Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett Prince
Since I am really neither con nor lib, but a moderate, I wish that I could moderate.
Mich, I have walked much of this same road. I went from con to lib, back to con, and back to lib in many regards--and finally realized that I was fighting a battle that was somebody else's. My trouble was that I was trying to fit myself into somebody's "camp," where I didn't belong. As soon as I realized I differed with somebody, strongly, in a certain area, I seemed to just go jump into the other camp. I have done the same with endtime prophecy as well. I soon realized that I just had to be who I was.
I came to some conclusions about myself, and decided to stand there--and you are going to have to do the same.
I shall list some of mine.
I knew I would never be satisfied with:
1) Trinitarian doctrine. I believe it is patently false and a lie straight out of paganism.
2) Any other baptism but Jesus Name.
3) Professing the Spirit, without the demonstration thereof.
4) Worship that was not, at times, very demonstrative.
5) The display of the Gifts of the Spirit in worship services.
6) The level of modesty (or immodesty) displayed by the majority of Christendom.
7) The blurring of the visual lines between genders.
8) The level of dedication to God and to His work that I see in other circles.
9) Preaching without passion.
10) Trending towards whatever the new book, idea, or motif the other churches are doing, i.e, the Prayer of Jabez, the Rule of Six, Prosperity, Purpose Driven Life, etc. etc. (I am not saying that all of this is wrong, but it seems like churches go after something for a while, then change to follow something else.)
Everything does not have to be a salvational issue for me to believe it or follow it. I cannot follow what my spirit is not with. I cannot constantly halt between two opinions. I have to obey the voice of the Spirit, and let my inner man take the lead. I have to be what I am, whether that fits one camp or the other. If I am rejected by one side or the other, I just have to plod on. I am willing to make minor adjustments in my way in order to have fellowship with a group that is similarly minded, but I refuse to "play the part" or "go along" just to have some friends. I no longer "have leanings" toward this or that. I just accept where I am, and do my best to move forward and learn more.
Okay, enough rambling. I don't know if I am making any sense--and this probably has nothing to do with where you are. You're post just got me in a certain vein and I'm sharing. If it helps, thank God. If it doesn't...sorry for hijacking.
Bless you, Sister. I hope you have peace.
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Bro. Prince. You are right when you say that we need to determine where we stand, and not necessarily align ourselves based on what those around us believe. I am a person who strives to be as transparent and open as I can, so I have shared a lot of my doubts and struggles over the years. Though I have no doubt that I did appear to go back and forth, and though I went through stages where I either accepted (i.e. followed) or rejected standards, I never actually left the Apostolic church.
In the 7 years I have been a Christian, only three times have I attended a non-UPC church. One was a wedding (Lutheren), and two were charistmatic and attended as part of a "You go to my church, I'll go to yours" type deal. So I can't make a lot of judgements about what the churches of other denominations are like. I have not fairly examined any of the doctrines, such as the Trinity, except through the writings of OP apologetics.
The truth is, that everything I have studied out, has been filtered through the doctrine that I was taught in the Apostolic church. You may say "but that's OK, they taught you Truth". Then that should bear out in the end, as I truly believe that the Truth can withstand any amount of scrutiny.
Right now, spiritually, I am like a teenager. All I know is what my spiritual parents have taught me. I have now come to a place where I must make it my own, or find my own path.
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