Here is the public link to the message, delivered in Toledo UBF on July 1st, 2012:

http://www.utchristians.com/index.php/resources/biblestudymaterials/doc_download/140-gal-48-31-msg-july-2012/Gal-4.8-31_qst-L_July_2012.docx

Here is the link to a PDF of the message, in case the link above disappears:

http://www.priestlynation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Gal_4.8-31_msg_July_2012.pdf

The Background

Toledo UBF (a ministry of about 75 in 2010) went through a disastrous 2011, watching 7 or 8 leader’s families either leave the ministry or dis-engage from the ministry almost entirely. That’s about 40 people. The recent Toledo UBF conference photo confirms that the ministry has been cut in half in the last couple years.

A visiting messenger is asked to deliver a message on Galatians, which somehow ends up being a chopped up passage from Galatians 4:8-31. This visiting messenger is the highest-ranked, official authority in UBF outside the Korean missionaries, Ron Ward. So when Ron gives a message, people in Toledo UBF are going to listen. When Toledo UBF is in trouble, this is often the solution: to invite some authority from Chicago UBF to deliver a message. That has happened many times the past 25 years.

The ministry leadership in Toledo UBF is currently a Leadership Council. For the most part, this has been a good move. The 22-year-term Moses-style director may be stepping down soon and the plurality of leadership concept is really starting to take hold.

There is much more context here which I won’t share publicly. But the people involved know what I’m talking about.

The Message Structure

Here is how the message is structured with the main points:

I. Paul’s zeal for Christ to be formed in the Galatians (8-20)

• First, Paul rebuked them for returning to slavery (8-11).
• Second, Paul pleaded to restore their love relationship (12-16).
• Third, Paul’s zeal to win them over to Christ (17-20).

II. “We are children of the free woman” (21-31)

Problem 1: Dictating what to learn

The UBF mindset is to tell you what you will learn. This message is no different. In the last sentences of the introduction, we find what we “need to learn”:

“Today let’s realize that though we are saved by faith in Christ alone, we need to grow to maturity. And let’s learn from Paul how to care for God’s children.”

The introduction sets an ominous tone for anyone hearing this message who knows what just happened the past 11 months. Immediately, thoughts of “Who is immature?”, “What does it mean to be mature?”, “How should we care for God’s children?” and “Who is caring for God’s children?” come to mind. Is Galatians 4 about growing in maturity, as if that is something greater than faith in the gospel? No. But that is the kind of thing we are called to learn even though we haven’t even learned anything yet!

Problem 2: Using a trigger word “rebuke”

The word “rebuke” is used a lot in UBF. It has special meaning but I won’t go into that here. The messenger quotes verses 8 to 11, claiming that these verses are Paul’s rebuke to the Galatians. When we look at the various Bible translations and the titles they insert above this section, we can learn that the Bible translators understood these verses correctly. The verses here are Apostle Paul’s concern, questioning and his love for the people. But rebuke? That’s very strong language. But in UBF, all negative words are automatically a “rebuke”! They normally make no distinction between correction or discipline or encouragement: it’s all “rebuke” and usually with a harsh tone. And Apostle Paul’s rebuke? That was in Galatians 3.

Problem 3: False appeal to American author

Normally, you’ll find a jab at America or American churches in UBF messages. This one is no different. But it also has an appeal to a popular American preacher/author, Tim Keller.

“While most Americans do not bow before statues and figures,we still find rampant idolatry in our nation. Dr. Tim Keller, in his book, “Counterfeit Gods,” has exposed them: money, sex, power, and success. Moreover, many have created gods in their own imaginations by mixing various elements from many religions and new age ideas. In fact people are in bondage to forces that make them miserable. Though idols may seem to be nothing, behind them is Satan’s power.”

I would agree that idolatry is a key problem in America. But what “false gods” did Tim Keller refer to in his book? I personally have not read this book, but I did read the excerpt from Tim Keller’s website. Ron says the idols in America are four: money, sex, power, success. (Note: if you don’t know these are four key “sins” UBF often fights against. If you are free of these, you are considered “pure”, which seems to me to be very Eastern-thought oriented.)

