Category: United Pentecostal Church | Page 52

Questioning Teachings: Is There Any Biblical Precedence?

In unhealthy churches, people are often told things and given no biblical support to back them up. For instance, I recall being told by a United Pentecostal Church pastor about either having non-confessed sin in my life or a lack of faith as to the reason I hadn’t spoken in tongues while ‘tarrying’ during a visit to his church for a special service. He shared nothing from the Bible to support his claims.

Let’s lay aside the basic question of speaking in tongues and instead simply examine whether the Bible gives support to things many of us have seen or heard taught. The same could be applied to other church practices and teachings.

Do we read where Peter or Paul, or anyone else, admonishing people that they didn’t speak in tongues because they had non-confessed sin in their life or anything else which gets stated in Pentecostal/Apostolic churches? Do we see people ‘tarrying’ for God’s Spirit- day after day, week after week, month after month- like happens at some churches today?

Do we see other believers crowding around new believers, trying to ‘help’ them receive God’s Spirit? Do we see believers grabbing people’s mouths or chins, trying to shake their tongues loose? Do we see them telling people to “hang on” or “let go?” Do we see believers being forced to hold their hands up in the air for long periods of time? Do we see anyone being told to keep saying “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” or “Hallelujah?” The list could go on…

Here is where many do not stop to fully look into these matters. We didn’t check the practices we were introduced to with scripture, to see if we found them or anything similar there. Instead, we went by what we saw and were taught and thought it must be the way it should be. Many of us simply repeated what we witnessed others do in services because it was all new to us.

Take some time to really think about this. Why are people being taught and encouraged to do such things when we can find no similar practices in scripture?

Stumbling block: a little about what happened to me

Some years ago, I was thrown out of a church because the pastor falsely accused me of things and wouldn’t allow me to even say I hadn’t done what he accused me of. He told me that if he said I did it, he was a Man of God, and God had obviously talked to him about me and revealed the wickedness in my heart. He also preached that I would walk out of church the night he kicked me out and immediately go and cut my hair and wear pants and makeup. I felt like I was betraying him by NOT doing those things, proving that he was a false prophet. I hadn’t done anything wrong, and I believed THE Truth, so I didn’t cut my hair or put on pants. I simply found another Oneness church and tried to act like nothing had happened.

The new pastor told me to just forget about what had happened and move on. But I couldn’t. What happened had created a lot of questions and doubts in my mind, things that I needed to work through and discuss. I needed time to heal. They wanted to act like there was nothing to heal, and that hurt worse.

I always felt condemned for not doing crazy things in church. After being kicked out, something disconnected. I went to church, and would shake “under the power of God.” I’d never done that before. People would tell me how close I must be to God. I didn’t feel close to God. I’d been kicked out of a church, but they didn’t know that, so I felt like a hypocrite. I also knew the shaking wasn’t God, it was me wrestling hard to reconcile what I believed was The Truth with what I had seen, heard, and experienced that blared that it wasn’t. There was such a deep grief and so much condemnation associated with praying, fasting, and studying the Bible… and especially with worship. The new church was very pushy about how much I should worship and exactly how we should and shouldn’t worship. That didn’t help me at all, because so much of what he told us we needed to do seemed unnatural or just plain weird or wrong to me.

It took me years to untangle what had happened in the church I was kicked out of. I had been happy in a way, and spoke in tongues often and danced a lot. When I was kicked out, even though I went to a different Oneness Pentecostal church (where the pastor assured me I was fine), things just weren’t the same. I doubted pretty much everything I was feeling, because the pastor who kicked me out said I was backslid and terribly wrong. If that were true (and of course it must be- he was a Holy Ghost filled preacher) then what I had felt, and the speaking in tongues and the worship I was doing must be all wrong, too. How could sweet and bitter water come from the same source, after all? I almost ‘got past that’ but then with all the show and people really hurting people in the altar of the new church, I started re-looking some things.

At the same time, I went through a time when every time I tried to pray, I’d pretty much immediately fall into heart wrenching grief and start sobbing and speaking in tongues. I knew that wasn’t right. There is joy in the Holy Ghost, and what was happening couldn’t have been considered intercession. I’d focus on God and say “I love you” or think of a recent service or have a happy thought that I’d be able to stay in that church for the rest of my life… and suddenly start bawling, when I hadn’t been sad before that word of prayer or that thought of thankfulness! A week of that would have been one thing, but that went on for a month or more. And I couldn’t seem to pray at all at church. By the end of that time, I knew something was terribly wrong, but I didn’t know what (or wouldn’t admit it) for a few more years.

