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Just under 60 minutes, this is an interview with Bob Ross and Mark McNeil about the United Pentecostal Church. Mark was a UPCer, graduated from Texas Bible College, and was the valedictorian. This again addresses the subject of the Godhead (Oneness vs. Trinity). It also touches on David Bernard’s The Oneness of God book.
As we approach a new year, and knowing I have more behind me than ahead of me, it becomes ever more important to own who I am. I am a child of God saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ my Lord. Much of my life found me chained to a legalistic doctrine that sapped my faith, hope and love and encouraged doubt, discouragement, fear and judgment.
Once I escaped (and it was a true and traumatic escape) I found a God of love and peace that I left behind many years ago in my quest to perform my way into salvation. There is NOTHING I could ever do to earn a place with God. Jesus already did it all and proclaimed it finished! Like Paul, I do not see this as a license to sin (realizing also that what I wear, my hair style, and where I go are not sin unless they are sinful) rather a knowledge that we are saved by faith in Christ alone, not by works, lest any should boast. The bottom line is and has always been God is Love and to be His disciple is to have love for Him and for one another—that is a bottom line where we find REAL peace. May God richly bless each one as we walk by faith into a new year with Him.
Just under 30 minutes, this is a video on the United Pentecostal Church from Christian Answers, featuring Steve Morrison and Larry Wessels. It covers the Godhead issue and some on David Bernard’s book, The Oneness of God. They touch on what they believe to be false assumptions and false facts given by Bernard.
Christmas. One of my favorite times of year. Lights, presents, food, family, friends, music, food, presents… j/k..
We always had a very Christ-centered Christmas growing up. Yes, Santa came, and we put cookies and milk out for him sometimes (though I think Mrs. Claus visited our house more than Santa did- equal opportunity and all, you know? š )
My favorite memories include listening to old 8-tracks of Bing Crosby while just sitting together looking at the lights on the tree, driving around looking at lights, making Christmas cookies, gifts and ornaments, and putting up the nativity. We had a very simple nativity that fascinated me. Joseph’s staff was metal, and could come out of his hand, and Baby Jesus could come out of the manger and be carried around, as long as Mom didn’t catch you with him!
When I started going to a Pentecostal church, that changed. Suddenly, there were no lights, no trees, no cookies, and, eventually, no nativities. But I secretly and guiltily continued to remember Christmas- the wonderful, miraculous time of year for kids and adults. Santa might be a bit mystical, but he was also an example of how to give generously and selflessly. Trees and nativities weren’t idols, but reminders of the holiday, decorations for the house, and part of a family tradition. Lights and music and gifts were ways of sharing beauty and joy with others. What was wrong with Christmas? Where was the joy I’d known growing up?
This year, my lights were up, gifts were thoughtfully selected and wrapped, and music played once more. No, there was no tree. And there just wasn’t time to locate and set up the nativity. But for the first time in years, I am celebrating Christmas. Not the pagan holiday some portray, but the miracle of Jesus’ birth, the beauty of my life in him, and the joy of giving from the heart.
On earth, peace and goodwill toward men.
Merry Christmas!
In writing something else I remembered realizing that only one person in the New Testament was listed as being thrown out of church–a man who “had his father’s wife” in Corinth.
It was widely known that the man in Corinth was sleeping with his mom or stepmom. But how does anyone dare disfellowship someone for allegedly thinking something? Can a thought be proven? No. Not unless it’s acted on. I dare say that many people have had thoughts they wish they hadn’t had. God doesn’t banish us based on what we are tempted to do, but only what we act on. Sure, a man that looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Jesus didn’t say that such a man should be stoned for adultery, nor did he say the woman should be stoned for whatever made him lust. Jesus was simply warning caution about not letting thoughts run wild, because if we think on certain things long enough, we might act on them, and it’s when we act on them that we sin. (Jas 1:13-15)
