WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stupid?
 

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?

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

Stoneking Cooker, I think you are pretty much on the money with this one. However, it does not mean the UPC isn't better off for having experienced this WPF exodus. About emergence and relevancy, I have yet to see much that concerns me

The Oneness Pentecostal message can be better advanced without the fetters of radicals seeking stifle progress. IMHO

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

I am offended, my name is Cookin-with-Stoneking.

Do you think those guys who left will admit that they were wrong?

Or will they take the approach, that TV was never the real issue, but was a symptom of a much greater decay and the full manifestation of that decay was RELEVANCY?

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

LOL! They will say it was the latter... But they have become a part of the IRRELEVANCY movement!

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

Agreed. These men were fighting a battle lost in the late 70's and 80's when the monitor entered the UPCI ministers home.

It is safe to say that a majority of UPCI ministers had a functioning television in their home whether it be a TV, internet, cell phone in their home BY THE TIME THIS WAS FINALLY VOTED ON ...

What's more hilarious is to see some in the WPF produce TV-like videos yet their org is birthed because of their anti-TV stance.

The backlash that CWS eludes to will come ... but it's too late also

CHANGE IS HERE TO STAY. IT'S RELEVANCY AND TECHNOLOGY, STUP ....

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

The WPF is somewhere in between the condor and the T-Rex.

They will continue to eat themselves as they move towards relative extinction.

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

One thing not considered:

The self-obsorbed, over thinking that many of the UPCI ministers would be saught after to have a spot on TBN or any of the other networks.

One thing many of them do not want to do is pay for their spot.

With that in mind how many of them would be considered for a spot on the networks?

They thougt themselves to be relevant.

When the truth is 99% of them are not...

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

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?

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

sounds good to me, what state?

Re: WPF Fears not realized, it was Relevancy, Stup
 

Being relevant to our generation should be our goal. Relevance - to me - means bringing the GOSPEL forward in an understandable manner. It does not mean capitulating to the unbiblical lusts of backslidden preachers.

Methods may change but God's Word does not.