"Beards are sin!" False doctrine?

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I so wish there was an Apostolic house church network near me. After attending house churches, the thought of returning to a traditional church feels so institutional. As I shop around and look at websites and various churches, I feel like I'm a home school student returning to the public school system. It feels artificial, contrived, limiting, like a big production, an enterprise, like it should come in a box, like your expected to check your brain at the door, like you're going to be controlled simply for control's sake, like I'm trying to find a Sith Lord I can pledge loyalty to. lol

It's the strangest feeling! LOL

*kneels* "What is the bidding my master.... I mean pastor?"

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

*kneels* "What is the bidding my master.... I mean pastor?"

I know! That's exactly what it feels like I'm headed to! LOL

To come from house church elders who serve you like mentors, guides, and teachers of the faith, who assist you in your personal walk with Jesus... and then go to a structure of authoritarian "mini-popes" feels so... alien... so... wrong.

The thought of the inflection that sounds like fake crying, as a man turns the pages of his sermon, only to listen as he revs up into a vibrato of admonition is going to so make me roll my eyes. LOL It's going to take everything I have to not chuckle and say, "Look, let's be real. You ain't crying... and why is your voice all filled with vibrato? You sound like Aretha Franklyn, that ain't natural either. What gives, pastor?" I'm not sure how to handle the theatrics. LOL

The last time I attended a traditional church the pastor was directing the sound man to deepen his voice so that he could sound "prophetic". LOL I wanted to raise my voice and say, "I AM OZ! THE GREAT AND POWERFUL. WHO ARE YOU?" LOL

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I so wish there was an Apostolic house church network near me. After attending house churches, the thought of returning to a traditional church feels so institutional. As I shop around and look at websites and various churches, I feel like I'm a home school student returning to the public school system. It feels artificial, contrived, limiting, like a big production, an enterprise, like it should come in a box, like your expected to check your brain at the door, like you're going to be controlled simply for control's sake, like I'm trying to find a Sith Lord I can pledge loyalty to. lol

It's the strangest feeling! LOL

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I so wish there was an Apostolic house church network near me. After attending house churches, the thought of returning to a traditional church feels so institutional. As I shop around and look at websites and various churches, I feel like I'm a home school student returning to the public school system. It feels artificial, contrived, limiting, like a big production, an enterprise, like it should come in a box, like your expected to check your brain at the door, like you're going to be controlled simply for control's sake, like I'm trying to find a Sith Lord I can pledge loyalty to. lol

It's the strangest feeling! LOL

Obviously a lot of hyperbole in your post. Not sure what churches you've attended, but I've never felt the "check your brain at the door," and certainly can't compare any Pastor of a church I've attended to a SITH LORD.

Good grief.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

A house church isn't about "me church". It's about being a spiritual family. It's about everyone having a voice, sharing, building one another up. It's about learning how to be an authentic human being who is a disciple of Jesus. I bet I can go to any of these churches, sit in the back, shake a hand or two and leave without saying a word or anyone reading my mail. However, in a house church... you can't hide. lol You'll be spoken to, asked questions, provoked to contribute, and if the Spirit is moving, someone will read your mail. Sometimes, the elders will stop everything and say, "Hey, Joe. You're dazing out and looking down. Share what's on your mind. Let's get it out here so we can help you out of that funk, my brother."

Bet anything, I can hide a roe of noses for couple services before anyone even tries to get close or ask me what I think beyond if I like their illustrious "church" or not.

The only "me church" I've come to know... are those churches built and designed to feed one man's ego at the expense of turning the body into drones and mental midgets who know only obedience to the traditions of man.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I know! That's exactly what it feels like I'm headed to! LOL

You know what, Aquila, please read this post slowly and take it seriously:

Do yourself, your family, every Pastor, elder and saint a favor ...

DON'T GO TO A CHURCH! You don't have to go to one. You obviously don't really even want to go. You make it seem as though it's something awful. So don't go!

Start your own little Apostolic House Church where it can be all YOU want it to be. Because that's the key, right? It's all about YOU. You can set whatever standards (or not) your heart desires. You can make sure bearded men are welcomed and involved. You can make it the perfect, most biblical church on the planet.

But for goodness sake, do NOT attend a church.

I'm sorry to be rude, but you are every Pastor and church's worst nightmare of a saint.

You've called for protests and disruption of services over Pastors conservative views . . .
You've called for protests over churches not allowing beards in ministry . . .
You've suggested you would "minister from the rear," in effect subverting the leadership of the church and sowing division . . .
You've compared Pastors to demonic Sith Lords . . .
You don't even like churches, always complaining about how institutional and terrible they are . . .

