One dilemma facing “second gens” in ubf these days is the problem of dual identity. Since these children have now become adults, they are making their own decisions. But they still feel a sense of loyalty to their parents.
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