I see more lively discussion and folks encouraging each other in times of need,we have had MANY prayer requests answered on this forum because we may disagree on some things but we can come together in prayer for each others needs!
What I see now that makes me absolutely sick is; See all that has gone down in the last few days? NLYP and ALL those others leaving...... That is why I left the UPC and have NO desire to return!
Threats of lawsuits, freedom of speech quelched....you can't even voice your opinion without them pulling out the big FEAR factor. It makes me want to hack up a hair ball (not magic hair either!) Folks speak the truth and they don't want others to hear it! When the Ministry does something questionable your suppose to keep it hush hush, but a regular joe saint...........shout it from the roof top.........off with their heads (regular joe saint head).
I do have great memories of the UPC I was raised in, but truthfully now it appears to be self distructing. I thought it was the district I was in when I left that had so many problems and in-fighting but it appears over what I've seen the last few years and even more so in the last month that it is across the board. It is sad because I remember when we could all worship together the ultra conservatives, moderates and liberals (or so they called them). We could still come together at General Conferences, Camp Meetings, Youth Camps and WORSHIP TOGETHER! Awesome moves of God would transpire and now what is all this about threats of law suits and retribution?
You know it really saddens me to see this happening to the UPC. It isn't because of Moderates and Liberals beliefs, its because Folks that use to love God and look beyond differences to see the same ultimate goal that people be won to the Lord are now at each others throats and if it would stop there that would be bad enough but to now slander each other and bring false accusations against each other and want to destroy each other that is WRONG! God is not pleased by these actions.
We did not leave the UPC because of Standards, but because of how folks were treated. We really thought we could leave peacefully and just go and worshp God and live our lives for him. But what a rude awakening when we were slandered by the very folks we thought were our friends. Lie's were spread to the church from the pulpit (sorry it's the truth and GOD is my witness on this) Things that were told in private to the pastor in counseling were literally shouted out, bad enough but then it was twisted to imply someting totally different and very sinful!
We would have been better of counseling with a Priest! Acutally I say that but really we should of just taken our burdens to JESUS, he heals and protects you from your accusers.
We had people literally turn their backs on us when they saw us in town. Did it hurt, definately but Jesus was there to wrap his arms aound us and remind us that he was treated badly also.
I said all that to say this, we are missing the mark when we are threatening to sue each other or destroy each other's ministry because we don't like how our brother or sister believes. And while the enemy has us all distracted and tearing each other down, souls are dieing without knowing God!
What you percieve as fighting on here is in reality a safe place where folks can voice their opinions with each other and agree to disagree. Yes there are times that things get out of hand but we have administrators that step in and give those folks a cooling off time.
Let's not forget the real reason we serve the Lord, because we LOVE HIM and we want to see others come to know him in fullness and in truth! A final thought I will let his word speak for me.
1 John 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen.
Just a saint aka Rosebud
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