FEAR FACTOR: Pentecostal/Apostolic Style

[ManOfWord]

I've studied church history for many years. I'm not a scholar, simply a student, which doesn't make me an expert in the area. However, from my observation of the current trend in "apostolica" and even classical pentecostalism, I think the "fear factor" is in play all too importantly.

In church history, there has always been a trend when God moves or pours out His Spirit or Truth. It goes like this:

God pours out truth upon people(s) hearts and minds. They are refreshed, excited, on fire! They find others who have received the same "revelation." They unite around their common bond, which was the "revelation." Since it was from God, it propels them forward and allows life to be in the group. Conversions take place. Growth happens. The "revelation" becomes the "trademark" of the group. Soon, the group solidifies and becomes a loose knit organization. Growth continues until the group becomes formal organization. It is no long loose knit, it is close knit.

Much energy and teaching revolves around the "revelation" and much energy is spent in protecting, codifying and institutionalizing the "revelation." However, God is not finished. So..........

God brings more revelation and the group is so busy protecting the last "revelation" that they do not accept the additional revelation that God wanted to build on the "last" one.

A few hungry people receive the additional "revelation" and unfortunately are labeled heretics by the established group. Those in the group who have embraced the additional "revelation" are ostracized and retain the heretic label. Those folks leave the group, while retaining the previous "revelation" and rejoicing over the new revelation/truth which brings new life, excitement, conversions etc.

This process repeats itself over and over and over and is the reason why there are so many splits not only in Christendom, but in Pentecostalism and Apostolica.

The FEAR FACTOR comes into play because the FEAR is that they will lose the former truth etc, and become compromisers.

Let me quote from an excellent old book entitled: The Church's Debt to Heretics, Rufus M. Jones. 1924 pg 12.

"When does the term "heretic" rightly apply? When does a man cease to be counted safe and become a heretical adventurer? Not, of course, until certain truths have been accepted as sacred and have won a group of adherents who believe them to be both true and essential to life and salvation."


There is really only one thing which frightens me, and that is that I miss what God is doing because I am so caught up in what I think I'm doing for Him.

[Pressing-On]

I don't believe the fear factor is relegated to Pentecost/Apostolic. There is much fear and superstition tied up in the symbolism of Catholicism.

I believe many are too busy looking around and analyzing everything and everyone that we can miss and become cynical about the very things and direction God has planned for our own personal lives.

I'm more interested in my own backyard.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I don't believe the fear factor is relegated to Pentecost/Apostolic. There is much fear and superstition tied up in the symbolism of Catholicism.

I believe many are too busy looking around and analyzing everything and everyone that we can miss and become cynical about the very things and direction God has planned for our own personal lives.

I'm more interested in my own backyard.

I think you missed my point, or I was poor in making it....that is that apostolica is so busy protecting the "revelation" that anything else that comes along which may, indeed, be God, gets labeled as "heretical." i.e. "emergent church" etc. I think it can also be called the "hold the fort" mentality.

NOTHING great has EVER moved forward or made a difference with that mentality.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I you missed my point, or I was poor in making it....that is that apostolica is so busy protecting the "revelation" that anything else that comes along which may, indeed, be God, gets labeled as "heretical." i.e. "emergent church" etc. I think it can also be called the "hold the fort" mentality.

NOTHING great has EVER moved forward or made a difference with that mentality.

I got your point, but when you said Apostolic/Pentecost, I just wanted to make it clear that there is "fear" in other places. And yes we are largely Apostolic/Pentecost here, but across the Board - people are people in every denomination and walk of life. We are not the only faction with trouble and struggle. Just sharing/venting/whatever.

I get what you are saying. I heard a preacher say that where he grew up you didn't preach much on love because you would be labeled Charismatic. LOL!

[scotty]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I you missed my point, or I was poor in making it....that is that apostolica is so busy protecting the "revelation" that anything else that comes along which may, indeed, be God, gets labeled as "heretical." i.e. "emergent church" etc. I think it can also be called the "hold the fort" mentality.

