Inconsistent rules

[bmasters1981]

Why do fundamentalists think that if you're against inconsistent applications of rules, you're against rules whatsoever?

What I mean is, a more liberal church would say, "You can watch television and movies so long as you don't sin in doing so." A fundamentalist church would say on the other hand, "The very act of watching television or movies is sin against God and invites Satan into your life!"

Why do different churches have different interpretations? They're all confusing.

[bean]

Because it is people doing the interpreting..Because people wrote the rules...

[bmasters1981]

(06-04-2012 08:02 AM)bean Wrote:  Because it is people doing the interpreting..Because people wrote the rules...

That's just what I thought! That hits right on the money.

[GraceThruFaith]

Authoritarianism. IFB preachers thrive on maintaining power and authority. They yearn for it even though they like to sugarcoat it by saying they are there to serve (yeah, right).

The more relaxed preachers understand something called Christian liberty. You know what's sad? Every time my IFB pastor mentioned liberty, he made it seem like it was a bad thing, that if anyone who exercised liberty, will only exercise it for sinful reasons.

But yeah, IFB preachers apply rules to maintain authority and power within their local church.

[bmasters1981]

(06-04-2012 05:47 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote:  Authoritarianism. IFB preachers thrive on maintaining power and authority. They yearn for it even though they like to sugarcoat it by saying they are there to serve (yeah, right).

The more relaxed preachers understand something called Christian liberty. You know what's sad? Every time my IFB pastor mentioned liberty, he made it seem like it was a bad thing, that if anyone who exercised liberty, will only exercise it for sinful reasons.

But yeah, IFB preachers apply rules to maintain authority and power within their local church.

A very good explanation! Thanks. That helps very much.

[Bob M]

(06-04-2012 08:00 AM)bmasters1981 Wrote:  Why do fundamentalists think that if you're against inconsistent applications of rules, you're against rules whatsoever?

What I mean is, a more liberal church would say, "You can watch television and movies so long as you don't sin in doing so." A fundamentalist church would say on the other hand, "The very act of watching television or movies is sin against God and invites Satan into your life!"

Why do different churches have different interpretations? They're all confusing.

because they want everyone to follow them. Its pride. If you differ from them, you're rebellious, liberal, etc.

[That'sWhatItSays]

Ultimately, every authoritarian preacher is full of pride. They preach about half of the Bible. I've noticed this over the years in various settings. You will hear certain verses over and over again, pet verses. They don't like to stray too far off the path that keeps them sitting in the seat of authority. It's impossible to read people's minds (obviously) therefore it is always anyone's guess as to whether they are sincere but misguided, or if they knowingly manipulate God's people. My guess is that it "works" for them, so they don't alter it.

I've never heard a fundamentalist preacher expound on II Corinthians 11:20: "For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face." Here, suffer means "allow", or "put up with." The Corinthians thought the super Apostles were superior to Paul, yet this is what was happening to the Corinthians in Paul's eyes. Interesting.

[Master_Of_Irony]

That's how my dad always was. He wasn't real big on rules, but anytime I expressed a concern with something going on at church, I was told that i have a rebellious heart and have no regard for any of the rules that God has set up in my life. I didn't even really have any problem with them having rules, because my parents never really had too many rules and didn't make us follow a lot of them. It was really the idea behind the rules or the hypocrisy behind them. Like i had a youth pastor that was at my church for only about a year that told us in church that we should never listen to rock music, but said that he listens to rock music so that he can know how to argue against people who think its ok. Stuff like that always kind of confused me.

[GraceThruFaith]

(06-10-2012 08:11 PM)Master_Of_Irony Wrote:  That's how my dad always was. He wasn't real big on rules, but anytime I expressed a concern with something going on at church, I was told that i have a rebellious heart and have no regard for any of the rules that God has set up in my life. I didn't even really have any problem with them having rules, because my parents never really had too many rules and didn't make us follow a lot of them. It was really the idea behind the rules or the hypocrisy behind them. Like i had a youth pastor that was at my church for only about a year that told us in church that we should never listen to rock music, but said that he listens to rock music so that he can know how to argue against people who think its ok. Stuff like that always kind of confused me.

Exactly. Why are the rules enforced in the first place? What is the purpose for this rule? And the answers that Fundies give are one-size-fits-all answers like, "To protect you from sin" or something else.

Fundies do not want you to question them, because questioning will lead to rebellion, and rebellion is the sin of witchcraft....