Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

After you left, did you often go to forums you knew where UPCers would be and trash the UPC non-stop then after someone pointed out you sounded bitter claim "Oh Im over it and have moved on. I have no stones to throw"?

:heeheehee

Prax - it's "relating their experience," not bashing.

:lol

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Oh right...forgot :icecream

Ha ha this thread brings the funny.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

No...sure didnt...kept to myself...didnt try to convince anyone or defend my actions because ultimately it was my decision and not something that could be related and explained in one simple discussion or conversation.Tried having some honest discussions about it and ended up experiencing all kinds of defensiveness to the nth degree... it was the equivalent of covering your ears going "LALALALALA CANT HEAAAAAR YOOOU" So instead of waste my time I just kept my mouth shut...they went their way n I went mine.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Prax,

I hope you asked this question in sincerity and not just to laugh and scorn the people who may reply.

When I left, I was hurting so deeply, I cannot even describe it. I came to forums because I needed to talk, needed to make sense of what happened to me.

I would say "ah" and people would jump me like nobodies business and scream and yell about what a bitter, horrible backslid person I was. I had to leave for my own emotional safety. I came back later, after I had healed some and did not talk about anything but "safe" subjects for a long time.

It is very telling to me that every time anyone brings up a "not safe" subject, meaning anything negative about the UPC, like it's ugly hang nail on it's big ugliest toe that is the most obvious fault of the UPC, some people just can't handle the slightest bit of criticism at all. I think that is very sad. For these people, there is no rationality to constructive criticism for they believe that ANY criticism is hateful and spiteful.

I can't help that though. And watch the fur fly from all the people I just described after I post this.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Prax, not sure I understand the title of this thread. Do you mean did a person scorn the UPC when they left? Asking "did you scorn when you left the UPC" seems odd phrasing.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I rued the day of ever stepping foot into a UPC congregation. Those are years I'll never get back; years I could have used doing something for God instead of sitting on a pew, because of a suspicious pastor who thought I was assigned by a trinitarian church to subvert and overthrow his congregation with trinitarianism.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

That is what happens when your nickname is "Dante's Inferno"! On a more serious note what do you mean by "instead of sitting on a pew because of a suspicious pastor who tought I was assigned by a trinitarian church to subvert and overthrow his congregation with trinitarianistm"

Did you come from that trinitarian church when you started going to the UPC one? Did you express differences in doctrine that were a cause for him believing that? There has to be much more to this story!

There had to be something that made this pastor think what you said he thought even if just a small thing that his imagination blew up. Give us details!

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I asked because people have left this forum over daily seeing negative posts about the UPC. It's gotten so old and tired even I come here less and less.

It's supposed to be Apostolic Friends Forum but it's become "X-UPCers talk about the UPC"

You are actually the one being defensive over my pointing out that several of the posters here constantly do that.

Most of your accusations don't pertain to me

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

no that's not the problem and you know it. It's not "any time"..it's the fact that it happens ALL the time over and over and over and over. You don't see it because you are not on the receiving end.

How would you feel if your friend or spouse constantly ragged on you over and over and over..criticized you?

It gets OLD real fast

Second, I have NO problem with "unsafe subjects", as you can see I have discussed every topic pertaining to beliefs and practices. I have dealt with standards, tongues, godhead, attitudes, magic hair etc etc

I can DO that without saying "The UPC...."

Do You understand? Even those who are not in the UPC have gotten tired of it.

Why can't we talk about the topics by finding common ground instead of alienating UPCers?

Why can't we talk about topics without having to always make it specifically about the UPCers?

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

That was intentional

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

This might surprise you, but I think I can relate. My husband as most know, is an Atheist. And he is a great guy, and we are very much in love. But every once in awhile, he makes one snarky comment too many. And I'm all like "Errrggg...I get it. Christianity is stupid, and Jesus doesn't exist. Point made. Please drop it."

And he always looks so surprised and confused and says "I'm sorry, It was just a joke"

ILG - I, of course, totally understand your perspective too, because I've traveled the same paths.

It's like how when you're a kid, YOU can pick on your little brother, but you'll beat up anyone else who tries?

To people like ILG and I, because of our past, still feel that partial connection to the UPC that will never be erased, as it once was a major part of our lives.

But I think to others, those who are still a part, we've left and rejected the family, and therefore have lost the right to safely criticize.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I understand what you are saying, Mich, but as far as I am concerned I will always have the right to chime in about this organization. I have earned that right. ;) However, I rarely do because of all the drama that surrounds it. It gets wearisome.

Just curious, how long ago did you last attend an UPC endorsed service?

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I understand. :nod

For me, it was 2007. I did things big back then, so I made a big announcement, and garnered a 50+ page thread.
( http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...ead.php?t=4851 )

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

What difference does it make?

As stated, I was curious. If you don't want to answer, that's fine.

I tried asking how many UPC churches ILG has been in and was given the run around as well.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I have learned that it is never okay to criticize the UPC (in my experience).

It was not okay when I was newly in the church because I was new and didn't "understand".

It was not okay when my husband was the assistant pastor and I was worship leader because we were just assisting.

It was not okay when we were in Home Missions because we were new pastors.

It was not okay when we started pastoring an established work because "they" said so.

It was not okay when we found embezzling going on because we were supposed to let the district superintendent handle it.

