Why I Left the UPC

[Charnock]

I recently left the UPC and a lot of people have been asking me why.

Primarily, I left because it was a coat that no longer fit.

I left the organization because I no longer want to be identified as a minister whose main purpose was to preserve and protect tradition instead of preaching the Word of God.

I left because I felt like I was lying every time I signed the affirmation statement. I did not agree with many of the holiness standards written in the AOF, and was tired of justifying my disagreement by noting that hardly any ministers agree with everything written there. The knowledge that the majority of ministers sign the oath dishonestly did nothing to assuage my hypocrisy.

I left because I believed I gave more to the org than the org gave to me. There was no reciprocity.

I left because I felt the Lord leading me to leave. Leaving allows me to follow Him, and to preach what He tells me to, without any fear of marginalization or retribution at the hands of my "brothers."

A lot of prayer, counsel, and contemplation has gone into this decision.

Tension almost always accompanies transition. Although there is a sense of sadness involved in the exit, joy and excitement for the future overwhelms it.

I'm glad this is finished.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Charnock

I recently left the UPC and a lot of people have been asking me why.

Primarily, I left because it was a coat that no longer fit.

I left the organization because I no longer want to be identified as a minister whose main purpose was to preserve and protect tradition instead of preaching the Word of God.

I left because I felt like I was lying every time I signed the affirmation statement. I did not agree with many of the holiness standards written in the AOF, and was tired of justifying my disagreement by noting that hardly any ministers agree with everything written there. The knowledge that the majority of ministers sign the oath dishonestly did nothing to assuage my hypocrisy.

I left because I believed I gave more to the org than the org gave to me. There was no reciprocity.

I left because I felt the Lord leading me to leave. Leaving allows me to follow Him, and to preach what He tells me to, without any fear of marginalization or retribution at the hands of my "brothers."

A lot of prayer, counsel, and contemplation has gone into this decision.

Tension almost always accompanies transition. Although there is a sense of sadness involved in the exit, joy and excitement for the future overwhelms it.

I'm glad this is finished.

I never belonged to the UPC(honestly we always thought it was liberal mostly). But a word of warning look at Steinway's thread most never intended to wind up where they end up.

[Amanah]

I can understand someone leaving the UPC because of their affirmation statement.
I could not sign that statement.

I have a question though, a sincere question.

I've come to understand that all our (good) relationships are like walls around us, they help us define our boundaries, help us define who we are.

If you begin taking down the walls, how do you keep your identity?

How do you prevent the slippery slope that chips away at a person's belief system?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I can understand someone leaving the UPC because of their affirmation statement.
I could not sign that statement.

I have a question though, a sincere question.

I've come to understand that all our (good) relationships are like walls around us, they help us define our boundaries, help us define who we are.

If you begin taking down the walls, how do you keep your identity?

How do you prevent the slippery slope that chips away at a person's belief system?

Walk after the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. All else are replacements for a true walk after the Spirit. Make more rules, and stir the flesh up to break them more. Rules stir up the flesh. But a walk after the Spirit stirs up the Holy Ghost in us!

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Walk after the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. All else are replacements for a true walk after the Spirit. Make more rules, and stir the flesh up to break them more. Rules stir up the flesh. But a walk after the Spirit stirs up the Holy Ghost in us!

And this has worked for YOU????????????????????

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

And this has worked for YOU????????????????????

Yessir! It caused me to see what was man-made traditions, that would not allow Jesus Himself in a church today, and what is actually God's leading. Standards are the result of walking after the flesh in a rule-keeping mode where the Spirit cannot lead a person. And Paul said that is the same thing as reading off the law and finding oneself more prone to law breaking than to keeping it.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

And this has worked for YOU????????????????????

You should try it some time!

[mfblume]

Are people now replacing Gal 5:16 with rule keeping of a law-like effort of the flesh? I think so! No wonder there are all these extrabiblical rules and manmade traditions.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by berkeley

You should try it some time!

Can't I never belonged it was too liberal.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Yessir! It caused me to see what was man-made traditions, that would not allow Jesus Himself in a church today, and what is actually God's leading. Standards are the result of walking after the flesh in a rule-keeping mode where the Spirit cannot lead a person. And Paul said that is the same thing as reading off the law and finding oneself more prone to law breaking than to keeping it.

I hear what you are not saying. Keeping repeating it over and over and one day you might believe it.