Author: Nancy | Page 5 | Spiritual Abuse Blogs

Denying The Power

I was always taught that other churches were dead, dull, boring, and denying the ‘power’ because they didn’t jump, shout, dance, speak in tongues, etc.

So what really is the ‘power’? Is it the emotional hype as it is taught in Pentecostal churches??? So are we denying the ‘power’ if we don’t go for all the slain in the spirit stuff? Do we only have a form of godliness but deny the power in all the mainstream churches?

When studying the Bible, does it really seem that God would put the ‘power’ in a physical, emotional, sign??? I find that very difficult to read into His nature that prizes a still small voice and rejects ‘signs’.

So what could the power that some are denying be??? Perhaps the power that is being denied is the power of the Christ and the power of His redeeming love and grace. Perhaps we are denying the ‘power’ if we are trying to earn salvation by our own works. Perhaps the power we are denying is the power of the cross as the finished work that through faith has the power to redeem us. Perhaps the hype, show, and focus on performance is denying the power . . . . . . .

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Is the UPC a CULT?

Just read ocCULT by June Summers; the cult in this story began as a pretty normal ‘Pentecostal’ church but quickly morphed into craziness. The parallels to UPC (United Pentecostal Church) are subtle but obvious. Is UPC a cult? Here are some of the definitions of a cult:

Beliefs, values, or practices contrast with the normal culture or tradition YES
The group is led to believe that only they have ‘the truth’ YES
Members usually believe that their group is singled out for persecution PRETTY MUCH
Leaders control members by getting them to believe they will face death, God’s wrath, etc. if they walk outside the group YES
Decisions are governed by the rules or ideologies of the structure/leader YES
Complete obedience is expected within the group PRETTY MUCH

So, is the UPC a CULT? Oh, yeah, . . . .

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Untwisting the scriptures is harder than I thought

It’s been months now since we escaped the cult (UPC) and I still have a hard time being clear on what I believe and committed to actually attending a church. This does not make me doubt that UPC (United Pentecostal Church) is a cult, it only strengthens that belief. Only an organization with cultic tendencies could so demoralize a person’s processes as make him/her incapable of conscious thought, commitment, confidence in his/her faith.

Thankfully, my kids and grandkids were able to move a distance away and begin to heal. They are very happy right now in a nondenominational church with lots of family activities and friendly people.

I travel so much for my work, usually leaving on Sundays, so haven’t had the time, energy, or desire to find a church yet but I hope this summer, I will be able to find a group of people for communal worship. I really miss being in church, the singing and the preaching. I don’t miss the meanness, the judging, the shunning, and all the rest of the cult.

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Appreciating Love: God Gave Me Biff

To fully appreciate the love of God, one needs a reference point. Often this may be one’s father who in his demonstration of unconditional love, lays a foundation of experience that would allow a belief in an all loving God. Unfortunately, many of us did not have this kind of earthly father. I always knew my dad loved me but it was a complicated, flawed love that would bear little relationship to the kind of love the Bible promises we can expect from God. For much of my life, I saw God as harsh, critical, demanding and yes also loving.

Then Biff came into my life. It took years of marriage to realize how much of a gift God had given me when he gave me Biff. No Biff is not perfect; he’s a bit of a cowboy, likes being the ‘class clown’ and can irritate me beyond comprehension BUT Biff has shown me a glimpse of the kind of love God must have for us. Biff’s love is unconditional. He has loved me through my skinny minny period to my tubby tilly period and back again. He loves me when I make ridiculous mistakes. He loves me when I spend too much money, make bad choices, cry, scream, and even when I am angry and unfair with him. Biff would rather spend time with me than do anything else in life. I truly can’t understand this.

But because of Biff, I can believe that God loves me even when I am not perfect and that he loves me more than I can ever comprehend.

I hope God has a special reward for people like Biff. May you have a Biff or Biffette 🙂 in your life!

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Trying to not throw the baby out with the bath water!

We have been out of the UPC (United Pentecostal Church) for several weeks (almost months) now. I have read an abundance of books, posts, other materials as well as the Bible. My son bought me a new Thompson Chain Reference Bible for my birthday in November. I am trying to figure out the best way to use it. 🙂

The more I read, the more error I see in the UPC organization/doctrine/ministry. . .

I am realizing finding the answers I need will not be an easy task.

This I know:

God loves me of this I am absolutely certain.
If I am saved as in salvation, it will only be by faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement on the cross, not by anything I have done or could possibly do.
Most of the UPC salvational works and especially ‘standards‘ cannot be supported by scripture.
There is a great deal of intentional and unintentional spiritual abuse and scamming in the UPC and other groups proclaiming to have the ‘truth’.
Giving to a church or pastor (especially a pastor) is most often not the same thing as giving to God.

Well, the past few weeks and months have not been wasted. I am on a journey. My understanding and relationship with God is growing stronger as I realize it should be built on love and trust rather than fear. I am immensely thankful for God, his Word, the wonderful people He has put in my life and the love I feel more strongly each day.

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