So they are stuck with two identities. This recent report explains what I’m talking about:

Our church will be known by two names here: Austin UBF and Dwell church. We liked the name dwell because it captures that which captivated us about church planting — that we together get the high privilege of being God’s dwelling place (Eph 2:22). (source)

How long can they maintain this dualism? When will they surrender fully to the grace of God? How can they hold onto the failed ubf heritage? How much longer will they keep face, sustain the tension of multiple identities pulling in near opposite directions and ignore this serious hindrance to encountering God in a deep, joyful and effervescent way?

When will their conscience allow them to find their one true identity in our Lord Jesus and express their own life narrative?

When will they realize that our Lord is One, and that they are no worse off if they don’t submit to the ubf heritage? Will their eyes open and realize that enabling the spiritual order demanded by ubf is like putting a stumbling block in the path of anyone who may believe the gospel through them? Is not this dual identity like attempting to offer food to both idols and to God?

8 Now concerning[a] food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.[b]

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating[c] in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,[d] if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[e] and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

I have several thoughts on the rogue chapters. First of all, this is not a new trend. It is called pioneering in UBF. Up to now, a large percentage, if not almost all, pioneering events in UBF happened because of self-induced strife, division or trouble of some kind (not real persecution, but in-fighting). For example, way back in 1990, James Kim’s family went to Houston in the midst of Godfather-like turmoil.

In my observation, many of the satellite UBF chapters around the world are “doing their own thing” while keeping face with UBF officially. This does not mean all UBF chapters are just rebellions waiting to happen; just that many of them started out with strife of some sort. Some UBF directors have the idea that they are blessing their chapter members by protecting them from other UBF members. Each chapter director seems to find his own way to implement the UBF idealogy in a “better” way.

I was surprised to hear this direction from an older Korean UBF missionary, who had been pioneering many years on his own. When I shared my struggles with him, he told me the best direction is to do what he has been doing for decades: form your own chapter and do what you want! That’s when I realized something significant: As a UBF director, I had no accountability to anyone. As long as I did not infringe on some other UBF director’s territory, I was free!

This sounded awesome at first. But then I realized a key problem with the current UBF authority structure. As a director I did indeed have freedom to do what I wanted, but I also had absolute power and authority. The only requirements from UBF headquarters was to send in offering & attendance numbers, to send in an annual work report and to be present at at least one staff conference per year. I didn’t even have to write “sogams”, just a work report. I realized that I could setup a Muslim training camp or an athiest think-tank in my chapter, and call it “UBF”. As long as I was good enough at playing the game, I could be my own man. This is ironic since UBF historically teaches you that no one is “their own man”.

 After realizing how many rogue chapters are out there, and realizing that “going rogue” was my best chance at staying in UBF, I became fearful. I feared having too much power with no accountability. Is that a Christian way of leadership, I wondered? Soon after these things, and after many phone/email conversations, I resigned as director of Detroit UBF. I did not want to be part of such an unBiblical model of leadership. Such a model, in my observation, causes undue sectarianism and destroys the unity our Lord prayed for.

http://www.odnimslovom.org/

“odnim slovom” is Russian for “one word”. My primary project will continue to be to articulate the gospel of Jesus one word at a time. This project will produce presentations called “sermon starters”.

http://www.knet6.com/grace/

I contend that grace is the primary lens to unlock and unpack all Scripture. I’ve already reviewed God’s message of grace in the book of grace, Romans. This project will keep me centered on the grace of God as I continually learn the vast majesty of God’s ways.

http://www.priestlynation.com/

This blog will remain as a permanent witness of the first 50 years of University Bible Fellowship. I lived the last 24 of those 50 years. The UBF celebrations will tell the world only the positive, glorious-sounding, good-natured viewpoints of the last 50 years. This project will document my view and the viewpoints of many who see a real picture of what UBF has done and failed to do.

