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View Full Version : False Religion...Need some solid advise.


tand3m
05-20-2011, 11:27 AM
This is a question for some elders, or ministers of the UPC...however all opinions are welcome. This is kind of a long story but I really need some advice on this matter. I used to go to a UPC church. When started going there was about 50 members. The pastor seemed like a cool guy at first....I went for about 6 years. Over time however I started noticing some things that kinda rubbed me the wrong way.....Now before I continue, The whole reason for me posting this is to remain obscure. I'm not going to mention names...or in anyway say who I am or who the other people are or where this took place.

The pastor is a real endtimes buff. Most of his sermons are on endtimes, They ordered Brother Baxters Endtime magizene for the whole church. Mens fellowship meeting were always studying the final 7 years or danials 70th week....Then things started getting weird, there was a sermon that the pastor made about the feasts of the lord. and he predicted that Jesus would return on the feast of trumpets...year unknown...if you are unfamilure with the bible study on the Jewish feasts check out this link: http://www.layevangelism.com/qreference/chapter33.htm#significance

In addition to this he started making "predictions"...A few years ago, he predicted that there was going to be a nuclear war that summer i believe the summer of 2006 or 2007...eh cant remember... He got the whole church to start donating food, and we built a fallout shelter in the basement of the church. Then 2 years ago he predicted that in June of 2010, there was going to be a massive earthquake that was going to cause a megatsunami to race accross the atlantic and wipe of the eastern seaboard of the US.....Now mind you when I say "predicted" He said and wrote down....Thus saith the Lord....that God spoke to him and told him this...

Around this time, I also realized that he didn't really believe in Jesus being fully man and fully God....His belief is that Jesus was the son of God....that he was just a man....that he was not fully God...further to this he believes that when we are baptized in Jesus name and get the holy ghost, we are brought to the same level that jesus was, a child of God in the exacct same sence.....and no I did not missunderstand him. I claified. He meant exactly that. He also started to preach about giants and atlantis...it seemed to become an obbsession for him

It was also around this time he started to get kindof controling...in an unhealthy way. I'm not going to go into details that, but lets just say that he would make more "Predictions" aboiut people personally that were not true either. And if we question that, we are questioning God....and burn is hell for rebellion.

At this point I started praying to the Lord about what I should do. I trusted this guy with my soul, and my family's spiritual well being...God spoke to me and told me to leave...and so I did, and it just so happened, that he was dealing with alot of others too, includeing a few lisenced ministers. There was a hnadful of us that left within about a months time of each other.

For awhile we just met on our own, kinda like a cell group, we would pray together, read, study, and worship with instruments at our houses. I ended up moving out of the area. I currently am an active member of another UPC church in a differant district. God has truley blessed me since all of this.

So I went back to visit there recently and I spent some time with my old pastor....and sure enough hes "predicting" that next summer theres gonna be another earthquake and california is gonna break off the pasific coast lol.

So heres the question:

Nobody outside of that church is aware of any of this...Should I notify a presberter or the District superintendant...or should I just walk away from this and put it out of my mind....Honestly, my walk with God today is awesome, I am learning and growing and being used by him. I could just walk away from this and not have to deal with it ever again....but then there are the other members of that church who faithfully are following somebody who they belive is called of God becasue he says he is and they are afraid for their souls.


What should I do?

RandyWayne
05-20-2011, 11:38 AM
Be thankfully you did finally get out. The end game to these situations is always wife swapping and polygamy -with the head of the order being the one with all of the ex-wives "serving" him.

Before anyone can answer your question about reporting him to higher ups, do you think that there is a chance they know about him already and support his actions? Is this a strong "standards" and "obey THEM who have the rule over you(or else)" district?

Timmy
05-20-2011, 12:01 PM
If it's anything like the AG, nothing will happen if you report it. Still, might help you feel better about it, if you try.

mfblume
05-20-2011, 12:22 PM
I believe you should talk to the presbyters about it, and tell them you are doing so based upon 1 Cor 6:1-4.

faithit166
05-20-2011, 08:18 PM
i say place this in the lords hands give it to him its way to big for you,and pray for those in the church ,god is able to do great and mighty things god bless

seekerman
05-20-2011, 08:32 PM
This is a question for some elders, or ministers of the UPC...however all opinions are welcome. This is kind of a long story but I really need some advice on this matter. I used to go to a UPC church. When started going there was about 50 members. The pastor seemed like a cool guy at first....I went for about 6 years. Over time however I started noticing some things that kinda rubbed me the wrong way.....Now before I continue, The whole reason for me posting this is to remain obscure. I'm not going to mention names...or in anyway say who I am or who the other people are or where this took place.

The pastor is a real endtimes buff. Most of his sermons are on endtimes, They ordered Brother Baxters Endtime magizene for the whole church. Mens fellowship meeting were always studying the final 7 years or danials 70th week....Then things started getting weird, there was a sermon that the pastor made about the feasts of the lord. and he predicted that Jesus would return on the feast of trumpets...year unknown...if you are unfamilure with the bible study on the Jewish feasts check out this link: http://www.layevangelism.com/qreference/chapter33.htm#significance

In addition to this he started making "predictions"...A few years ago, he predicted that there was going to be a nuclear war that summer i believe the summer of 2006 or 2007...eh cant remember... He got the whole church to start donating food, and we built a fallout shelter in the basement of the church. Then 2 years ago he predicted that in June of 2010, there was going to be a massive earthquake that was going to cause a megatsunami to race accross the atlantic and wipe of the eastern seaboard of the US.....Now mind you when I say "predicted" He said and wrote down....Thus saith the Lord....that God spoke to him and told him this...

