every church preaches different standards,and I have lived a conservative lifestyle harder than I have ever lived.. my hubby was going to start a daughter work where i live and because I have seen my judgemental spirit and have felt conviction and not given the Love the people needed. we are not starting it due to my views.. I have come to see exactally how i treat people that they will not be saved because of no love. we are worried about the standards more than we are worried about how to show them the plan of salvation. we are worried about how they come dressed to church than how they need there soul saved. I have come to a conclusion that until we see them saved. we have to get rid of the mean spirited attitude. and quit worrying about how their dressed. I am so upset of how I became that I have changed my outter appearance because my judgemental spirit.. I see alot of pentecostals around town and they have a frown on there face they cant even smile, and since I have changed my appearance i feel more happy about spreading the word and to see people saved. I dont want a frown on my face and call my self pentecostal. My doctrine has not changed i still beleive in oneness. I have had many people recently give me the word "balance", we have to balance our walk with God and to see if this is a salvation issue..no more will I point fingers or judge or condemn. i feel a burden for the lost and just wanna see people saved.. please give me ur opinion. so i can know I am not thee only one that feels this way...

berkeley · #2 11-05-2011, 11:57 PM

good luck on your journey. it's not easy to ...come out from among them...

Truthseeker · #3 11-06-2011, 12:17 AM

You changed your standards because you had wrong spirit about it?

A couple things, no where does bible mention balance. Its not a question of balance but obedience, whether that makes us balanced or not means little.

Something should not be questioned if a salvation issue or not, but does it please God.

I think its great you realize your attitude stunked to high heaven as mine has as well before. May God guide you on your journey.

live4him · #4 11-06-2011, 12:25 AM

truthseeker. i do wanna please God and I think having a rotten attitude didnt please God at all. I had to check my spirit. and u are right about obedience. i want to obey God and what he has for me..I am beginning to think that we put so much time into standards we forget on how we are walking with God and how to be saved. we have missed the whole picture, and I do have alot to seek God about and i want to obey what he has for me, i want people to be saved no matter what. I am on a journey and i will find out thru Gods help what he wants me to do with my standards, I aint out drinking and partying, i just changed the way i look and i am happy and feel liberated.

Jay · #5 11-06-2011, 01:15 AM

Live with your standards high, determine the standards that are an will require a break in fellowship (not ignoring them, but not fellowshipping and there is a difference), be sweet to everyone, whether or not you ever agree. Fix the line that you want for the church, live above that so your people will live at it, and enjoy living for God.

I will give the only example that I can, and you can decide what it is worth. My pastor teaches 3/4 length sleeves. I wear mine alternating between below the elbow and to the wrist (personal preference). We do not have rings anywhere, nor make up, men have short hair, and women uncut. The ladies were skirts below the knee and no splits(the trend in our church right now is to wear it nearly to the ankle as preference).

Those are the basic standards of the church, and to say that we do not watch movies or television goes without saying. However, my youngest brother goes to a church that does not have our standards. We have enjoyed their company and fellowship before, and are anticipating doing so again (problem is that they are six hours away). We have others in the area that do not hold our standard, but we are always friendly when we see them. I was at a conference and the standard was not the same at home. I did not stop enjoying the conference because of them. I was there to have a good time and meet with God. Mission was accomplished, and I came home refreshed and renewed.

I have waxed long winded to say this. A critical spirit in a high exterior standard will go to the same place as a person who falls below God's minimum standard. Personally, I want both my standards, character, and my attitude to be the very best that they can possibly be.

I am sorry, but I get long winded if I am not careful.

Michael The Disciple · #6 11-06-2011, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

You changed your standards because you had wrong spirit about it?

A couple things, no where does bible mention balance. Its not a question of balance but obedience, whether that makes us balanced or not means little.

Something should not be questioned if a salvation issue or not, but does it please God.

I think its great you realize your attitude stunked to high heaven as mine has as well before. May God guide you on your journey.

Hey thats good counsel

live4him · #7 11-06-2011, 01:01 AM

jay I just wanna say I lived pentecostal holiness harder than ever before.my standards was just like yours. my question is this do you think that if i dont live this holiness standard like you do is my soul lost? you can live hard but have a dark heart. and then having a dark heart and living to the extreme of holiness are you really saved. i dont beleive you can be saved having a dark heart but living really holy. so what defines holiness in dress. holiness i beleive has to be the love u have for Christ and people. i dont wanna be lost. I wanna make it no matter what. do u think i am living wrong if I dont abide by the standards of the pentecostal church? I love God with all my heart and wanna see souls saved thats all. i have had convictions on televsion and i will not have one at all, that hasnt changed in me. i dont drink or party, i have just changed the way i look in dress. i did trim my hair and got earings and wear different clothings but not seductive, does this define me as a sinner? just courious? i am seeking God about my change. i just cant judge or condemn anymore when all i been doing is pointing fingers at people I am done with that. i will not criticize at all..

Amanah · #8 11-06-2011, 02:26 AM

live4him, some of the standards that Pentecostals preach are not biblical. Some of them are senseless. Others are common sense and practical. It takes time to step back from tradition and see what is biblical, what is common sense, what is just tradition and not important.

The main point is teaching people how to be saved and how to grow in their walk with God. Modesty and biblical standards could be taught in a new converts class, but not demanded and legislated to the point that people are inspecting each other to make sure everyone lines up. Once they have been taught, let it be between God and that person, allowing God to bring conviction.

This is my humble opinion on the subject.

Sherri · #9 11-06-2011, 06:54 AM

May God bless you on your spiritual journey! Study the Word - not man's words. The Spirit of God will guide you into all truth. I have standards that I have set for myself, according to what we see in the Word of God. I hold to my convictions and no man can move me. But they are MY convictions from what I find from God's Word. They have nothing to do with traditions of men.
And BALANCE is NOT a bad word.

Dedicated Mind · #10 11-06-2011, 08:54 AM

i think standards should be for each individual woman to decide. as a man, i prefer my wife wear dresses and moderate on jewelery and makeup. of course the pastor would have a say also. as you are a minister, you would have to decide what to teach. if i were a minister, i would teach dresses, moderate makeup and jewelery; trimmed hair, not cut short.