While having nowhere else to go, Satanic teachings are seen in a church -- what should be done?

Question

When churchgoers who love their church and feel that there is nowhere else to go, discover that the church leaders are transgressing the word by going beyond what is taught in the Holy Bible by virtually forbidding higher education -- what should they do?

Especially, when over the years this policy has caused tremendous hardship on the young, even poverty -- thus making many leave the church and lose their faith -- this question becomes important.

What are the options of the church members when the top has so isolated itself and sits in ivory towers that know no hardships of the world?

Below, the point about bad associations at college has been raised. I went to college as an adult. Right after high school, I went to work at a large factory surrounded by blue collar workers, being one myself.

I have never before nor ever since been subjected to so much filthy language and obscenity as in that place. So do not talk to me about bad associations.

As an adult in college, my experience was that everyone used fairly civilized language and were properly mannered.

Thus the reason given for inducing the young not to go to college when other alternatives produce many times the exposure to obscenity is an outright lie.

Globally, this policy has caused great hardship since in some countries a strong-arm policy has been employed by the local church officials by nearly ostracizing dissidents.

Just a few months ago, a large portion of a day's program was devoted to this subject not even mentioned in the Bible. Such emphatic opposition does not imply personal choice.

Answer 1

Nowhere else to go?

You live in a pioneer village, that only can support one little church?

Other people's problems are so easy to solve.

Tell the leaders and, and your church friends what you think is wrong. Give specific examples.

You have the classic conflict:

Stay and try to make change from within,

or

get out and join a more sensible group.

It's up to you. You can stay with them, as long as you, and they choose.

Update 08/30/2007

Get the hell out.

They are fu--king crazy.

Answer 2

What is higher education? Who decides what's high or what's consider low education? If we go with our fleshly thinking, we would think of College with BA, BS, Master, & PhD degrees. Most people would agree that college is the only way to higher education. Not true at all. Being taught by the Most High God is where higher education comes from. Take some of the writers in the Bible for example, they were fisher men, farmers, etc. Look how they turned out. Being true follow of Christ isn't easy thing either, you have to have self sacrifice spirit to be able to survive. You have to fight your own sinful inclinations every single day and the desires of the world around you. Do you think that is no hardship? The only reason that these people be able to sacrafice material riches is because they understand the scriptures well. 1John 2:15-17 states: "Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; 16 because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. 17 Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever."

Isaiah 55:8-11 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

College is not forbidden but a choice. Just like everyone can choose to serve the one true God or not. It's a choice for everyone. God does not punish people for learning but against those that are doing things for selfish motive.

Edit:
Sounds to me, the people you've discribed in your last paragraph are actually getting paid big bucks, drive new cars, have boats, and own big houses. If this is true, then you should look somewhere else to worship God, the one true God is not with them. True God's people aren't like that. Remember, God has only one group of people around the globe today just as He had only one group of people back in the ancient time. If you haven't found that group, then you haven't found the truth yet. Keep on seeking, you'll find, keep on knocking, it'll be opened to you.

Answer 3

Rebel! overthrow the tyrants! Or at very least encourage people to put less in the collection plate (how do these priests get the money to have ivory towers in the first place?)

Answer 4

Sounds like the Pharisees that Jesus preached against. You may have to gather the true believers and start a Home Church. Sounds like this one has pushed God aside.

Answer 5

Trade schools, or certification in certain things works as well as college without the association risks.

Answer 6

Home church, home school, seek wisdom through prayer and humility, but most of all, get away from the people of which you speak.

Answer 7

stop going