Comments on: Godly Sorrow – Part 3 http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/ for friends of University Bible Fellowship Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:34:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1 By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8724 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 02:14:05 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8724 If anyone is interested, here are links to Desiree’s comments that shed light on Rebecca’s story and the ubf context in general:

Comment about money

Comment regarding Rebecca’s late husband James

Comment about ubf training methods

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By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8720 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 23:40:23 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8720 big bear: “Wow…what a story and I was not there but I believe every word of it because it mirrors much of what our family has been through…”

Yes the story resonates with every ubfer who has been there over 5 years. After 5 years or so, the “party’s over”.

And yes, I was there in Toledo with James and Rebecca, and Rebecca’s story is true. And our friend Desiree (who commented many times in the Voy forums) from Toledo was an eye-witness to the events Rebecca speaks of. Desiree can and has confirmed all of it from her firsthand knowledge.

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By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8719 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 23:32:34 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8719 But alas, there is more to the story. Yes it is good that Exodus apologized but is this just smoke and mirrors? Is it real change or just illusions?

Here’s a critical look at the “apology”…sounds all too familiar to me :( Lot’s of good Christian words but no fundamental change or actual godly sorrow. Seems like the Exodus guy apologizing might still believe that God’s greatest desire for every gay person is that they cease to be gay.

“So, as I say, I’m just a tad confused. Not once in your speech— which I’ll be the first to say was veritably jammed with talk about God and forgiveness and healing and welcoming and redemption and reconciliation and peace and love and joy and salvation— did I hear you express regret for you and Exodus having spent over three decades helping to destroy the lives of gay people and their families through your peddling and capitalizing upon the message that God’s greatest desire for every gay person is that they cease to be gay.

I heard you say that you regret the way in which Exodus communicated that message. I heard you say that you regret the way in which people now think of Exodus. I heard you say how proud you are of Exodus. And I definitely heard you repeatedly say that it’s high time for the church to start welcoming gay people, and all others who are marginalized and “in need.””

Source: John Shore open letter

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By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8671 Sun, 23 Jun 2013 14:16:57 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8671 +1

“I just need to increasingly learn how to do so with fear and trembling and with humility and tears rather than with anger and with deadly self-righteousness.”

I think the solution is to study about the prophets. Ezekiel, Hosea and Jeremiah are so helpful in this regard. Surrendering to grace and listening to the Spirit’s guidance is critical in order to avoid self-righteousness and to speak out boldly. I’ve learned to speak out when the Spirit does not constrain me. There have been so many more words I wanted to say, but the Spirit restrained me from sharing.

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By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8653 Sat, 22 Jun 2013 13:11:49 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8653 Vitaly, I stay in UBF because:

* Christ is the head of the church.
* Jesus did not separate the wheat from the weeds before the harvest.
* UBF does not deny Christ or the Bible.
* There are many “sincere sinners” in UBF.
* My own children and possibly some of my grandchildren will likely remain in UBF.
* I want to be a voice that speaks up and speaks out. I just need to increasingly learn how to do so with fear and trembling and with humility and tears rather than with anger and with deadly self-righteousness.
* To those in UBF who want me to leave UBF, I say this, “If you have a problem with me being in UBF, you can leave.” :-)

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By: Vitaly http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8651 Sat, 22 Jun 2013 04:17:22 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8651 A very good article. Thanks, Brian. Unfortinately for ubf there are very many similar testimonies in the internet about ubf practicies. And instead of Godly Sorrow ubf leaders show ungodly silence or covering up. They used to say, “ubf is perfect”, now some of them say, “There is no perfect church, ubf is one of the non-perfect churches”. I attend a non-perfect church and what happened in ubf worldwide (and in Toledo in particular) is unthinkable for my “non-perfect” church. Again when I read articles about cults it is not easy (for me) to find a difference between typical cults and the “non-perfect ubf church”.

ubf tries to show its show, but inside it is “FULL of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness”. Sometimes I simply can not understand how others’ consciences (which normally should tend to be in light and “cleanness”) allow them to stay in ubf.

