Are you Ex-UPC? Share your experience!

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by COOPER

If my family was forbidding me to live for Jesus, I would agree.

My marriage was saved by moving here, to not be in Church for this time has been a blessing.

I wish you understood. We are closer and more stable as a family.

Before we were faithful members of a Church, but the family was struggling.

We do take the kids to church and they visit other youth groups with friends.

Many of the kids in the neighbor hood go to a weekly youth meeting down the road.

It's not oneness, but they are thinking of Jesus.

We teach them oneness.

It's better than them fighting church.

Were the standards a problem for you or for your kids? Children emulate the actions of their parents.

[Jack Shephard]

You know what Coop, I am in the boat you are in. I am in the process of leaving the UPC. I moved to AZ from TN to marry my wife. The UPC church we attend has been her church her entire life. Somethings have transpirred recently and I am not comfortable in staying in the UPC. That is my choice, but thus far my wife has not chose to follow me so at the present time I am still at that church but praying on what to do.

As far as the standards go same boat at the same time. I do not follow the dress code standards. I try to follow Holiness unto God, but not by clothing. Niether do I walk around wearing things to bring Him shame.

I believe another part of why you started this thread and "talk" about leaving the UPC is that you want to know that you are not alone at it. I know you have friends that have left too. But, I think that part of you is thinking, "did I make the right choice?" I think part of you is looking for some to say, "it's ok to do that." I may be off base, but I feel the same way at times. I am convinced that standards are not altogther a heaven, hell issue. Although I have been raised in under the same Apostolic teaching for 20 yrs, I think that there is more out there beyond the UPC, but I love the UPC as a whole just parts a corrupt.

The UPC is a great movement. I believe alot of the endtime revival will come from the UPC, however, there are some pastors and ministers that taken control of their church and driving them into the ground. Just because a man is in the UPC and he is a pastor does not mean he is right in what he is doing. Sometimes too many people suffer because of a controling nature that a man or men have.

This movement can change its ways. Look over the history of the organization. They have softened up on certain issues and they get softer, but the main thing is the MESSAGE. Methods change. The MESSAGE does not. But the MESSAGE is not a set of "you can not's." It is a you can repent of the wrong. Baptized to cleanse, and receive His spirit to live eternally.

Maybe I got off topis alittle but I hope you know what I am trying to say.

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

You know what Coop, I am in the boat you are in. I am in the process of leaving the UPC. I moved to AZ from TN to marry my wife. The UPC church we attend has been her church her entire life. Somethings have transpirred recently and I am not comfortable in staying in the UPC. That is my choice, but thus far my wife has not chose to follow me so at the present time I am still at that church but praying on what to do.

As far as the standards go same boat at the same time. I do not follow the dress code standards. I try to follow Holiness unto God, but not by clothing. Niether do I walk around wearing things to bring Him shame.

I believe another part of why you started this thread and "talk" about leaving the UPC is that you want to know that you are not alone at it. I know you have friends that have left too. But, I think that part of you is thinking, "did I make the right choice?" I think part of you is looking for some to say, "it's ok to do that." I may be off base, but I feel the same way at times. I am convinced that standards are not altogther a heaven, hell issue. Although I have been raised in under the same Apostolic teaching for 20 yrs, I think that there is more out there beyond the UPC, but I love the UPC as a whole just parts a corrupt.

The UPC is a great movement. I believe alot of the endtime revival will come from the UPC, however, there are some pastors and ministers that taken control of their church and driving them into the ground. Just because a man is in the UPC and he is a pastor does not mean he is right in what he is doing. Sometimes too many people suffer because of a controling nature that a man or men have.

This movement can change its ways. Look over the history of the organization. They have softened up on certain issues and they get softer, but the main thing is the MESSAGE. Methods change. The MESSAGE does not. But the MESSAGE is not a set of "you can not's." It is a you can repent of the wrong. Baptized to cleanse, and receive His spirit to live eternally.

Maybe I got off topis alittle but I hope you know what I am trying to say.

Thanks for the post!

That's what this thread is about.

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by Berkeley

Were the standards a problem for you or for your kids? Children emulate the actions of their parents.

Standards were not a problem for me. Men have it easy.

But for women the standards are too much.

But it has been seven years now, with no standards.

Not going to change now.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by COOPER

Disclaimer:This is not a bash against UPCI.
Those who still are in the UPCI and keep standards.
Keep on like you are.



Are you Ex-UPC??? No-longer keep the traditional UPCI standards?
Tell us about your self.

My past does not define my future!

[rkentsmith]

I am so thankful for the grace of God.....

And the blood of Jesus Christ.....

The blood covers the past.....

And he forgets it.....

It is so sad that those that claim liberation and the grace of God cannot be Christlike enough to forgive and foget the past and allow the blood to cover it....

Instead it must be rehashed time and time again.....

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; KJV

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by rkentsmith

I am so thankful for the grace of God.....

And the blood of Jesus Christ.....

The blood covers the past.....

And he forgets it.....

It is so sad that those that claim liberation and the grace of God cannot be Christlike enough to forgive and foget the past and allow the blood to cover it....

