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As most of you around here know, I am a former Pentecostal. Not the most popular religious sect here. But I digress....We would have those services where the preacher would be up there saying "thank god that he's brought you from the muck and mire you were in..." (shouting it mostly) And I would sit there with my phony smile pretending agree with him. But in my head I'd be thinking....what muck?! What mire?! I wasn't a big time sinner! Never committed adultery, killed anyone, wasn't a habitual liar, didn't have a golden calf in my living room, heck I never smoked, drank, didn't even swear too much....not that those are provable sins....but I was and am a stand up citizen, wife, mother (that part is questionable though as kids can make one insane) So what was I supposed to be jumping up and down and shouting for? What was I delivered from?! T.V.? (forbidden there) Secular music? (also forbidden) Cutting my hair? (forbidden) Wearing Pants? (forbidden) Going swimming? (forbidden) Movie theaters? (forbidden) Why do we deserve (supposedly) to burn in hell even though we are decent law abiding people??? Just cause I say I believe in Jesus on top of it makes me saved from the hell for bad people? I don't get it. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Anyhow. Done ranting.
As most of you around here know, I am a former Pentecostal. Not the most popular religious sect here. But I digress....We would have those services where the preacher would be up there saying "thank god that he's brought you from the muck and mire you were in..." (shouting it mostly) And I would sit there with my phony smile pretending agree with him. But in my head I'd be thinking....what muck?! What mire?! I wasn't a big time sinner! Never committed adultery, killed anyone, wasn't a habitual liar, didn't have a golden calf in my living room, heck I never smoked, drank, didn't even swear too much....not that those are provable sins....but I was and am a stand up citizen, wife, mother (that part is questionable though as kids can make one insane) So what was I supposed to be jumping up and down and shouting for? What was I delivered from?! T.V.? (forbidden there) Secular music? (also forbidden) Cutting my hair? (forbidden) Wearing Pants? (forbidden) Going swimming? (forbidden) Movie theaters? (forbidden) Why do we deserve (supposedly) to burn in hell even though we are decent law abiding people??? Just cause I say I believe in Jesus on top of it makes me saved from the hell for bad people? I don't get it. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Anyhow. Done ranting.
It's funny you claim to have sat in church for 14 years and this is all you got out of it? I don't doubt your claim about sitting in church that long but I'm rather certain your heart wasn't in it from the start. How much did you pray and fully submit to God that "Hey, I know I dropped the ball Lord. I know I'm not a righteous person. I try and do good and for the most part I do, but I'm just not getting it. I listen dilligently but I feel no love so I've studied Your Word but I am still not getting it. Lord, I know You say knock and the door will be opened. Lord, I am knocking. I submit to you. I know I'm not righteous so please show me the way." Was this your approach? Was all your heart in it? Or were you more of "I'll go to church and see what they say. Hmmm, this pastor/priest says I'm imperfect. How the hell would he know. He doesn't even know me. Whatever. Oh good communion. Everyone else is drinking, I want to fit in so I guess I'll drink some too. Wow, look at her over there. She looks like the type who's thinking I wish this was real wine. Hahaha, I bet she was hammered 8 hours ago before coming to church. Hypocrite. Lol. Ok, what's the pastor saying now? Jesus is great and sacrificed for us...yada yada yada. Damn tell us something new. Crap it's 11:02. This thing has only been going on for 17 minutes. Better smile and stop looking at my watch. Sigh, time to stand and sing again. Is this song from like the 1800s or something? I could really go for some Nine Inch Nails right now."
The thing that's odd is 14 years supposedly trying to connect with God yet you don't even understand the basic concept of our corrupted nature.
I pray you can let up on your bitterness and connect with God. Crack the good book and pray for understanding. When you read those verses that cause you doubt, try and be open and think outside the box. "This verse makes no sense. It conflicts with that other one I read. How can it make sense?"
Actually Omaha, cracking open the bible was what pushed me over the edge. I was appalled at the things attributed to god in the OT. And I was mostly going to church because my spouse wanted me to and wasn't happy with me if I didn't. But I must say that now that we are not in church he is soooo much more happy! And sweet.
Actually Omaha, cracking open the bible was what pushed me over the edge. I was appalled at the things attributed to god in the OT. And I was mostly going to church because my spouse wanted me to and wasn't happy with me if I didn't. But I must say that now that we are not in church he is soooo much more happy! And sweet.
You didn't answer the questions about submission and the rest of your attitude. Perhaps you had your mind made up already and were already closed off to the faith. Your bitterness seems to indicate so. If you are so happy, why the bitterness and the time spent discussing faiths you don't believe in? Why try and cast doubt in those who are faithful and happy in their faith?
