Apostolic Friends Forum

Friday, September 28, 2007 - a day that, for conservatives, will live in infamy.

On this day, the line of demarcation was removed.

On this day, the gates were opened to sin and debauchery.

On this day, the United Pentecostal Church International became as any other charismatic organization.

On this day, the organization was sent in motion down a slippery slope.

On this day, standards of holiness and righteousness were unceremoniously dropped by liberals and moderates who love the creature more than the Creator.

On this day, the UPCI put on paint, cut her long hair, put on sinful rags and became as a prostitute.

This day, according to one conservative, is likened to Tuesday, September 11, 2001 when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center and the United States was thrust into a long, difficult and costly war.

Because of this day, ten years from now the United Pentecostal Church will be a godless organization, immersed in sin, scandals and having no sign of holiness.

Because of this day, ten years from now the United Pentecostal Church will no longer believe the necessity of the plan of salvation as we now know it: Repentance, water baptism in Jesus Name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

All because of this day: Friday, September 28, 2007.

All because 1,065 ministers voted "Yes" on Resolution 4.

:missing UPCI

While this is largely TIC, many of the above are factual statements made by conservatives who are upset with the results of the vote.

I wonder what would have happened would the vote have gone the other way. And what if the moderates and liberals were the ones talking about leaving the organization, as what happened after the abominable AS.

I doubt there would have been the plea from the conservative side to whether the storm and stick with the brethren. If so, it would have been very brief.

Instead the reaction would be one that any minister who left over the vote would be considered, by conservatives, to be wrong. They would be put under question and many ministers would be beaten down by the conservatives for their exit from the UPC.

So now what of the conservatives who are leaving? Why is it that when ministers left in '92 they were labeled compromisers, backsliders and other choice terms; and yet the conservatives who are leaving now are said to be men of conviction and un-reproach?

Isn't it possible there were men of conviction who left in '92? Isn't it possible that now there are conservatives leaving out of anger, and a losers walk mentality? They didn't win, so they're leaving. They lost the game so they're taking their ball and not playing anymore.

Don't mistake or misconstrue my statement here. I don't believe there are any "losers" here; and I don't consider anything done for Christ a "game." These are just analogies I've heard used.

It would be a shame for certain conservatives, indeed some from this board, to leave over this resolution. It's not honorable. Not any statement of conviction. In fact, it's a statement of weakness.

Nothing has changed.

For years, UPCI churches across the nation have disagreed and varied in standards. Like a snowflake, no two churches are alike in beliefs on outward standards. Each church is different, in some way, from other churches. Some are ridiculously conservative; others woefully liberal and the rest are somewhat moderate, though all are different.

Yet that's never stopped them from continuing in fellowship together. Yes, some refuse to fellowship with others - mostly it's conservatives refusing to fellowship with those who don't believe in the standards they believe in. (That's not a knock against conservatives, but just a fact.) But for the most part, we've all still continued in fellowship despite our differences knowing that the one thing we share is our doctrine of salvation - and that will never change.

It's sad that through all the differences, the one thing anyone chooses to leave over is a vote on allowing television ministry.

Again, nothing has changed. Just as with outward standards, conservatives can choose to continue on without any change. It's not as though anyone is being forced to do something they don't want to do.

It blows my mind the statements I'm hearing from conservatives . . . almost as though they're hoping the UPC crashes and burns because of this vote. They want so desperately to be right that they're hoping and praying their warnings of doom and gloom are proven true.

While on AFF they present a façade . . . in private and amongst others, conservatives are in a meltdown . . .

All because of one day, September 28, 2007, and one vote, Resolution 4.