Is the UPC a Den of Incest (Growth Within)?

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

As a woman that birthed 9 babies I will tell any man that wants a LARGE family, DO IT YOUR SELF!!!!!!!!

THERE . . . . . . . . YOU . . . . . . . . . . GO.




Stand back boys, don't let her spray any spit on you!

[jediwill83]

the danger with spiritual inbreeding is that you lose the need for the milk because you get the feeling that you are so spiritually advanced that you dont need it. the preaching is formatted to 5th or 6th generations looking for that new DEEPER understanding but on the same token we preach a gospel that has lost its simplicity. we seek only for the meat now not needing the milk and in doing so lost our relevence to a dying world.

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Bro Phelps,


There is wisdom and truth in this post. Thank-you for calling us to broaden our horizons with God's wisdom and understanding.

Blessigns, Rhoni

You are right. Bro Phelps is showing signs of wisdom, signs of truth, and signs of blessings. Or blessigns.

You have cleverly crafted a new and wondrous and fitting word.

Does your genius know no bounds?

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

the danger with spiritual inbreeding is that you lose the need for the milk because you get the feeling that you are so spiritually advanced that you dont need it. the preaching is formatted to 5th or 6th generations looking for that new DEEPER understanding but on the same token we preach a gospel that has lost its simplicity. we seek only for the meat now not needing the milk and in doing so lost our relevence to a dying world.

That can be a two-edged sword. Churches that preach the same sermon, over and over and over again every Sunday for months or even years, give new meaning to the phrase "the wearing out of the saints."

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by OP_Carl

That can be a two-edged sword. Churches that preach the same sermon, over and over and over again every Sunday for months or even years, give new meaning to the phrase "the wearing out of the saints."

Well said.

If the church is to be effective, in my opinion, it should be set up like a school.

There is kindergarten for the beginners, and then progressive stages of learning and development all the way thru college.

Then, the college graduates begin to teach.

And the cycle goes on.

This is one area of shortcoming that I've seen in many of our churches - the lack of training.

In many churches, the only instruction is given from the pulpit, and when you have such a diverse group, it's hard to address the needs of everyone in the pew.

I know that some will say that the anointing will cause the preached word to speak to everyone in a different way, and I believe that, but I also believe that it's a strong scriptural edict to have "teaching" in our churches, not just "preaching".

People perish not only from lack of preaching, but from lack of knowledge.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Mine isn't. He was raised Church of God and they had the same standards as the UPC, he tells me.

If this is the case then;

1. Your husband must have been a member of one of the small offshoots of the major Church of God org's since the COG Cleveland TN has for the most part mirrored the AOG for the last 30+ years regarding so called "standards"

or

2. Your husband must be older than dirt!!!!

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

This is one area of shortcoming that I've seen in many of our churches - the lack of training.

In many churches, the only instruction is given from the pulpit, and when you have such a diverse group, it's hard to address the needs of everyone in the pew.

I know that some will say that the anointing will cause the preached word to speak to everyone in a different way, and I believe that, but I also believe that it's a strong scriptural edict to have "teaching" in our churches, not just "preaching".

People perish not only from lack of preaching, but from lack of knowledge.

Well that's one reason we have Sunday School, and midweek Bible class... but unfortunately many saints view those as optional, not mandatory, so they skip 'em.

In my opinion, THAT is a key reason why there's a shortage of knowledge among many of our saints.

[rgcraig]

incestuous - excessively or improperly intimate or exclusive <mainstream fashion magazines have an incestuous relationship with advertisers

Doesn't necessarily mean breeding within.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Well that's one reason we have Sunday School, and midweek Bible class... but unfortunately many saints view those as optional, not mandatory, so they skip 'em.

In my opinion, THAT is a key reason that there's a shortage of knowledge among many of our saints.

Now, I would agree with this.

I certainly can't speak for all churches of all denominations, but in my personal experience, Bible Study is much less attended than Sunday services.

However, I've also been in churches where Bible Study was not really Bible Study, but another night for the pastor to preach.

If I ever pastored again, which is highly doubtful, I would implement age appropriate classes on Sunday morning, and "Spiritual age appropriate" classes on Wednesday night for Bible Study.

Now, having said that, I have seen a tremendous advance in some of the churches I've been involved with in the area of spiritual teaching and training in the last few years.

The churches that have strong training programs seem to be the ones growing steadily, and retaining the most new members.

[jediwill83]

I agree totally. must have balance. this is something I have had to learn the hard way. I got so used to talking with people who knew the Bible...that when I ran into this lady who had almost NO knowledge of even the most basic things in the Bible it threw me for a loop....had to be really careful to break things down to its most basic...it was awesome though cause she was hearing it for the first time and she wasnt having to filter it through tradition...still working on her.