For the last few years, there have been many false accusations and labels placed on people in my former church. There was a lot of spying and gossip.

The pastor bragged about the spying from the platform, and encouraged people to tell him if they even thought something MIGHT be wrong with someone else. He said if they didn’t tell him, they’d have blood on their hands. So people, from the oldest to elementary school kids, would go in alone or in groups to say they thought they saw someone do this or that. The person they told on would then be called in and chewed out. They were not asked if they did it, or if they denied it they’d be told they were lying. There was no escaping the hurtful words.

I’ve sat in my former pastor’s office sobbing uncontrollably many times as he, my ‘shepherd,’ my ‘man of God,’ my ‘pastor’ would tell me that I didn’t deserve anything but hell, that I was worthless, that I could leave like the other “garbage” (‘backsliders’ were called “garbage” and the churches they went to were called “trash cans”).

In all of this, even when I was sobbing, even when I tried to say something to defend myself, he would continue to pound on me with his words. Where is the mercy or the compassion in that?

If any pastors or leaders read this, please consider. I didn’t leave a Oneness church because I didn’t believe the doctrine. I left because the church stopped believing in me. I got to a point where if I’d stayed I would have stopped believing in God, because the God they preached and showed through their own lives was an angry, hateful, distorted god, not a God of love and mercy.

Mt 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2And Jesus called a little child unto him… 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

1 Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

I’m not bitter. But some things need to be heard. For too long in churches like the one I left, members didn’t have a voice. It’s time someone listened.

United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 4

This is a continuation of the requirements for licensing in the United Pentecostal Church, taken from the 2017 Manual. It is the same as it appeared going back to at least the 2005 Manual, with the exception of three additions to number 2 under General License and number 2 under local license.

As you will see, a licensed minister in the organization is not required to have any formal training. In fact, the experience they need in delivering sermons is very little and requires no supervision. (For instance, much of mine was accomplished at a nursing home outreach I started and the pastor did not attend.)

Below are the specific requirements for each of the three levels of licensing. Once again, the only Bible colleges endorsed by the UPCI are their own.

[2023 Edit: All of the below appeared the same through the 2020 UPCI Manual. In 2021, revisions were made in how the rules were listed and worded and these have been added to bring readers up to date through 2023.]

Article VII, Section 3. Local License.

1. All applicants must be seventeen (17) years of age or over.

2. All applicants must have preached an average of one (1) sermon each week for a period of six (6) months or more before being examined by the District Board in relation to their call to the ministry. Exceptions to this requirement would be left to the discretion of the District Board. (It is understood that teaching a Sunday school class or leading services does not meet this requirement.)

[Note: in 2018 the wording of #2 changed to the following, which potentially lowers the number of sermons required. Teaching a Bible study, etc. doesn’t require the same skills and knowledge as preparing a sermon. “All applicants must have been involved on a consistent weekly basis in the evangelistic and ministerial efforts of their local church under the direction of their pastor for a period of six (6) months or more before being examined by the District Board in relation to their call to ministry. This involvement must primarily pursue actively preaching on a weekly basis, but may also include teaching home Bible studies, participating in structured soul winning activities and discipleship classes, as well as other evangelistic venues of the local church. Exceptions to this requirement would be left to the discretion of the District Board.”]

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must have been involved on a consistent basis in the evangelistic and ministerial efforts of their local church under the direction of their pastor for at least six (6) months before being examined by the District Board relative to their qualifications for the ministry. This involvement must primarily be
actively preaching on a weekly basis, but may also include teaching home Bible studies and participating in structured soul winning activities, discipleship classes, and other ministries of the local church. Exceptions to this requirement are left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

3. All local licensed ministers are to labor in full cooperation with, and under the supervision of, their local United Pentecostal Church pastor until they enter into ministerial responsibilities severing them from their local assembly.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All local licensed UPCI ministers are to labor in cooperation with, and under the supervision of, their local UPCI pastor until they enter ministerial responsibilities that remove them from their local assembly.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

Section 4. General License.

