WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stupid?

[Felicity]

One thing you can count on that's inevitable and will never change:

Change.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

sounds good to me, what state?

Ohio.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Ohio.

Tell him send a group to NC.

[StMark]

Originally Posted by Cookin-with-Stoneking

Thought I would share a reflection I was thinking about this morning. Over the last few years, the WPF and those in that line of thinking created a huge monster of an up roar, rightly or wrongly caused some significant division over the TV issue.

Reflecting on this theme today, I realized it has been a real dead issue, none of their fears have been realized, I haven't seen that many OP's on TBN, GOD TV, Daystar, no Fund-raising scandals has been created over OP's trying to pawn God' Blessing for a Psalm 59:14 gift this month. Dead, dead, deader.
Well you get the picture.

With this in mind, the real issue that has caused some issue and concerns is the so called Relevancy movement. Which as I understand it is a broad concern trying to repackage the Gospel in post-modern jargon, look and feel.

According to my sources this is the #1 concern of the blue-blood UPCI establishment. TV is a dead issue, with so many other vehicles for disseminating a message. Currently, there is You tube, Cell phone texting, INTERNET, Facebook, blogs, etc, can be done for next to nothing, and more people will see your message.

According to my sources, you will see a major backlash as died in the wool traditionalists (Old Timey) who see the power of this movement (Relevancy) drawing more and more young ministers into its fold. The Traditionalists will try and take it down or build a wall to turn the tide, mostly a reactionary response.

I think in order for any organization to be potent, change and revolution of new ideas is a necessity or it will die.

I think though what is clear is that WPF fears were totally unfounded and they mostly will become a smaller and smaller sect within the branch of Christianity known as Oneness Pentecost.

Am I wrong in my post Christmas analysis?

You are certainly on to something. I am seeing it and hearing about it on a weekly basis.

That last Youth Congress was like a 8.0 earth quake. This year the UPC is changing it back to traditional. I think the them is "Discovering our Apostolic Roots" or something like that. And they are choosing mostly older preachers who will drive that point home to the youth

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by StMark

You are certainly on to something. I am seeing it and hearing about it on a weekly basis.

That last Youth Congress was like a 8.0 earth quake. This year the UPC is changing it back to traditional. I think the them is "Discovering our Apostolic Roots" or something like that. And they are choosing mostly older preachers who will drive that point home to the youth

Thats a shame.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Ohio.

Where in Ohio?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Tell him send a group to NC.

Maybe you ought to start your own group in NC.

[Sam]

Well, in my opinion (although nobody asked me for my opinion) Scott is more in line with the NT.

[jrpreacher]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I have a good friend named Scott who is a "simple church" pastor. They meet in his home at least twice a week, and they have a meal on Sunday evenings in which they partake in the Lord's Supper. He has roughly 15 people meeting in his home. They have one member who plays an acoustic guitar and they sing and worship together until they feel the Spirit move them on to the Bible study. The study is typically a reading from a chapter or sometimes an entire passage. Then Scott shares what he felt the Holy Spirit impress upon him about the passage, then the floor is opened up for group discussion and everyone shares how the passage spoke to them. Often people open up and weep and are prayed for. It's very informal, jeans and casuals are fine. They often have a snack and pastries on the coffee table throughout the study and the smell of fresh brewed coffee permeates the house. They don't take up a tithe, Scott doesn't believe in it. When asked about it he says, "I work for a living, just like everyone else." He works for a trucking company and puts in at least 40 hours a week and supports his family. When they take up an offering it's always for a specific purpose. For example there was a sister who's car broke down and she couldn't afford to have it fixed. He called the group to take up an offering to help her pay for the necessary repairs and she didn't have to worry about a rental or catching the bus to get to work. They take care of their own. Scott is blasted for being in the Relevancy movement.

On the other hand I know a wonderful traditional UPCI church of about 150-200. They have several wonderful programs launched occasionally throughout the year. The pastor doesn't like Scott. He say's Scott's group is just "Dunking doughnuts for Jesus."

Here's the deal, the traditional church has been running only 150-200 people for nearly 11 years. Scott's group is only 3 years old and they have multiplied into 8 different home based church meetings averaging at least 10 people each. In three years time Scott went from a 10-12 member house church to overseeing 9 different meetings in the network averaging at least 10 people each. That's nearly 90 people now. Scott states that there are about 5 new pastors being raised up and will be trained to start house church meetings in their homes within the next couple months. Typically they branch off with about 4 or so members and multiply rather quickly. Scott predicts that within then next 4 months the 90 people he's overseeing in network will be 140 easy when these new works get going. But here's the deal, by that time a hand full of new simple church meetings will be ready to be launched. He envisions a day when each house church will be ready to launch another, doubling their number overnight. The potential to have well over 1,000 people in network in roughly 5 to 10 years is very real.

Scott's group appears to be growing quickly and there is an excitement and enthusiasm that they have. It's very simple and isn't much like the institutional church. However, he used to attend a UPCI church and teaches Acts 2:38. Which is truly advancing the kingdom? Our "Relevant" brother or the traditional church?

Offerings and tithes are a sacrifical praise to God!

Who is the sheperd when family confilcts and misfortune arise Well this Bro. Scott is out driving trucks?

[Sam]

I heard about a "church" that used to pass an offering plate.
You could put in whatever you wanted
or
you could take out whatever you needed.