Will you join the UPC NOW ???? - Page 8

Sister Alvear · #71 01-02-2009, 11:20 AM

I am not UPC but for missionaries that I have known that "fit" into the mold it has been an untold blessing...
Some people do not fit the mold...guess I was one of them however I have nothing bad to say about the UPC...for it is only an organization...

scotty · #72 01-02-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerrickS

I can see most of that. Particularly the missionary support. Though I think much of that could be accomplished via a collection of independent supporters. The global fellowship aspect would be less important to me. My local fellowship is extremely valuable to me, however.

Well, even I am not global in my support. Local very much so and district to a point. Its like the government to me. The Federal government has laws in general, but for the most part each state has its own interpretations and penalties for those laws. Some states don't even recognize certain Federal laws. As such, some states are nicer to live in than others for some. But each state is right for somebody and what they believe is good living.

Either way, we stand together as a nation.

scotty · #73 01-02-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I am not UPC but for missionaries that I have known that "fit" into the mold it has been an untold blessing...
Some people do not fit the mold...guess I was one of them however I have nothing bad to say about the UPC...for it is only an organization...

Exactly , I don't want anyone to get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with other missionaries. I support one that is not UPC right now who are wonderful people of God just as Sis. Alvear. But like she says, if you have no problem signing the card, then there are some really good resources to draw from .

Fiyahstarter · #74 01-02-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nahkoe

Now, to really answer your question. I don't judge churches based entirely on the organization they are a part of. If a church was a good place for me to be, I'd go there. If it wasn't, I wouldn't.

Interesting ... my exact problem is this:

I enjoy my LOCAL UPC church, but I am having a REAL PROBLEM with what I've recently found out about the Articles of Faith, etc. of the mothership UPC. So after ten glorious years of attendance at a local UPC church, I find out the FULL "beliefs" of UPCism. . . and I can't subscribe to that! And now that I know what I know, I'm having a problem supporting my beloved local UPC church...

Does this make sense? I wish I could shake this feeling and be more like you... but it really bothers me because I SO MUCH disagree with some of those rules... and don't want to be affiliated.

I'm disjointed and would welcome any advice here!

scotty · #75 01-02-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiyahstarter

Interesting ... my exact problem is this:

I enjoy my LOCAL UPC church, but I am having a REAL PROBLEM with what I've recently found out about the Articles of Faith, etc. of the mothership UPC. So after ten glorious years of attendance at a local UPC church, I find out the FULL "beliefs" of UPCism. . . and I can't subscribe to that! And now that I know what I know, I'm having a problem supporting my beloved local UPC church...

Does this make sense? I wish I could shake this feeling and be more like you... but it really bothers me because I SO MUCH disagree with some of those rules... and don't want to be affiliated.

I'm disjointed and would welcome any advice here!

Does your church and pastor uphold those rules ? Did you find them on your own or did someone point them out to you ?

The trick to your concern here is that you have been a member of a church for so long and never knew the rules of the mothership. This is a sign that maybe you are in a "state" that does not adhere entirly to the "Federal" laws. See three post up

live4him · #76 01-02-2009, 11:55 AM

well the upc is not bad. i do have a few disagreements, for example, my hubby wanted to get a ministers licence to preach and the first thing the pastor asked him is "do you have a television" my hubby said yes. and the pastor says you cannot get your licence if you have a television, so we ended up getting rid of it, and then when the resolution 4 came about we got angry, they are going on television to evangelize,
well here i did not have a television for a long time because when i was a child they preached against it, and then when i got older alot of people in the upc had a television, so i ended up getting one, so my hubby could not get a license, that is a double standard. i threw my television out i was that mad, some of these pastors have huge televisions and alot of hookups, i think it is the good ole boys out here. i do go to a different church but still upc but i would not mind changing, the thing is i am very conservative, the Lord had dealt with me in a lot of things,

i think the reason why people leave the upc and others is because they get hurt real bad and get bitter,
thats how i feel

Fiyahstarter · #77 01-02-2009, 11:57 AM

I really would rather not talk about my pastor because it seems like I am gossiping... but know this: I have a tremendous fondness of and respect for my pastor. He is tops in my book. Both he and his wife have a powerful anointing on their ministry. This is not about him at all.

I found out about the articles of faith through this forum over a year ago. I found this forum while googling something to do with UPC ... It has explained a lot to me as to why certain people treat other people the way they do... but I tried not to dwell on that, and instead focused on the power of the church (and there was plenty of that!!!)

But we are seriously ailing in human relationship (LOVE)... brothers and sisters are not nice toward each other, and now its clear to me why. Some believe those rules and others don't. And the ones that DO believe those rules feel it is their job to show the rest of us immature Christians a "more excellent way." You know what I mean.

It has us split, and is apparent it has the whole church world split...

And it makes it very hard when people come to me, and I'm telling them about Jesus, and all He's done for me... and I ask them to come to church with me, and they ask where I go, and then their answer is, "Oh that's a UPC church. Don't they think women are going to hell if they cut their hair? They don't let women wear pants, do they? Don't they think every other church except them are going to hell?" It's funny, I used to defend my church and so, "Indeed NOT. Those things are just not true." But now that I've read certain UPC documents/statements of faith/etc. I feel foolish. They knew more about UPC than I did.

Jack Shephard · #78 01-02-2009, 12:05 PM

Fiyastarter, you are so right here. It is as if our reputation has proceeded us and often times it is not good. It is a culture created by the saints which has trickled down from the leadership. If it doesn't start with the leadership then the leadership doesn't do a good job of communication to the saints. IMO

live4him · #79 01-02-2009, 12:06 PM

that is a sad thing, it is about love, i have invited people and they found out it was a upc church and they told me nah i have been to one and they are to strict and then they kinda laugh about it, it makes me feel foolish to, i want to win souls, i sure do not want to throw standards down their throat, thats not why i witness, i want to win souls

live4him · #80 01-02-2009, 12:10 PM

i have found that alot of ministers dont have a relationship with the saints, they preach and then they just go home, they dont visit the saints much at there home it is in there book not right to have a good relationship, they have to keep their distance from the saints, which i sometimes do not understand,