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Date Posted: 12:00:09 11/25/04 Thu
Author: Mike K.
Subject: Everywhere
In reply to: A Christian Man 's message, "Re: I have been meaning to write" on 11:35:11 11/25/04 Thu

Actually, one of the problems of the UBF is that it has no "official structure" save staying as close to the "status quo" while enlarging the numbers.

There is no board of directors which would address abusive leaders, even the UBF "board of directors" is just a muppet show with all strings in the hand of a single person.

And as in the international direction, the same goes in each chapter. If you have a grievance, you're at the whim of the director. There is no objective standard, just whimsy.
And if your problem just so happens to be the director, then - you pretty much only have the option to leave that chapter (as the director, being entitled "God's Servant" in a reference to the intangible Moses, will usually not admit any fault) be it through leaving UBF or through "pioneering" another chapter.

The next problem is that UBF is a self-referential environment. If your leaders approve of an action, then it means it's okay, if they disapprove, then it means it's wrong. So, instead of the Bible being the objective standard, the leaders make the subjective standard.
This results in a lot of wrongs being tolerated by the membership simply because the leaders approve.
And UBF isn't subjecting themselves to examination by outward Christians, in fact all Christians who would have anything to criticize about UBF are simply branded as "people who don't understand our heart" or "false accusers".

One more point that you mentioned was one of my primary complaints in my testimony which I wrote upon leaving the UBF: that so-called "bible teachers" are not qualified for their office.
I remember one "shepherd" who didn't even understand the basic principle of sin, who was full of arrogance and wouldn't let anyone teach him. Even the chapter director wouldn't do anything to and/or about that shepherd, rather every week he heaped praise on that young man to further found that young man's arrogance.

Two basic things which I would demand from any person who aspires to be a "shepherd and bible teacher":
First, a solid understanding of the Bible which is measured after an objective testing.
Second, shepherding abilities, which includes among others selfless devotion, humility and a lot of love.

The problem stats with UBF letting people enter the rank of "shepherds" that don't belong there in the least.
But it expands when UBF teaches a false understanding of humility which enables people with the hardest elbow to set themselves into positions of leadership over the rest.
And it really escalates when those people won't see their error but start to blame everyone who would challenge the position they attained already.

The UBF hierarchy is built upon a worldly, confucianistic principle of obedience and submission (please read Watchman Nee's "Authority and Submission" if you want to know how that idea crept into Christianity) instead of upon mutual brotherly love - and that really makes it hard to preserve the UBF as we know it and to bring genuine correction of unbiblical practice at the same time.

So, if there's something you want to challenge by starting with yourself is to give and live a clear testimony that you don't submit to a self-proclaimed "spiritual authority" just because one claims a title for themselves but much rather, that you want to establish a system of mutual brotherly love where you respect and submit to people because they act out of that same love.
And you should also make clear to anyone whom you see that you think is an unqualified "shepherd" is tell them that you think this about them. Don't keep it for yourself if someone is trying to usurp an office which they are unqualified for - open your mouth, but in love.

Ah, I'm writing sermons again...
just love the Lord.

In Christ,
Mike K.

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Replies:

The problem with UBF is more complex -- Anonymous, 19:48:24 11/25/04 Thu