Category: United Pentecostal Church | Page 27

Giveaway 2: C.H. Yadon and the Vanishing Theological Past in Oneness Pentecostalism

This is only open to those with a USA mailing address.

This is your chance to receive a new copy of C.H. Yadon and the Vanishing Theological Past in Oneness Pentecostalism by Thomas Fudge. It is the third book in his series on Oneness Pentecostalism and was released last year. It sells new for just under $30 and we paid $31.75 for this copy, including tax. It covers Oneness Pentecostal history, and highlights the United Pentecostal Church, of which Mr. Fudge was once a member. The emphasis is on the life of C.H. Yadon. Yadon turned in his UPC license in 1993 when the affirmation statement started being required of all ministers. Over the years, the UPCI has pushed various people out of its group for one reason or another.

This giveaway is a drawing and not a first come, first served giveaway. To enter, just leave a comment to show you wish to be included. The drawing will close on August 11 at 10pm (eastern time), after which I will draw the winner. You will then need to email me your mailing address if I do not already have it. There is absolutely no cost to enter. Don’t be alarmed if your comment does not immediately show as they require approval when you are commenting for the first time.

We always provide these at no charge to our readers.

Some might be interested in a series of lectures by Thomas Fudge on the history of Christianity from the Roman Empire until the Reformation. https://youtu.be/WgTDplQabRk

There is also a lecture, The Prophetic Voice of Jan Hus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K6UDqF5MTA as well as additional ones on Hus here: https://youtu.be/31OUt7wLbxQ, https://youtu.be/MHvqx_qP6vU & https://youtu.be/e4_xvK7-PqA.

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A Few Of My Favorite Things….

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.

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The Sacred Cows of Pentecost Part 2

The previous blog touched on some topics that were considered taboo to discuss in the Pentecostal churches, especially United Pentecostal Church and similar groups. There were other areas where one could say we gagged at a gnat and swallowed a camel.

Television: Psalms tells us not to set wicked things before our eyes. The UPCI was especially hardcore in preaching against the “idiot box” and even required its ministers to sign a statement verifying they didn’t own a television. I do remember a conversation with one UPCI pastor where we touched on television. He admitted to me many of the pastors lied about owning televisions but the district and general board usually did nothing about it.

The conversation with that pastor revealed a double standard that cuts a swath across denominational and doctrinal lines. The leadership will preach hard and fast that certain activities are sinful, like watching television. They expect parishioners to obey the teachings without question. However, the message to the masses wasn’t practiced by those who delivered it. The pastor, in his conversation with me, unwittingly exposed the man behind the curtain.

In the wake of streaming video and other services, the very discussion concerning television is a moot point now. Yet, the double standard is clear and most church members never ask about it.

Gossip: Almost every pastor I listened to preached vehemently against gossip, in particular when questions arose about possible misconduct by an elder or leader. Scriptures such as “evil communication corrupts good manners” and Philippians 4:8 (the go-to passage to silence any questioning or “negative communication”) were used to discourage “gossip” or asking questions.

Just like with television, gossip had its double standard. In one church I attended and even held license, I sat next to the pastor’s wife and daughters. In less than five minutes I was able to learn the dirt on almost everyone! The pastor should have told his own family to stifle their own tongues, but to my knowledge never did. Again, the man behind the curtain was exposed.

There are so many “sacred cows” nobody wanted to touch. but in this forum it’s a golden opportunity to openly and freely have a discussion. The more we discuss these, the more we discover aren’t even scriptural.

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Manufactured Controversy – Unintended Results

In my years attending abusive churches, it was a common practice to hear the pastor bash various lifestyles and forms of entertainment from the pulpit. In fact, it was at times encouraged to openly protest and confront those who supported those things. I wonder if we unintentionally created audiences by creating controversy.

My dad always says “If you don’t like a certain TV show, don’t watch it.” His simple approach allows for one to make his or her stand while not raising a stink everywhere else. The pastors, on the other hand, wanted us to be the “faithful watchmen” and warn everyone we met about the spiritual dangers associated with certain forms of secular entertainment, fashion, and literature. I couldn’t help but reflect on certain cultural phenomena that received massive exposure and monetary gain despite controversy.

Example 1: 2 Live Crew was an obscure rap group from Miami, Florida who didn’t receive major exposure until late 1989 when there was much controversy surrounding the lyrics in their album As Nasty As They Wanna Be. After the controversy occurred, 2 Live Crew achieved major success nationally and their coffers were much fuller than before.

Example 2: Many preachers voiced concern over the Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling. The protests backfired here too: Rowling’s books all became best sellers, and the movies were a hugely successful franchise.

Example 3: Legendary rock band AC/DC was blasted by pulpits for decades for songs like “Highway to Hell.” The controversy probably played a big role in that band’s success as many of their albums are on the all-time best seller lists, and AC/DC still plays to packed houses after 45 years of touring and recording.

Example 4: Since its debut in 1953, Playboy magazine has been the target of pulpits claiming the adult magazine objectifies women. This didn’t slow sales nor curb women from posing for the photos that made Playboy famous. Instead, it may have increased them.

As I reflect on these and other examples, I have to wonder. Did I help create the audiences unintentionally? Human nature often shows us people are curious by things that are considered forbidden, immoral, or illegal. The more attention given, the more curious people become. As we were out there protesting and “warning” others, we may have instead led more people into those things.

I also wonder how many of us who protested in public actually enjoyed those things in private. None of these things are sinful in of themselves, but if we have our shorts in a bunch over minor issues like these, how can we focus on the serious sin issues that not just threaten our society, but us personally? We also fail to realize that those who don’t know Christ will not receive our protests. They need to know the love of Christ first, then they will look to His example not ours.

Indeed, my dad is much wiser than many pastors when it comes to dealing with “offensive” material. It’s better to not give such things an audience in the first place.

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Picking Up the Pieces

During my time with the United Pentecostal Church, I felt like my heart had been broken so many times that I was always picking up pieces to try and put myself back together. So many hopes and dreams shattered along with my marriage.

This August 3rd will mark 15 years since my divorce, another shattering moment and there I was trying to pick up pieces of my heart. I was still attending an UPC church and I had one friend who tried to help.

My other friends were worldly ladies who I worked with and who the church frowned upon. But that was the beginning of the end of church as I knew it. My friends at work took me to lunch to celebrate my divorce with a cake and funny gifts just to lift me up.

My divorce was ignored at church except for the wives telling me to stay away from their husbands and not to even talk to them. There was never any love or support shown to me except for my one friend.

So when I left, she left also and is now very active in the church we attend today. God revealed to me that although we are abandoned by those who you love and no matter how many times your heart is broken, He is there to help pick up the pieces with admonishment to the pastors who have been cruel and hurtful to those with broken hearts.

The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: “ As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock. ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34:4, 7-8‬ ‭NKJV

I eventually saw that God will take care of you and those abusers will get their due. When I started letting God help me again and with the help of my “worldly” friends I began to heal from the inside out.

So now 15 years has passed since my divorce and I’m happy to say I’m healed from that heartache and even have a new love interest that God brought into my life. We’ve been together 5 years.

I’ve been delivered from the UPCI, bruised and battered spiritually, but I’m healing and the broken pieces of my heart are being healed and restored.

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:1-3

I may have been an outcast, a divorced woman is a stigma that is hard to shake in the UPC, but I no longer have a stigma now that I’m free and the pieces have all been picked up.

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