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[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I was attending AN EXCELLENT UPCI church in the central Florida region and have since stopped for the last month or so.


I have been attending an Assembly of God church.

I left the EXCELLENT UPCI church because of doctrinal issues.


My criticisms of the church I have been attending recently are not lame excuses to me-- not in the least bit!

Prayer, Praise and Worship are three of the things that most Apostolic chruches get right!

It's the other junk that I can't bring somebody else into because I know where it will lead them-- I've seen it too often.

Remember, many religious people have prayer, praise, and worship down but have no saving faith.

[aegsm76]

Amazing thread...
and a sad one.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Amazing thread...
and a sad one.

Of course.

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Amazing thread...
and a sad one.

I agree. I find it very sad that the biblical stuff that the UPCI does preach is being mock, ridiculed, etc. When that is how ALL the Pentecostals (and non Pentecostals) did it 100 Years ago.

My Grandmother was raised Nazarene. As a little child she remembers the pastor getting up there and preaching Holiness Standards, and other things that the UPCI still holds on to. People have turned away from Holiness, unto self indulging pleasures. Very sad situation. However, I believe that the further that the Modern Day Church moves toward the world, the more power you will see in the Apostolic Movement (Not just the UPCI).

I will say that the UPCI may have its governmental system in a flawed state. But anything man made is going to be.

[Brad Murphy]

Originally Posted by NorCal

However, I believe that the further that the Modern Day Church moves toward the world, the more power you will see in the Apostolic Movement (Not just the UPCI).

That could win you $1,000,000 from the James Randi Foundation:

http://www.skepdic.com/randi.html

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by NorCal

I agree. I find it very sad that the biblical stuff that the UPCI does preach is being mock, ridiculed, etc. When that is how ALL the Pentecostals (and non Pentecostals) did it 100 Years ago.

My Grandmother was raised Nazarene. As a little child she remembers the pastor getting up there and preaching Holiness Standards, and other things that the UPCI still holds on to. People have turned away from Holiness, unto self indulging pleasures. Very sad situation. However, I believe that the further that the Modern Day Church moves toward the world, the more power you will see in the Apostolic Movement (Not just the UPCI).

I will say that the UPCI may have its governmental system in a flawed state. But anything man made is going to be.

I don't believe JD was complaining about holiness "standards".

[aegsm76]

No, JD is saying that the Acts 2 experience is not necessary for salvation.
I'm sure he will correct me if my assumption is wrong.

[Orthodoxy]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

I admitted to myself that although I believed in speaking in tongues I had lied to myself and others for over 20 years that I had received this experience. This was the hardest step because I had lied to myself for so long. At this point there was nothing left of my old self.

Great post. But what do you mean that you had lied to yourself about the HG experience? Do you believe that you had "counterfeit tongues"?

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

But I wake up at night having dreams of being back in those situations and I cannot get away. I remember all the times as a child I was seeking the holy ghost and couldn't get it only to be told, just keep trying, yield your tongue, just block everything out, blah blah blah. I remember how people would gather around and hold our hands up and pray and pray for ever and the only way we could stop would be to just put our hands down and walk away. Every time one of our friends would decided to pray we would do the same thing, crowding around to help them pray through. Making enough noise to drowned out their stammering lips so they wouldn't feel awkward while seeking. Looking back it was complete torture and I pray I never allow my children to go through anything like this.

I can completely relate to this experience. Although I had been raised UPC, I never actually spoke in tongues until a later age (I was late teens). I was not rebellious; I had prayed/tarried/fasted for years for the HG. During my late childhood, early teen years, I had some humiliating experiences at the altar where people were trying to pray me through.

I was absolutely petrified of children/youth revival services, and would not wish my experiences on my worst enemy. Well-meaning people would usher me down to the altar (without asking my preferences) and begin to yell in my ear. I was an introvert, and this practice scared the daylights out of me; never was I in a spiritual mindset during those altar call moments. I was scared, and believed I was going to hell. An evangelist told me he was "hot on my trail."

The word "rapture" made me tremble because I didn't have the Holy Ghost, although I had wept and prayed my heart out over and over. I can't just sit back and say nothing about this. Unfortunately, my story is not unique.

None of this should be a bad reflection on my parents; they loved me and were not overly pressuring me about the HG. All of these experiences happened during camp meetings, youth revivals, and Bible Quiz rallies. Where was the cross in all of this? Why didn't my teachers tell me that Jesus had absorbed the Father's wrath and had given me His righteousness so that I didn't have to feel ashamed and guilty anymore? Where was the Gospel?

Do I love and value the gift of tongues? Absolutely. Do I believe that we should terrorize people into believing that that they are lost if they have never received tongues? No.

[Rose]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I was attending AN EXCELLENT UPCI church in the central Florida region and have since stopped for the last month or so.


I have been attending an Assembly of God church.

I left the EXCELLENT UPCI church because of doctrinal issues.

I am sorry that you are having a difficult time... but, I have a question. Do you agree with the all of the AOG church's doctrine?

Sometimes I wonder if we just trade one set of issues for another? I wish you God's direction and blessings.

[Praxeas]

I have friends that attend an AOG up in Northern Ca.

They left my church over standards. Eventually they moved up north and went to a local UPC. They talked with the pastor and she told him they left the other UPC over standards but were willing to obey the standards to attend his church.

The pastor refused them when he found out their position on standards so the attended an AOG.

The pastor knows her views on the Godhead and water baptism in Jesus name and is ok with her and her family. In fact they are very involved and she teaches classes.