So again, for everyone's sake -- just don't go.

[n david]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

*kneels* "What is the bidding my master.... I mean pastor?"

Yes, Pastors are such demonic Sith Lords . . .

[aegsm76]

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

You know what, Aquila, please read this post slowly and take it seriously:

Do yourself, your family, every Pastor, elder and saint a favor ...

DON'T GO TO A CHURCH! You don't have to go to one. You obviously don't really even want to go. You make it seem as though it's something awful. So don't go!

Start your own little Apostolic House Church where it can be all YOU want it to be. Because that's the key, right? It's all about YOU. You can set whatever standards (or not) your heart desires. You can make sure bearded men are welcomed and involved. You can make it the perfect, most biblical church on the planet.

But for goodness sake, do NOT attend a church.

And that's the spirit that troubles me about it. No free thought allowed.

I'm sorry to be rude, but you are every Pastor and church's worst nightmare of a saint.

You've called for protests and disruption of services over Pastors conservative views . . .

Lie. First, I don't think you're sorry for being rude. lol

Second, I only said that I think protest and disruption is called for if the pastor uses the PULPIT, which is supposed to be a sacred platform from which one might preach the Gospel, to preach his personal politics. And, I voiced that I support protest and disruption even if it were a liberal church doing the same. I firmly believe that pastors are allowing worldly politics to corrupt, divide, and compromise the church. I don't think the average member comes to church to be indoctrinated into the pastor's personal political views. GIVE US JESUS. Is that too much to ask??? If a man wants to preach politics that's cool, but maybe he should focus on starting a political radio talk show and move on from the ministry. I don't believe the church is the place for it. And I believe that if most people take time to really THINK about it, they will agree.

Besides, what has anyone to fear from protest, unless they are in the wrong and know it? Where are the leaders and men like Martin Luther today? Everyone's a brow beaten coward that is afraid to take a stand and speak up about the stench that everyone can smell, they just don't admit it or don't know how to verbalize it. I'm just saying, we should take a stand and not allow the pulpit to be abused by allowing some pastor to use it to promote his politics when he should be preaching Jesus.

You've called for protests over churches not allowing beards in ministry . . .

I think that if a preacher preaches anything that isn't grounded in Scripture, he should be called on it. We owe that to the office of the pastor and the pulpit. What Bible loving pastor wouldn't want to be shown if he begins drifting from the book???

You've suggested you would "minister from the rear," in effect subverting the leadership of the church and sowing division . . .

That's NOT what I suggested. What I suggested is ministering in the rear of the flock, serving those who are wondering, becoming entangled, discouraged. Where do you come up with this stuff???

You've compared Pastors to demonic Sith Lords . . .

I was only speaking in jest to try to communicate the emotion I'm feeling. Lighten up.

You don't even like churches, always complaining about how institutional and terrible they are . . .

No. I only mentioned how it "feels". Remember, feelings don't really matter in the long run. In fact, many of those feelings will change in time as one gets to know the people who attend a church. I will admit though... after being in house churches for so long... it feels like a show. A production. I can't deny it. The stage, the lights, the music, the fake tears, the fake vibrato in the voices of preachers, the fake preacher's cough, the piano chords that begin and tug at the heart strings as soon as the pastor says, "And now, in closing..." Yes. It is quite a show. It's quite a production. But that doesn't mean that it is "bad". Lives are often changed, people healed, families mended. It's not all bad. But, it is what it is, ministry through a production. Ministry though a show. And anyone who is unable to admit that is not being honest with themselves.

So again, for everyone's sake -- just don't go.

I think you're just frustrated because you know I'm right and you're not sure how to take it.

First, relax. Take a deep breath. Open your mind in order to actually understand what I'm saying, instead of jumping the gun and attacking.

Second, realize that though I indicated that church is a production, a show, and that there are theatrics, please understand that it isn't a "bad" show or production. Some shows and productions are designed to change lives. To open hearts and minds. To inform and teach about Jesus. Realize that God does use churches every Sunday. And realize that being honest about this isn't disrespect for the institutional church. In actuality, lying about it and insisting that it isn't a production would be to do it a far greater injustice.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Yes, Pastors are such demonic Sith Lords . . .

No they're not. I was only using an allusion, a literary device, to convey an emotion. lol

If I honestly thought pastors were demonic Sith lords, I wouldn't be looking at local churches. Jeesh. Talk about being full of one's self. C'mon.