It was not okay when the district superintendent did not handle it but pushed it up under the rug.

It was not okay when we were leaving.

It was not okay after we left because we were "bitter" and "backslid".

It is not okay now because we no longer attend.

See, it just isn't okay.

Which means, according to the UPC, it is not and never was okay for me to have an opinion, a voice, a question, a comment or ANYTHING negative.

But it was okay when we assisted for free for 9 years. It was okay when we built a church and financed it for 5 years. It was okay when we pastored practically for free for another 5 years.

See, giving and praising and all that is okay.

But don't you ever, ever criticize, even if people are embezzling and the district superintendent is covering it up. Because that would be WRONG!

And there you have it. :)

This probably deserves a whole other thread but, I find this whole subject interesting. In my youth, I went to a church where the pastor held a license and the church was registered as a UPC church. At this church the UPC, the politics and talking points were endorsed heavily. The people ate it up and called themselves UPC. The church I attend now and for the last 22 years would be considered independent. My pastor and I are licensed with the UPC. In the last 22 years I haven't heard a mention of the UPC behind the pulpit but we do hear a lot about The Kingdom. In fact, almost all of our members would have no clue what you are talking about if you said the word UPC. I associate with plenty of licensed ministers and rarely hear anything of the UPC. I think I hear more about the UPC here than any where else I go, except a maybe certain district function. I think in an environment when an earthly kingdom is promoted over Gods kingdom people are likely to be hurt. I would blame this on the ministry that is doing this and not the organization they hold a license with.

I agree.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

You betcha I scorned!!!

What fun is it to leave something like that when you can't talk bad about it, run it into the ground, berate anyone who is still in it...

What kind of a guy you think I am anyway? Some left leaning hypocrite? Man oh man I scorned!!!

Whoo hee,

LOL

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Why here? Of all places knowing there are people here that still go to the UPC?

I don't think you REALLY understand what Mich is saying. It's US who are tired of it who weary. IT'S OLD. It goes on over and over and over and over.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

And on and on and on and on.

You really don't understand. It's not that you had an opinion or criticism, it's that you tell us over and over and over and over and over and over...and not just you but others and if you REALLY Did understand Mich's point, you'd be more sympathetic than defensive over it.

Over and over and over and over, month after month, year after year...I set my watch by it :heeheehee

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I'd personally prefer not to hear from the Pulpit anything about any organization other than the Kingdom of God

Amen. Amen.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Because I can do what I want.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

That's how I feel about the continual anti-Bible/faith/Christian posts & polls seen here. Do you not tire of those?

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I get tired of those posts too. For me it's not so much the subject, but the negativity all together that gets old. I guess that's why I don't come here much anymore.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

That doesn't answer why here and for the record, you can't do what you want.

You are permitted to do certain things here but not everything. Thus you are permitted to whine about the UPC even though you are no longer in it and I am permitted to reciprocate

But that does not answer, of all forums, WHY here in a forum where UPCers are would you do this?

You can climb Mt Everest too...do you? There is always a reason and "Because I can" is not a reason. It's the reason you are able to, not the reason you choose to.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Yes, I see more 'UPC' stuff though.

And I have said things about Timmy and others doing it.

But we try to allow open discussions, openess without bashing. truth should not fear testing.

But if you do have a problem with a certain post, you need to report it so the Admins can see it. We don't and cant read all posts

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Yes you can and every one who is sick of your constant scorn can put you on ignore.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Exactly.

But if more and more of you guys would report these posts to the Admin so they can see, perhaps something would happen

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

I see more anti-Bible/faith/Christian postings. Perhaps it comes down to what discussions are accessed, how this is viewed.

May I ask a question on this statement found in the rules? "We welcome and encourage visitors of other faiths to post and ask sincere questions in their honest search to learn more of our faith and about our wonderful Lord, Savior, and God whose name is Jesus Christ."

While you are most correct that truth should not fear testing, when participants are here who openly share they are either atheist or agnostic, my thoughts are they are not posting and asking "sincere questions in their honest search to learn more of our faith and about our wonderful Lord." When they continually attempt to cast doubts upon the Bible and faith, how is this allowed day after day, month after month and year after year? Posts are not questions or discussions because they want to learn about God, but rather appear to be because they wish to share how they feel the Bible is discredited or how faith is worthless and so on.

As this is an Apostolic board and the putting down of man-made Apostolic organizations is not welcomed here (there is a reason for my saying man-made...it is not a cut), then why is there not the same cry against the other, which is not man-made? The latter is set up by God & the former is about organizations set up by man that will come to an end.

My question is, how do these other posts (anti-Bible/faith/Christian) fall within your written forum rules? If ILG and anyone else is told to take her UPC related posts to ex-pents, then why aren't these others being told to take their posts to an atheist or agnostic board?

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Use the Post Reporting tool. Let the Admin know.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Please do.

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

You got it!!

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

Re: Did You Scorn Leaving the UPC?
 

You are right, however God has infinity patience, a person might rant for years against God, but they can not do nothing against the kingdom of God, Christianity keeps on growing despite the attacks from atheists and others.

God gives people time to repent, even if an atheist lives to be 100 years old there will be a day when that atheist is gone but Christianity will still be here.

For centuries atheists and their ilk have attacked God and the Bible, they are all gone, but the Bible and God are still here.