UPCI GB Meeting - what would you want to tell them

[SDG]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Let's face it, Delta...

As long as the UPC remains firmly a "3-stepper" denomination, you're going to think they're not preaching the Word right.

So that's about the size of it right there.

One can still be a 3 stepper or one stepper and re-focus our message to the Cross.

Several years ago, Apostolic great JT Pugh pleaded with our movement to get back to a Gospel message in his book...

The Wisdom and the Power of the Cross.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Let's face it, Delta...

As long as the UPC remains firmly a "3-stepper" denomination, you're going to think they're not preaching the Word right.

So that's about the size of it right there.

They preach all over the word. When steps become more important than Christ something is wrong. There is power in the simplicity of the gospel.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

They preach all over the word. When steps become more important than Christ something is wrong. There is power in the simplicity of the gospel.

the power of the gospel is it is the testimony of God's grace, a grace that reaches out to the lost through the preaching of the gospel...a grace that draws, convicts, justifies, sanctifies..etc. What I'm trying to say is hearing the word of God, the gospel, can save a soul when mixed with faith. But there is more to salvation than just hearing the gospel.

[SDG]

No message should be so "relevant" that it no longer focuses on the Cross.

It's about the good news of Jesus Christ!!!

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

the power of the gospel is it is the testimony of God's grace, a grace that reaches out to the lost through the preaching of the gospel...a grace that draws, convicts, justifies, sanctifies..etc. What I'm trying to say is hearing the word of God, the gospel, can save a soul when mixed with faith. But there is more to salvation than just hearing the gospel.

Right. We can't forget that it is God who saves us. I heard the Gospel preached many times but until God shook me to my very core and awoke my spirit nothing changed. I was blinded by so much religion that I couldn't find God.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

They preach all over the word. When steps become more important than Christ something is wrong. There is power in the simplicity of the gospel.

The simplicity of the gospel, yes.

An oversimplified (watered down) gospel, no.



(But I'm not tying to stir up another 3-stepper/1-stepper argument, so I'll try to just leave it right there.)

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

The simplicity of the gospel, yes.

An oversimplified (watered down) gospel, no.



(But I'm not tying to stir up another 3-stepper/1-stepper argument, so I'll try to just leave it right there.)

Ouch that is so insulting.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

Ouch that is so insulting.

What, that I consider the 1-stepper variation to be a watered down version of the biblical plan of salvation?

Sorry, bud. No insult intended, but that's my view of it.

[SDG]

If I had five minutes ... I'd say it's time to decentralize and perhaps re-shape a system that is NOT based on a business corporate model ... but rather an Apostolic one.

Allow for "true" local church sovereignty and autonomy ...
.... cut the excess and mis-spending ... uber-downsize ... and run the WEC out a leased office space ...

PPH and now HMD ... are laying off employees and the red ink is starting to well up.

Stop encouraging a "disfellowship" culture ...

A lot less St. Louis/District church gov't intervention.

Minimal bureaucracy .... Skeletal staff to to minimize overhead .... while maximizing offerings that should go for intended purpose.

Focus on being a clearinghouse of resources and a gateway for multi-layered networking ....


Conservatism at it's best!!!

Denominationalism is dead.

["GL"]

As a UPC pastor, I feel that you've greatly overstated the EC movement within the UPC. I think that that may have to do with how some are defining it. Many of us are doing church differently, but our theology has not changed or "evolved." The true EC movement involves much more than stylistic changes.