Earlier, I was attending a UMC church, and a UPC affiliated church rented it out. Our pastor invited the Pentecostal church in with our worship a few sundays. Yes, we had the pentecostal minister preach. Later, I did receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I know that the high point of the UPC is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I am working with the UMC, and will preach the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The UPC pastor also preached standards of dress a lot because our girls in the Methodist church would come to the church without their standards of dress per se. Yes, we had girls in the Methodist church that would wear a miniskirt and even come to worship bare-legged without nylon hosier. I believe that it is taking it too far to say a woman will go to Hell if they do not wear nylons to worship. At the same time, I believe, as a man, that it is normal, when a girl wears a miniskirt even bare-legged, to look down and think the girl looks pretty. I still believe that even a miniskirt is not a Hell issue. And, I am thankful to be saved absolutely by grace through faith without legalism.”

The World is my Perish, and I will preach to any audience (e.g. even if the woman has cut hair, cut hair does not mean the woman has a spirit prostitution).

Blessings

1 Timothy 2:9 KJV: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”

*What else could it mean? I attend the Congregational Holiness Church, we speak in tounges, and run a Pentecostal- style service like other Holiness churches, some churches in our denomination are more strict than others, but most ladies have their hair however they please, but still where dresses and very little, if any, make up. I’ve been to other churches in our denomination where women still where long hair up in buns, no makeup, and long dresses. It is quite common in Alabama where I live. And I see where they base this belief.

My pastor says the ground is level at Calvary. We all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. We need to all work on ourselves and pray to God for mercy on us all. We all need God’s mercy. No matter how holy we think that we may be. We all have issues and problems that we need to work on. We haven’t made it yet till we hear him say well done thou good and faithful servant enter into my rest.

My pastor also preaches that you can look the most holy on the outside and if your inner attitude is wrong then you aren’t where you ought to be either. Self righteousness is a sin. We none have anything to be self righteous about. The bible says our righteousness is a filthy rags.

Therefore, instead of boasting about what we dont do we need to humble ourselves before God and beg for mercy.

For some it is jewelry, for some money, for some fine cars, for some clothes, for some houses, and for some…..dare I mention….food. Being raised in the UPC church, we were some of the biggest eaters. And gluttony is a sin. But, that’s a whole other subject. many times was jewelry given as a peace offering or a necklace given as a sign of affection in the Bible.

You must look at not only the culture and practices during that time but, also the right interpretation and meanings. What it boils down to is this. God’s people are in all Christian denominations. He doesn’t change but, his methods do. The Bible says that until all his people come together as one, we won’t see his return.

I believe that means looking past everyones “beliefs” and coming together with a common goal. The commission of Christ. To seek and save those which are lost.

All of this dissention must stop.

I was raised in the UPC church. I was only second generation. My mom had been raised Baptist and Assembly of God before coming to UPC. I have nothing against the way I was raised. I love the environment of the worship and praise. It is where I honed the talents that God gave me. And I love God with all my heart.

I too was raised with the belief that if you weren’t UPC, you weren’t going to heaven. If you didn’t speak in tongues, you weren’t going to heaven. If a woman wore pants, jewelry (necklace, earrings, rings, bracelets, etc.) you were going to hell. If a woman wore pants, she was going to hell. If a woman wore make up, she was going to hell.

I have come to the realization that there are even discriminations between churches in the organization. When I came back to the lord a little over 2 years ago, as much as I loved the UPC upbringing that I had, I just didn’t feel led to go back to a UPC church. I really, really prayed about this. God led me to the church that I am at now. The pastors also used to be UPC. Upon deep study, Our senior pastor was also led to get out of the organization.

This all started with my mom. She had cancer. She was going to an ALJC church that was formerly a UPC church. While my mom was sick, not one member of the church offered any help to me or her while we were taking care of her. My little 80 year old Baptist mother in law would come over and sit with my mom, pray with her, cry with her and be her friend. I truly saw the love of Jesus in her.

God showed me that as there are many different religons, there are many different denominations within those religons. I now know that just as people are individuals, there are individual churches to satisfy they’re spiritual needs. Whether it be Pentecostal, Baptist, Assembly of God, Non Denom (as I am), methodist, Lutheran or, even Catholic.

His Word say, whosoever believes on me SHALL NOT perish. I did not understand why it was not ok to wear necklaces and such but, it was ok to wear a big gaudy brooch or hair jewelry clips or pins. Why it was not ok to wear mascara, eyeliner and eye shadow but, it was ok to wear base and powder. Why it is not ok to wear nail polish but, it is ok to get a french manicure. Why it is not ok to wear pants but, it is ok to wear culottes or gauchos. Jewelry is jewelry, make up is make up, pants are pants. Underwear have 2 legs. so do pantyhose. BTW, t-shirts and ball caps were made for the British army men originally so, ladies, no more t-shirts or caps. Blouses were originally made for men.

There are too many discrepencies within they’re own churches and beliefs. It has taken me a while to un brainwash myself and I am still having difficulty. I know a lot of unsaved folks according to the Christian standard but, I don’t know they’re heart. I know a lot of my friends have even turned from God totally because of the strict standards they were raised with. THank God, my mother wasn’t as strict. She wasn’t a hypocrite either. She lived what she believed. She was unjudgemental and loved by everyone. I have an even closer walk with GOd than I’ve ever had before because I have experienced the LOVE of God. No longer do worry so much about what I am doing wrong that will send me to hell.

I do not have to suffer in legalism. I now feel free to worship and live for God. Jesus Christ died that All would be saved. I finally found out that it’s not so hard to be saved as I was brought up. I hope that I can help someone suffering with the guilt and shame of Pentecostalism. I do not hate the UPC church, on the contrary, I love it very much. I just do not agree with the Phariseeical “rules”.

Please contact me if you are in need of someone to talk to.

lynnsinger1 (at) yahoo.com

I was not writing to strict apostolics, due to the fact you can never be wrong. However it is a warning and insight to any who would contemplate attending one of these cult type churches. You don’t know me nor do you know the level of modesty our church holds. Moreover, given your response you have not studied these issues out.

Holiness has no standards. You are holy by God’s declaration not your own. You are either holy or not, Righteous or not, sanctified or not.

I’m not chasing lust, only truth.