Elder Epley - As you know - I have a goatee, wear gold and shorts sometimes, my wife has her hair trimmed at times and wears pants at times, she wears make up and jewelry.
I have sense enough to know - I am not going to come to your church and be accepted as a member. Most likely if I ever even visited - I would not wear a ring and would shave before I got there.
You have EVERY RIGHT as a Pastor and Shepard of that flock to watch over them and if you feel something to be a hindrance in their lives - to deal with that and if they are in opposition to it - show them, love them and if they do not submit - to put them out of the church.
You are the Bishop of your house and if they don't want to abide by the house rules - then they need to go somewhere else.
We would be considered by most on this forum to be "Charismatic" or liberal. But I can promise you one thing - we have house rules at Church Alive - just like any house that people live in. I am the Bishop & Father of the house and I lay down the house rules. There are folks that come in that don't like it - they can leave the same way they came in - I am not gonna change for anybody else! I am there to Father and Shepard a congregation and to bring them into maturity. It may not be as up to speed as yours - but it is not YOUR house - its the House God gave me RULE over!
Elder - You do what you have to do and require what you have to require. I would not expect you to serve me communion and if you did - I would be disappointed in you! I do love you and admire you and love to laugh with you. We simply do not agree doctrinally - I love you anyway. I don't think your going to hell for your stand on somethings or your lack of stand on others - It is NOT a heaven or hell issue. A Pastor has every right to require standards and boundaries for his people.
Whats up with the "Father" stuff?
Do you practice closed communion?
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
The band and I found this position was right in all except electricity which is required to run the instruments.
Graber
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
I believe I understand the Elder's position better now...
Who is this new brother?
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
Hybrid Mode
