Because there is division among our people. It should not be so.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
I ve read very little of this thread, but I suppose my primary thoughts would be, how will you react (if at all) to teaching that you disagree with? (Based on u said yourself , Gods word is first priority). I ask because for myself, the success rate of voicing any objections to teaching that I disagree with has been minuscule. "Let God be the one to align any pastoral("man of god") teaching that is off", seems to be the primary opinion of the upc church, "in the pulpit and out". One minute I enjoy the preaching, next minute I'm thinking I can't listen another minute. We stll attend UPC, even after both getting "demoted" out of ministries a few years ago for a beard and my wife trimming her hair(after 6 months of prAyer and then heeding our dr suggestion w neck knots from the weight). It has been extremely difficult for us, however I fell that I'll have issues with teaching wherever we go, probably worse elsewhere. So we have not left.
Just my brief 1 cent input...
I don't think Jason has responded to this yet, but I think he has said pretty much the same as what you were saying when you said, "I feel that I'll have issues with teaching wherever we go, probably worse elsewhere." Difference being he would be returning after having discovered this (if he actually returns and finds it tolerable)
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
I think the loss of "fellowship" gained in a closed religous sect is the thing people miss the most when leaving the UPC. That feeling of "belonging" to the club. Being a part of a group of people who proudly wear a "badge" (dress code) that labels them as good Christians. All of a sudden they are in a world where their Christianity is judged by their honesty, integrity, fruit of the Spirit, etc rather than how they look.
I know for me, that this logic has NOTHING to do with the reasons I miss my former Apostolic fellowship.
Could it be that people who leave the Apostolic faith to attend another church and desire or even decide to return to the Apostolic faith are people that God is drawing back for His Purposes?
Does God have absolutely nothing to do at all with a persons desire and/or decision to return to their Apostolic roots?
Are the prayers of the Apostolics who are indeed praying for people who have left the Apostolic church-- could Jason's returning be, in part, due to their prayers?
Could Jason's returning be an answer to some Apostolic's fervent and consistent prayers?
__________________
"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
Last edited by Jermyn Davidson; 03-10-2013 at 11:15 PM.
I don't think Jason has responded to this yet, but I think he has said pretty much the same as what you were saying when you said, "I feel that I'll have issues with teaching wherever we go, probably worse elsewhere." Difference being he would be returning after having discovered this (if he actually returns and finds it tolerable)
Right, and that's IF I can return. Tonight was Sunday and I just couldn't get the motivation to go visit. That's been the same story for a few weeks. Like the thread title says "considering". I'm only considering at this point, but being pretty honest about the internal struggle. There are a lot of things I like about where I'm at now. I am teaching through Acts right now in the Bible church in expository form, and also this morning preached from Acts 2 and it went well. (It was actually the first time I've ever preached from Acts 2. In OP churches I figured they heard it enough, I always preached something else).
I'm appreciative that they haven't forced me to claim to believe in the trinity or baptize people in titles, and also that they allowed me to write much of their church doctrine, and allow me to teach and preach regularly. These are all factors I'm considering. Like Shag was saying, he got put out of leadership over nonsense. Like I said in a earlier post, I don't feel a release to leave where I'm at (at this point), but the fellowship is really what is causing an internal tug o war. I've been suprised by the struggles and sentiments of others, and I thought you (shag) had left the UPC. I think I'd be a little miffed if I were sat down just for having a beard. But then again, early in my preaching life I was put on the shelf and told I needed to "work on my delivery, its not pentecostal enough". Translation "you need to yell and scream". That's never been my personality, and things worked out for me thus far in various situations. I think that some of the leadership/platform rules are just silly (to bekind). The platform standard should be "does this person serve God whole heartedly" rather than "does this person have a beard".
__________________
"Resolved: That all men should live to the glory of God. Resolved, secondly: That whether or not anyone else does, I will." ~Jonathan Edwards
"The only man who has the right to say he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ." ~Dietrich Bonheoffer, The Cost of Discipleship
"Preachers who should be fishing for men are now too often fishing for compliments from men." ~Leonard Ravenhill
I know for me, that this logic has NOTHING to do with the reasons I miss my former Apostolic fellowship.
Could it be that people who leave the Apostolic faith to attend another church and desire or even decide to return to the Apostolic faith are people that God is drawing back for His Purposes?
Does God have absolutely nothing to do at all with a persons desire and/or decision to return to their Apostolic roots?
Are the prayers of the Apostolics who are indeed praying for people who have left the Apostolic church-- could Jason's returning be, in part, due to their prayers?
Could Jason's returning be an answer to some Apostolic's fervent and consistent prayers?
Your children deserve to hear the only saving message.
Bro. Epley, they couldn't do enough to be saved according to what you believe. Even if they fulfilled all 3 steps, they'd still trim their hair (it'd still be long, but we all know 1/8 of an inch can send you to hell), and in general live life with the Holy Ghost leading them, not the dos and donts of legalism. Face it Bro. Epley, if your correct nobody's going.
__________________
"Resolved: That all men should live to the glory of God. Resolved, secondly: That whether or not anyone else does, I will." ~Jonathan Edwards
"The only man who has the right to say he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ." ~Dietrich Bonheoffer, The Cost of Discipleship
"Preachers who should be fishing for men are now too often fishing for compliments from men." ~Leonard Ravenhill
Your children deserve to hear the only saving message.
Yep they do. I pray to God that its not your message. Your message heaps burdens on people that they are not meant to carry.
"Legalism is any practice or belief that is added to the gospel that compromises the sufficiency of Christ as Savior and jeopardizes the adequacy of the Spirit in moral guidance. Secondarily, then, legalism demands that one adopt a group’s special markers in order to be fully acceptable to God." - Scot McKnight
__________________
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)
Scripture is its own interpreter. Nothing can cut a diamond but a diamond. Nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture" Thomas Watson.
Last edited by navygoat1998; 03-11-2013 at 08:06 AM.
)
Linear Mode
