Attending an apostolic church even though I don't agree with some of their teachings

[daughterofGod1]

I attend a United Pentecostal Church (UPC), however I don't agree with some of their teachings. UPC are sometimes called "Oneness Pentecostals" because they don't believe in the Trinity (it's more complex than that but I don't know too much about it.) They believe baptizing in Jesus' name only and they believe tongues is necessary for salvation.

I believe in the Trinity, I believe in baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as Jesus Himself states, and I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as tongues but I don't believe it's necessary for salvation.

Even though I disagree with some of these teachings, I still like the church. It's possesses qualities that I couldn't find in other churches I attended in my area. It's Spirit-filled, I enjoy they're form of worship (very lively), and it's conservative and encourages modest dress.

I read some things about UPC being a cult and I can say from my experience it's definitely not. I previously temporarily left the church because of the doctrinal differences I listed above to attend an IFB church but I didn't feel the Holy Spirit was active in there. No one tried to force me to stay at the UPC church, act and dress a certain way, or any other cult-like thing. They didn't preach a prosperity gospel, in fact they frequently preached about the end times unlike some of the other churches I attended.

I want to return now because I missed the Holy fire-filled services. I have researched other churches in my area as far as 20 miles away but I couldn't find anything to my particular liking. Honestly, and I'm not saying this to judge because I realize the Holy Spirit may convict everyone differently, I prefer the UPC church because it encourages holiness and in the past I've seen people wearing short-shorts to church. Again, I don't say this to judge. I personally didn't feel comfortable in such churches.

The only thing is the doctrinal differences. Most of them don't concern me, and a Jesus' name only baptism is still a baptism after all, but then there's the Oneness vs. Trinity doctrine. I remember the first church I went to when I was born again preached about modalism and how it was heretical. I like the UPC church, but I'm concerned about this. Is this too huge a doctrinal difference to ignore? Are the people of this denomination somehow not saved because they deny the Trinity?

 

[dragongunner]

Hi….I was never UPC but was as close to the "oneness" bunch if you will. I attended for 9 years and learned so much, some right doctrine some not so right. As far as the Trinity doctrine I had always believed in it until I met others who did not, and frankly before I met them I was confused because everybody has a opinion on it and so much didn't make sence…I just asked the simple question to my pastor one day…" I believe in the trinity but who do I pray too…? Do I pray to God on Sunday cause he't the first person, then on tuesday i pray to Jesus cause he 2nd,…..but if they are all are co-equal why isn;t God the 3rd person….? My wonderful pastor just smiled and gave me a assignment….go to the public library and study the trinity…..3 months later after much arguing and prayer, mostly to God I found what I needed to find. And I was so set free….

As for "Jesus" name baptism, I was baptized this way and can help explain why this method is used so maybe it will help. Jesus commanded to be baptized in Father, Son and Holy Ghost, he told this to Peter…..it was then Peter in Acts that said to be baptized in "Jesus" name….why did he change this. According to what I learned is that all were baptized this way until about the time the trinity doctrine came out around 325 A.D…..or rather was accepted by the "church" which were catholic. So did Peter mess up…? Actually he got it right, Peter obeyed the Lord…..rather than repeating what the Lord said….big difference….Peter had the revelation of what Jesus had said…Whats the name of the Father…? father is not a name, its a title….Jesus said he came in his Fathers Name. What is the Son's name, which is the flesh of God manifested….? And what is the name of the Holy Ghost, who some say is Christ in us…..? Also Jesus said to baptize in the "name"…..not "names". Father, Son and Spirit are titles, not names…."for there is only one name that man can be saved by and that is the name of Jesus. So because of this do some like myself believe the name of the Father, Son and Spirit is "Jesus". And thats how so many were baptized in the beginning. With that said I would never judge someone was not saved because they weren't baptized like I believe, nor will I judge someone who doesn't speak in tongues as being unsaved. I do not call myself a trinity believer because of the history I learned of it, but neither will I judge or condemn by brothers or sister who do. I believe God is the invisible Spirit, who knows no other Saviour but himself, who was manifested in the flesh called the Son of Man, Son of God and shed his blood for us. Who also pours out His Spirit upon all Flesh as the prophet Joel said. The scriptures are Rich….sometimes mans thoughts are not…I prefer the scriptures.
But I too was at odds with my church, they had so much truth, and so much legalism, and I think at times they didn't even think they even knew what that was or how it enslaved them…..If you enjoy that church and are growing continue, God may have you there for a reason….sometimes to learn was is right, or to show you some weakness and failures, so that in time perhaps you can better understand and be used in the future for his work. I don't know of a perfect church anywhere……I sure wish I did though. I get judged and even told I'm going straight to hell for some of the things I have said right here by church goers…but I thank God always, for what He has shown me. I would simply say stick to what you believe in, stick to what God has shown you, seek Him first…churches and beliefs can be like a school….we all can't be in the same grade, a 2nd grader is going to have a different outlook than a 7th grader, and can a 7th grader be on the same level as a Senoir……? Love one another, be patient with one another. God Bless.

