Thinking of Leaving the UPC
 

Hi everybody. I'm new here.

I attend a UPC church, and have for years, and for months now, I have been becoming increasingly disturbed with several of the doctrines that they teach, as well as several doctrines that are held by the majority of other Oneness Pentecostal organizations, since they contradict what I see when I open up my Bible. (However, I still DO believe in the Oneness of God, and in the Acts 2:38 message.) I would like to leave, but I do not know where to go to, or even for that matter, who to talk to. That is why I am starting this thread. Perhaps some of you have some suggestions on what you think I should do.

Keep in mind that I do not wish to debate specific theological topics on this thread since it is just going to side track the conversation away from where I intend on it going. Also keep in mind that I do not wish to read a bunch of stuff bashing the UPC, especially from Trinitarians.

Thanks in advance for all of your suggestions.

Oh boy....

The Conservatives are gonna say that what you need to do is repent.

The Liberals are going to say that what you need to do is get outta dodge.

Others are gonna come in and wonder if you are really new, or an exisiting poster who wants to post with annonymity or someone who just wants to mess with us.

And Coop will most likely start a poll entitled "Should religious nut leave the UPC?"

And for the record, I will just be stopping by occasionally to make funny comments :)

can you tell what it is you don't agree with? anything other than Acts 2:38, oneness of God and baptism in Jesus name, I dont consider "doctrine"

Unless you mean some of those thing I couldnt begin to understand like Divine flesh doctrine, some things regarding end time..that sort of thing..

but if you mean "outward standards of dress"...that isnt doctrine...

and shouldnt be a reason to leave a church that teaches "truth"...just follow your heart on the "non" doctrine issues..IMO

I will name you two of them:

I do not believe in a literal future 1000 year reign of Christ on earth

I do not believe that it is possible for someone who is truely saved to fall away and lose their salvation, and that those who fall away were never saved to begin with

Sounds like your mixing your beliefs....

It starts as once saved always saved... and then you deny the same...

No I am not mixing my beliefs. The doctrine of the Preserverance of the Saints, aka eternal security or once saved always saved, teaches that someone truely saved will never fall away and lose their salvation. Therefore, those who fall away were never truely saved to begin with.

John 15 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain



John 15
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Even the Apostle Paul said that he did not want to be a castaway after preaching to others.

It is all about choice.

So basically you believe once saved... always saved? Correct?

I am very well aware of the proof texts that people use to refute eternal security and do not want to get into a back and forth debate on it on this particualr thread. I will probably start a thread on this topic some time down the road and we can talk about John 15 and other passages like it on there. I started this thread to get advice as to what I should do since I do not agree with the UPC on several doctrines such as this one, not to debate theological topics.