Tim Keller says there are far more than these four… “anything can be an idol” (Introduction, page xv). Keller also mentions many things that can become idols: beauty, money, family, sex, power, glory, success, military discipline, fame, marriage, etc. In fact, this Keller quote from “Counterfeit Gods” would have been far more appropriate for this message:

“The biblical concept of idolatry is an extremely sophisticated idea, integrating intellectual, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual categories. there are personal idols, such as romantic love and family; or money, power, and achievement; or access to particular social circles; or the emotional dependence of others on you; or health, fitness, and physical beauty. Many look to these things for the hope, meaning, and fulfillment that only God can provide.”
Counterfeit Gods, Introduction, page xix

Problem 4: Thinly veiled attack of ex-UBF members

One favorite game UBF messengers like to play is “attack the R-Group”. The pulpit in UBF often turns ugly, but such “messages” are only picked up on by certain people. After some brief words on Galatians 4:9-11, this messenger quickly implores emotional control and takes a jab at those who just left Toledo UBF in protest last year.

“Sometimes we feel like Paul did. We work hard to serve God‟s sheep with the word of God, prayers, counseling, delicious food, and so on, so they can grow in Christ. Then, through a false teacher or a bad influence, they suddenly change, becoming crazy. They have become slaves of Satan. By the time we recover from shock, we realize that we are powerless and don‟t know how to help them. It is easy to give up. What did Paul do?”

This is utterly out of context with Apostle Paul’s thoughts here in the text. But Ron W. sticks it in anyway. Who is this “false teacher” in Toledo UBF? Why it is me of course! Well, me and my friends who left. But of course such thoughts won’t be expressed in writing.

Problem 5: Preaching UBF ideology

What is Ron’s conclusion from verses 12-16? Here is verses 12-16:

“12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”  Galatians 4:12-16

Here is the conclusion from this part:

“Here we learn that our attitude toward shepherds or mentors in Christ can be a barometer of our spiritual condition. When we have the gospel in our hearts, we love God‟s servants even if they have a serious weakness. But if we lose the gospel, our relationship with our shepherds can become very burdensome. Then we become critical; we can even treat them like enemies. At such times, we must stop struggling with people, come back to Christ, and restore our gospel faith. Then our relationships with God‟s servants will also be restored and we can have peace.”

He could have preached some teaching about brotherly love, or a pastor’s love, or bearing one another in love when someone is sick, or even something like “wounds from a friend” as in Proverbs 27:6.

Instead, what does he preach from Galatians 4:12-16? Well first of all he leaves out the first part of verse 12 and all of verse 16. Then he teaches that the only way to have “peace” and “restoration” is to stop struggling with people and have a “good” (meaning totally submissive) attitude toward UBF shepherds. This is twisting Scripture text to preach the UBF ideology of shepherd-sheep relationships. This means, for the un-indoctrinated, “no criticism of shepherds or missionaries; listen and obey what you are told to learn.”

Summing it all up

There is much more I could criticize here in this message. However, the main point is the conclusion. The summary paragraph drives home the teaching we “must” learn from this:

“In conclusion, let’s read the key verse, verse 19: “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…” In truth, this is God‟s heart for sinners. God’s love never fails and God never abandons his children. In his mercy, God gave his one and only Son Jesus Christ as our Savior. Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16). Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered more than the pain of childbirth on the cross to save us from the power of sin and Satan. Though we betray him, Jesus has mercy on us. Jesus faithfully forgives and restores us, and helps us grow in his image. As we trust in his love alone, Christ is formed in us. We grow in his love toward his dear children. We are willing to suffer the pains of childbirth to save lost souls and raise them until Christ is formed in them. Let‟s pray to be mature in the love of God so that we may pray with tears, even for those who act like enemies. Amen!”

We learn here that it is not Apostle Paul or God, but Ron W. and UBF leadership who “rebuked them (8-11), pleaded with them (12-16), and decided to go through the pains of childbirth all over again until [UBF] Christ was formed in them (17-20).”

The message here to Toledo UBF is: stop struggling with people, fall in line with UBF ideology and begin rebuilding the UBF heritage in Toledo.

http://www.odnimslovom.org/

“odnim slovom” is Russian for “one word”. My primary project will continue to be to articulate the gospel of Jesus one word at a time. This project will produce presentations called “sermon starters”.

http://www.knet6.com/grace/

I contend that grace is the primary lens to unlock and unpack all Scripture. I’ve already reviewed God’s message of grace in the book of grace, Romans. This project will keep me centered on the grace of God as I continually learn the vast majesty of God’s ways.

http://www.priestlynation.com/

This blog will remain as a permanent witness of the first 50 years of University Bible Fellowship. I lived the last 24 of those 50 years. The UBF celebrations will tell the world only the positive, glorious-sounding, good-natured viewpoints of the last 50 years. This project will document my view and the viewpoints of many who see a real picture of what UBF has done and failed to do.