 

[iambren]

UPC is technically unorthodox. In the history of the church valid doctrine was established in the Apostles and Nicene creed. Their beliefs ARE heretical but I'm too chicken to exclude them from the faithful.

 

[CGL1023]

I attend a United Pentecostal Church (UPC), however I don't agree with some of their teachings. UPC are sometimes called "Oneness Pentecostals" because they don't believe in the Trinity (it's more complex than that but I don't know too much about it.) They believe baptizing in Jesus' name only and they believe tongues is necessary for salvation.

I believe in the Trinity, I believe in baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as Jesus Himself states, and I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as tongues but I don't believe it's necessary for salvation.

Even though I disagree with some of these teachings, I still like the church. It's possesses qualities that I couldn't find in other churches I attended in my area. It's Spirit-filled, I enjoy they're form of worship (very lively), and it's conservative and encourages modest dress.

I read some things about UPC being a cult and I can say from my experience it's definitely not. I previously temporarily left the church because of the doctrinal differences I listed above to attend an IFB church but I didn't feel the Holy Spirit was active in there. No one tried to force me to stay at the UPC church, act and dress a certain way, or any other cult-like thing. They didn't preach a prosperity gospel, in fact they frequently preached about the end times unlike some of the other churches I attended.

I want to return now because I missed the Holy fire-filled services. I have researched other churches in my area as far as 20 miles away but I couldn't find anything to my particular liking. Honestly, and I'm not saying this to judge because I realize the Holy Spirit may convict everyone differently, I prefer the UPC church because it encourages holiness and in the past I've seen people wearing short-shorts to church. Again, I don't say this to judge. I personally didn't feel comfortable in such churches.

The only thing is the doctrinal differences. Most of them don't concern me, and a Jesus' name only baptism is still a baptism after all, but then there's the Oneness vs. Trinity doctrine. I remember the first church I went to when I was born again preached about modalism and how it was heretical. I like the UPC church, but I'm concerned about this. Is this too huge a doctrinal difference to ignore? Are the people of this denomination somehow not saved because they deny the Trinity?

You say, "the only thing is the doctrinal differences". I would say that in Christianity, doctrine is everything. Consider Matthew 12:32; this is the verse following the discussion on the unpardonable sin, verse 31. Verse 32 says, "32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." I don't know what scholars say about this scripture but it looks to me as if it is talking about Holy Spirit denial. That verse is enough to keep me with trinitarian believers.

 

[daughterofGod1]

You say, "the only thing is the doctrinal differences". I would say that in Christianity, doctrine is everything. Consider Matthew 12:32; this is the verse following the discussion on the unpardonable sin, verse 31. Verse 32 says, "32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." I don't know what scholars say about this scripture but it looks to me as if it is talking about Holy Spirit denial. That verse is enough to keep me with trinitarian believers.

Oneness Pentecostals don't deny the Holy Spirit. According to my knowledge, they believe that God takes on different forms. They believe He takes the form of the Father in the OT, God in the flesh as Jesus Christ in the NT, and as the Holy Spirit. I personally believe God is one and He exists in three persons.

 

[dayhiker]

Ya, to me God is all about relationships, so the one God is three persons. But its not an easy doctrine to understand because after all God is way more than we are as humans. I believe this is one of the main places that God is different than we are. So I don't believe if we don't have this exactly figured out we are forsaking God. God's grace is better than that.

As for blaspheme of the Holy Spirit, the context is attributing to Satan what the Holy Spirit did. That's giving more power to Satan that God has ... way different than not know the exact earthly worlds to describe the nature of the eternal God.

 

[Purge187]

I'm a Trinitarian believer, but I sometimes attend a local UPC as well. They're very friendly. In fact, the first time I attended, the Bishop basically said that all were welcome at his church and that nobody would be looking over anyone's shoulder to make sure they speak in tongues or anything else.

"Modalism" has oftentimes been condemned as a heresy, but I'll leave that up to God.

 

[GoingByzantine]

One must be very careful when denying the trinity. That is all I will say for now.

 

[iambren]

This is an old fight. The fathers of old proclaimed modalism as anathema many centuries ago in the establishment of the true church.