What is new has anything changed?????

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Well said, Stephen. I couldn't agree more. I do not come for the purpose of changing anyone's mind or to have my mind changed. I come for the fellowship.

If people agree with me, that's nice. If they don't, I can read what they do believe and perhaps will stretch myself just a little so that I can grow.

One big benefit I see in a forum such as this is that back when I was UPC, we rarely questioned "why" we believed something. We were taught to believe what we were told, for the most part. Or as someone else said, in another thread - it was ok to question what we were taught. What we didn't do was question the answer that we got.
Please understand that I hesitated to say all of that because I have sat under some GREAT and WONDERFUL men of God!!! They truly loved souls! I'm not questioning them. It's just that this is the way things were done back then.

I'm encouraged when I can come to a forum like this and see people having discussions, arguments and dialogue about core beliefs. I don't expect to see people changed. Don't even want to. I just think it's much more healthy for us when we believe something and KNOW WHY WE BELIEVE IT. That's what I see people learning here.

I understand your sentiments here, but for those who don't know - this mindset is rapidly vanishing both outside and inside the UPC.

Re-evaluation of doctrines is crucial for a church to be effective and have maximum impact on the culture. The UPC is is maturing in this as are some other denominations.