T.F. Tenney at the Journey (Mark Johnston's)

[Sam]

Originally Posted by edjen01

if a church chooses to have certain rules....why is that "cultish"?

couldn't it just be opinion...or variety?

If the "rules" or "traditions" are taught like the Bible or placed on the same plane as the Bible, isn't that cultish?

The Mormons have the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and the Covenants.

The Christian Science folks have Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

The JW's have their Watchtower books and literature.

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith has the tapes of Bishop Johnson.

The Branhamites have their tapes and books

The UPC has the Manual, the Position Papers and the local church rules and standards

The RCC has "holy tradition" and the decrees of church councils

If these supersede the Bible, contradict the Bible, or are placed on the same level as the Bible,
something is not right.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by edjen01

if a church chooses to have certain rules....why is that "cultish"?

couldn't it just be opinion...or variety?

Eden, lets face it...
some rules are cultish, at least in the sense that they are unnecessarily controlling.

[n david]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

So a man is not allowed to participate in ministry for the cause of God's kingdom...because he has facial hair.


How shortsighted, and how sad.

I agree. I could wear facial hair, but my wife doesn't like it. Too scratchy.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

...
I dont believe God has ever told any pastor anywhere that all his men must be clean shaven.

On a Sunday night at our ALJC church, in his sermon, our pastor stated, "The Bible says that a man is supposed to be clean shaven." We did not go to the platform and challenge him, nor did we walk out of the service during his sermon, but when we left that night we never went back.

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Jesus had a beard.
God made beards for men to have (or not have, if they choose to).

The only way I can see a man's beard being "unbecoming" is if it is not properly groomed.

Obviously, anyone on the platform or in ministry should be properly groomed in terms of hair, nails, teeth, personal hygiene, etc. If a pastor wants to make a rule that all beards must be properly groomed, I can understand that. But to tell a man who's had a beard for 15-20 years that he needs to shave it if he wants to be a Sunday School teacher or bass player in the church... sorry, that just seems a bit much to me. It's unscriptural, and I view it as a "micromanaging" type of thing also.

I dont believe God has ever told any pastor anywhere that all his men must be clean shaven.

When i was in the Navy and first came into church, I brought a guest who God chose to save, fill with the HolyGhost.

The pastor chose to tell he MUST shave his beard, even though my friend told him he had a problem with ingrown hairs if he shaved close (he was african american)

My friend shaved as required and his face broke out in a horrilble mess.

My friend chose not to go back to our church.

A decision I now believe to be a very wise one.

His soul will be answered for.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

When i was in the Navy and first came into church, I brought a guest who God chose to save, fill with the HolyGhost.

The pastor chose to tell he MUST shave his beard, even though my friend told him he had a problem with ingrown hairs if he shaved close (he was african american)

My friend shaved as required and his face broke out in a horrilble mess.

My friend chose not to go back to our church.

A decision I now believe to be a very wise one.

His soul will be answered for.

Shaving with a razor is always an unnatural act. And millions of men suffer the consequences and BILLIONS of dollars are spent on skin softners and antiseptic aftershave lotions to try and heal and sterilize the mess the razor leaves behind.

Why not allow people to blossom as God has formed them, and not as some small minded insecure tyrant was told by somebody else's grand daddy thought they should be?

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Shaving with a razor is always an unnatural act. And millions of men suffer the consequences and BILLIONS of dollars are spent on skin softners and antiseptic aftershave lotions to try and heal and sterilize the mess the razor leaves behind.

Why not allow people to blossom as God has formed them, and not as some small minded insecure tyrant was told by somebody else's grand daddy thought they should be?

couldn't agree more pelathais.

[YEPhesMycousin]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Shaving with a razor is always an unnatural act. And millions of men suffer the consequences and BILLIONS of dollars are spent on skin softners and antiseptic aftershave lotions to try and heal and sterilize the mess the razor leaves behind.

Why not allow people to blossom as God has formed them, and not as some small minded insecure tyrant was told by somebody else's grand daddy thought they should be?

Are you sure you want to make this comment on here? It can open a can of worms. Because if you REALLY believe in people blossoming the way God formed them, you have to eliminate hair coloring, make-up, nail polish and on and on.

[Theophil]

Originally Posted by YEPhesMycousin

Are you sure you want to make this comment on here? It can open a can of worms. Because if you REALLY believe in people blossoming the way God formed them, you have to eliminate hair coloring, make-up, nail polish and on and on.

I think he's purty sure.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by n david

I agree. I could wear facial hair, but my wife doesn't like it. Too scratchy.

If both I and my wife had facial hair, that would be too scratchy as well. I believe that's why God made it so that only I would grow the facial hair.