Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway
There is no doubt that the Oneness Apostolic church is divided!
The United Pentecostal Church is united, only because they shoot dissenters. The word "united" assumes bridge building, but all I see is wall building.
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Exactly, and this can be true for all denominations. And theres nothing wrong with walls, as long as we undertand the real purpose of the wall. Take Nehemiahs Wall for example. What was its true purpose? To keep invaders out? To protect the city? Yes and yes, but thats not all. The real purpose of the wall was to keep the people together... to unite the city. And the UPC did just that when they erected the wall in 1945, In spite of a glaring doctrinal difference, the united to build a wall of fellowship and harmony. But, something ghappened along the way. That wall became a dividing line over doctrinal differences which included much more than just 1step/3step or water baptism. Oneness Pentecostals divide over EVERYTHING. Their walls keep out invaders which leaves no one to fight but each other. Our diffenences take precedence over our similiarities. If I were to list 10 "standard" doctrines of OPs, someone would take issue with a least one of them. That doctrinal divide cancels all the others we agree on. Our common ground become quicksand over 1 issue. We become like Paul and Barnabbas. A tiny disagreement brings our fellowship down around us like a house of cards.
I believe in baptism in Jesus Name. Would never consider being baptized in another name or in titles. I don't even go along with being baptized in the name of the F, S, and HG, in the Name of Jesus. To me this is a kin to "pitching my tent toward Sodom". But am I goin to break fellowsship witha brother because he baptizes in the singular Name of Jesus as opposed to the exact words that Peter used in
Acts 2:38? Of course not. Nor will I reject a brother because he is ALJC rather than UPC. We're not talking here about fellowshipping trinitarians (which, BTW, I have no problem with) but, rather the incessant infighting among OPs. You don't believe in having a TV in your home? Then don't, but don't reject a brother or sister because they do. To me, that shows a far uglier spirit than that one eyed devil in the corner of the living room.
Well, I guess I've meddled enopugh.