Flippantly Flaunted Spiritual Liberties

[tv1a]

Legalism as defined by scripture not by some big wig conservative California is one who takes scriptural mandate and selectively chooses where and if applicable. The pharisees wanted the woman caught in adultery stoned to death, but they protected the man involved in the affair. How ironic the woman went away forgiven. No word about if the man received forgiveness, or for that fact if he asked for.

Neocons are quick to point out not offending the brether but are the first in line to offend when others don't conform with their religiosity. I hope and pray I offend every neocon. I don't have time to play cheesey religion with unbilical mandates. At our church people have been getting baptized in Jesus Name, people have been getting baptized with the Holy Ghost. Addictions have been broken. Families restored, healings, devils are cast out. That my friend is freedom. There ain't nothing in a skirt that comes close to that.

Originally Posted by rkentsmith

Flippantly Flaunted Spiritual Liberties .....

Seems that there are those that love to hang around the edges of UPCI ministry......

They love the fellowship......

They love the conferences and brotherhood.....

And some find great joy in flippantly flaunting their spiritual liberties.....

Saying things like....

I can do this.....

I am able to participate in this certain activity.....

There is no scripture for this particular thing so I do it.....

Or my family does.......

The manual does not prohibit this so I will do it......

My membership in said organization does not say that I cannot do this.....

My brothers......

The flaunting of spiritual liberties is a reproach....

It reaks of legalism....

Legalism is the attempt to see how close to the world one can go but still be in the church.....

Spiritual liberties flaunted in the face of others is legalistic.....

More plainly it is classless.....

Ah yes...we have all seen the ultra conservatives in their moments of holier than thou ism's

They are wrong....

But just as wrong is the flippant flaunting of spiritual liberties.......

This is more legalistic than the ultra converative's stand on many issues.....

Whatever happened to the Pauline concept of....

If meat offend my brother then I will eat no meat?

What we see today is.....

Meat offends my brother, so I offer him cowpie.....

[tv1a]

Thnx for the heads up... should have read this before I posted...

The closer I get to God the more I believe tradition is the last stronghold the devil has on the church. Once the man made tradition is out of the way God's church is unstoppable...

Originally Posted by Guy

Actually this thread is just repost from two other forums. The author has a serious bone with a certain poster and can't seem to let it go.
BTW, the poster is not me.

Originally Posted by tv1a

Thnx for the heads up... should have read this before I posted...

The closer I get to God the more I believe tradition is the last stronghold the devil has on the church. Once the man made tradition is out of the way God's church is unstoppable...

But will they see this in time?

[tv1a]

With God all things are possible.

Originally Posted by Blue Waters

But will they see this in time?

[Felicity]

Taking liberty and making it legalism is certain a new ~~twist~~ on this whole issue for me. LOL.

[Felicity]

I can understand the concern about television, I truly can. I don't have much use for it myself and feel like most people and most homes are better off without it for a number of reasons ...... one being the absolute filth, drivel and ungodliness that makes up most television programming ..... not to mention the fact that it absolutely is an insult to my intelligence and insults the Holy Spirit who is supposed to be Lord and Master of my life.

But the fact is that it's no longer an issue in many UP churches even with the stipulations in place and it hasn't been an issue in many churches for some time now. It's a moot issue ... a non-issue ..... for many moderate and even more conservative pastors, preachers and evangelists.

Many if not most OP churches have members in leadership positions and sitting on elder and deacon boards who have one or several TVs in their homes.

Television is here to stay like it or not. If a person can make use of it to get the message of the Gospel out then it helps to redeem the the total uselessness and banality of the majority of what comes across this particular medium.

I think that a lot of the people who are crusaders for the resolution are just caught up in the issue and don't understand totally what it really is that they're crusading for.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by rkentsmith

Dan already answered this for me.....

How can we effect change if we leave?

No I will not leave

That is what so many men before you have stated.

Once they found out that staying for change sake.

Means from 1974-2007 the UPCI is still debating a medium such as TV.

Now that the Medium is becoming old technology they are just now maybe catching up.

Many of the champions are either dead or retired.

The men who split from the 1.5 decade old Assembly of God back in 1916 realized as you should today.

Men in position and prominence will not change unless along with 153 other men they stand up.

Tip their hats, straighten their creased pants, click their heels.

And never look back......

Without the willingness to rebuke the issues of their day there would not be a UPCI.

So today we take the Apostolic faith from the fetters of the
1940-1950's culture to the movement of Joel's "Latter Rain".

It shall be greater than the former......

These fetters are on more folks no longer in any church then they are on anyone who goes to a Con or Liberal so called church.



Nathan Eckstadt

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I can understand the concern about television, I truly can. I don't have much use for it myself and feel like most people and most homes are better off without it for a number of reasons ...... one being the absolute filth, drivel and ungodliness that makes up most television programming ..... not to mention the fact that it absolutely is an insult to my intelligence and insults the Holy Spirit who is supposed to be Lord and Master of my life.

But the fact is that it's no longer an issue in many UP churches even with the stipulations in place and it hasn't been an issue in many churches for some time now. It's a moot issue ... a non-issue ..... for many moderate and even more conservative pastors, preachers and evangelists.

Many if not most OP churches have members in leadership positions and sitting on elder and deacon boards who have one or several TVs in their homes.

Television is here to stay like it or not. If a person can make use of it to get the message of the Gospel out then it helps to redeem the the total uselessness and banality of the majority of what comes across this particular medium.

I think that a lot of the people who are crusaders for the resolution are just caught up in the issue and don't understand totally what it really is that they're crusading for.

This is true, Felicity...once we have turned something into the proverbial 'sacred cow', letting go of it is a difficult thing. It causes others to few us as inconsistent or *sigh* 'compromisers'.

I fear it is going to divide God's people in a way in which we may never fully comprehend...just my thoughts...

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I have friends on both sides...if someone has the wrong spirit it will be theirs and not mine for I made up my mind a long time ago how I would live...and part of that was not condemning those that feel stricter or more liberal...I will have to answer to God for Janice Alvear...I do not plan to wound any of God's people. If I am too strict please pray for me, if I am too liberal please pray for me...
"For by this shall all men KNOW that ye are my disciple IF you have love one for another..." Jesus.

I know it's been said before, but you have a beautiful spirit!

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I have friends on both sides...if someone has the wrong spirit it will be theirs and not mine for I made up my mind a long time ago how I would live...and part of that was not condemning those that feel stricter or more liberal...I will have to answer to God for Janice Alvear...I do not plan to wound any of God's people. If I am too strict please pray for me, if I am too liberal please pray for me...
"For by this shall all men KNOW that ye are my disciple IF you have love one for another..." Jesus.

My sentiments, Mother A...great post!!