Pagan Holiday Thread
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Don't tempt me, Cat.
And now I want to recruit some expert Self-Appointed Righteous-er to come after your whiskered butt -- just to see how long you actually CAN hang out in that tree.
And now I want to recruit some expert Self-Appointed Righteous-er to come after your whiskered butt -- just to see how long you actually CAN hang out in that tree.
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Thank you for articulating this thought. You just worded something I've thought of for years, but couldn't describe as precisely.
I used to go to a "Spirit-filled church" in which multiple people seemed to believe they were always direct mouthpieces of the Holy Spirit. If you didn't go along with them, join their ministry, support their cause, believe in healing to the degree they did ("Throw out all your meds unsupervised and believe in Jesus for healing!"), well, then you just didn't have enough faith, didn't really believe in God or were fighting against Him yourself, because they were just the messenger (and somehow always in perfect lockstep with God, making them able to correct everyone else but never accept correction themselves.)
And if that didn't work, well, there's always good old 1 Samuel 15:23 -- "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (like the sin of divination,) stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols, arrogance like the evil of idolatry."
I was called rebellious and stubborn more than once. And of course there's times when I am! But something was bothering me, especially when these people lamented about others not being humble or teachable but somehow always failed to show any of those qualities themselves. I guess that's just for all the other pathetic sinners like myself and not them? This is one of my own personal litmus tests -- I will only choose those who display humility and being able to be taught themselves as teachers. I tend to ignore "teachings" from anyone I've never seen apologize to anyone or refuse accept correction as much as they give it (because I don't believe anyone is that perfect that they need no or so little correcting.)
And as I was figuring these things out, the term that came to mind was "spiritual manipulation."
I'm a lot less prone to falling for it now. And I've become pretty adamant about warning other singles about this, because I've seen and heard too many cases of lonely singles being sucked in by dynamic, forceful personalities who won't accept any other way but their own -- because of course, "their way" is always "God's." But they see themselves and God as one in the same, and they want to make you more like them, not like God.
They always tell me, "Take it up with God, because you're arguing with Him, not me."
Oh believe me, I do. If I'm wrong, I ask Him correct me and show me the reasons why I need to listen to so-and-so. But I also ask that if they are wrong, well... I'm sure God is capable of dealing with it on His own. After all, the OT bar for anyone giving false prophecies was death, so I'm sure God has some kind of modern-day measuring stick figured out. May all who speak prophecy be held to His standards and then some, as the Bible says teachers are held to higher standards.
Mostly though, I just ask Him that no one else will be strong-armed into deception by such people.
I used to go to a "Spirit-filled church" in which multiple people seemed to believe they were always direct mouthpieces of the Holy Spirit. If you didn't go along with them, join their ministry, support their cause, believe in healing to the degree they did ("Throw out all your meds unsupervised and believe in Jesus for healing!"), well, then you just didn't have enough faith, didn't really believe in God or were fighting against Him yourself, because they were just the messenger (and somehow always in perfect lockstep with God, making them able to correct everyone else but never accept correction themselves.)
And if that didn't work, well, there's always good old 1 Samuel 15:23 -- "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (like the sin of divination,) stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols, arrogance like the evil of idolatry."
I was called rebellious and stubborn more than once.
And of course there's times when I am! But something was bothering me, especially when these people lamented about others not being humble or teachable but somehow always failed to show any of those qualities themselves. I guess that's just for all the other pathetic sinners like myself and not them? This is one of my own personal litmus tests -- I will only choose those who display humility and being able to be taught themselves as teachers. I tend to ignore "teachings" from anyone I've never seen apologize to anyone or refuse accept correction as much as they give it (because I don't believe anyone is that perfect that they need no or so little correcting.)And as I was figuring these things out, the term that came to mind was "spiritual manipulation."
I'm a lot less prone to falling for it now. And I've become pretty adamant about warning other singles about this, because I've seen and heard too many cases of lonely singles being sucked in by dynamic, forceful personalities who won't accept any other way but their own -- because of course, "their way" is always "God's."
But they see themselves and God as one in the same, and they want to make you more like them, not like God.They always tell me, "Take it up with God, because you're arguing with Him, not me."
Oh believe me, I do. If I'm wrong, I ask Him correct me and show me the reasons why I need to listen to so-and-so. But I also ask that if they are wrong, well... I'm sure God is capable of dealing with it on His own. After all, the OT bar for anyone giving false prophecies was death, so I'm sure God has some kind of modern-day measuring stick figured out. May all who speak prophecy be held to His standards and then some, as the Bible says teachers are held to higher standards.
