My life in the ICOC... and why I think it's a cult. (Jesus, ritual) - Page 2

Baerly · #11 04-30-2007, 10:45 AM

Pete, I am so sorry for all the trouble you have gone through, all in the name of love and religion. I have heard about the Boston Movement and I have taught many to stay clear of it. All I know about it I have learned from tracts at the coC I attend.

I would encourage you to attend a coC near you, just make sure it has no affiliation with the ICOC. I have attended a small country coC in Tx. for over fourty years. If I can help at anytime, do give me a holler. I come to this site and go to the same faith threads quite abit. I will pray for you and the trials your going through.

Baerly

Freedomelf · #12 05-21-2007, 05:16 PM

I've read your posts with interest, and find that many churches, both mainstream and little known, are cultish if they control their followers in any way.....particularly in the manners that you describe. Freedom to choose a religion, and to remain in that religion or not, must be absolute. There must not be any pressure from a church to control what kind of believer you are.....or if you choose to remain a believer. It must be entirely your decision with no coercion.

That's one of the reasons I rejected mainstream religion, because even the biggest ones use damnation and other threats to "save" people.....I do not need saving by a religion. Religion is only useful if it helps you find YOURSELF.....if you can find yourself and the path you are meant to travel on your own, you don't really need religion at all in order to get to heaven. Some people like it, though, in order to have communion with others of similar beliefs. That's why I choose to belong to a church. But if it tried to control me in any way, I would be outta there!

Scuba Pete · #13 05-21-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baerly

I would encourage you to attend a coC near you, just make sure it has no affiliation with the ICOC.

I have in the past and may do so in the future. The last church of Christ that I was affiliated was way too pro-war. I can't abide in the philosophy of WWJB (Who Would Jesus Bomb). I may do so in the future. I am more closely aligned with the cofC than any denomination. Still, legalism is rampant and few understand the Freedom we have in Christ.

Scuba Pete · #14 05-21-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedomelf

That's one of the reasons I rejected mainstream religion, because even the biggest ones use damnation and other threats to "save" people...

I somewhat disagree with this. There are churches who use the threat of hell to cause people to obey them and not the scriptures. But for the most part, churches try to teach causality which is needed.

The BIGGEST issue I have with almost all churches, large or small, is that they exchanged one system of laws for yet another system of laws. But that is fodder for another thread.

Freedomelf · #15 05-22-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

I somewhat disagree with this. There are churches who use the threat of hell to cause people to obey them and not the scriptures.

But who wrote the scriptures, and why are they scripture?

I do believe that people should be admonished to do good on earth. That's understandable. But if they are admonished, whether through scripture or doctrine, to believe in a particular religion, that's another thing. If they are told that they will go to hell if they don't believe in a certain church, that's where I draw the line.

Scuba Pete · #16 05-22-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedomelf

If they are told that they will go to hell if they don't believe in a certain church, that's where I draw the line.

You fully missed the point. Or at least it appears that you did. I didn't mention any church, I mentioned causality. We create our own hells here on earth by the poor choices we make. I am certain that eternity is an extension of the hell or heaven we are experiencing right now.

Baerly · #17 05-23-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

I have in the past and may do so in the future. The last church of Christ that I was affiliated was way too pro-war. I can't abide in the philosophy of WWJB (Who Would Jesus Bomb). I may do so in the future. I am more closely aligned with the cofC than any denomination. Still, legalism is rampant and few understand the Freedom we have in Christ.

Pete, Here is a good lesson. I hope you will check it out. I am sure coming from the ICOC you might have a knee jerk reaction to certain things,but I hope you do not do as some and try to swing all the way over and think we will be saved by grace alone.

We are free from sin and free to choose who we want to serve (Rom.6:16-18). But we are not free from obeying the commandments of the Lord (Acts 10:34,35) (Heb.5:8,9) (John 9:31) (John 14:15,21 ; 15:10,14) (Mt.7:21).

Those who turn from the commandments end up outside the grace of God according to (2Peter 2:20-22).- Notice 2:21

We want to be found in the light of the word of God (Eph.5:8) (1John 1:7) . The only way to do that is by (DOING TRUTH) (John 3:21) (1John 3:7) (Psalm 119:172).

I am not advocation works alone can save us. It takes devotion and trust to please the Lord (1Thess.4:1-3) (Phil.1:27) .

http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2265

It is good to see you posting again.

Baerly

gmelrod · #18 05-23-2007, 12:14 AM

Do you know if this church is still active on the UF campus? I live in SoFla and have friends who go to UF. I may need to warn them. Others I would alert to a good opportunity to push back on another turn or burn legalistic group.

Scuba Pete · #19 05-23-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmelrod

Do you know if this church is still active on the UF campus? I live in SoFla and have friends who go to UF. I may need to warn them. Others I would alert to a good opportunity to push back on another turn or burn legalistic group.

Crossroads is no more. There is an ICOC church in Gainesville, but it's not the Campus church of Christ. That church has gone mainstream cofC.

Scuba Pete · #20 05-23-2007, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baerly

try to swing all the way over and think we will be saved by grace alone.

We have a completely different view of Grace. You see it as "just gifts", and I see it as absorbing the character of God.

Works is dead. You can not rely on external acts to save you. II Cor 3 teaches this.

Love is alive. God is love. The more we love, the more we act like God. The more we act like God, the more we love. THIS is what grace is really all about. You can see the person saved by grace through their loving actions. The heart is the source of everything and God knows it well.

But this is probably best for another thread... in fact we are discussing that here: Christian Faith and Law