To be honest with you, I am just venting. I am getting to the point that I am growing weary of reading so many negative things about the Church. I know I have done my share of complaining in the past. No denial there. It's just that I have begun to see the Church as being under attack, from without and from within. There seems to be something afoot that is bent on destroying the Church, using any means possible, including those who are its members. It seems to be moving beyond the actions of individuals to discrediting the Church as a whole. I am not just talking about the UPC either. We seem to be disintegrating into splits and factions, each with its own ideas, purpose, and goals. There is an old saying that says, "United we stand. Divided we fall."
Yep.
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
To be honest with you, I am just venting. I am getting to the point that I am growing weary of reading so many negative things about the Church. I know I have done my share of complaining in the past. No denial there. It's just that I have begun to see the Church as being under attack, from without and from within. There seems to be something afoot that is bent on destroying the Church, using any means possible, including those who are its members. It seems to be moving beyond the actions of individuals to discrediting the Church as a whole. I am not just talking about the UPC either. We seem to be disintegrating into splits and factions, each with its own ideas, purpose, and goals. There is an old saying that says, "United we stand. Divided we fall."
A great falling away. But just imagine the ones that remain and stand the tests of the times and the new ones coming in may be so great that revival is sure to follow. And I am not talking about a revival meeting in a church building. But God's revival where whole cities and the country turn to Him. All the whiney-hineys will be fallen by the wayside.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
To be honest with you, I am just venting. I am getting to the point that I am growing weary of reading so many negative things about the Church. I know I have done my share of complaining in the past. No denial there. It's just that I have begun to see the Church as being under attack, from without and from within. There seems to be something afoot that is bent on destroying the Church, using any means possible, including those who are its members. It seems to be moving beyond the actions of individuals to discrediting the Church as a whole. I am not just talking about the UPC either. We seem to be disintegrating into splits and factions, each with its own ideas, purpose, and goals. There is an old saying that says, "United we stand. Divided we fall."
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.
Been there. Took over 20 years, but he found Jesus on his way to work one day. And became what he hated for so long. Imagine that.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Since more than 50% of first mariages end in divorce and an even higher percentage of 2nd marriages...chances are, Apostolic or not...the woman will be raising them by herself.
Just thought I'd add my $.02 since I have so many avid fans on this particular thread!
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
Thread probably does need to get back to its roots, but if one were to start a no fault divorce one I would weigh in HEAVY on the side of its contribution to the divorce rate.
Thread probably does need to get back to its roots, but if one were to start a no fault divorce one I would weigh in HEAVY on the side of its contribution to the divorce rate.
Start it - I agree with you!
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
That doesn't change the fact that more gets said about what's wrong with the UPC than what is right with it. I've seen the org. get nitpicked to death on these forums. Everything from standards to the manual to evangelism to foreign missions to the internet to tv, etc. The list of negativity goes on and on, while the list of positive things is almost non-existent.
Most of the time, when we talk about our families, it's discussing what's wrong with them and not what's right with them. Think about it.
We don't often talk about Joe, who is a lawyer and living in the burbs with his trophy wife, picket fence and 2.4 kids.
But Michael, the cousin who can't keep his hands off other people's stuff and has been in prison for most of the last 15 years in 6 states? Now THAT gets attention!
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Most of the time, when we talk about our families, it's discussing what's wrong with them and not what's right with them. Think about it.
We don't often talk about Joe, who is a lawyer and living in the burbs with his trophy wife, picket fence and 2.4 kids.
But Michael, the cousin who can't keep his hands off other people's stuff and has been in prison for most of the last 15 years in 6 states? Now THAT gets attention!
Maybe your family spends most of its time running each other down, but my family doesn't do that.
Just curious, but have to ask. In your assessement are you also including the ones that had nothing good to say about UPC that left to start their own organization or are you just holding it against the ones that have left period.
There are some on here that discuss the downfall of UPC that are still very much a part of UPC.
In addition, there are people wanting to bring about a change. You can't do this if all you do is talk about what's positive.
Even in my job, we have to address what's wrong in order to bring about change. If we don't, things get worse instead of better, yet it seems that all we talk about are the negative things. When we step back and look at the changes, however, that's when we see the reality of our efforts.
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
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