Kings of Leon

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by tstew

Delta, some have had legitimately bad experiences with some people in the org and I get that. What I'm saying is that that is a function of dealing with a body of human beings and that there is no group of people who are exempt from this. There are people in all kinds of churches all over the country who have had some negative experiences with people. I have had some negative experiences with people, but I choose not to allow it to overshadow my many positive experiences.
The other issue is that people look at some of the people they dealt with and make sweeping generalities about an international organization that just are not true. I am genuinely sorry for anyone who feels they have been wronged and I pray that they can overcome their bitterness, but I will always resist any attempt to paint the entire organization with the brush that affected them.
I know too many great people and leaders in the organization to allow that. I would not trade my church for any other in the country.

The reason why you can paint the whole organization a certain way is because the doctrine of the UPC is so different that other Christian denominations. The doctrine and subculture resulting from the doctrine is part of the whole organization.

Yes, I believe that their are certain bad experiences but I believe that a lot of the problems come from an incorrect teaching of the gospel. You can compare other denominations and groups who have gotten away from the gospel of Christ and you see the exact same issues in these groups that are plaguing the UPC/Oneness movement.

Acts 2:38 is a great message but it is not the gospel. I truly would love to see everyone filled with the holy spirit and baptized in Jesus name but not at the expense of the gospel. The holiness movement, charismatics, word of faith, prosperity gospel, Oneness Pentecostals, Mormons, JW, all faced and are facing the consequences of not placing enough emphasis on the foundation of Jesus Christ and simplicity of the gospel. What happens is folks start to put their faith in something other than Christ.