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

[EA]

This has been the most interesting week of my ministerial life.

There are many things going on, too numerous to mention, that have completely floored me.

I would like to use this thread to address some issues that are heavy on my mind.

First, I will leave this movement if the push to erase the word "Pentecostal" continues, and here is why.

It may seem trivial, but I believe the push to change our identity to "Apostolic" is a grave injury to my spiritual heritage. I feel like the movement I grew up in, and have always known, is changing.

The word "Pentecostal" has always defined us. It embodies our common heritage, spiritual experience and Biblical moorings. Pentecost is the genesis of the church. Pentecost is where the Gospel was first preached. Pentecost is where the proper response to the saving work of Jesus Christ is laid out.

Pentecost is everything. Simply everything.

You can say I am hung up on labels, and that is your right, but I AM PENTECOSTAL, and I have no intention of changing my identity. I have no intention of allowing others to change my identity.

To me, the word "Apostolic" has gained popularity because a very conservative sect of our movement picked it up to further isolate themselves from other Pentecostals. In this way, the word "Apostolic" is used to define us as super-holy .

The way we use this badge of identity bothers me.

It is as if our super-holiness has become more important than the Gospel, and our response to it. It erases the power of Pentecost, and replaces it with a works based identity.

Nowadays we hear preaching about "Apostolic" heritage. We have web-based forums called "Everyone's Apostolic." It is no longer the Oneness Pentecostal movement, it is the "Apostolic" movement.

When did Pentecost become outdated and undesirable?

I feel as though the ground has shifted beneath my feet.

I am part of a movement that no longer emphasizes Pentecost.

[SDG]

That's a mouthful, bro. I can see your perspective ... and agree with 95% of what you have expressed here.

I also understand the frustration.

[EA]

Second, it has become increasingly evident that the biggest issues facing our movement is our interpretation of I Corinthians 11, and the emerging church, or emergent church.

Currently, there is no clear voice speaking on these issues. No leadership summits.

"Magic Hair" is still promoted at a very large number of our events, and is becoming more and more popular every day. Meanwhile, there is a counter-movement to completely remove our traditional stance on the entire "hair" issue.

I tell you, it's downright fruity. There is simply no commonsense when it comes to this issue. It seems to either be magic hair or cut hair. That is very disconcerting.

Further, the emergents are pushing their agenda in a big way. They are wanting to throw the baby out with the wash.

Look, I am not advocating McCarthyism. I am not requesting a witch hunt.

But please, for the love of all that is holy and good, where are the moderates?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

.

But please, for the love of all that is holy and good, where are the moderates?

Stuck in the middle. They need an issue they can be passionate on!!

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

Second, it has become increasingly evident that the biggest issues facing our movement is our interpretation of I Corinthians 11, and the emerging church, or emergent church.

Currently, there is no clear voice speaking on these issues. No leadership summits.

"Magic Hair" is still promoted at a very large number of our events, and is becoming more and more poular every day. Meanwhile, there is a counter-movement to completely remove our traditional stance on the entire "hair" issue.

I tell you, it's downright fruity. There is simply no commonsense when it comes to this issue. It seems to either be magic hair or cut hair. That is very disconcerting.

Further, the emergents are pushing their agenda in a big way. They are wanting to throw the baby out with the wash.

Look, I am not advocating McCarthyism. I am not requesting a witch hunt.

But please, for the love of all that is holy and good, where are the moderates?

I agree with a lot that you say except I am from a different perspective.

I will tell you something that I just hear John Piper say. He said, that Liberalism has a way of correcting itself because the second generation will always rebel against the previous generation.

If these people are rebelling just for the sake of rebellion then there will never be any real change. But if it is truth, and there is truth in what is going on even if the motives are wrong, then the changes will happen.

Without the power of the gospel these people will not be effective and their movement will fade away as well. My hope is that these young ministers will have a true revelation of the gospel and all their antics will be short lived.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Stuck in the middle. They need an issue they can be passionate on!!

I agree. Moderates never accomplish anything. Only those passionate for their love of Christ will see revival.

[mizpeh]

I'm not a moderate when it comes to revival.

[tbpew]

IMO,
technology is amplifying the sound of one man's voice by bringing it into contact with far too many people beyond the "1st person" experience.

I do not believe that there is any more (or any less) human politic being sown in God's field than always has been.

God's wisdom has established usefulness in tares. By providing occassion for the folly of human preoccupation with all things visible, they serve a purpose in bringing us to repentance within God's long-suffering and mercy towards us during his restoration process.

God is not asleep, nor on vacation....we will always encounter some man's vain ambitions and carnal striving along the path of our journey, pressing toward the mark of the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Like the 'callers' that heckle for customers at some carnival, there will always be regular attempts by men to make disciples unto themselves.

Each one of us will see the Kingdom of God increase when the Kingdom of a man decreases.

Kook de jour
The next big thing
The preeminent seat occupant
....will always be in the mix.

The Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteous, peace and joy in the HOLY GHOST.

It is in these things that we serve Christ.
It is in these things that we are acceptable to God.
It is by these things that we are approved by men.

Let's serve peace and build-up one another, starting by refusing to be pawns of our adversary who is happy to use us to bring accusation against our brethren.

[ChTatum]

Brother, I go by Apostolic and am at least moderate if not liberal. I chose it over Pentecostal for the reason you wish to hang onto "Pentecostal". I assure you, Church of God, Assembly of God, and many other trinitarian organizations proclaim themselves Pentecostal, and are quite proud of that appellation.

On the other hand, Catholicism claims Apostolic succession through the pope, and when the word "apostolic" is typed into a search engine, you will run across several catholic links.

Tough call.

[Cindy]

I don't care what anyone calls me, as long as I can hear God call my name.