For instance, the reason why most UBF members believe they must be disciple-makers for students is that they believe they were born again through the disciple-making “service” of UBF, and UBF does its best to make people believe it is only through UBF that they have been saved and born again. For most it is actually the only “mechanism” to be born again they know and experienced. They also consider it to be a sign of unthankfulness or selfishness to not pass on what they received as students in UBF to other students. And they believe the only way to pass it on is to make disciples in the same way as they have been made disciples themselves. In UBF, conversion and new birth is automatically coupled to your calling. To not accept that calling would mean to question the seriousness of your conversion. I think that’s one of the crucial issues with UBF.

1. 歸向聖經 (Go Back to the Bible)
2. 通過平信徒宣教士遵行世界宣教使命 (World mission through lay missionaries)
3. 通過1:1查經成就校園福音化 （Campus evangelism through one-to-one Bible study）
4. 通過家庭教會持守馬糟事工 (Manger ministry through house churches)
5. 興起門徒事工 (Disciple-making ministry)
6. 天糧與所感撰寫 (Daily bread and testimony writing)
7. “五餅二魚”的施與精神 (Giving spirit-“five loaves and two fish”)
8. 為了成為祭司的國度和聖潔的國民而禱告 (Pray to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation)

Actually, UBF has created lots of so-called “spiritual terms” (of course, they say that these are teachings of Bible). In our experience, UBF spiritual heritage is just some sort of so-called “spiritual terms”. In deed, these spiritual heritage are the old rules of the Founder. I think there are some contradictions with the following statements they quoted in the “50th Anniversary Book”

“However, the spirit that worked in the UBF ministry for the past 50 years didn’t come from the ideas of Dr. Samuel Lee or Mother Barry.”

These spiritual heritage (or spiritual terms) are just slogan indeed. For example, the Korean Director always emphasize “Mainland China Mission” during the past. However, you may guess how many Mainland China missionary was sent from HKUBF? The answer is: No one was sent from HKUBF during the past 26 years.

There are lots of “spiritual terms” used in UBF. They are using their own languages. You seem to be a freshman who is learning a language in a class. There should be 100 or even more spiritual terms that the UBF leaders always emphasize. These so-called spiritual terms are rarely clearly defined and documented. However, the UBF leaders redefine these terms and use them if they need at any time, sometimes different leaders will have different interpretations. I promise that you will laugh from your heart if you could find that there are so many “spirits” and so many “XXX-ism” (e.g. Humanism, Hedonism) in the UBF’s so-called “spiritual terms”.

So what are these so-called “spiritual terms” used for? According to Steven Hassan, a cult or a cult-like organization use to adopt “loaded” language (characterized by “thought-terminating clichés”). for thought control. These “special” words constrict rather than expand understanding. (source:http://www.freedomofmind.com/Info/BITE/bitemodel.php) They like to use its own language and terms, and quote them if “necessary” (to control the others).

In my opinion, the first lesson the UBF leaders that they should learn is to abandon using such sort of terms and abandon controlling the brothers and sisters Yet are they willing to admit that they are controlling the others indeed and adopt them? Since they must keep the “old rules” of the Founder, that explains why is it so hard to change and why have they reformed many many times during the past 50 years, but fail indeed.

You make a very good point. If UBF leaders were honest, they would give every new Bible student a 50th Anniversary Book (the “blue book”). And they would not post a rubber-stamp “statement of faith”. They would post the 12 point heritage. That is what UBF is all about.

Seriously though, I do need to answer your question two times. I am so intrigued by this, I made this today’s post.

It also said, “God called us to be disciple-makers..”, and more specifically, to be disciple-makers of college students.

Brian, do you believe that God called you to be a “disciple-maker”? Specifically, to college students?

Personally, I don’t feel I have that calling. And I shouldn’t feel like I am called to be unless God actually tells me in a recognizable way, not just because someone in UBF told me that God called me to be one.

What do you think about this? Do people in UBF have the authority to say these things? They are essentially “speaking on behalf of God”. Obviously this puts them in a position of great influence and power. I think what history has taught us is that absolute power corrupts absolutely, or however the saying goes. At least for humans.

Interested to hear your thoughts,

J