1. All applicants must be nineteen (19) years of age or over.

2. All applicants must be presently engaged in the ministry as pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher (added in 2012 Manual), assistant pastor, assistant to the pastor (added in 2011 Manual), elected or appointed official, full-time Bible school administrator, or instructor, except those qualifying under Paragraph 3. Exceptions to this requirement would be left to the discretion of the District Board. (added in 2011 Manual)

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must be presently engaged in the ministry as pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher, pastoral assistant, elected or appointed official, or full-time Bible/Christian college administrator or instructor, except those qualifying under Paragraph 3 immediately below. Exceptions to this requirement are left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

3. Theological students (majoring in religion) who complete three (3) years of Bible training in any Bible college endorsed by the United Pentecostal Church International, and who otherwise qualify, may be granted either a Local or General License at the discretion of the District Board of the district in which they establish their legal residence. These students shall request their respective colleges to send the Bible College Report form to the District Superintendent. In no event shall the students be granted a license from the district in which the Bible college is located unless they are actively engaged in the ministry in that district prior to and at the time of licensing.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “Ministerial students (majoring in religion, theology, ministerial studies, etc.) who graduate from any UPCI endorsed Bible/Christian college, and who otherwise qualify, may be granted either a Local or General License at the discretion of the applicant’s District Board. Students from UPCI endorsed colleges shall not be granted a license from the district in which the college is located unless they are either from that district or actively engaged in ministry in that district
prior to and at the time of licensing.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

4. All applicants who are not Bible college graduates must have held Local License for at least one (1) year. They must also have proven their ministry for a period of one (1) year or more. During said time, applicants must have preached an average of one (1) sermon each week. (It is understood that teaching a Sunday school class or leading services does not meet this requirement.) Exceptions may be made for applicants who are being accepted from another church organization. (See Section 5, Paragraph 4.)

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants who are not graduates of a UPCI endorsed Bible/Christian college must have held Local License for at least one (1) year during which they have proven their ministry. All applicants must have preached at least twenty-six (26) times during the time period of one (1) year prior to meeting the District Board for General License. (It is understood that teaching a Sunday school class or leading services does not meet this requirement except for teaching an Adult Sunday School class.) Exceptions may be made for applicants who are being accepted from another Oneness Pentecostal/Apostolic church organization. (See Section 5, Paragraph 4.)” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

Section 5. Certificate of Ordination.

1. All applicants must be twenty-one (21) years of age or over and must have held General License for at least two (2) years. Any exception to this would be left to the discretion of the District Board.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and have held General License for at least two (2) years. Any exception to this is left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

2. All applicants must have proven their ministry for two (2) consecutive years and must presently be an active pastor, full-time evangelist, assistant pastor, appointed or elected official, full-time Bible college administrator or instructor.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must have proven their ministry for two (2) consecutive years and must presently be an active pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher, pastoral assistant, or full-time Bible/Christian college administrator or instructor.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

3. All applicants for Ordination to Military Chaplaincy must fulfill all doctrinal and other qualifications except the specified time of active ministerial service and the need to hold General License prior to applying.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants for Ordination to Military Chaplaincy must fulfill all doctrinal and other qualifications except the specified time of active ministerial service.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

4. All applicants who have previously been ordained by another church organization shall appear before the District Board and be thoroughly examined to determine the merits of their ordination and their qualifications for the ministry. The District Board shall determine whether to accept their former ordination, recommend ordination by the United Pentecostal Church International, or grant Local or General License.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants who have previously been ordained by another Oneness Pentecostal/Apostolic church organization shall appear before the applicable District Board and be examined to determine the merits of their ordination and qualifications for ministry. Said District Board shall determine whether to accept the applicant’s former ordination, recommend ordination by the UPCI, or grant Local or General License.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

5. All applicants endorsed for ordination shall be notified by the District Secretary as to the next official meeting where they may be ordained.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants endorsed for ordination shall be notified by the District Secretary as to the next official meeting in which they may be ordained.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

6. An ordination may be held at any district meeting and must be presided over by a member of the Board of General Presbyters. A district meeting includes regular or special called District Conferences, conventions, or camp meetings to which all of the ministers of the district are invited. It does not include fellowship meetings, youth rallies, or other sectional gatherings.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “An ordination service should be held at district meeting and must be presided over by a member of the Board of General Presbyters. A district meeting includes regular or special called district conferences, conventions, or camp meetings to which all ministers of the district are invited. It does not include fellowship meetings, youth rallies, or other sectional gatherings.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

To be continued.

United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 6
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 5
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 4
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 3
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 2
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 1

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Church Gimmicks

I had a dream this morning that I was attending church on Easter. It isn’t my church or one I’ve ever been in, but in the dream I’d been there before, because I knew the music was going to be different.

