To be honest, I don't think He cares either way, but I do know one thing for sure. He doesn't need you speaking for Him.
HE does care, and HIS heart is panged by the blatant disobedience in denominations. HE told HIS Apostles how to structure the Church and when you try to build something the LORD commanded, without going according to the pattern, you become the god and standard unto yourself. I'm no UPC basher, but I can't thank GOD for what is in direct contradiction and disobedience to GOD. I am grateful for the UPC assembly that I was baptized in, and I am grateful for the Apostolic assembly my sister attends (which has a UPC pastor), but the fact still remains that they are disobeying GOD when it comes to the Apostolic structure of GOD's Church. I pray that more UPC pastors and churches will see the light, leave the organization, and seek for follow the NT pattern. I pray they continue to preach One GOD and Acts 2:38 salvation, but I pray they would seek to follow all the Bible. Until then, I still love them, and tell them there is something better.
HE does care, and HIS heart is panged by the blatant disobedience in denominations. HE told HIS Apostles how to structure the Church and when you try to build something the LORD commanded, without going according to the pattern, you become the god and standard unto yourself. I'm no UPC basher, but I can't thank GOD for what is in direct contradiction and disobedience to GOD. I am grateful for the UPC assembly that I was baptized in, and I am grateful for the Apostolic assembly my sister attends (which has a UPC pastor), but the fact still remains that they are disobeying GOD when it comes to the Apostolic structure of GOD's Church. I pray that more UPC pastors and churches will see the light, leave the organization, and seek for follow the NT pattern. I pray they continue to preach One GOD and Acts 2:38 salvation, but I pray they would seek to follow all the Bible. Until then, I still love them, and tell them there is something better.
GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex
I appreciate your opinion, but when you speak for God, I'd rather have His Word stating what you claim He feels about the UPC. Got scripture?
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
I appreciate your opinion, but when you speak for God, I'd rather have His Word stating what you claim He feels about the UPC. Got scripture?
Please read all the verses and ask yourself if you see this in the UPC? No doubt one can see this in the other orgs too, and in fact, in independent churches, there's almost an invisible denominationalism that goes on. We need to prevent this amoung ouselves. Also, the sole, senior pastor model contributes to a lot of problems we see in the UPC and other Apostolic assemblies.
ICorinthians 1:10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Titus 1:5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
1 Peter 5: 1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Matthew 23: 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Matthew 23: 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Please read all the verses and ask yourself if you see this in the UPC? No doubt one can see this in the other orgs too, and in fact, in independent churches, there's almost an invisible denominationalism that goes on. We need to prevent this amoung ouselves. Also, the sole, senior pastor model contributes to a lot of problems we see in the UPC and other Apostolic assemblies.
ICorinthians 1:10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Titus 1:5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
1 Peter 5: 1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Matthew 23: 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Matthew 23: 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex
I see nothing about plural pastors in scripture. In addition, understand that Peter and Paul were so divided, they had to part ways, but neither of them considered the other to be sinful in their beliefs. Wrong, yes, but not in a sinful way.
You said you see problems with a senior pastor model, but isn't that exactly what Paul was to all those churches? He appointed several men to several places and churches but he oversaw it all.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
I see nothing about plural pastors in scripture. In addition, understand that Peter and Paul were so divided, they had to part ways, but neither of them considered the other to be sinful in their beliefs. Wrong, yes, but not in a sinful way.
You said you see problems with a senior pastor model, but isn't that exactly what Paul was to all those churches? He appointed several men to several places and churches but he oversaw it all.
The UPC with the pastors who sit up high in throne chairs, along with district superintendents and the General Superintendent, are not the way the 1st century Apostolic church looked. The hierarchial model is priest worship all over again (the roots of the word hierarchy in Greek or Latin mean "priest worship"). The term senior pastor, is akin to Chief Shepard, or the Greek word archepoimen, which is used only once in reference to JESUS in 1 Peter 5:4, all the other ministers are "poimen."
The UPC with the pastors who sit up high in throne chairs, along with district superintendents and the General Superintendent, are not the way the 1st century Apostolic church looked. The hierarchial model is priest worship all over again (the roots of the word hierarchy in Greek or Latin mean "priest worship"). The term senior pastor, is akin to Chief Shepard, or the Greek word archepoimen, which is used only once in reference to JESUS in 1 Peter 5:4, all the other ministers are "poimen."
GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex
Fact is... 99% of churches in the world don't look like the early church in model.
I believe firmly that the Lord is still moving with us, in spite of us.
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Fact is... 99% of churches in the world don't look like the early church in model.
I believe firmly that the Lord is still moving with us, in spite of us.
EXACTLY!
I find that very comforting - just to know the Lord is interested in me and loves me in SPITE of my shortcomings.
Thank you Jesus, and please make me more like you!
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
Fact is... 99% of churches in the world don't look like the early church in model.
I believe firmly that the Lord is still moving with us, in spite of us.
No doubt the LORD is still working through the UPC to get the Gospel preached, but the fact is still that the organization is being disobedient.
99% of the religious groups in this world don't believe in the Apostle's doctrine, that's no excuse for the UPC to be in existence as a denomination, in direct contradiction to the ecclesial structure provided to us by the apostles.
Rather than think we have it all together, why don't we strive to be perfectly apostolic? My home assembly may not be perfect, but we are trying, and one by one, our sacred cows are going. We have a plain meetinghouse, a pastor who is trying to get a plural eldership (we currently have one pastor and one deacon), a house church movement we are trying to encourage as a suppliment to Sunday morning and Wednesday evening service, and a group of people who LOVE studying the WORD! I love the spiritual conversations I can have with the people at my assembly. Food pantry on Saturday always ends with a Bible discussion going, and when we went fishing after this week's pantry work, we even considered bringing our Bibles along so to be able to reference our points in case we'd get into a Bible discussion. And what's great is to see different interpretations surface before a discussion, and then a general unity develop by the time the discussion is over. I tell you, I could talk Bible all day! My heart aches for the carnal fellowship I see take place in some assemblies, and the "uncoolness" of talking Bible. This Christian experience, and love of Scriptures and fellowship is supposed to be an organic occurrence that takes place in every Christian assembly. But with the hierarchy, as the "priest's lips hold the knowledge", and the lack of understanding of NT priesthood of every believer, the ability of the "lay" saints to discuss Scripture is hindered. The hierachial, denominational model has more reprocussions than many think, and it breaks down the very goal of fellowship, it holds the saints back from their full potential, and it puts apostolic assemblies in a model derived from the Catholics and Protestants.
The UPC with the pastors who sit up high in throne chairs, along with district superintendents and the General Superintendent, are not the way the 1st century Apostolic church looked. The hierarchial model is priest worship all over again (the roots of the word hierarchy in Greek or Latin mean "priest worship"). The term senior pastor, is akin to Chief Shepard, or the Greek word archepoimen, which is used only once in reference to JESUS in 1 Peter 5:4, all the other ministers are "poimen."
GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex
You still haven't shown me where God detests the UPCI, or church organizations in general.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Hybrid Mode
