Bombshell- Considering going back to the UPC - Page 12

ILG · #**111** 03-10-2013, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC1

I think the loss of "fellowship" gained in a closed religous sect is the thing people miss the most when leaving the UPC. That feeling of "belonging" to the club. Being a part of a group of people who proudly wear a "badge" (dress code) that labels them as good Christians. All of a sudden they are in a world where their Christianity is judged by their honesty, integrity, fruit of the Spirit, etc rather than how they look.

I think this is a large part of it. There is definitely this missing element after leaving. You knew you were absolutely a part of something when in the UPC. That didn't mean you were wholeheartedly accepted necessarily, but you were a part. Being out of that culture feels like a loss. Either you love the liberty more or you love the belonging more.

shag · #**112** 03-10-2013, 11:40 AM

I ve read very little of this thread, but I suppose my primary thoughts would be, how will you react (if at all) to teaching that you disagree with? (Based on u said yourself , Gods word is first priority). I ask because for myself, the success rate of voicing any objections to teaching that I disagree with has been minuscule. "Let God be the one to align any pastoral("man of god") teaching that is off", seems to be the primary opinion of the upc church, "in the pulpit and out". One minute I enjoy the preaching, next minute I'm thinking I can't listen another minute. We stll attend UPC, even after both getting "demoted" out of ministries a few years ago for a beard and my wife trimming her hair(after 6 months of prAyer and then heeding our dr suggestion w neck knots from the weight). It has been extremely difficult for us, however I fell that I'll have issues with teaching wherever we go, probably worse elsewhere. So we have not left.
Just my brief 1 cent input...

Jason B · #**113** 03-10-2013, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC1

The UPC is a closed culture / religous sect so of course there is a "bond" that is different than other churches.

The commonality is the extensive rule book of do's and don'ts, the rigid dress code, etc. It forces a "bond" or closeness.

Also because of the "closed" culture a church of 200 UPCers will have a higher percentage of deeply committed Christians than maybe a church of 400 who are not legalists. This is simply because the church not off in the ditch with a rule book allows people to attend and follow Christ at different paces. They are preached and taught truth, God's morality, fruit of the spirit, etc but they are not inspected and hounded to be at a certain point in their walk all of the time and not forced to adhere to some extra biblical dress code.

I think the loss of "fellowship" gained in a closed religous sect is the thing people miss the most when leaving the UPC. That feeling of "belonging" to the club. Being a part of a group of people who proudly wear a "badge" (dress code) that labels them as good Christians. All of a sudden they are in a world where their Christianity is judged by their honesty, integrity, fruit of the Spirit, etc rather than how they look.

I think there is a lot of truth here. Certainly there is a subculture, especially in the ultra conservative wing of the UPC, which tends to bond with an us against everybody else attitude. I'm not interested in that kind of fellowship. If we do decide to go to a UPC, we're going as who we are. If I sin, I need to be rebuked and corrected from the scripture. But if someone judges me because I don't line up with their conviction, then as an earlier poster said, "their just a ninny." LOL.

But I also agree that in "mainstream" Chritianity there seems to be a lot less committed Christians by percetage of church membership. Of course this is due to 2 factors 1)some OPs seem committed, but really they are serving God through fear and 2)mainstream Christianity is full of unconverted, but professing believers, who really do not desire to live to glorify God, but they want to go to heaven so attend church.

This goes back to the old question of the true church vs. the visible church.

Evenuntodeath · #**114** 03-10-2013, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

No they aren't. Just because they don't serve in leadership positions does not make them shut out of fellowship or shunned or given the cold shoulder. If that happened that church is not liberal UPC.

I never said it did. Not abiding by the dress code is what gets them shut out, leadership or not.

*AQuietPlace* · #**115** 03-10-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

I'd definetely visit before making any decisions. Recently we had a birthday party for one of my daughters, and some old freinds came from various pentecostal backgrounds. We had great time and really enjoyed the fellowship with all those people, and love to be around all of them. Its tough sometimes because fellowship shouldn't be the first reason to pick a church, if it were I'd have stayed where we were before. BUT fellowship is a big factor, and since I'm not likely to find any place where I totally agree with all doctrine, fellowship becomes by default a big factor in choosing the right church.

Fellowship *is* a huge factor. I think it is one of the primary reasons for 'church'. Feeling like you "belong" in a church is of tremendous importance, and I think it's hard to ever grow in a church if you don't have that feeling of connection.

CC1 is correct, too, though..... there is a sense of "belonging" that comes from being part of a select group. Also, having a common background with someone really helps, too. I think that's why so many of us congregate together on sites like these, or facebook groups. I feel like I 'belong' here in a way that I never would on a mainstream Christian site. We understand each other. We have common terms that we use that others without our background wouldn't get.

It can be tough. I'm sure you'll make the right decision, after weighing it all out. There is never a PERFECT solution.

navygoat1998 · #**116** 03-10-2013, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Fellowship *is* a huge factor. I think it is one of the primary reasons for 'church'. Feeling like you "belong" in a church is of tremendous importance, and I think it's hard to ever grow in a church if you don't have that feeling of connection.

CC1 is correct, too, though..... there is a sense of "belonging" that comes from being part of a select group. Also, having a common background with someone really helps, too. I think that's why so many of us congregate together on sites like these, or facebook groups. I feel like I 'belong' here in a way that I never would on a mainstream Christian site. We understand each other. We have common terms that we use that others without our background wouldn't get.

It can be tough. I'm sure you'll make the right decision, after weighing it all out. There is never a PERFECT solution.

That is even true of us who are no longer Apostolic. Because even though I no longer attend a Oneness church, I still feel as if I still fit in with Oneness Pentecostals.

*AQuietPlace* · #**117** 03-10-2013, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by navygoat1998

That is even true of us who are no longer Apostolic. Because even though I no longer attend a Oneness church, I still feel as if I still fit in with Oneness Pentecostals.

Yes it is. Even though they may not think we fit in any more.