Re: UBF's sincerety -- RSQUBF discussion forum

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Date Posted: 10:49:42 08/22/04 Sun
Author: Chris
Subject: Re: UBF's sincerety
In reply to: Mitch 's message, "Re: UBF's sincerety" on 09:44:31 08/22/04 Sun

Hi Mitch, I feel the same. The reason why many former UBFers are disappointed, sad or even angry is not only because of UBF, but I believe we are also disappointed and disillusionized about ourselves. We recognized that we were either too naive or too stupid to recognize that it is a cult (though we knew many warnings about cults, but we never thought we could fall into that trap), and/or we recognized how we to some extend even supported an authoriatrian system, be it passively by allowing others to control us and our friends, or actively by dealing with our sheep in similar ways. The article Authoritarianism in The Church by Steve Martin clearly speaks about not only the "sin of the shepherds," but also about the "sin of the sheep." I really recommend everybody who has not yet read the article, to do so now.

We are disappointed about ourselves, surely. But what can we do? We just have to repent for our part in the tragedy (which does not take away UBFs part of the guilt). I think it is a very healthy realization. We recognize more deeply how immature and sinful we are, how closed our spiritual eyes were, how much we loved our honor more than God, and how little we searched and asked for God ourselves, but instead let others tell us about our God and mold our image of God. I think if we deeply realize this, it is indeed a step towards spiritual maturity. In this sense, yes, the time "wasted" in UBF was not really wasted. If we let that time be a lesson for us, it was for our good.

However, this is often abused as an excuse for UBF: "If in the end, everything worked for your good in UBF, you may not criticize UBF." That is a fallacy. Not everything that works for our good IS good in itself.

I guess the differnece from Jehovah's witness and ubf id that I was educated about the JW's, but not about ubf. I never heard of ubf until I was invited.

Yes. When we think about cults, we always think about the large, old, classic cults. But there are many other cults, some only consisting of one small local group. Also, the false doctrines and practices are more subtle in UBF than in other cults. At least UBF claims to stick to the Bible and orthodox Christian beliefs. Other cults don't even claim this, but bluntly add their doctrines to the Bible. We are used to these kind of cults, where it is obvious that they reject the Bible or operate according the formula "Bible + X." But there are also groups which officially claim their measurestick is only the Bible, and which only deviate in the practice, not in their official statement of faith. UBF is one of them. Lawrence Pile has coined the term "TACO" (totalist aberrant Chrisitan organization) for these kind of cults which claim to be Christian. UBF fits 100% into that definition.

Because "TACOs are so close to the truth, and the error is so subtle" (quote from Pile's article), it is somewhat excuseable that we stayed in UBF for so long.

I don't know what to tell them, or how they will react when they know I was in a cult for four years.

Of course, people who never saw a cult from inside won't really understand the dynamics that is going on in this groups and think you must be crazy to get trapped and stay in a cult. However, if they ask, I would tell them frankly and openly about the past and explain why you stayed in UBF. If they won't accept that, you will know that it is not a good place to stay. Don't be fearful of people again. Start to accept yourself with all your weaknesses and failures, bring your sins to God, and don't ask what other people think about you. Maybe, through the UBF experience, you will be even more mature than other Christians.

I just hope many more UBFers will come out and learn that lesson. Then, in the end, UBF will have really served something good.

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