Where has Grace and Love gone...

Jack Shephard · #1 10-31-2011, 10:32 AM

As of today and for the past several months I haven't been in a UPC church. I know that the mode of operation is such that much doesn't really change in the UPC as a whole or at least changes don't happen quickly. I had a conversation with some UPC friends of mine last night and they told me that there still isn't much grace and love in the movement. This doesn't shock me since there wasn't much when I was in it. So my question is where did the grace and love go? Was it really ever there? Have we been a part of a bait-and-switch through the years? I am not trying to start a bash session, really I am not. I am curious because I have tons of friends and family still in the movement and it worries me that there isn't much grace or love in the movement, but they abound in judgement. Am I the only one that is feeling this?

Scott Hutchinson · #2 10-31-2011, 10:45 AM

What bothers me about Spirit Filled believers in general is a harsh critical spirit that many have fallen victim to and I'm not talking judging things that the bible labels as sin.

For example someone gets sick or has family probelms,then someone will say oh they have sin in their life or such things wouldn't come their way

Or someone falls into a moral failure then someone says oh they never had the goods to start with.

I'm not the brighest bulb on the string,but I have learned we need to be compassionate towards people.

berkeley · #3 10-31-2011, 10:45 AM

oh mercy!

Dagwood · #4 10-31-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

As of today and for the past several months I haven't been in a UPC church. I know that the mode of operation is such that much doesn't really change in the UPC as a whole or at least changes don't happen quickly. I had a conversation with some UPC friends of mine last night and they told me that there still isn't much grace and love in the movement. This doesn't shock me since there wasn't much when I was in it. So my question is where did the grace and love go? Was it really ever there? Have we been a part of a bait-and-switch through the years? I am not trying to start a bash session, really I am not. I am curious because I have tons of friends and family still in the movement and it worries me that there isn't much grace or love in the movement, but they abound in judgement. Am I the only one that is feeling this?

I'll just put it this way: from my experience, and after hearing all about how we're living in the dispensation of grace, I can tell you of a number of circumstances where one would have thought we were living under the dispensation of tyranny and spiritual murder.

Grace is preached so much in some circles...so much so they can't see the forest for the trees. But, they miss the bigger picture, likely because they're so hung up on dictating and legislating certain minor things in "Thus saith the Lord" fashion. Nonsense!

Until the trumpet sounds, we're still in the dispensation of grace...dispensing grace from God to spread it to the world around us. The world will know what people of faith stand for without ever having to voluntarily offer it. Grace falls under the umbrella of love, thus "the greatest of these is love..."

Scott Hutchinson · #5 10-31-2011, 11:03 AM

I've had some probelms in my life as of late,and it pays to be merciful.
Many Christians have forgotten the pit from whence they were dug.

Amanah · #6 10-31-2011, 11:08 AM

In my limited humble experience being an UC

we were good at praying and fasting and saving the lost and having revival

we were NOT good at being open and honest and having personal relationships

we were too worried about letting our guard down because someone might see that we were not perfect

we were busy attending church, teaching Sunday school, going on bus ministry, singing in the choir, knocking doors, didn't really have time to make friends if you were doing what you were supposed to be doing . . .

I guess my post is about the love part of your question

Pressing-On · #7 10-31-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

As of today and for the past several months I haven't been in a UPC church. I know that the mode of operation is such that much doesn't really change in the UPC as a whole or at least changes don't happen quickly. I had a conversation with some UPC friends of mine last night and they told me that there still isn't much grace and love in the movement. This doesn't shock me since there wasn't much when I was in it. So my question is where did the grace and love go? Was it really ever there? Have we been a part of a bait-and-switch through the years? I am not trying to start a bash session, really I am not. I am curious because I have tons of friends and family still in the movement and it worries me that there isn't much grace or love in the movement, but they abound in judgement. Am I the only one that is feeling this?

I hate you. I hate my neighbor and I hate my dog. Oh, wait, I don't have a dog! I hate my cat.

Did that make you feel better?