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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We are chosen to do His Will, because we have submitted to Him. If you look at the verses preceding the one you quoted, you find they are all about choice.
I so did not want to address this topic, but I love you Dani and I just want to make sure everything is clear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaniMae1
As most of you around here know, I am a former Pentecostal. Not the most popular religious sect here. But I digress....
There are some very good Pentecostals, so the denomination will get no grief from me.
Quote:
We would have those services where the preacher would be up there saying "thank god that he's brought you from the muck and mire you were in..." (shouting it mostly) And I would sit there with my phony smile pretending agree with him. But in my head I'd be thinking....what muck?! What mire?! I wasn't a big time sinner!
But you are a sinner, just as we all are.
Quote:
Never committed adultery, killed anyone, wasn't a habitual liar, didn't have a golden calf in my living room, heck I never smoked, drank, didn't even swear too much....not that those are provable sins....but I was and am a stand up citizen, wife, mother (that part is questionable though as kids can make one insane)
Have you ever looked on someone other than your husband with lust in your heart? Have you ever contributed to gossip? But we all lie? But do you worship something other than God? But you did swear? Christ sees everything and prove all things. All our kids drive us insane.
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So what was I supposed to be jumping up and down and shouting for? What was I delivered from?! T.V.? (forbidden there) Secular music? (also forbidden) Cutting my hair? (forbidden) Wearing Pants? (forbidden) Going swimming? (forbidden) Movie theaters? (forbidden)
All minor trivial things.
Quote:
Why do we deserve (supposedly) to burn in hell even though we are decent law abiding people??? Just cause I say I believe in Jesus on top of it makes me saved from the hell for bad people? I don't get it. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Anyhow. Done ranting.
Because God will not bear sin, He only desires righteousness. Depends on if you are believing in the true Jesus or in a made up Jesus. What defines a bad person?
As most of you around here know, I am a former Pentecostal. Not the most popular religious sect here. But I digress....We would have those services where the preacher would be up there saying "thank god that he's brought you from the muck and mire you were in..." (shouting it mostly) And I would sit there with my phony smile pretending agree with him. But in my head I'd be thinking....what muck?! What mire?! I wasn't a big time sinner! Never committed adultery, killed anyone, wasn't a habitual liar, didn't have a golden calf in my living room, heck I never smoked, drank, didn't even swear too much....not that those are provable sins....but I was and am a stand up citizen, wife, mother (that part is questionable though as kids can make one insane) So what was I supposed to be jumping up and down and shouting for? What was I delivered from?! T.V.? (forbidden there) Secular music? (also forbidden) Cutting my hair? (forbidden) Wearing Pants? (forbidden) Going swimming? (forbidden) Movie theaters? (forbidden) Why do we deserve (supposedly) to burn in hell even though we are decent law abiding people??? Just cause I say I believe in Jesus on top of it makes me saved from the hell for bad people? I don't get it. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Anyhow. Done ranting.
No it won't and you won't find that anywhere in the bible.
I get sick to death of reading how a person must be bitter because of a church experience. They go on to trash a person. The problem CAN and many times DOES lie within a church building.
Have none of you that resort to bitter-bashing ever been to a church where the pastor is treated as the equivalent of our Savior? Where the women in the church compete for position? Where there is so much gossiping and looking down on fellow members that the Spirit couldn't possibly be there?
It happens.
It is quite possible it wasn't Dani's fault. My, how we jump to conclusions.
It is also possible that the Lord had Dani go through that church experience for a reason that is to HIS good purpose. It could be that she is floundering in a wilderness right now, and He will bring her to Him when His time is right.
The possibilities are endless.
I feel for you, Dani. Hang in there. Love your posts and your questions.
I get sick to death of reading how a person must be bitter because of a church experience. They go on to trash a person. The problem CAN and many times DOES lie within a church building.
Have none of you that resort to bitter-bashing ever been to a church where the pastor is treated as the equivalent of our Savior? Where the women in the church compete for position? Where there is so much gossiping and looking down on fellow members that the Spirit couldn't possibly be there?
It happens.
It is quite possible it wasn't Dani's fault. My, how we jump to conclusions.
It is also possible that the Lord had Dani go through that church experience for a reason that is to HIS good purpose. It could be that she is floundering in a wilderness right now, and He will bring her to Him when His time is right.
The possibilities are endless.
I feel for you, Dani. Hang in there. Love your posts and your questions.
I have to agree with you StirringWaters..... most of the time people who have been deeply hurt come away with a bitter, angry spirit! And God can heal it in His time.
I have learned through the years, the bad, maybe rejection, whatever that has happen usually is for our good and possibly protection in the long run!
There is a reason for that season and I believe to prepare us for what lies ahead and God will reveal in its time!!!
Blessings
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