Bernards Apostolic Identity Article in Feb PH...

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Great post, HaShaliach!!!!

Brother B. hit the nail on the head about the "flags."

[U376977]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Even that being the case it changes nothing - actions speak louder than codified documents.

Love for others is a UPC characteristic. I see them opening homes, arms and wallets to would be homeless strangers. Many are poverty level themselves but outgive some professionals with much greater incomes because they love people, love Jesus and His gospel.

I am sure what you say is true. But...as an outsider who only visited a few UPC churches...

I went to a DS church over more than 150 UPC churches. I had met him a couple of weeks prior. He knew me as minister, but also knew I was not UPC. I sat on the second row of pews, he stared me down and ignored me during the service. Protocol would have demanded he at least acknowledge the prescence of another minister, "Glad to have Bro... with us today." At the door I thanked him for preaching such a good word. There was no, "come back, glad to have you..." Nothing. The people there acted pretty much the same way, no one spoke execept a lady who asked me to move seats so she could sit next to her kids.

If this is typical....no wonder visitors don't want to attend a "church."

I can take people being rude to me...so I'm not giving a cry sob story. Just saying that there was not ANY of the "by this shall all men know" love in demonstration at this highly placed and well connected UPC DS church.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by U376977

I am sure what you say is true. But...as an outsider who only visited a few UPC churches...

I went to a DS church over more than 150 UPC churches. I had met him a couple of weeks prior. He knew me as minister, but also knew I was not UPC. I sat on the second row of pews, he stared me down and ignored me during the service. Protocol would have demanded he at least acknowledge the prescence of another minister, "Glad to have Bro... with us today." At the door I thanked him for preaching such a good word. There was no, "come back, glad to have you..." Nothing. The people there acted pretty much the same way, no one spoke execept a lady who asked me to move seats so she could sit next to her kids.

If this is typical....no wonder visitors don't want to attend a "church."

I can take people being rude to me...so I'm not giving a cry sob story. Just saying that there was not ANY of the "by this shall all men know" love in demonstration at this highly placed and well connected UPC DS church.

That is strange indeed. The same could never be said about our church. Most who visit exclaim how extraordinarily friendly everyone is.

Sometimes I am concerned that it's too much so... Like we are flooding the newcomers with love as a policy. The shock might come later when the love showers slow down and some are left with buyers remorse. I believe that to be true of Pentecostal churches in general... not saying it's bait and switch, just that we could stand to be more real and transparent.