Before church I heard people talking about how they had come because the candy was better at this church. As the music started, people started crying and laying down on the floor. I wasn’t scared, but I was disgusted. The music was awful. The second song was supposed to be special. It was heavy rock. I moved so that I wasn’t in front of the speakers. The third song started, and was announced to also have a special instrument involved… a chain saw. At the same time, people were coming to the front, crying and praying and having hands laid on them, while altar workers stood with clickers, counting the number of people ‘saved’ or who spoke in tongues, I’m not sure which. One was from my first church, and the altar worker and a friend of hers were fighting over whether she should be counted.

The friend walked past me as she went back to her seat. She recognized me and saw my pants (not allowed in her religion). She told me she’d just had a sobbing moment, because she wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas with me because I was obviously lost, wearing pants. We hadn’t had plans; we hadn’t spoken for ten years!

And then I noticed what the congregation was singing: Your love like a river flows through me.

Gimmicks. Candy, special songs, special instruments, encouraging people to worship more ahead of time, counting responses… all are gimmicks. They can be used, within reason, to encourage people to come to a church (or to any other sales event) but they aren’t about God. They’re marketing techniques. But what disturbed me most was not the gimmicks in the dream (not even the chain saw music) or the rejection of my former friend, but the fact that in the middle of all the gimmicks, the fight, and the rejection, the song being sung repeated the words “Your love like a river flows through me.” That’s what haunted me as I woke up. The hypocrisy.

Gary Chapman- The Five Love Languages

I’ve been thinking about this book quite a bit lately, especially since reading part of The Five Love Languages of God.

My primary love language is words of affirmation. In high school I started focusing on good things teachers said about me. I’d learned well that if I was good enough at something, people would say good things, so I did my best to excel, and often did. I also began to focus on God more and imagine Him saying good things about me, too. I also listened to a lot of songs and Christian TV programs that were positive and encouraging and said good things.

When I went to college, I started going to a United Pentecostal Church where the pastor often said encouraging things. His whole sermons were often wrapped in “You can make it” and “God loves you.” I ate that up. But there was less and less of those kind words over time. A compliment was a very rare thing for me in my former church, though negative words were common. More than that, the Bible was used so negatively that reading it became difficult.

According to the books by Chapman, people who are disciplined or rejected in their primary love language feel it more severely. That’s why telling one child “go to your room” brings them to tears, while another cries when you tell them you’re disappointed in them.

Abuse- especially in the primary love language- seems to deplete a person’s “love tank” very quickly. And even the average person needs at least two positive words for every negative one. (See this article.) (I personally think for many people it’s closer to five to one.)

Church abuses speak to people’s love languages in a very negative way. When a person whose primary language is quality time is shunned continually, they feel rejected. Because the rejection is from the church- especially if they view the church in terms of “man of God,” “people of God,” “church family” and so forth, they begin to feel rejected by God Himself. And then the abusive church may point fingers and tell them that proves they aren’t right. They try to “get right” and, not knowing why they are being rejected but still experiencing that pain, feel they can never please God.

The same is true for words of affirmation. My former pastor would often say what, to me, were very harsh things from the pulpit. Seeking comfort and understanding, I would go to him, hoping for an encouraging word. Instead I would be rebuked. People several times told me “You should hear what they’re saying about you!” and act like others’ slander shouldn’t affect me. Again, in these times if I went to the pastor, I would often be rebuked or told I was doing something wrong.

People whose language is acts of service must feel the harshness of a church that will not let them serve in any capacity (we had to have written permission from the pastor to clean a window or scrub a toilet) or in a church where everything is done for a handful of people and everyone else is expected to fend for themselves. Those who love to give surely feel unloved when no gifts, cards, or even hugs are shared. And in a church where people aren’t supposed to touch, and if they do- outside of a handshake- they are accused of lust (even woman to woman or man to man), those whose language is touch must feel they are in a very cold place indeed.

Chapman gives specific examples in the Bible of passages where God expresses His love for us through words of affirmation. (He does something similar for each language.) It’s been a long time since I’ve heard some of those verses. Many times something in a passage above or below was twisted to express God’s anger, hatred, wrath, and so forth. It’s amazing to me that someone reads these passages differently. I also see why the negative preaching and rebukes were taking such a toll.

Also, now finding myself in a church where people do love each other, I’m amazed at the different outlook. People who are treated in positive, respectful ways are more likely to be positive and respectful themselves.

It’s interesting that the Bible teaches so much on love, even saying God IS love, but love was seen as “soft” in my former church. In the past few months, watching healthy people interact in positive, loving ways, I’ve come to think maybe my former church missed it not in doctrine or in legalism, but first in love.

Loving people tends to bring out the best in them.