UPC Pastors & TV Issue...A Saint's Perspective

[PreacherV]

The writer of the following letter states he has sent this to pastors all across the nation. Comments, anyone?


Greetings Pastors and Leaders,

My name is *****, I have been associated with the UPC for over 30 years. My father was a pastor in the UPC before passing away a few years ago.

As a saint in the church I am contacting you today about a sensitive issue regarding Pastors having Televisions. Most of the formal discussions about this matter have come from the leadership, I think it is time Pastors hear from the saints. I live in a large metropolitan area and have developed friendships with 4 pastors in this area. I believe my tenure in the UPC and my friendship with these pastors and many of their saints give me a voice in this matter.

For about 10 years now my pastor friends have found ways to watch Television without jeopardizing their license with the UPC. Here are just a few;

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They all have “Monitors” (a TV screen without capabilities of receiving channels)·
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They rent movies and play them on the monitors.
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Some buy entire seasons of popular television shows to watch after the season is over.
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They come to saints houses to watch TV especially sporting events.
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Their children look for reasons to come to my house to watch TV with my son.
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They watch TV from the Internet.

This kind of action from pastors promotes;

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A lack of confidence in the hierarchy who endorse abstinence from owning a Television.
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It teaches saints it’s ok to look for loop holes for things they don’t really believe in.
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Most of all it portrays a kind of hypocrisy.

The Internet offers far more dangers than Television yet rules do not apply here. The internet can easily take up as much if not more time and have the capability of viewing the most despicable things. A person can also be more isolated than watching Television thus allowing curiosity without being noticed. Much more responsibility is required to monitor our actions on the Internet than Television. If Pastors are trusted with the awesome responsibility of governing their actions on the Internet why is Television a concern. It is because it is an old time tradition that we are not willing to let go of. The scriptures tell us Tradition can blind us from Truth.

This letter has been sent to pastors all across the nation. The intent is not to divide but to unite. It is time to come together on this issue! If you don’t there is an unraveling of confidence in the leadership that is taking place that you may not be aware of.

Pastors need to come together and confront this issue with the hierarchy and let them know this rule is making hypocrites of what I predict is thousands of pastors and undermining the unity of the church. If we believe the Holy Spirit can guide us against the woe’s of the Internet then we have to believe it can do it against the woe’s of Television.

The Internet and Television are two of the biggest dangers we face. Satan has accomplished two goals with the present standard. He has caused an undermining of Leadership from leadership and given saints an OK to find loop holes for things they do not really believe in.

To the hierarchy I encourage you to look for the truth over tradition. The very good you think you are holding to could be the very thing to unravel the fiber of unity. It is far better to warn saints of the woe’s of this world with a word of caution and encourage the Holy Ghost to lead them, rather than make a rule that is going to be undermined!

If you don’t want a Television don’t get one! If you get one be an example and live by personal restraint as you would with the Internet.

Most importantly - Don’t be a hypocrite! Stand on one side or the other!



One of the Saints,

********