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RESPONSE TO PASTOR POSTER
"""I believe what you are hoping for is ecumenicalism. It is clear the NCO is willing to set aside every bit of core doctrine for some misguided sense of Christian unity. I can't for a moment believe that God is pleased.
Further, you seem to play off of the UPC's current fragmentation.. What is your goal in doing so? Why does the NCO need to slap at us? This is contrary to the spirit of your article, in which you state a desire for unity and ecumenicalism.
I feel your article, and past blogs on the NCO site, is in poor taste, and not befitting model Christian motives. After all, isn't the NCO a splinter group?””””
PP, I usually find your posts to be well reasoned, respectful, and something I can give a hardy amen to as well. However, I must say in this case I am confused by your posting both as to content and tone. Why do you equate a call to unity as a call to "ecumenicalism"? If so then we may well have to revise opinions of some of the august leaders of the UPC that have made similar calls in times past.
There is nowhere anything I have ever written in public nor said in private that is even remotely anti-UPC. Even the posts I have made in here have been emphatically and prayerfully made that NO ONE from EITHER SIDE of the Resolution 4 issue leave the UPC!!! To do so would be a tragedy of the highest order. Apostolic ministers threatening to “disfellowship” over personal standards? Once again regardless of which side of the desire to evangelize by means of Television that one is on, it is still personal conviction, and that should not be a basis to breaking fellowship. (Even Paul and James when in disagreement over whether rites of Judaism should be kept post-conversion never suggested doing such.) While certain ministers feel they must make a statement by starting their own organizations,it may be regrettable but understandable if there is an image they wish to maintain. But to refuse fellowship outside their clique??
No one should be ridiculed for desiring to maintain high standards; on the other hand those with these extra-Biblical convictions should not be elitist and exclusionary in attitude. They can and should hold their personal convictions as standards within their local assemblies.
For example, I personally believe that television is for the most part evil. Watching it usually promotes immorality, destabilizes the family, and studies have even proven it to increase violence, ADD, and even obesity. However, for me to refuse to fellowship a fellow One God, Apostolic, tongue talking, Jesus Name baptized believer over it???
The Bible strongly promotes unity- if two or three agree- a three fold cord is not easily broken,-one can put a thousand to flight two can put 10,000. We should be able to celebrate our diversity of talents and gifting without sacrificing the personal convictions of the local assembly.
As far as the underlying tone both in your post and several I have seen in this forum that the NCO is being proposed as an alternative to the UPC (or any denomination), shows an unfortunate understanding of both its purpose and structure.
The NCO is not now, nor ever shall be a denomination or organization of anything of that ilk. Any minister disgruntled with their organization and seeking to join solely for that reason will be disappointed. It is simply a fellowship seeking the free exchange of ideas and concepts on how further the kingdom. Nothing more nothing less. We have minister members from a plethora of denominations including UPC.
As such, to call the NCO “a splinter group” once again shows an unfortunate misunderstanding as to its content and structure, both philosophically and in membership. Future projects include seminars ranging from local church government, to legal issues, to integrating technology into evangelism. For example we already have ACT29TV.COM broadcasting Apostolic messages over the internet 24/7
The entire thrust of the article was to promote unity within all of Christendom regardless of denomination. On a personal level I pray the United Pentecostal Church remains United.
While maintaining I have never written anything “anti-UPC”, I do sincerely apologize to anyone offended by promoting the concept “they shall know you are Christians by your love one to another” and promoting unity among the brethren.
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