Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay
Bro. Epley, I understand some of that, but if you do not mind, could you elaborate a bit on that for me. I am not quite sure what all has happened that caused the fall of the PAW. I am always seeking to learn more. They are a part of my history, due to the fact that I used to belong to a group that came out of them back in the 20s, and it would be educational.
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What happened in the PAW is no different that what happened (or is currently happening) to most conservative Holiness churches. Holiness is no longer preached. Instead, everyone is following after the almighty dollar instead of God Almighty.
* Inward holiness is not preached anymore.
* Outward standards arent preached anymore.
* Trinitarians crept in and started to preach on the local and national level which caused an outcry amongst the churches that still hold to the truth.
* Typical scandals involving money, sex, and drugs (not saying that I know for sure of someone who used drugs, I just assume on that one) all of this caused people to be hurt and leave the organization and vow never to go back to strict holiness.
* Apostolic Doctrine is certainly NOT being preached in the churches. Its rare to hear the word Apostolic in a PAW church now UNLESS the word "Apostolic" is in the church name. A lot of PAW churches took Pentecostal or Apostolic out of there church name and renamed them Family Worship Center or "Christian Church".
* PAW does not want to be exclusive anymore when it comes to the Name of Jesus but inclusive of all who call themselves Christian.
* The title "Jesus Only" is at the top of the PAW National Seal that can be found on banners and official paper. Well, the liberals wanted to snatch that out and leave it blank and the conservatives had a fit.
* Jesus Name Baptism still takes place in all PAW churches however some now do it sporadicaly while others (i.e. Noel Jones Church) wont say it aloud over the pulpit but they wait until you get to the altar and personaly ask you if you want to be baptised in Jesus Name (I witness this for myself at a service there).
COOLJC (Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ) has gone this route too which is the second largest black Oneness Pentecostal organization. The problem in my community (speaking of my race, my people, african americans), we have a problem with obediance and we love kepping up with the Jones's (i.e. if the mega trinitarian churches that come on tv speak in tongues and shout and dont have a dress code, why should we....Im gonna put my pants on and dare the Bishop to say something to me...I wont ever give a dime to this church again, you watch, I'll fix him). Dont tell us how to live for God (we got that already), dont tell us to be faithful to church (I will come when I want to come and if you dont speak to me I'll have a fit and you might not see me for a month) and please dont restrict me in what I want to wear (I'll put my pants on, earrings and paint my face and sit in the choir stand cause I felt like it and if you preach standards, I'll say your not preaching to me, thats only for ministers wives to follow). This is how I grew up alllllllll my life and I had to get outta churches that would
stand for nothing and fall for anything. (sorry, not putting my race down, but since we are talking about a black religious organization, I thought I'd share from the inside the true problem). I just realised I might have just described a lot of churches that are black, white, latino and all other races......boy are we living in the last days.
Bottom line, as in any orgnization, PAW has become very political.
While my current church is now WPF (Formerly UPCI), when I travel I tend to go to PAW churches to get the "soulful" worship service I miss sometimes at my church. I have seen everything under the sun in most of the churches I visited and even the ones that keep the standard, when I come back and visit you can see the outward change.
Bottom line, when holiness stops being preached from the pulpit, it gives the membership the "go ahead" to do what they want. Now let me run outta here before all the liberals start to stone me......hey Im just the messanger.....