Message Bible, Galatians 6: 11-13
The people who are attempting to force the way of circumcision (ie: legalistic rules) on you have only one motive, they want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws hey do observe. They only want you to be circumcised (ie: keep the legalistic rules) so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible! (words in parenthesis are mine)
How true this passage rings out when thinking of how new converts are boasted of in the UPC. Whether at home or abroad, we hear this NUMBER saved or this NUMBER baptized. We have the great somebodys of Pentecost. I agree with Paul, this is contemptible.

Nancy

O From my earliest memories, I was always confused about how we (as the only true believers going to heaven) could be so nonchalant about sending so many people to hell. According to the doctrine, most of our friends, neighbors, and even many of our relatives were going to spend eternity in a lake burning with fire and brimstone, but we just laughed and socialized and only showed any concern during heated revivals. The rest of the time, we acted as if we really didn't care. How could this be?
There were also times when I observed some seeming to almost rejoice that some 'jerk' was headed for the lake of fire! And then it was also understood that "they were making their own bed and would have to lay in it - even if it was on fire!"
We would rejoice when someone would come to church and make a start but if they slipped up and didn't stay, we quickly tch, tched, them back on the road to damnation.
As an adult this always still bothered me, even though I was very hesitant to bring very many friends to my out of the mainstream church and carried a heavy load of guilt for my complicity in their not finding salvation.
Finally as a senior citizen, I have escaped the cult and clearly see the ridiculousness of the doctrine that would take God's plan and create a burden so heavy that none can bear it. Who among us is able to bear the burden of believing that all but those in this one doctrine are headed for eternal damnation, irregardless of whether they are loving, believing, kind, caring Christians? The doctrine of the cult condemns them for clothing choices, ordinary daily activities, and hairstyles.
Christ condemned the Pharisees that would put these heavy burdens on those He had set free. God isn't measuring your sleeve length or checking out your bling, He is looking on your heart AND He tells us by their fruit shall you know them. Is this fruit clothing, hairstyles, or other outward appearance? NO, this fruit is LOVE, . . . . .by this shall you know that they are my disciples, that they have LOVE one to another. I remember, from my earliest memories that many of those being condemned to Hell by the UPC were full of love, kindness, gentleness, meekness, . . . . .
Oh, but, (they would say) what about Cornelius? He still had to be baptized and be filled with the Spirit! Yes, but did he then have to be circumcised (ie: follow the Pharisees law)? No, he did not! Who are you to judge another man's servant ? Is it for us to judge who is baptized and correctly filled with God's Spirit or were we told by God that "by the fruit of God's love shining forth in their life we would know them !?
I would venture one step further . . . .how many doing the condemning show any measure of love, especially to those without. . . . .it is easy to love those who love us, do not even the infidels do this but God commands us to love even the jerk that we would prefer to send to Hell . . . . . . . .and that...

Nancy

Sometimes I think maybe God allows us to experience things just so He can show us how much he loves us and how great He is. We don't earn our blessings, we don't deserve them, we can't demand them but God in His love and mercy blesses us beyond measure anyway. How great is our God!
Not all prayers are answered in the way we want but after a lifetime of experience, I know and have faith that all things work together for good . . . . .
God answers prayer

Nancy

I love reading the Message Bible! I know the KJV is supposedly the most accurate but I can't find any disagreement and face it King James didn't speak my language :-D
ROMANS 15:1 Strength is for service not status.
If we are blessed by God to be able to be strong, it isn't so we can have something to boast about, it is so we may help others. I know we really know this, but sometimes, especially in unhealthy church situations, the stronger among us become a bit like Saul - a legend in their own minds :-)
We hear touch not mine anointed taught as if only the preacher is in that category - not true. Search this out !
There is so much in Romans, whether the Message or KJV. Reading with an open heart and mind is blessing me tremendously.

Nancy

For years when I didn't seem to be able to 'fit in' in the cultic church that was my heritage, I would ask myself "is it just me?" Is it just me when it seems there is so little real friendship, or even so few real people? Is it just me when things just don't make sense and I am unable to mindlessly just go along when everyone else seems ok? Is it just me when I feel shunned but don't really understand why? Or when my beautiful well liked (everywhere but church) children are shunned? Is it just me when I feel I have no true friends in the church?

In viewing my life from this much older person vantage point, I think perhaps some of it was just me. When we first left the cult and found other escapees with similar experiences, there was great relief in thinking "Ok, it wasn't just me!"

However, upon reflection, I am beginning to realize much of my unhappiness in the cult came from my own nature to not be a cliquey, groupy, type person. I remember as a 10 year old getting all the neighborhood girls together to form a club, but though they were all my friends, some didn't know each other and had formed their own little cliques. My goal was to 'bring us all together'. Then in high school, after lunch, I would go from clique to clique, being friendly to many different and differing groups. One friend asked me why I didn't just pick one group to belong; I really didn't know, it just didn't fit 'me'. As an adult, my hubby and I would throw parties and I intentionally invited people from my eclectic groups of friends, neighbors, church friends, scouting friends, homeschool friends, etc. I would make up icebreaker questions so they could get to know each other. One of the funniest is when 'I was a highschool quarterback was answered by our little petite friend, Marsha:-D (it was an all girl team, but still . . . .)

In the cult, having outside, different friends was discouraged unless you were attempting to bring them into 'the truth'. Following the rules explicitly was expected, but most seemed more than a bit hypocritical in this. Another way it probably was just me; I abhorred hypocrisy, so it was either I really followed the belief or I really didn't. I have always worked diligently at being the same person no matter where I was.

So maybe, at least a part of why I never seemed to really fit into a group and culture that I was literally 3rd generation born in was 'it was just me'! The best part of me! The me that refused to be part of a clique, the me that loved people from all walks of life, the me that tried to forge friendships in diversity, the me that refused to be hypocritical, the me that God created me to be . . .

It is ok to be me . . . . . .

Nancy