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

[Praxeas]

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?

[Austin]

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.

I have seen a lot of this not only in the UPC but also in other pentecostal churches as well. There are numerous reasons why this happens, but most of the time it's because of some inner secular indifference that has occurred. In cases where entire churches swing aside and go another direction is normally associated with smaller groups of people who came into the flock under the current pastor and will leave and follow him. I have never seen any full gospel movements where all the people swing the other way, there are always a few that just go somewhere else.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump sort of thing.. It also happens in denominational churches as well.

[*AQuietPlace*]

It is never, ever a BOOM. It may look like that to outsiders, because the outside makes a sudden change. But the inside has been changing for a long, long time. Changing from traditional Pentecostalism is one of the hardest things a person can do, especially if they've been raised that way. It usually takes years of studying, praying, studying, praying before you're in a place where you feel ready to make the change. The thing is, no one sees what's going on inside you. So to them, it looks sudden and shocking. To you, it's a natural progression.

And to answer your question - yes, the grass really was greener.

[UnTraditional]

The grass was greener for me as well. When God delivered me from what one sister in my church called a gypsy spirit, I began to notice truth, began to notice grace, and began to see the truth in all her colors. But, for some, they like the grass on the other side as well. Some like Bermuda, and some like St. Augustine.

[bishoph]

My dad had a saying about this......he said the grass is greener, but that's usually because it's on top of a septic tank.

A preacher friend of mine says......the grass is greener but the dog is meaner..........

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by jfrog

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

It is the fact that Oneness doctrine is presented. It has a vast array of scriptural support. Same goes for Acts 2:38. Its simply more of the truth.

Having said that modern "Apostolics" still lack a lot of other truth.

[Hoovie]

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....

I would be interested in knowing the church you reference, and also what signs you did not see.

I can think of two that have had some shifting here in MO. I don't think there has been any big changes doctrinally... however when the emphasis is less performance based, it does result in more tolerance both in "dress code", and in the expectation of demonstrative worship.

[rgcraig]

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 are you looking for?

[Apprehended]

We are living in the latter day of a passing church era in which is yet another cycle of spiritual highs and lows. We are living at the close of a day after which night will fall in which we will be forced to endure before the first horns of light appear on the Eastern horizon heralding a new day of glory that will vivify the whole spiritual world. What you are seeing about you is overwhelming deception, death and dying, having a form of godliness, that will pass on into judgment while the cycle begins anew.

[ILG]

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.

I can only speak for myself. My husband and I pastored for 10 years. For most of those years, I was a true believer. I was completely sold out and gave everything I had and then some. I didn't see any holes in the doctrine. In time, I began to see holes in the doctrines. The fact that people treated us like ........ the whole time we were in the UPC left no hard decisions. If the doctrine is incorrect, there is no need to put up with the ......... The grass is definitely greener. We don't attend church anywhere. I am much happier. I am not saying this route is for everyone, but at this stage in my life, it is the best thing I ever did. I may never return to anything. I do miss community, but since there never was a whole lot of that anyway, I probably more miss the idea or dream of what I wanted church to be more than what it really was.