postlaestadianrevival

Lately, I have been looking back at the way I was raised, and it seems to be at variance with what is taught at the OALC today. Recently a Sunday sermon was devoted to the preaching against women wearing pants. I got to thinking, didn't the Lap women of Laestadius' day wear pants? Why didn't he preach against it then? If it wasn't an issue then why is it an issue now?

The relatives I knew growing up were not legalistic, they were interesting individuals and not all that worried about fitting a mold, at least not in my juvenile eyes. They went to church because they believed in it, not because they were afraid to go anywhere else. They did not refuse to associate with outsiders, some actually brought their non believing friends to church.

As I got older, the church got more crowded, and the intimacy of the congregation vanished. People were not friends, they were strangers who looked familiar....conversation became small talk..

Of course, as I grew older I would obviously have changed and probably noticed a lot of things that were beyond my understanding when I was a child.

Does anyone else think things have changed, or did I have peculiar relatives?

My experiences were very similar to yours. At the beginning our small congregation seemed warm and friendly. I don't remember all the legalistic preaching then. Yes, the preachers preached against sin but I don't remember them railing against the pants on women, the hair coloring and curling, and the incessant comdemnation of the TV.
As the years went by and the church grew, the group changed from a warm family atmosphere to one of many casual , even distant friends who just happened to attend the same church.

To me, the preaching became more hard edged and legalistic, and the congregation followed suit. I find the present day group to be very judgemental, cold and unfriendly.

I am very thankfull to have found my way out into the light of a friendly, loving, bible based church. May God Bless!

Sadly this has happened in many revival movements in the Church at large, that a local revival begins and a movement begins to spread, with its main emphasis being what resulted in the dramatic and glorious conversions...repentance, sin, forgiveness, holiness, the reality of hell, peace and redemption in Christ, Scriptural doctrine, spiritual and temporal blessings, all good and important. However, later many of the followers and leaders end up with a very law-minded approach(dress codes, ban on TV, no fun in life, etc) and the movement falls into disrepute. Some of the congregations end up avoiding the legalistic trend while others end up in bondage God never intended. I would say even the Apostle Paul had a problem with this. Read his letter to the Galatians...They repented, were forgiven, saved, etc, but many were starting to govern their lives by outward things the Apostle never told them to obey.

I began attending the OALC as a teenager and after 16 years I finally had enough of the suppression and belittling of women. I literally hit rock bottom when I realized "something is missing" from this church! God was telling me is was His love - and I am so thankful I found it within another church - Living Hope.

My post is to enlighten anyone on some "New Rules" at the OALC:

1. You should not vacation in warm climate places - it excites the flesh.

2. You sould not tell your friends about any vacations that you do take as this is boasting and causes hurt to others who can't afford it.

3. Pampered Chef, Tupperware, etc home party's are WRONG as they make people who might not have money be forced to buy something.

4. Young kids should not say "hang out" anymore - they should say "gather".

All I could think when I head that last one was "NOW they are telling us how to TALK!!!???" - so thankful God revealed a new path for me!

No! Don't say it! You can't hang out at a tupperware party?!! People like me will get absolutely NO invitations then! Perhaps I should take my next vacation at the county dump. Shouldn't raise a lot of envious feelings and it certainly would not entice me to do anything but vomit. I suppose that is ok still? Or perhaps the feeling of relief when you are finished is a little too close to joy to be tolerated?

Seriously, all this focus on behavior misses the heart of the gospel entirely. How many of our former friends are being driven down the road to hell, oblivious to the love of God, His grace and His mercy.

Outtathere--I wish you the best. I hope you continue to post. We'd love to hear more from you!