Did you mourn leaving the UPC?

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by tv1a

Independents are much worse.
Avoid the following places if you see certain words on the church sign.
Fundamental
Holiness
Pentecostal
Signs Following
Independent
Hell
Apostolic
Acts 2:38
Mark 16

Avoid churches with outhouses and use kerosene lamps for illumination.

You forgot to mention snakes...

[Dordrecht]

I found that not all UPC are the same.
There are a few in our area, some I would not attend if they gave me a million to go there, so to speak.
Others I love to visit.
I think it all depends on the pastors.
Some are all out dictators, some are loving leaders guided by the Holy Spirit.

[CAD/JPY]

Originally Posted by Real Realism

Well, I have a family, so I'm not making this move on my own. We need to be unified in our decision to move on, and I think that's where a level of the stress might be coming from. Otherwise, your approach of visiting some other churches, regardless of the sign on the door, would not be something I'd be opposed to.

The biggest uncertainty for me is - I know we don't feel like we "belong" where we are now. There no doubt in my mind that change is needed. But what if we walk into this other church...or the next...or the next...and it just doesn't feel right?

Actually, I did have an opportunity about 6 months ago to walk into another church (ex-UPC gone coffee-house style church), and while I really enjoyed the sermon - great message, it spoke to me - the atmosphere wasn't right for my family. I knew it wasn't the long term solution. The whole tenor of the service was more "observational" than "participatory". I felt I'd almost have gotten the same experience if I sat at home on my couch and watched it on TV vs. being present there.

I believe in the importance of corporate worship and finding a stable body of believers whom you hold yourself accountable to, where you can minister to brothers and sisters. I don't care if this is a house church, a named church, an unnamed church...consistency is important. I'm not saying it would necessarily be forever, I agree with you. But I also do not feel it is right for my family to drag them around place to place without putting down any roots.

So - while there is already some relief in making the decision to move on - I'm finding myself nervous at the unknown. Even though our current church is no longer "right" for us...will this be "right'? I suppose there's no use in sweating it, though. If this is God's will, he'll reveal it. And if it's not, I want him to reveal that, as well.

Good post, thank you. It helped me reflect on some things and gain new perspective.

I left a few years ago, and it was extremely difficult, so many close ties including family, license, etc. However, looking back I KNOW it was a God thing.... and if you consider it, if God was wanting you to leave now, how might things look? How might He speak to you? How might you feel?

I've since found myself being shocked to feel His Spirit in a church where I didn't expect it. I've gotten over the emotionalism I grew up in, and realized that some of those "coffee house" churches look still, but still waters run deep.

My advice is if you feel like you should be leaving. Then leave now. Leave right away. Abraham left looking for a city, but he didn't know where it was. God will make you lie down in green pastures if you let him, just try to be as open minded as possible to where God wants to take you.

My all time favorite scripture right now... Acts 17:11 "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

It is noble of character to question the teachings of the apostolic, that is our apostolic heritage. Don't let anyone tell you just to believe because they said, or because it is "heritage"

I wish you and your family the best possible outcome.

[Abiding Now]

Backsliding is always scary. Just sayin.

[CAD/JPY]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

Backsliding is always scary. Just sayin.

ad hominem... classic, attack the person's salvation... rather than the points made.
I would encourage you to consider why you would post that? Does it fit with being noble as per Acts 17:11 example?
Lastly, if I could show you in Holy Scripture that you were wrong, would that be enough to change your mind?

[Abiding Now]

Originally Posted by CAD/JPY

ad hominem... classic, attack the person's salvation... rather than the points made.
I would encourage you to consider why you would post that? Does it fit with being noble as per Acts 17:11 example?
Lastly, if I could show you in Holy Scripture that you were wrong, would that be enough to change your mind?

[Walk and Talk]

I left because things were getting very uncomfortable on many fronts. I have no regrets but found the shunning unfortunate.
I have a funny story about a blunder I did after leaving:
I was told that a church in the Southwest was needing a pastor (I have my ordination) and I was under the misunderstanding that the church was a former UPC church.
I relocated to the Southwest and had my first meeting with the brethren. I was asked about the organization that I was now affiliated with. I replied that it was an organization of former UPC ministers who had all come out of the UPC for whatever reason.
Well I saw the body language of those in attendance suddenly become very uncomfortable. It turns out they were all very active in the UPC

[shag]

I'm not very confident that Acts 17:11 is welcomed or encouraged in most UPC churches. At least when it comes to the point of bringing up and addressing things that "are not so".
Seems to be more of a "let God deal with the "man of God" if he gets out of alignment with scripture, that's not your place ".

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by shag

I'm not very confident that Acts 17:11 is welcomed or encouraged in most UPC churches. At least when it comes to the point of bringing up and addressing things that "are not so".
Seems to be more of a "let God deal with the "man of God" if he gets out of alignment with scripture, that's not your place ".

True

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

God bless Bishop David Bernard and the UPCI.

This is something I also pray even though I disagree a lot with them.