Mostly though, I just ask Him that no one else will be strong-armed into deception by such people.
More like psychological assault and battery. And what's amazing is that people keep coming back for more.
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I appreciate your thoughts on this!
Having been raised in the church all my life, literally 24/7, I didn't realize how much of a brainwashing can take place since I didn't know anything different. And any questions and concerns are conveniently labeled as sin and going against God Himeself.
I'm just very thankful God has taught me not to fall for everyone who says, "Lord, Lord," and claims to speak or interpret for Him, and even more so when they try to shame me for it.
And now I feel almost obligated to try to help others who are trapped in the same vicious cycle.
It really does feel like trying to rescue people from a cult.
Having been raised in the church all my life, literally 24/7, I didn't realize how much of a brainwashing can take place since I didn't know anything different. And any questions and concerns are conveniently labeled as sin and going against God Himeself.
I'm just very thankful God has taught me not to fall for everyone who says, "Lord, Lord," and claims to speak or interpret for Him, and even more so when they try to shame me for it.
And now I feel almost obligated to try to help others who are trapped in the same vicious cycle.
It really does feel like trying to rescue people from a cult.
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Should you desire no-nonsense lectures that will knock you sock off.....take your pick.
Zero fraud, zero scams, zero fast talking used car salesman pitches.
https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/cliffside/sermons/
Download to your phone. And yes, you need to be patient. A legit audition requires patience.
Get ready for a shock.
Zero fraud, zero scams, zero fast talking used car salesman pitches.
https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/cliffside/sermons/
Download to your phone. And yes, you need to be patient. A legit audition requires patience.
Get ready for a shock.
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It would be a good idea to start from the beginning. And go from there.
Time to untie the Gordian knot of post-modernism thinking and error?
Thats what I did. And believe me sister when I say that I am better off now.
Adam And Eve... What really happened?
1st Adam vs. The 2nd Adam. They're more alike than you might think
Adam, Eve & Satan. Do you really think you know this story?
Deep Teaching On Adam & Eve. This is the stuff you're not supposed to hear
Did Adam Blame Eve? It's not what you may have thought
Eve Is Dying Right In Front of Adam. If you were Adam, what would you do?
Satan, Why Did You Pick A Snake? Would Adam have been fooled by a snake?
Why A Tree Of Death? What caused the Tree of Death to be put in the garden of Eden?
Genesis 2 and 3... NOT Seeker Sensitive! That's why most churches don't teach this
Time to untie the Gordian knot of post-modernism thinking and error?
Thats what I did. And believe me sister when I say that I am better off now.
Adam And Eve... What really happened?
1st Adam vs. The 2nd Adam. They're more alike than you might think
Adam, Eve & Satan. Do you really think you know this story?
Deep Teaching On Adam & Eve. This is the stuff you're not supposed to hear
Did Adam Blame Eve? It's not what you may have thought
Eve Is Dying Right In Front of Adam. If you were Adam, what would you do?
Satan, Why Did You Pick A Snake? Would Adam have been fooled by a snake?
Why A Tree Of Death? What caused the Tree of Death to be put in the garden of Eden?
Genesis 2 and 3... NOT Seeker Sensitive! That's why most churches don't teach this
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Yes, it was a very humbling experience to see those spots...
A picture of the line of people waiting to simply walk through Mary's house, no stopping, no photos... just walk through. The only part that was original was the floor, but they rebuilt the house based on other buildings current to that time in Ephesus.
And standing on Mars hill with the Acropolis in the background... my friend was in the pic. He and his wife went on the trip with us.
A picture of the line of people waiting to simply walk through Mary's house, no stopping, no photos... just walk through. The only part that was original was the floor, but they rebuilt the house based on other buildings current to that time in Ephesus.
And standing on Mars hill with the Acropolis in the background... my friend was in the pic. He and his wife went on the trip with us.
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Thank you for taking the time to post these references!
I appreciate your time and have bookmarked them so they won't get lost in the shuffle.
And mostly, I thank you for speaking up in letting people like me know that we're not alone in our observations (and in trying to break free from the spiritual manipulation of others.)
I appreciate your time and have bookmarked them so they won't get lost in the shuffle.
And mostly, I thank you for speaking up in letting people like me know that we're not alone in our observations (and in trying to break free from the spiritual manipulation of others.)
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