Quote:
Originally Posted by longhairgirl
Well, I have to say that I am 100% UPC. I just joined today, and will probably leave since I was under the impression that this was a UPC forum, and it is not (oops). I was really just looking for some fellowship like I have with my girlfriends after church, so this is not for me.
But I do feel compelled to respond to your post. From the other side. As I have said, I am 100% UPC...I was not raised in church, I've been to every church under the sun and studied everything from Buddist to Wicca. When the Lord found me, I knew this was the real thing 
So, I joined the church at age 21, and got married at age 24. A year later, my husband left the church. I was devasted. I cried and cried to the Lord, I did things the "right" way...and my husband leaves the church! It was very hard on me and my child (I have 3 children now). My greatest concern was for my children...you see, I love this church, its standards, its doctrine. I want my children to love it too. Thank the Lord my husband has now been back in church for 2 years!
I say all this to say that I really admire your concern for your husband. I would hate for your objection to standards to drive a wedge into your family. It's sooooo hard for someone who tries to keep the churches standards to live with someone not in church. Keep on praying about this, and talk to your husband about his concerns. Coming from his point of view, its very scary when your other half leaves the church. I still have things in my house (TV....I can't stand it!) that haven't left from when my husband was out of church. Some things are not easily undone.
I hope I have not offended you in any way...I simply speak from the heart as one who has been on the other side. Your family will be in my prayers. |
You have brought an interesting point of view here. I am worried though. Your whole post mentioned how you are UPC, 100% so. It said that you love the standards and doctrine. I have an inquiry. First nothing you said was about God. Second, if your doctrine and standards weren't a part of the picture would you still love God? Is your faith and love in God held together by the putty you have made of the standards and such?
See the reason I ask these things is because I have been there and said similar things. What you felt when God "found you" was very real and still is. However the reality is Him and not the extra biblical teachings that many of us have preached for ages. It is extremely simple to pull out 1 verse and say it means "x" and some will believe that. But ultimately it is up to God to lead us into all righteousness. I appreciate your honesty and you standing by what you believe. It scares me because I know how you feel because I was there and under delision I might add. Not that you are, but I was and I sounded like you just did.
It just worries me a bit when I see someone lift up standards and doctrine and not mention much about loving the God they serve. If you came on here and was showing tons of love for God then I wouldn't have written this. Following a system doen't equal following God.
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