Instead it must be rehashed time and time again.....

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; KJV

Sometimes it's good to revisit the past. I do lots and every time I do for the most part it just makes me thankful over and over and over again for God's goodness to me.

There are things that have happened in the past that when I think about them makes my heart hurt, but they are part of who I am. I've had to deal with that and move on ..... and when we do that properly there is no bitterness. No lashing out and back. No blame and no pointing fingers.

We gain understanding as time moves on and we look back at past events. We gain wisdom as well.

I don't want to ever stop looking back, even at the things that have hurt. They are part of me, part of who I am and those things can help to make us stronger, better and even more determined to allow God to shape us and mold us and direct us.

People say, "just get over it". Well, it's partly true. You need to get over bitterness and all the other junk that goes with that. But I never want to get over my past - even the bad. Deal with it properly and move on but the past will always be the past. I appreciate mine - even the stuff I thought would kill me at the time.

Originally Posted by COOPER

If my family was forbidding me to live for Jesus, I would agree.

My marriage was saved by moving here, to not be in Church for this time has been a blessing.

I wish you understood. We are closer and more stable as a family.

Before we were faithful members of a Church, but the family was struggling.

We do take the kids to church and they visit other youth groups with friends.

Many of the kids in the neighbor hood go to a weekly youth meeting down the road.

It's not oneness, but they are thinking of Jesus.

We teach them oneness.

It's better than them fighting church.



Leaving was the best thing we did, it brought us a closer deeper walk with Gods perfect agape (Jesus).


I understand what you are saying, seventeen years ago I remember how the church try to break up my own marriage, the pastor even went as far as to say divorce my husband, why? Because my husband wanted answer to many of the issues you have posted here, instead of getting any he was told it’s just the devil, or pray through, “don’t touch or questing the anointed ones brother”!

The pastor and members in the church kept asking me, “ who do you love more God or your husband”? If he leaves this truth (UPC) you know you got make a choice sister, “it’s God or hell”,this went on for months, finally I decided with much prayer staying in their so-called truths that could not be back up with bible was not wroth leaving an honest faithful godly husband who only wanted God truths over mans ideal of what God should be, nor did I believe for one moment God approved of me taken our three small children away from there father or home. Gods not in the business of breaking up husbands, wife’s or tearing family apart . Sadly man has brought condition to the table that have nothing to do with God or truths or grace, it’s about control and power.

Nor do I believe one needs a church to live and be faithful to God, you have God within you or you don't, the church is the one who needs God in order to be these things. Nor can God be kept in a box of four wall that man has brought about. Coop, I hope you find what your looking for, but the peace and love and answer you seek will only be found outside the box in the truth of Gods loving arms, in deep prayer.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by CupCake



Leaving was the best thing we did, it brought us a closer deeper walk with Gods perfect agape (Jesus).


I understand what you are saying, seventeen years ago I remember how the church try to break up my own marriage, the pastor even went as far as to say divorce my husband, why? Because my husband wanted answer to many of the issues you have posted here, instead of getting any he was told it’s just the devil, or pray through, “don’t touch or questing the anointed ones brother”!

The pastor and members in the church kept asking me, “ who do you love more God or your husband”? If he leaves this truth (UPC) you know you got make a choice sister, “it’s God or hell”,this went on for months, finally I decided with much prayer staying in their so-called truths that could not be back up with bible was not wroth leaving an honest faithful godly husband who only wanted God truths over mans ideal of what God should be, nor did I believe for one moment God approved of me taken our three small children away from there father or home. Gods not in the business of breaking up husbands, wife’s or tearing family apart . Sadly man has brought condition to the table that have nothing to do with God or truths or grace, it’s about control and power.

Nor do I believe one needs a church to live and be faithful to God, you have God within you or you don't, the church is the one who needs God in order to be these things. Nor can God be kept in a box of four wall that man has brought about. Coop, I hope you find what your looking for, but the peace and love and answer you seek will only be found outside the box in the truth of Gods loving arms, in deep prayer.

I too had a pastor that suggested that I divorce my husband because he quote "had no use for him", and because my husband questioned the pastor's need to micro-manage our lives.

That pastor told me that if I divorced my husband I might one day meet a nice Christian man to marry. To be honest, I had a struggle with this, because I do not have an easy marriage, and in the flesh, I have often been tempted to take the easy way out.

Ironically, this same pastor refused to perform (or approve of )the marriage of a lady in our church to a divorced man. (who was divorced prior to being saved).

It always amused me that his "conviction" seemed to line up with the best way to control the people in the congregation.

[The Mrs]

I am glad there is a place we can come to and express ourselves along with others.

Sometimes our experiences are difficult. It has helped me to know there are others like me. That I'm not alone.

And it has greatly helped me to read how others have overcome.

There seems to be a common thread among those who have faced great difficulty...it has brought you to a closer relationship with Jesus. When you have been taught/living with so many wrong idealisms, it's hard to get a good grasp...and when everything falls out from underneath you, all you have left is Jesus to hold on to. I am thankful for this. There are some that would turn aside, or walk away.

I thank God for never letting go of me when my life came crashing down around me.