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

unitedpraise10 · #1 03-15-2011, 11:41 PM

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.

Sam · #2 03-15-2011, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unitedpraise10

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.

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

CC1 · #3 03-15-2011, 11:48 PM

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.

Sam · #4 03-16-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC1

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.

Amen

unitedpraise10 · #5 03-16-2011, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC1

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.

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....

jfrog · #6 03-16-2011, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unitedpraise10

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....

That is interesting.

Praxeas · #7 03-16-2011, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unitedpraise10

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....

what signs?

unitedpraise10 · #8 03-16-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

what signs?

The anointing isn't there. It's very stale. They've lost a ton of people. The dress is different. Etc...

Praxeas · #9 03-16-2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unitedpraise10

The anointing isn't there. It's very stale. They've lost a ton of people. The dress is different. Etc...

Ok, well I don't see what is so funny.

Anyways "anointing" is subjective. I've been in church meetings where people claimed the anointing was great, and not felt much of anything.

If they lost a "ton" (another subjective term) of people maybe they just did not like the direction the church went. A lot of churches have hard liners in them that resent change and leave.

The dress is different? Maybe they just have more visitors and sinners or maybe they just don't emphasize the UPC's version of Holiness?

Im not sure those are the signs they left the UPC for some other organization

CC1 · #10 03-17-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unitedpraise10

The anointing isn't there. It's very stale. They've lost a ton of people. The dress is different. Etc...

Again I don't know the particular church but in my opinion what many UPC folks consider the annointing I consider vain repetitions and a cheerleading / pet rally culture when it comes to worship.

I had enough screaming, yelling, twirling, running, "helicoptering", to last me a lifetime when I was UPC so I really enjoy being in the presence of God without all of the drama. Not that there is anything wrong with that (as they would say on Seinfeld).

I just don't see the "annointing" as how loud one can scream into a microphone. My pastor preaches very annointed messages and has not resorted to "holy breath" or screaming into the microphone a single time! No one has twirled down the aisle wailing to the top of their lungs yet the presence of God is in our church and changes peoples lives.