I personally avoided and ignored the testimonies of those who left ubf. I agreed that they were “unthankful”. I thought, “Why don’t they think that it was through ubf that God worked in them and saved them?! Why are they not humble before the fact?”. But when I stopped avoiding and ignoring the testimonies I began to see that my conscience is fully on the side of those who left ubf. (There are a few strange testimonies I don’t like but the most of them are worthy of careful attention).

Now when I read the gospels I see how the religious leaders always tried to just silence the Voice of truth, even to kill Jesus, instead of having Godly Sorrow and repentance. ubf leaders also are just trying to ignore and silence the voices of truth which are so many.

Tebow tells his fans, “I do care!”. ubf leader use to “say”, “We don’t really care, there is another side of the story”. But all the sides of the story are one darker than the other.

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By: AbNial http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8640 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:19:12 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8640 Yes aw, no more time of talking and discussing over ubf issues. It is over and now is the time to DO something as you rightly said.
We all are tired of visiting this site to discuss, discuss and discuss without any action about serious issues being charged against ubf. If any loyalists feel lack of evidence, then seek help from law enforcing agencies.

Blood of many Abels are crying out for justice. (Gen 4:10-11). Shut down ubf, if that is what is required for true godly sorrow, just as Exodus International did. Time is up. Leave Babylon.

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By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8638 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:36:44 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8638 YES! That is wonderful news.

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By: Joe Schafer http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8637 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:20:07 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8637 After issuing their apology, the Board of Directors of Exodus International has unanimously voted to shut the organization down.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2013/06/20/exodus-international-apologizes/

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8633 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:46:32 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8633 recent daily bread/Jeremiah: the few true prophets are killed or narrowly escape like Jeremiah (government told religion, ‘he speaks God’s truth, we should listen to God, who knows, if we repent God may relent’)

we all know the song: And the voice of truth says “Do not be afraid!”…I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

false prophets were saying: ‘peace, peace, live as you please (idolatry/injustice/etc) & God will bless you anyway’

THE VOICE OF TRUTH: unrepentant religious would rather kill true voices than change own wrong ways & lose excessive benefits;

but the Lord is coming, coming on the clouds!

Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Martin Luther just a few past VOICES: let’s be enduring voices, no matter what, to the glory of God alone! Amen

we may be killed, but our VOICES would speak even louder from the grave:)
HALLELUJAH!

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8632 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:28:11 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8632 (ALL who truly can, & only collectively help one another who truly couldn’t)

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8631 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:52:45 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8631 perverse treachery/irreconcilable;
religion needs immediate mental health assessment, financial disclosure, & spiritual revision

if religion can’t obey God, perhaps it should be abolished & replaced by direct to Christ spirituality with mere gathering for fellowship/worship, minimal donation, true housechurch living, true self-supporting lifestyle of ALL, etc…

in other words religion has repeatedly proven it can’t manage power & $ (as bad as world, or worse at times) so is found wanting (lacking) & declared unsuitable

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8630 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:33:18 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8630 Revelation is calling churches to account for such as this, it has not gone unnoticed by God, He is just slow to act, hoping for organizational repentance/redemption as opposed to eventual deportation/captivity

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By: Chris http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8629 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:22:07 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8629 aw, all this material has been published already 10 years ago. I even translated many of such testimonies. Everybody knew that these reports existed. But the only thing that happened was that they tried to shut down the websites where they were published.

Like you, I was shocked when I read these testimonies. But I was even more shocked to find that my fellow UBFers totally ignored them, were indifferent or dismissed every such report in a lump-sum as “slander”. There was no sign of sorrow about these things, only the sorrow that they had been published.