…from the bonds UBF placed on my soul:

The documents describing the three reform movements are posted in an earlier entry. UBF started in 1961. The three “R-Group” movements were in 1976, 1989 and 2000. So the attempts to reform UBF have lasted 35 years.

Recently I came to know that my leaving UBF was part of a rather large exodus of members and long-time (10+ years) leaders around the world. In the past, the reform attempts were led by Korean missionaries, many of whom formed a new ministry called CMI (Campus Mission International).

The movement in 2011 is lead by “natives” (Americans, Indians, Russians, etc.). Very few Koreans are involved this time.

Today I declare that this 2011 movement is the “Independence Movement of 2011”. We are the “I-Group” people. We are not rebellious. We are not poisonous. We are no longer interested in reform. We are tired of waiting for even a drop of change.

We are people who have decided to leave UBF for the sake of freedom. We tried to agree-to-disagree and to humbly reform things from the inside. But we have concluded that this is not possible, given the current structure of UBF, the absolute power and authority given to Korean directors, the stubborn rejection of open, honest discussion by UBF elders and the refusal of UBF elders to even acknowledge any kind of problem.

Therefore, we declare our separation from UBF in order to submit to the Holy Spirit, to obey Scripture’s teachings, to find our Gifts and put them to use in our Lord’s service, to seek the unity Apostle Paul spoke of, to let the things built by man to fall to the ground and to pursue the things of God with a passionate love for grace, truth, faith, hope and love for our King Jesus, our High Priest, in whom is all authority and power.

My purpose is not to stir up controversy or generate division. My purpose is to “weave a new fabric”. I want to untwist the flawed theology I’ve learned over the past two decades. I want to document facts and events as I remember them, and even as new events happen. I want to expose, to explain and to examine my life. Above all, I desire to submit to the Holy Spirit. I want to seek, listen and obey the promptings of the Spirit. My Christian life is now suddenly a joyful journey! For many years, my Christian life was a burdened duty, filled with guilt and ambition.

Along this journey, I have discovered things that convince me UBF is a cult. But this does not mean I think everything in UBF is (or was) invalid. Some things in UBF continue to be valid. Finding salvation, my marriage, my friendships: these are all valid. Our move to Detroit was only partially valid. In any case, I am blogging for validity. As I learn and read from many sources, I can see the Bible’s teachings more and more clearly. I should think I will continue to find some things in my life to be valid, and others to be invalid. This blog is my expression of this journey.

Another purpose God has put on my heart is accountability. Who would dare attempt to hold Korean UBF missionaries accountable? Quite a few have tried, but were portrayed as “rebels” or “unGodly”. Those who tried to reform UBF and hold leaders there accountable were far more ambitious than I ever will be. I am like a small guppy swimming in a tank of sharks and whales! Who can hold leaders accountable? God can. My blogging here is to speak the words people in UBF are afraid or unwilling to speak; to ask the tough questions no one in UBF wants asked. All this I do in love and hope and in prayer that the dark side of UBF may be transformed and made into a vessel useful to God. My blogging is dedicated to honoring Jesus above all else, even if it means “eating crow”.

I am convinced that reform is not possible in UBF. Some UBF chapters are broken vessels, splintered and fragmented beyond repair. There have been 3 reform movements in UBF history (1976, 1989 and 2000). UBF chapters can no longer “just repent”. They need to re-invent, re-tool and re-build. Some chapters are doing this: Waterloo UBF in Canada, Westloop UBF in Chicago, Eau Claire UBF in Wisconsin and Penn State UBF Church in Pennsylvania are examples of men and women of God who are being transformed out of a cult-like organization and into a true, Spirit-led, life-giving church. I highly respect the men leading these UBF chapters. I point them out today as a reminder that UBF has been used by God in the past, and can again be used by God today, and into the future. It is possible to find the unity Scripture speaks of. It is possible to be truly and joyfully united in our Lord Jesus. But it requires submission to the Spirit, admission that you need help and a fervent struggle before God Himself.