Around this time, I also realized that he didn't really believe in Jesus being fully man and fully God....His belief is that Jesus was the son of God....that he was just a man....that he was not fully God...further to this he believes that when we are baptized in Jesus name and get the holy ghost, we are brought to the same level that jesus was, a child of God in the exacct same sence.....and no I did not missunderstand him. I claified. He meant exactly that. He also started to preach about giants and atlantis...it seemed to become an obbsession for him

It was also around this time he started to get kindof controling...in an unhealthy way. I'm not going to go into details that, but lets just say that he would make more "Predictions" aboiut people personally that were not true either. And if we question that, we are questioning God....and burn is hell for rebellion.

At this point I started praying to the Lord about what I should do. I trusted this guy with my soul, and my family's spiritual well being...God spoke to me and told me to leave...and so I did, and it just so happened, that he was dealing with alot of others too, includeing a few lisenced ministers. There was a hnadful of us that left within about a months time of each other.

For awhile we just met on our own, kinda like a cell group, we would pray together, read, study, and worship with instruments at our houses. I ended up moving out of the area. I currently am an active member of another UPC church in a differant district. God has truley blessed me since all of this.

So I went back to visit there recently and I spent some time with my old pastor....and sure enough hes "predicting" that next summer theres gonna be another earthquake and california is gonna break off the pasific coast lol.

So heres the question:

Nobody outside of that church is aware of any of this...Should I notify a presberter or the District superintendant...or should I just walk away from this and put it out of my mind....Honestly, my walk with God today is awesome, I am learning and growing and being used by him. I could just walk away from this and not have to deal with it ever again....but then there are the other members of that church who faithfully are following somebody who they belive is called of God becasue he says he is and they are afraid for their souls.


What should I do?

No way will the overseers take the contrary views of a layperson over the word of the minister. You'll end up being the scapegoat, having the reputation of being a troublemaker. The folks there have apparently bought into the system and you'll be viewed as a backslidden apostate who 'left the truth' and now wishes to lead others astray.

It's a no win situation for you.

faithit166
05-20-2011, 09:04 PM
give it to the lord

Praxeas
05-20-2011, 09:08 PM
Absolutely report it

faithit166
05-20-2011, 11:07 PM
give it to the lord

RandyWayne
05-20-2011, 11:53 PM
give it to the lord

Yes, but report it as well.

It will most likely not be taken seriously but will wash your hands of his evil.

tand3m
05-21-2011, 12:46 PM
Allow me to claify my intentions. I'm not looking to make waves. I'm personnaly not affected by this situation anymore. As far as being labled a backslider who left the truth....well Ive already been called that lol...The opinions of men matter very little to me. God knows my heart...i answer to him...and thats it. The way I see it, there are 2 reasons to report this...one, is for the sake of the other people that stayed. two if for the reason that basicly he has lied to the UPC about what he really believes...and if they knew what he truely belived...well then he licenced would most likely be revoked and a new pastor would be brought in....then theres the side that...what do i care? I'm hundreds of miles away now and its not my problem....I see both perspectives. been praying about this for a few weeks now. theres not really any rush to do anyhting....i just needed some ccounsil and frankly i didnt want to go to anybody i know in real life becasue i kn ow this has the potental to get messy. Thank all of you for your advice. God bless you guys.

mfblume
05-21-2011, 03:15 PM
i say place this in the lords hands give it to him its way to big for you,and pray for those in the church ,god is able to do great and mighty things god bless

Paul would not say to deal with things with the church in 1 Cor 6 if we were meant to just leave it to the Lord. Matt 18 tells us that where 2 or 3 gather in his name to deal with unrepentant people, it's as if He were present Himself. This is the Lord's will.

Sabby
05-21-2011, 05:01 PM
If this were an independent cell group leader or something I'd say just leave it...Since this minister is UPC licensed and he could potentially be harming believers (which he is by claiming we are all "little Jesus'"), I'd report it with another witness to the authorities in the district. You might be labeled as a malcontent if you don't; then again, depending on the district, you could bring 50 witnesses and still be labeled a malcontent if it's a hardline district.
Praying about it helps, too...

Godsdrummer
05-22-2011, 07:39 AM
I have just one thing to say, or should I say ask, how in the world do leaders like this get the absolute control over people? Because we have misrepresented passages of Scripture to say what they don't. Jesus set the example as to how leadership is to be conducted in the church. Jesus never set himself up over the people and neither did he teach those he called to set themselves up over the people. One man should never have control over a group or be in a postion to cause other to follow him into false doctrine. On the other hand those that are still with him are not better than blind sheep that don't care as they won't study for themselves the word to see the errors of this mans teaching.

If the church is affiliated with UPCI than the org. can remove him but it will not be easy unless the whole group that is still thier votes him out. If the church is not affiliated and only the pastor carries license there is little the org. can do, other than take his credetials. It seem that those that will hear the voice of God have already taken God's advice and left not much else you can do now.