A pastor morally falls. So does his son. People are devastated, hurt, confused, angry, sad and their faith is shaken. A church is thrown into turmoil. This is happening now in Junction City, Kansas.

The pastor, Edwin Young, suddenly and without warning, turned in his resignation last week (August 2nd). The church is already set to vote on a possible new pastor this week, possibly Don Boyer, who Young felt should succeed him.

Young took over the church after the death of L.E. Westberg, one of the men instrumental in pushing through the affirmation resolution in 1992 (went into effect in 1993). At that time, Faith Tabernacle was a part of the United Pentecostal Church. Both men held license with the UPC, but Young ended up leaving the organization and went independent apostolic at some point after becoming the pastor. From things I heard, it got stricter under Young.

What causes a pastor to fail morally? Are there signs we can watch for, that something seriously is wrong in the life of a minister? It hits the news more and more and involves various church groups. There's another big story going on now in Indiana that has been reported by the media.

I will share one thing I have learned through the years and red lights go on whenever I hear it happens. When a minister is harsh in sermons and outside the pulpit, BEWARE. There is an enormous difference between speaking in love against sin, or what one perceives to be sin, and another when people are torn into, made examples of, and treated not in love by a minister. There is also a problem when no sin is involved, but a minister gets irritated at someone and rips into them in front of all.

From numerous reports, that is exactly what this minister did for years and years. If similar things happened in a healthy church, the pastor's wrong behavior would have been addressed when it happened or soon after. But at this church, it wasn't. It was tolerated, allowed, and even thought to be proper conduct by many. Many 'amened' him and cheered him on when he did these things. It isn't proper behavior. It is far, far from how a minister is to conduct themselves.

A huge problem is that in unhealthy churches, this is often a gradual process. And when it gets to this point, the people have been conditioned through previous teachings and incidents, to accept what is happening. The pastor is "the man of God." You don't "touch God's anointed." The pastor "watches for your soul and has to give account of you." The pastor knows more than you and what is best. If the pastor is wrong, all we can do is "pray about it and let God correct him." So when people have this type of mindset, it opens the door for much abuse and other wrong things.

Learn how a pastor is to be. Go to your Bibles and search this out. A main characteristic of a minister is they...

Lois

Hi, my name's Luke. I'm new to the support group. Here's my story. I was raised in the United Pentecostal Church, but never had a serious relationship with God until I was 17. At that time I was searching for God, not knowing which religion to subscribe to. I was reading all kinds of literature from different religions. One day, I prayed to God, "God, I don't know what to believe. There are so many religions out there and I don't know which is the right way. I don't understand". Then I opened a Bible and read, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding". I knew that God had spoken to me personally. This convinced me he was real. I began devouring the Bible and praying, but I didn't know the Gospel. From the moment I first believed, I had it in my mind that I had to be sinless in order to be accepted by God. Perhaps this was because of confusing teaching about repentance I was exposed to as a child. I began to rid my life of anything I considered to be possibly wrong.
Soon I had it in my mind that I should attend a UPC church and that not doing so would be rebellion. No one told me that, I just assumed. I had a lot of false assumptions at the time. So, I went to a UPC church and received a detailed word of knowledge. I took this as a sign that this is where I should be. Despite all of this, God was with me during this process. I fell in love with God. I worshiped him from my heart and felt a great contentment.
Soon, I was taught of the need to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which was evidence by the recipient speaking in tongues. One night, I was praying in my room and during the prayer, I said, "Lord, I thank you that I can receive the Holy Ghost anywhere!" Then I went to a member of that church's house who lived near by and asked if we could pray. She began to pray and said, "Lord, I just thank you that Luke can receive the Holy Ghost anywhere!" I became very excited at that confirmation and began to aggressively praise God. She spoke in tongues as I worshiped God. Then we stopped and a pulsating Energy surrounded me. "What's that I feel?", I asked. "That's the Holy Ghost," she replied. I couldn't stop smiling for about five minutes, and I ran home, leaping for joy. But there were no tongues. And there were no tongues for the next five years that I attended that church. I expected God to "possess" me and literally take control of my body and speak tongues through me. There was confusing teaching about the subject and it was sometimes described as such.
Well, because I could not speak in tongues, I did not believe I was saved or right with God. It was taught that one reason that a person may not receive the Spirit was because of not repented of or "known" sin. This intensified my false belief that I had to achieve sinless perfection to be accepted by God. I became obsessed with trying not to sin. This obsession...

Luke

Message Bible, Galatians 6: 11-13
The people who are attempting to force the way of circumcision (ie: legalistic rules) on you have only one motive, they want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws hey do observe. They only want you to be circumcised (ie: keep the legalistic rules) so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible! (words in parenthesis are mine)
How true this passage rings out when thinking of how new converts are boasted of in the UPC. Whether at home or abroad, we hear this NUMBER saved or this NUMBER baptized. We have the great somebodys of Pentecost. I agree with Paul, this is contemptible.

Nancy

O From my earliest memories, I was always confused about how we (as the only true believers going to heaven) could be so nonchalant about sending so many people to hell. According to the doctrine, most of our friends, neighbors, and even many of our relatives were going to spend eternity in a lake burning with fire and brimstone, but we just laughed and socialized and only showed any concern during heated revivals. The rest of the time, we acted as if we really didn't care. How could this be?
There were also times when I observed some seeming to almost rejoice that some 'jerk' was headed for the lake of fire! And then it was also understood that "they were making their own bed and would have to lay in it - even if it was on fire!"
We would rejoice when someone would come to church and make a start but if they slipped up and didn't stay, we quickly tch, tched, them back on the road to damnation.
As an adult this always still bothered me, even though I was very hesitant to bring very many friends to my out of the mainstream church and carried a heavy load of guilt for my complicity in their not finding salvation.
Finally as a senior citizen, I have escaped the cult and clearly see the ridiculousness of the doctrine that would take God's plan and create a burden so heavy that none can bear it. Who among us is able to bear the burden of believing that all but those in this one doctrine are headed for eternal damnation, irregardless of whether they are loving, believing, kind, caring Christians? The doctrine of the cult condemns them for clothing choices, ordinary daily activities, and hairstyles.
Christ condemned the Pharisees that would put these heavy burdens on those He had set free. God isn't measuring your sleeve length or checking out your bling, He is looking on your heart AND He tells us by their fruit shall you know them. Is this fruit clothing, hairstyles, or other outward appearance? NO, this fruit is LOVE, . . . . .by this shall you know that they are my disciples, that they have LOVE one to another. I remember, from my earliest memories that many of those being condemned to Hell by the UPC were full of love, kindness, gentleness, meekness, . . . . .
Oh, but, (they would say) what about Cornelius? He still had to be baptized and be filled with the Spirit! Yes, but did he then have to be circumcised (ie: follow the Pharisees law)? No, he did not! Who are you to judge another man's servant ? Is it for us to judge who is baptized and correctly filled with God's Spirit or were we told by God that "by the fruit of God's love shining forth in their life we would know them !?
I would venture one step further . . . .how many doing the condemning show any measure of love, especially to those without. . . . .it is easy to love those who love us, do not even the infidels do this but God commands us to love even the jerk that we would prefer to send to Hell . . . . . . . .and that...

Nancy

Sometimes I think maybe God allows us to experience things just so He can show us how much he loves us and how great He is. We don't earn our blessings, we don't deserve them, we can't demand them but God in His love and mercy blesses us beyond measure anyway. How great is our God!
Not all prayers are answered in the way we want but after a lifetime of experience, I know and have faith that all things work together for good . . . . .
God answers prayer

Nancy