Identity Crisis in the Local Church

[Carpenter]

First of all, I would be surprised that someone would go onto the UPC website and determine that the "mandates" are too much to abide by. What on earth did they start going to church for in the first place.

I would bet that 99.9% of all people who start going to church as you characterized, go for the sense of community or spiritual hunger moreso than anything else. The mandates? That is laughable.

Usually people leave because the community has failed them in some form or fashion.

Look at Maslow's heirarchy of needs, "rules, mandates or even structure" are nowhere to be found.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

First of all, I would be surprised that someone would go onto the UPC website and determine that the "mandates" are too much to abide by. What on earth did they start going to church for in the first place.

I would bet that 99.9% of all people who start going to church as you characterized, go for the sense of community or spiritual hunger moreso than anything else. The mandates? That is laughable.

Usually people leave because the community has failed them in some form or fashion.

Look at Maslow's heirarchy of needs, "rules, mandates or even structure" are nowhere to be found.

Maslow could have missed that part.............

Actually part of being in a community is about structure and a sense of normalacy. Why do you think the Mormans and Muslims are growing by leaps and bounds?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

I never tell people about our church website because there is a link on it to UPCI website. We have a belief section and it links to several articles one being the article named "The Scriptures Decree Modesty in Dress." The article also states that "we reject makeup." I wouldn't want a new convert of mine to read it. JMHO

Is that on the website?

Ok, here is another pet peeve of mine. First of all, as far as a church website is concerned, what is it's purpose? Why tell saints from other UPCs what you believe or even your own saints? I thought the purpose of a "what we believe" section is to tell potential visitors/converts what you believe.

the only thing I can see being on there is whatever you are gonna end up telling a sinner/visitor anyways.

My other issue is with the UPCI website...why are they using tracts as "what we believe" information? tracts aren't meant to be indepth to begin with. People that really want to know what we believe on the godhead read a "60 questions and answers on the godhead" are gonna be disappointed.

Second, tracts are supposed to be witnessing tools...what's the last tract you are gonna hand a sinner? yeah "scriptures decree modesty in dress"

[Charlie Brown]

Why don't you just give a biblical answer as to why the UPCI holds a certain position, then the new convert will see the light and move forward for God.

Amen?

[Carpenter]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Maslow could have missed that part.............

Actually part of being in a community is about structure and a sense of normalacy. Why do you think the Mormans and Muslims are growing by leaps and bounds?

Do a google search, you will see what motivates people to join a church or any other social group on the surface (in context with the topic of this thread of course).

It appears to me that you believe that structure is the most important element of an organization. Typical organization-o-speak. Also, I gotta question your comment that a sense of normalcy is attainable only through structure? Are you kidding me? ...and yea, that is why the Mormons and the Muslims are growing by leaps and bounds...structure.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

Do a google search, you will see what motivates people to join a church or any other social group on the surface (in context with the topic of this thread of course).

It appears to me that you believe that structure is the most important element of an organization. Typical organization-o-speak. Also, I gotta question your comment that a sense of normalcy is attainable only through structure? Are you kidding me? ...and yea, that is why the Mormons and the Muslims are growing by leaps and bounds...structure.

Isn't how and why a community or organization is built important to the group? When I say structure I'm thinking that as opposed to chaos. What thrives in chaos? Cancer maybe? Your body is all about structure? Structure is what gives you room to live in your house doesn't it?

Are you getting structure confussed with standards?

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Is that on the website?

Ok, here is another pet peeve of mine. First of all, as far as a church website is concerned, what is it's purpose? Why tell saints from other UPCs what you believe or even your own saints? I thought the purpose of a "what we believe" section is to tell potential visitors/converts what you believe.

the only thing I can see being on there is whatever you are gonna end up telling a sinner/visitor anyways.

My other issue is with the UPCI website...why are they using tracts as "what we believe" information? tracts aren't meant to be indepth to begin with. People that really want to know what we believe on the godhead read a "60 questions and answers on the godhead" are gonna be disappointed.

Second, tracts are supposed to be witnessing tools...what's the last tract you are gonna hand a sinner? yeah "scriptures decree modesty in dress"

Here is the link. Our church website links to it. I would never give it to anyone.

http://www.upci.org/doctrine/modesty.asp

[Praxeas]

See I don't think this should be on our website. Our websites should be about evangelism. Let the individual churchs teach this stuff in new convert classes or whatever

[SDG]

Praxeas ... are you making sense again?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Praxeas ... are you making sense again?

I can only hope so