Posted by Anonymous on 2019/09/28 under Family So my church are in touch with this company called the messagetrust., and try organise these event called the lift event, where they get bands who are Christians who sing songs about loving God, but in different genres of music. This is to attract every type of person to the music to listen and receive the word. But at the end of the concert, they ask you to sit down and listen, they tell you how amazing Jesus is and how he saved you and then they ask you to stand up if you want a relationship with God, but the thing is, people stand up, and your feel pressured to stand up or else be judged by everyone there, I stood up, I'm still not certain o my faith in God, but I stood up, after that, the pastor of my church came over to me and asked me if I stood, I told him I did, and then asked me if I meant it, I nodded and he hugged me sayin it was the right choice. I'm scared at what my parents will think when I tell them I'm still not certain, as they ask me all the time "are you saved yet?" I find this question pressuring and I just usually all away, I feel immense pressure to have a relationship with God, and I feel they shouldn't do the stand up operation as young people tend to follow the crowd, like I did, and I have no idea what to do, can someone give me advice, because I'm not 100% sure of what I believe and when my pastor tells my parents I stood up, they are gonna be happy, and I'm gonna have to rain on their parade by telling them I'm not sure yet, that I'm not ready to decide. So please help me, please.
4 thoughts on “Please read. Youngster needs advice”
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go ahead and rain on their parade. tell them you aren’t sure yet, that you need a few more years…. you can’t be ruled by your parents forever– you’re your own person!
discuss with them the problems with the whole ‘stand up’ thing. make them interested, and help them to understand all the pressure this puts on you, that other people could be standing up just so that they won’t be judged, tell them it isn’t the right way to lead people to Jesus. come up with a solution together. talk to your pastor about it. make it seem like you’re really interested in saving other people.
Firstly, I am not saint but believe in god. So don’t take this out of context and assume I am working for the Devil or have evil goals.
2ndly, welcome to how church manipulates children with social and peer pressures, thus getting them to succumb to any ideals they choose. They might call it shaping, molding, guidance, etc, but its nothing short of stressful and unwanted in many cases.
Church Camp, Church parties, Church Sleep in’s, Church Music bands, Church events, etc….
All designed to lure young minds in as they are easy to confuse and manipulate. You Don’t see parent events like that now do you? well maybe Bingo or some Cake Walk,Sale like gathering. Its all geared to attract children and easily maneuvered minds. Your in a boxing ring and the preacher is the professional prized fighter (for god) and you dont even know how to box/fight…. and cant if you want to keep any self reservations, you have nod yes at ever turn or you are a target.
Oh it is a noble and godly pressure all geared at converting and saving souls, yes. But honestly its just as you described, social and peer pressures, with a hint of Socialist/Nazi/Gestapo interrogation where the wrong answer (no) triggers an immediate bombardment of more social and peer pressures and questions at the most confusing and or stressed time in a child’s life, Adults too for that matter. In short the request and confrontations is unwanted, but that is what the preacher is ready for like a vaulter circling over a dead caucus.
Why not say (“Only stand up if you have not accepted the concept of God or dont believe in god, are confused, and want to be confronted in front of everyone, so we can paint a target on your back for all to see!”). That would be wrong!
You can run to the proverbial open door, as there are no soldiers of god awaiting with machine guns… but that is another social peer pressure in itself as the preacher will immediately target you and pressure their pray in some tactful manner days or weeks later when you are encounter again; Confronting you openly or privately with more peer pressures, questions, as to inflict social acceptance and doubt in your own minds..
Either that or your labeled a “LOST SOUL”, satanist or Atheist (aka trouble child). In which you are targeted even more and more intensely by ALL other followers. Thus more social and peer pressures, unwanted confrontations and questions about your faith…. until you succumb to their will.
In other scenarios of life, this is considers harassment, unwanted confrontations, Stalking so to speak, Shaming, etc.. its just legal as they are … In Godly pursuit. Besides, legally and technically you walked in the door first as if it implies you want to be subjected to such (now and later).
At age 50, I pray just about every night (troubled or not) and talk to god out loud during the day. I dont need someone questioning my faith, my thoughts and beliefs as if they know and have all the answers. I realize they are only trying to do what they think god wants them to do. But I am not one to weaken just because of social and other pressures.
Nor do I think parents should force thier child, or even subject them to such stresses and confrontations. Introduce them yes, but not force them. To me, the above suggest entrapment for the purpose of manipulating/programming/brain washing a young mind into certain ideals that not even the parents may agree with.
Still, things are better than 100 to 200 years ago, where the whole family went to church or Else! lol
Edit: (Force them Meaning) Not force someone into corners as to make a choice, unwarranted pressures as to make some immediate comment or commitment to such a life altering and long term choice.
What if it was a pot rally and the preacher targets the person and starts trying to sway them to smoke pot. You know the whole Nation is working to legalize pot now. Hummmm???????
I hate churches and preachers and all that f*ing crud. it’s a gestapo society that plays cat-and-mouse with little kids, like you said.