Quote:
Originally Posted by Pressing-On
You sound a bit divisive in this post. Love ya, man, but I'm just sayin'... You don't sound like you "love" them either.
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Perhaps it sounds that way but that's not how it is. Just yesterday my wife and I had a short conversation about visiting a UPC in the metroplex for Sun eve service (where some our friends go). Supposedly it is moderate.
But the issues were talking about here make it difficult for me to actually follow through with thoughts of visiting because I don't want politics, I'm not going to be pinned down to violating my conscious about what I believe or lying about what I believe (especially for use in the ministry).
But I've got a big fellowship dilemma. I'm preacher at a Bible Church but can't find any real fellowship (or org) because I can't violate my conscious and say I believe in the trinity. I also baptize in Jesus name and I don't think I can be comfortable in a church that doesn't. Its not that I'm uncomfortable fellowshipping with trinitarians, but those who most reflect where I am on their side are the conservative (usually Reformed) type churches and they're not going to accept someone in any meaningful way who denies the trinity. Its not an unwillingness on my part to have a broad fellowship but on theirs. My unwillingness to fellowship is with people who don't believe in the deity of Christ and churches that don't emphasize repentance and personal holiness. (E.g. I don't seek fellowship with seeker churches, Word of Faith Churches, and traditional denominations don't tend to fellowship outside their own, and I'm not real interested in the Methodist, Baptist, Or Church of Christ - all the denominations common to my area). I've got some good personal fellowship from people who attend different churches, but nothing beyond that.
So I'm a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. The UPC still more closely reflects my values and beliefs more than any other fellowship I am aware of, plus there's still so many friends of ours who are in the UPC, so that is also tugs at me. But because of what I believe I don't know if I could go back. Not because I can't co exist, but because some of those brethren would seek to destroy me. (Perhaps not at the local level, but probably at the district level). And I'm not of the mindset anymore not to challenge them ( when I was young 20s I was intimidated and even when I had questions or disagreements mostly kept them to myself).
But my point is IF they allowed to spirit of unity that was present at the merger to again be in their midst then people like me would have fellowship. As is I feel like I'm on Gilligan's island (spirituality). I can survive the loneliness and isolation if I have to because Jesus is with me, but I admittedly yearn for some fellowship amongst like minded people with similar passions.
So I'm probably more pro UPC than you will give me credit for, but my statements stand. If the leaders were really led by the Holy Spirit they would be defined by love for the brethren not division of the same.