Having been a very active member of a UPC church for
many years, I have witnessed differing views on how people in the organization
view trinitarians. Some treat them as fellow Christians, yet others
won't consider them as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Some believe that
those who don't hold to the oneness view are lost. I've seen oneness
believers state that trinitarian believers don't even know Jesus.
One of the most extreme statements I've heard is from a non-UPC apostolic minister who stated in two posts on an apostolic board: "I would rather have every family member I have on alcohol and drugs than sitting in a false church and you can print that on USA TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...." & "A false church is one that does NOT preach Acts 2:38 as God's plan of salvation." (Comments made on September 11, 2005 on Faithchild Forum by Steve Epley.) The same minister on May 5, 2006 made the following statement on the New Faithchild Forum, "I remember an event that I thought would generate some interest.
I man who thought himself very philsophical asked me once. "You are Oneness are you not? What is the main difference between we Trinitarians and you Oneness people? If you could please give me something short and concise since I am in a hurry?" I said yes sir the main difference is "saved and lost." Excuse me" he said looking questioning? "Yes we are saved and you are lost that would be the main difference." He seemed a little "put off" as the philsophical would say." Both forums are no longer in operation.
Years back, then General Superintendent Nathaniel Urshan, along with Robert Sabin, appeared on the John Ankerberg Show. On the Trinitarian side appeared Walter Martin and Calvin Beisner. Below is Part One:
Part Two:
Part Three:
Note how many times Nathaniel Urshan was asked by Walter Martin if he was his brother, a believer, a Christian, and saved and the difficulty Urshan had in responding.
Below is a song written and performed by a non-UPC apostolic that shows how many apostolics believe Trinitarians are lost.
On the opposite side, James White shared in an article on Phillips, Craig & Dean, a popular singing group, that he stopped listening to their music when he found they had oneness beliefs. One statement made was: "Likewise, I don’t believe it is proper to be led in worship
by someone who worships a different God than I do and who specifically denies the truth of the Triune existence of
God." This article appeared in the Volume 21, Number 4 issue of the Christian Research Journal.
There have been many in the UPC that inaccurately portray trinitarian
beliefs (and the same happens in reverse). A young boy I know shared that his UPC Sunday School teacher taught
they believed in three kings and that there would be three thrones in heaven.