The definition of coercion from Merriam-Webster is this:

1: to restrain or dominate by force
2: to compel to an act or choice
3: to achieve by force or threat

Should people be coerced into a holy life?

The Bible says no.

8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 2 Timothy 1:8-11

The Bible says the opposite: We are not to push people into holiness. We are to “pull” or draw people into God, attracting them like a magnet. We are to have a “winsomeness” that makes people want to know more about the joy and hope we have found. We are called by God through His grace to a holy life. Jesus said “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32)

The first Christians lifted up Jesus and drew people in. They did not attempt to coerce a multiplication of believers. Instead, they lifted up Jesus and allowed the Spirit of God to add believers to their number. This is how they obeyed Jesus’ world mission command (Matthew 28:18-20).

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:41-47

The Pharisees did the opposite (Matthew 23:1-39). Jesus rebuked them severely because they coerced people into obeying God’s laws. They pushed people to be holy and loaded their minds and souls with demands for conformance.

How can people be coerced into a set of ideals?

Isolation and separation from social life is a key tactic:

Once a person is away from longstanding emotional support and thus reality checks, it is fairly easy to set a stage for brainwashing. Spiritually abusive groups work to isolate individuals from friends and family, whether directly, by requiring the individuals to forsake friends and family for the sake of the “Kingdom” (group membership), or indirectly, by preaching the necessity to demonstrate one’s love for God by “hating” one’s father, mother, family, friends.

Abusive groups are not outward-looking, but inward-looking, insisting that members find all comfort and support and a replacement family within the group. Cut off from friends, relatives, previous relationships, abusive groups surround the recruits and hammer rigid ideologies into their consciousnesses, saturating their senses with specific doctrines and requirements of the group.

Isolated from everyone but those within the group, recruits become dependent upon group members and leaders and find it difficult if not impossible to offer resistance to group teachings. They become self-interested and hyper-vigilant, very fearful should they incur the disapproval of the group, which now offers the only support available to them which has group approval.

Warning signs:

The seed of extremism exists wherever a group demands all the free time of a member, insisting he be in church every time the doors are open and calling him to account if he isn’t, is critical or disapproving of involvements with friends and family outside the group, encourages secrecy by asking that members not share what they have seen or heard in meetings or about church affairs with outsiders, is openly, publicly, and repeatedly critical of other churches or groups (especially if the group claims to be the only one which speaks for God), is critical when members attend conferences, workshops or services at other churches, checks up on members in any way, i.e., to determine that the reason they gave for missing a meeting was valid, or makes attendance at all church functions mandatory for participating in church ministry or enjoying other benefits of church fellowship.

Once a member stops interacting openly with others, the group’s influence is all that matters. He is bombarded with group values and information and there is no one outside the group with whom to share thoughts or who will offer reinforcement or affirmation if the member disagrees with or doubts the values of the group. The process of isolation and the self-doubt it creates allow the group and its leaders to gain power over the members. Leaders may criticize major and minor flaws of members, sometimes publically, or remind them of present or past sins. They may call members names, insult them or ignore them, or practice a combination of ignoring members at some times and receiving them warmly at others, thus maintaining a position of power (i.e., the leaders call the shots.)

The sense of humiliation makes members feel they deserve the poor treatment they are receiving and may cause them to allow themselves to be subjected to any and all indignities out of gratefulness that one as unworthy as they feel is allowed to participate in the group at all. When leaders treat the member well occasionally, they accept any and all crumbs gratefully. Eventually, awareness of how dependent they are on the group and gratitude for the smallest attention contributes to an increasing sense of shame and degradation on the part of the members, who begin to abuse themselves with “litanies of self-blame,” i.e., “No matter what they do to me, I deserve it, as sinful and wretched as I am. I deserve no better. I have no rights but to go to hell. I should be grateful for everything I receive, even punishment.” (source)

But I’ve seen something different recently. At least 3 times now, our Sunday Service has been a dialogue between two people, and not always with a pastor. Instead of a podium, there is a table and two chairs. The conversation is some sort of interview or dialogue between the two people.

Today was on of those times. One of the elders at Grace interviewed Randy Alcorn, the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries and author of the new book Courageous. Through this personal and insightful interview, we heard an inspiring call to men to be courageous and be men of God’s character and purpose for their families and those around them.

I’m learning that preaching is not so much about dictating some truth or new idea that we glean from the Bible. Preaching is about communicating God’s message through a discovery process. Preaching that moves people’s hearts is about involving people in dialogue that inspires, uplifts and motivates.