From time to time I am reminded of the blatant flaws in the UBF theology of sacrifice, and the need to publicly correct such flaws. Today I received two thank-you emails from friends who have suffered much in their lives at the hands of UBFism. Such gratitude inspired me to share today’s post. What is the mission statement of Jesus?
A Heavy Chain Lifted
Hello, I recently left UBF after being part of the organization for a few years. I had my doubts about the organization from the beginning, but I was afraid that if I left, I would be leaving God and would no longer be a Christian. Finally, after some time of living in the common life, my eyes were opened to the critical faults of the organization, and I couldn’t be part of the church anymore.
A Cry for Truth
I would like to share this prayer I wrote down when I first realized the destructive practices of the University Bible Fellowship. This was an earth-shattering experience for me, because it threw everything that I had experienced over the course of ten months into a completely new light.
I still cringe a bit at some of the UBF language I used in this prayer, but it reflects the beginning of a massive change in my life. Some shepherds might say that what happened to me in the following months was spiritually destructive, leading to my “falling away” from God’s will. I think what really happened was God answered this prayer.
A Painful yet Liberating Exchange
Dear “Missionary”,
When I brought to your attention the negative/disturbing things being said about UBF you told me to “judge according to what I see”. This write up is my reply to what I saw and what I see. First off what I saw was a Christian fellowship (on the outside) which at times appeared awkward but I thought it was in my mind, or the devil trying to deceive me. In time I got over those awkward feelings and actively tried to seek out the will of Christ in your “ministry”.
Are marriage meetings a good idea?
Recently I read an article recommending weekly marriage meetings:
Holding a weekly 30-minute meeting with your spouse that’s broken into four parts: Appreciation (expressing gratitude to your spouse), Chores (making sure to-dos are getting done), Plan for Good Times (scheduling date nights, as well as individual and family activities), and Problems/Challenges (addressing conflicts/issues/changes in the relationship and in life in general).
I thought that might be a good idea, because, as the article continues to explain:
The structure of the marriage meeting is designed to rekindle your romance, solidify your friendship, nip potential conflicts in the bud, and help you smoothly run your household economy. If you’ve already got a great marriage, then marriage meetings will enhance it. If your marriage has been struggling, the meetings can help you get your relationship back on track.
What Bad Leadership Lacks
With the Orlando tragedy, some Christian leaders are speaking words that lack wisdom and which certainly do not promote healing nor express compassion. Here are 5 dumb things Christians must stop saying when evil strikes.Read More
Message Review – El Camino UBF (Harvest South Bay Church Gardena)
Recently ubfriends was requested to review messages from El Camino UBF, in California USA. I must admit that I have no patience anymore for the garbage that churns out each Sunday from UBF chapter directors and shepherds. The messages are so shallow that they hardly warrant a review. Reluctantly, I took a look at the latest El Camino UBF message. What I saw intrigued me. Here are my thoughts.