I found it of interest that your pastor is from a Reformed background. In 2007, I began an-indepth study of the Reformed Faith. Four years later – the present – I’m still at it – happily – with two regrets – my wife and my former UPCI pastor will have none of it.

What has helped me the most in recovering from my experience in the UPCI is the study of God’s plan of salvation as taught from the Reformed/Biblical view. What a difference! The difference between a grace based salvation vs. a works-righteousness salvation. To God be the Glory – Alone!!!!

I agree with you about not creating a fuss over minor issues. The church I go to now has a pastor from a Reformed background. He’s not dogmatic about it, and the church itself is very much inter-denominational. But because of his background I hear stuff almost every Sunday that I have different views on. I just keep it to myself because I don’t view any of that is important for salvation. His teaching is excellent and I know he loves God just as much as I do.

But if the pastor started to teach something that kept people from Christ or seriously distorted the gospel message then things would be different. I approached the last UPC pastor that I had many times with things he preached that were wrong–and I mean blatantly, openly wrong, with no room for debate–but I never once heard him correct it. Even worse, he would agree with me privately then go preach the exact same thing the next Sunday! I’m not sure if he had memory problems or was just trying to keep me happy.

That pastor is a good friend of my family. He was there for me many, many times when I needed help, and I love him dearly, but I just couldn’t support his teaching anymore.

Thanks again for the feedback. Great points.

- Josh S.

I do not overtly challenge the local church leadership on ‘minor’ points of doctrine or theology, however, when asked a question on doctrine or theology by a church member, I give it. As has been pointed out on several occasions by other church members, I should not provide my opinions, even when asked for, if they differ from what the pastor preaches/teaches.

On major differences, I present the ‘preacher’ with alternative points of view within a scriptural context and/or show him/her a different scriptural application that they ‘may have over looked’.

Which I have yet to have such a preacher publicly correct their teaching, they have at least been exposed to a stronger contextual understanding of the scriptures they have used in their preaching.

Excellent article, BTW.

I lived under this for many years, and was happy doing it, but there was always a nagging thought that I should not just take things on faith and I should question things that concern me especially when it came to personal interpretation of the scripture.

I had been heavily involved in our church and was very well respected, but as soon as I began to question things, I was immediately condemned for it.

This disturbed me greatly, but I ceased my questioning, but did not feel right in my spirit in how I had been treated.

After almost losing my marriage over the issue, our family finally left that particular church and have never looked back.

I hated that I had to leave my friends that I had grown up with, but I do not regret the decision, things are so much clearer now that I am out from under that oppression. I am heavily involved at my new church and while they still have “standards” and holiness ideals, discussion is always welcome.

That is how it should be.

God gave us a brain for a reason, it was not to blindly follow without questioning. If you don’t question or study, how do you know if you are being led astray?

I’m so confused about the balance between submission to authority, seeking Godly counsel (and preaching/teaching), and the individual’s responsibility to seek out the truth in the word for him/herself. It seems to me that the more I seek for myself the more my opinions ad beliefs are in opposition to what is being preached and it makes my heart hurt…

“I don’t think the UPC has a clear distinction between justification and sanctification”

I totally agree with you on this one… I’m not even sure I know the difference!

It’s like, there’s the Big Obvious Sins… and then there’s all the lifestyle stuff that good christians should do, or your disobeying (which is sin…) so basically any lifestyle guideline your pastor teaches that you don’t do could potentially cost you your salvation (unless you are continually repenting under your breath 24/7…). Try really hard to live right, repent really hard when you mess up, cross your fingers… and you’ll be saved.

Grace is just an afterthought.

Jesus said:

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” Joh 3:17-19 NASB

In other words, Jesus came to save, not to judge. That does not mean that Jesus will never judge, of course. It means that His primary mission was not to walk around telling people they were sinners. When people are exposed to the light of Christ they know they are sinners. His primary mission was to save them from their sin, not to ridicule them for it.

But there was one group of people who Jesus constantly condemned, and that was the Pharisees. The reason? Because they created man-made rules that no one could possibly follow (Mat. 23:1-4)!

I encourage everyone who is in, or ever was in, a holiness church to read Matthew 23. If a person wants to follow a system of man-made rules, or if they feel convicted to follow a certain dress code, then that is between them and God. I certainly will not ask them to change! But they need to carefully read Matthew 23 and remember how Jesus feels about those who create those rules and then sit around judging everyone else. Don’t be a 21st century pharisee :)