Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

Now that song is stuck in my head...

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

Edward, honestly I started using the term Apostolic when I moved to Dallas in the mid-1990s. And that was before I heard it openly among Oneness Pentecostals.

My reasoning was that every mothers son in Dallas is some form of Pentecostal and none of them are the form I am.

Its hard to avoid the question "You mean like" name your favorite wacko charismatic with a TV program....when you say "I am a Pentecostal".

So I started going with Apostolic and that led to the question "what is an Apostolic".... can you say opportunity to share the Gospel?

For me Pentecostal has been appropriated by people who preach God will fill your teeth with gold and cause you to go into hysteric convulsions or baptize you in the name of hoochie magoochie.

I have no desire to be associated with those that baptize in the name of hoochie magoochie.

Now that doesn't mean that Apostolic means wild eyed reactionary conservative. I've never been one of those... It isn't likely that I will. But it does mean I still believe in the Oneness of the Godhead, and that I still believe that the doctrine of sanctification is necessary in the life of a born again believer..... and while we are talking about terms, Apostolic means I believe the term "Born Again" requires repentance, baptism in Jesus Name and being infilled with the Holy Ghost in the same manner as those in the upper room. (even if I allow room for the PCI view to be called Apostolic too....)

I am happy to point out that EVERY Apostolic is a Pentecostal, so long as we can agree that NOT every Pentecostal is an Apostolic... (reference baptizers in the name of hoochie magoochie).


But I get your drift. WE AGREE on 1Cor11. there is nothing magic about hair. We also agree that there are those within the movement that would exclude far too many and that these same will save far too few.
I am not willing to die on a hill defending a label (Pentecostal or Apostolic), but you can rest assured that I am right there with you when it comes to the underlying problems you bring up.

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

Me too!

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

I understand your position. I even empathize with you.

But Frank, I am concerned. I am worried that our children are losing an identity that is unique. I am concerned that "Apostolic" is an identity that focuses more on how we look.

I am fine with Pentecostal. I am offended when someone calls me Apostolic.

Again, Pentecost is the genesis of the church. It is where the New Birth message was first preached. Where the Gospel was first preached.

Also, have you noticed how many backsliders there are on AFF that consider themselves Apostolic? The label "Apostolic" has already been hijacked in the exact same way you've stated "Pentecostal" was.

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

I guess we're too holy for Pentecost nowadays. :(

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

I suspect some of it is location. Dallas is land of Binny Hinn and DayStar and whats that wacky dude with the crazy poot prayer face? Even the baptist here claim to be bapti-costal.

But you are right. the hard left and the hard right are in a death match to claim the label "Apostolic" and it may not be a tenible position for the rest of us who are what we have always been which was Pentecostal until recently.

I oppse both groups. but really both groups are still very much pentecostal too. I know what you mean and agree with what is so unsettling.

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

not me! im not sure if I am holy enough for Apostolic either....


but I do know that I am too something to be the same kind of Pentecostal as the rank and file "Pentecostal" in the Dallas area is! That I know for sure.

and it isnt about thier standards either.

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

Frank, I just feel like I have awakened from a long sleep to find that all of my contemporaries have changed their emphasis COMPLETELY.

I guess I just missed it, somehow. It's like we have totally abandoned our core identity.

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

On that subject I think you are right. I think there is an Action/REAction taking place.

There is a wierd thing going on where there is a massive struggle for the soul of a movement.

One side wants to abandon everything and fit in with the rest of christiandom and if that means letting go of core doctrines then well, fine and good.

another side wants to hold fast to traditional teaching and to do so they are willing to accept very wrong views to reinforce those traditions (Holy Magic Hiar is an example).

then there are those of us who just understand we live in this time, and the core is still the core. we wont walk away from truth so we are despised by those wanting to join the orthodox christians and we are despised by those who want to return to 1952.

I plan on latching on to those who still believe the Gospel is still the Gospel and Acts2:38 incapulates the proper response to the Gospel; Holiness is demanded by God and Sanctification is still the process a christian must walk thru to be the Purified Gold that Peter talks about.

Re: >>>The Week The Earth Moved Beneath My Feet<<<
 

Ed, this isn't going to be clear with just reading words, but I'll try.

Does identifying with "Pentecost" just mean something to you or those in Pentecost because it's what we know - what we are use to?

Those outside Pentecost don't have a clear picture of what it really means anyway - there are too many other whacky beliefs that we have nothing to do with (as Ferd has stated).