UPC a Cult?

[DiscipleOfIAm]

I was reading an article on Christian Answers about cults and it listed the United Pentecostal Church as one of the top ten cults in the U.S. Is this just because they do not hold the Doctrine of the Trinity? What is it about them that makes them "UnChristian" and a cult?

I'm thinking, sometimes that's dangerous, but the United Church of Christ (UCC) doesn't hold the Doctrine of Trinity either, or am I mistaken? I seem to remember reading the website once after seeing their "commercials" and they were very vague about their beliefs. I remembered they stated they believed God to be the Father of Christ, but didn't explicitly state they believed the Trinity.

Any thoughts anyone?

God Bless

 

[_sunshinegirl]

Wow, I have never heard of this, of the UPC being a cult.
I have 'kingdom of the cults' which is a reference book to a lot of the major cults in america, but I do not recall UPC as being one.
However, Mormonism is considered a cult, so maybe they are to for simple not beliving in the trinity.
I believe the term 'cult' is becoming very board .. grouping in anyone who does not believe 110% the bible, and teaches things there are other things more important than the Bible.
I will look through the book again tonight though, and comment if I find out anymore information.

 

[ZiSunka]

Don't know. Do either of them have websites where they have FAQs or anything?

 

[SumTinWong]

http://www.ucc.org/

http://www.upci.org/

 

[jenptcfan]

I don't really consider it a cult, but there are those who call any group who does not explicitly believe in the trinity a cult.

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

They do have a FAQ for the UPC, but UCC's site is very vague and broad. UPC website explains in pretty good detail why they do not follow the Trinity belief.

If you go to Christian Answers.net and under religions it also lists cults. It has a list of the top ten cults in the US and along with Mormonism, Jehovah Witness, and others, there is UPC.

 

[RED that's ME]

I have learned more about certain UPC being modalist here on CF. With that belief mainstream Orthodox Christians don't see modalist as Christians.

Mo´dal`ist
n.1.(Theol.) One who regards Father, Son, and Spirit as modes of being, and not as persons, thus denying personal distinction in the Trinity.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Modalist

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

I have learned more about certain UPC being modalist here on CF. With that belief mainstream Orthodox Christians don't see modalist as Christians.

Mo´dal`ist
n.1.(Theol.) One who regards Father, Son, and Spirit as modes of being, and not as persons, thus denying personal distinction in the Trinity.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Modalist

Are you saying you are a modalist? Or UPC is Modalist? Is that the same as believing that Father, Son, and Spirit are three separate persons not modes of beings, but not one? This topic is confusing the way it is. I'm sorry, I'm trying to understand. The whole Trinity thing wasn't explained to me until a few years ago anyway. I grew up thinking these were all three different people, not one in the same.

 

[RED that's ME]

I am not a modalist I believe in the Trinity as 3 separate persons. I was trying to explain that there's members within the UPC that are modalists that doesn't believe in the Trinity as we do. They don't believe that the Trinity is 3 separate persons but all one.

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

Ooooh, I see. I read the sentence wrong. Sorry about that!

 

[Iollain]

I am not a modalist I believe in the Trinity as 3 separate persons. I was trying to explain that there's members within the UPC that are modalists that doesn't believe in the Trinity as we do. They don't believe that the Trinity is 3 separate persons but all one.

3 separate persons AND all One makes sence to me

 

[Tenorvoice]

The best and only way to find out if something is a cult or not is to find out whrer they stand on Jesus Christ. Do the hold Him in the same light the Christians do. Do they belive that He was 100% man and 100% God?

Best to my knowledge is the only way to determine this.

 

[Fat]

All cults have this in common: they deny the biblical doctrine of justification by faith.