Is the grass truly greener....on the other side?!?
 

I have a question. As a United Pentecostal Church member, I am ofter flabbergasted at the amount of people (our people) that leave the UPCI for other denominations. I'm not talking about leaving and going to a WPF or ALJC church. I'm talking about leaving and retreating to a non-denominational church or something similar. In some cases UPCI pastors have completely taken their entire churches in this direction. (I know of a UPCI church here in Missouri that made a 180 degree turn just with in this past year, and they are still listed on the United Pentecostal Church International "church locator").

I guess my question is, is why? I'm not being bitter or hateful. I'm just curious. What makes some "BOOM" make a complete change like that? Some say it's freedom....but I still don't get it.

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

They've seen the light?
or
They've admitted that the emperor does not have on any clothes.

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

I left the UPC in 1983 and I do believe the grass is definitely "greener on the other side". The UPC and old time Oneness Pentecostalism in general is a closed religious culture where many of the traditions and practices are just that, traditions and practices, not biblical.

I also believe that many UPC preachers erroneously teach that trinitarians believe in three gods and are polytheistic. That is as untrue as trinitarians who say that Oneness people are "Jesus Only", that they deny the role of the Father and Holy Spirit.

That is not to say that there are not a lot of great people in the UPC and like. I have many relatives and friends still there. I call them my Brothers in the Lord without hesitation and a few of them even call me the same!

Also I would like to point out that in many cases leaving the UPC does not happen as you describe "Boom" a sudden change. Since I was a small child I had questioned the lack of logic and consistency in the extra biblical standards but of course only to myself because any questioning of what was taught or preached was "rebellion" and rebellions was "as the sin of witchcraft". So if you questioned a preacher you were evil. UPC folks aren't big on that whole Berean thing! I just decided as an adult that I no longer wanted to be a part of a religious sect that covered the truth of salvation up in so many extra biblical yokes. Including strange dress codes that are not biblical and put unneccessary burdens on particularlly women.

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

It is beautiful to walk in liberty. Legalism kills. I only speak from my own experience. There are some things that I am not willing to give up. I guess that is why I hang around moderates, or as I call them, balanced conservatives.

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

What convinces a person to leave a non-apostolic church and become apostolic?

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

Amen
:thumbsup:thumbsup

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

The church that I refereed to here in Missouri, literally transformed within a couple of months. Thats pretty quick...I think. I've had been there several times over the years, and always that it was a power packed church. Very Apostolic, if thats what you wanna call it. I recently visited, and there is no sign that it was a UPCI church at all. It's crazy....

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

That is interesting.

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

Sam,

When taught I did see "oneness", and baptism in Jesus' name. I did not have a "standards" revelation. I remeber going over the tracts and checking the bible references. I was a 15 yr old kid and I could see that the tracts (and the preaching of standards) were out of context. I shrugged it off. Eventually I was conditioned into thinking that I believed them.

Re: Is the grass truly greener....on the other sid
 

It's never a BOOM.. it's usually slow and steady, building and growing...