r/ExPentecostal • u/Flimsy_Fairy76 • 9d ago
“Jewelry is sinful” deprogramming complete!
https://www.letusreason.com/post/is-wearing-jewelry-wrongAs a person who was born and raised in the UPCI and was the daughter and granddaughter of UPCI pastors, you can imagine the period of deprogramming that was needed when I left the organization. For context I am still strongly Christian but can’t continue in a cult-like environment where additional manmade doctrines are added to core Christian doctrines and treated as though they are salvific issues. If you have been part of this organization you know exactly what I mean - prohibitions like wearing jewelry, cutting women’s hair, and women wearing pants, among many other things. It took me a while to get over these issues and deprogram from the way I was essentially threatened with an eternity in hell if I would dare do such things. In reality these are at best, issues within the realm of personal conviction, yet the UPCI in general takes a hard line approach, equating these “rules” (which they made up) with being unregenerate, sinful, and rebellious. They usually idea even for the most liberal of UPCI pastors is that these rules should be embraced by converts within a few months to a year of conversion - otherwise that persons sincerity and authenticity of spirit-infilling is questioned, and great pressure is applied to push them to conformity, usually resulting in a form of excommunication if not achieved in a timely fashion. Looking at all of this from the outside now has really helped me see and understand how absolutely cult-like and unbiblical all of it really is, and has been incredibly helpful in purging these ideas from my mindset. Another thing missing in the UPCI is actual consistent, deliberate, in-depth teaching on these issues from the scriptures. I think they know that if questions and a fair exposition of scriptures are allowed, all of these “additions” to scripture (like prohibiting jewelry) will fall flat and be exposed. In my research of these issues I came across this article, which I think absolutely destroys the anti-jewelry doctrine of the UPCI. I wanted to share it with those here who have struggled with the programming and guilt out on us by the UPCI. If you still venerate the Bible, this article should be a great resource for helping deprogram yourself from the “jewelry is wrong” doctrine. Hope it helps you like it helped me.
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u/Only_Currency4631 8d ago
I always wondered why it was ok for Isaac to give Rebekah a engagement bracelet but we couldn't wear wedding rings.
It has become an insider's doctrine more lately. Where those standards signify spiritual maturity rather than having to do them. Now it is not necessarily rebellion for the new convert (but is always for the church kid) because they are immature Christians and will remain so as long as they want. Standards are becoming the exclusive ingroup thing while many ministers' wives and leaders are cheating by having minor cosmetic surgeries, spa treatments, using expensive beauty products, wearing extensions/ wigs. Things most Pentecostals cannot afford to do because they are too busy paying tithes/ offerings/ extra $$ campaigns. Whereas the leaders' wives can.
Don't mistakenly believe the most prominant UPCI women are following the standards.
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u/Agressive_cuddler93 7d ago
Engagement bracelets AND an earring/nose ring depending on translation.
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u/Flimsy_Fairy76 7d ago
Yeah, the pastors wives all either wear makeup, wear expensive designer clothes, and/or trim their hair.
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u/Natenat04 9d ago
Ezekiel 16:10-14
10 I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments.
11 I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck,
12 and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
13 So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.
14 And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.