I confess. I went to a Gospel Music Concert with my wife last night. We both, from time to time, raised our hands when a portion of the song touched and blessed us.

How many Vega Links do I have to eat today to be forgiven?

Don't forget to add extra ones in for sarcasum.

And, how many is that?

My two cents...

There is a lady at church who was heavily into the Pentacostal movement (Vineyard, etc.). She said that back then, when she raised her hands, she had a "holier than thou feeling" over those who did not. She said a lot of it had to do with pride. She was speaking from personal experience, mind you, so this may not apply to all who do it.

Anyway, she still struggles with not raising her hands--since she is a very emotional person--but doesn't feel it is any longer appropriate, because of her past experience with it.

Vicki

Some people experience "holier than you" attitudes from being part of "the only remnant of our age" church. Some I imagen experience this feeling by keeping sabbath and thus being holier than all of them heathen sunday keepers...

/Thomas

How much good food do you have to eat to get over the Vega Links?

Redfog

I am asking you all to please stop the foolish talk.

Foolish talk?
The only foolish talk is when someone asks another for references from scripture, and to have further nonbiblical gobbledegook posted! The Bible says that we are to write on our hands "the Lords" we are to raise holy hands, we are to worship the Creator God...
-I too have been to concerts where I have raised my hands in worship, it was definitely not Steve Green that I was raising my hands for, nor was it so others could or could not see me, it was simply for HIM! In prayer at home and at church I have raised my hands... again this was towards He whom has created us.
-...

Daniel, you are being disrespectful and rude.

This is a warning. If you continue to disregard the rules of this forum, you will not have the privilege of posting here.

From the very outset of church planting, you must decide ownership of the church building. If it is going to belong to the congregation, then they can make up the rules and regulations as they see fit. Accept or exclude folks as they are moved.

If it is God's church, and you have dedicated the facility to Him, then you need to be prepared to recieve "whosoever" whether they fit your mold or not. "Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest" God has invited the whole world to his house.

The thing that is so discouraging in Christiandom today is the rampant insanity. The legalism, the exclusivity, the piousness, the plain lack of concern for our fellow man much less our fellow church members that have drifted away. Where is our passion for souls?? We talk a good game....but it is all talk.

As I travel around the country, the horror stories that I hear would make you sick. Many well meaning Christians turn out to be just plain mean. A lady called me the other day. They kicked her out of school in 1957 and then the elders of the church went to her mother and dad and dropped her name off the church books. She has been out of the church since 1957........her crime was going to see the movie 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. The insanity must stop.

Recently I was in Montana for a weekend revival. A well dressed lady there told me her horror story. She came to church with lip stick on. They pulled her aside, wiped her mouth and then told her that "too much on the outside means nothing of the inside". She was out for over 20 years....Praise God, she has come home.

The horror stories go on and on. My plea to you is to stop the insanity whereever you can. Love the people. Hug the people. Bind up there wounds. Be a blessing to someone that needs help.

Sitting here playing theological badmitten is not going to get anyone to Heaven. Fighting to someone's dying breath on a non-salvetic issue is not the best use of the short time that is left to gather in souls. Our churches are struggling. No one really gets concerned that for every Adventist in the pew on Sabbath morning there are 3 out in the world no longer attending church. Whatever we are doing, it ain't working. Please, I beg you.............stop the insanity