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By: big bear http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8628 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:39:20 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8628 Wow…what a story and I was not there but I believe every word of it because it mirrors much of what our family has been through as we struggled to raise 5 children…the rebukes for not offering enough on Sundays when we could not even pay our rent and feed our children…the advice of the director to go to a house on Lyon street to beat up a man which I never did…the advice to disown my family and my son whom I loved to obey blindly…the 20 years of sleeping only about 5 hours a night due to testimony writing and early morning prayer meetings and so many demands to make me a bible believing machine…the chastisement for attending a catholic church and singing in the choir…the abuse of my brother in full view of me and the way the director degraded my family and my sheep in the name of raising disciples…the director had a MD wife who made good money and he lived a lavished life style as we students were demanded to support God’s work and write testimonies and feed sheep and he half the time did not work and even shared sunday messages word from word from SL…could not ask him to interpret what he wrote because he did not know…the director never gave us practical answers for our lives and the ministry always remained the same in number …. he always used my story for recruitment purposes and always demanded us to attend conferences even if we could not afford them…family is considered a burden and God help you if you love your wife more than UBF or kiss her at a prayer meeting…when I got married I was even afraid to hug my wife in public…once in Germany Kevin Albright said it is ok to hug your wife…still felt like I was betraying God by loving my wife…this is the unwritten rules that destroy families and lives…I was rebuked whenever I grew facial hair…the director and my shepherd would say I am returning to my old life…”Don’t forget God’s grace” what they really meant, “We have done so much for you and help you, you owe us your life” How come I did not see this? I was a cult leader and did not see it….

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By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8627 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:14:16 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8627 In regard to ubf, my conscience is now clear.

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By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8626 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:10:40 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8626 Thanks for sharig that, Joe. Yes I have been impressed with the way Exodus has been reforming their approach. This apology is another step of that reform. They already denounced “reparative therapy methods”, such as shocking people in an attempt to make them straight.

That is a good parallel example. As we learn facts about situations, I for one would prefer clear my conscience, apologize for wrong, and do whatever possible to make things right this side of heaven. Standing before God on judgment day with excuses or trusting in my own understanding of various doctrines isn’t something I want do.

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By: aw http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8625 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:12:21 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8625 This is absolutely disgusting. My heart is broken as I read this account. Something must be done about it.

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8624 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:12:37 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8624 intolerable

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8623 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:06:26 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8623 despicable travesties,unconscionable

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8622 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:38:37 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8622 too much talk too long, time for walk..action;
while religion plays & destroys, young students are dying on elite campuses at the hands of hidden panders using laced drinks, sexual abuse tactics, & suspicious deaths (most likely “murders”);
current investigation of midwest prevalence will reveal more (often male/found in water/etc such as student found today);

no time for religious games: it’s time for all to do right or get out; believers must unite under 1 head, Christ; competition has no place in religion: standing on opposite sides of a canyon & saying “I will defeat you!” is studpidity from the pit of hell that only echoes back;

time has run out: if Spirit/diplomacy is losing, then legal action must be immediately taken to save whatever remains of people’s lives: if campuses can’t manage themselves due to politics & $, then they must be managed..if churches can’t manage themselves due to politics & $, then they must be managed..immediately..

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By: Joe Schafer http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8621 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:36:39 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8621 Brian, thank you for this post. I have been in UBF for a very long time. I cannot confirm or deny any of the specific events that Rebecca B.K. wrote about, because I have no direct knowledge of them. But I will say that, in a general sense, her testimony rings true. What she says about SL — what he said and did — is very consistent with the kind of things that I heard him say and saw him do with my own ears and my own eyes. I won’t speculate about his motives. No one but God knows what his motives were. Most likely, he did not even know his own motives, because the human heart is so deceitful. But the things that Rebecca B.K. mentioned are precisely the kind of things that SL did. Those facts are something that ubf absolutely must reckon with, as soon as possible. This nonsense has gone on far too long.

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By: Joe Schafer http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8620 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:29:26 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8620 Brian, here is another example of godly sorrow that may interest you: President of Exodus International apologizes to the gay community:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/frankviola/exodusinternational/

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By: Mark Mederich http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8619 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:20:07 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8619 the magnitude of trespasses revealed requires total current organizational transparency and immediate resolution, or legal action should certainly be pursued & moral oversight absolutely imposed..

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By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/06/19/godly-sorrow-part-3/#comment-8618 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:13:40 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=6323#comment-8618 Too painful and too sad to read without tearing up.

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