What I learned from the United Pentecostal Church organization.
It seems I am always looking at the UPC in a negative way. That I wasted my years in this organization and this morning in prayer, it seemed like God challenged me to name a few things that were good about this organization. So there I sat reflecting on this challenge and came up with a list of a few of my favorite things…
1. Because I had unanswered questions, I learned to study the word for myself.
2. When I studied the standards that were taught as if they were heaven or hell issues. God showed me that a clean heart and a right spirit was more important than my stinking self righteousness.
3. God revealed his plan of salvation to me and it’s not by works but by faith in Jesus Christ. I believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly through grace. There is nothing that we can add to it.
4. When I read 1 Corinthians 11, God opened my eyes to see that my hair wasn’t magical no matter how long it is and according to 1 Corinthians 11:16, “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” This was the verse that was supposedly in the wrong place in the Bible.
5. God doesn’t like a (church) service controlled by emotionalism but everything is to be done in decently and in order. I believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14:40 NKJV.
6. So many people fake speaking in tongues so they make up for it by making large contributions to the church and brown-nosing the pastor. Reminds me of Simon the Sorcerer. “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:18-19. NKJV
7. If there is no fruit being produced in a church, then you need to get out and find one that believes the Holy Spirit bestows enabling ministry gifts upon believers; and that we should show spiritual “fruit” as evidence of a Spirit-filled life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
8. In the UPC most of the churches are involved with pastor worship instead of God worship because people are more afraid of the pastor than they are of God. I believe one of the Ten Commandments says “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3 NKJV.
9. I was trained by the pastor to not have any friends outside of “the church” and to not be unequally yoked. So I often wondered how I was supposed to be a soul winner when I was not supposed to be around them. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 NKJV
10. Last but not least, I learned how to carry a very heavy burden placed upon me by “the church”. How to dress, how to act, what to do and when to do it. I was so busy working for the church that I wasn’t working for God. Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NKJV. It wasn’t until I left the UPC that I understood the meaning of a lighter burden.
So these are a few of my favorite things that I didn’t like about the UPC organization and by turning away from them, I actually found God and His mercy and grace.
Good post. I was born in and I too struggled to find some good. While I regret having my reckless, silly nature stifled, I do think that environment might have saved me from going off the bad deep end before I had wisdom enough to handle it. But then it dropped me way off the religious deep end so not sure which was worse!