NOTHING great has EVER moved forward or made a difference with that mentality.

So where is the line drawn ?

When is ones "emergent" really "heretical" ? How are you to tell the difference ? How do you assertain that ones "revelation" is of God ?

Who has the right to judge the first "revelation" as being obsolete and the second as it's replacement ?

With the above questions in mind, could the "fear factor" stem more from uncertainty than an attempt to be a "controlling" issue ? Why is this event immediatly labeled as a "control" issue ?

Is pentecost(UPC) capable of doing ANYTHING that is not immediatly labeled as the WRONG thing to do ?

Just curious..

[StMark]

Originally Posted by scotty

So where is the line drawn ?

When is ones "emergent" really "heretical" ? How are you to tell the difference ? How do you assertain that ones "revelation" is of God ?

Who has the right to judge the first "revelation" as being obsolete and the second as it's replacement ?

With the above questions in mind, could the "fear factor" stem more from uncertainty than an attempt to be a "controlling" issue ? Why is this event immediatly labeled as a "control" issue ?

Is pentecost(UPC) capable of doing ANYTHING that is not immediatly labeled as the WRONG thing to do ?

Just curious..

My father lived thru the "LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT". They thought they had a "New Revelation". God was moving in their churches and no longer moving in the traditional churches.

The latter rain movement not only gave the oneness churches a headache, but also the AoG.

Then, along came Willaim Branham with a "New Revelation" and God was no longer moving in the traditional Pentecostal churches. I heard it from THEIR mouths that the era of Pentecost was over.

There are MANY more that have come along with a new revelation that have ended in ruins.

Great men who have died and went on with the Lord lived through many of these so called "NEW REVELATIONS" including TW Barnes, David Gray, and many others. Thank God they didn't fall for anything just because it was the new thing to do

I understand that times change, culture changes, methods change, technology changes, I'm all for change, but when it comes to "New Revelations"??? I'm a little more cautious about that

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by StMark

My father lived thru the "LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT". They thought they had a "New Revelation". God was moving in their churches and no longer moving in the traditional churches.

The latter rain movement not only gave the oneness churches a headache, but also the AoG.

Then, along came Willaim Branham with a "New Revelation" and God was no longer moving in the traditional Pentecostal churches. I heard it from THEIR mouths that the era of Pentecost was over.

There are MANY more that have come along with a new revelation that have ended in ruins.

Great men who have died and went on with the Lord lived through many of these so called "NEW REVELATIONS" including TW Barnes, David Gray, and many others. Thank God they didn't fall for anything just because it was the new thing to do

I understand that times change, culture changes, methods change, technology changes, I'm all for change, but when it comes to "New Revelations"??? I'm a little more cautious about that

Good post, Mark!!!

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by StMark

My father lived thru the "LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT". They thought they had a "New Revelation". God was moving in their churches and no longer moving in the traditional churches.

The latter rain movement not only gave the oneness churches a headache, but also the AoG.

Then, along came Willaim Branham with a "New Revelation" and God was no longer moving in the traditional Pentecostal churches. I heard it from THEIR mouths that the era of Pentecost was over.

There are MANY more that have come along with a new revelation that have ended in ruins.

Great men who have died and went on with the Lord lived through many of these so called "NEW REVELATIONS" including TW Barnes, David Gray, and many others. Thank God they didn't fall for anything just because it was the new thing to do

I understand that times change, culture changes, methods change, technology changes, I'm all for change, but when it comes to "New Revelations"??? I'm a little more cautious about that

Mark, Mow is not talking about a new revelation in the sense of William Branham and Latter rain movement-you know better than that.

[Michael The Disciple]

Some day true doctrines like post trib rapture, soul sleep, annihilation and the head covering will be taken for granted. Today they are seen as false doctrine.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Some day true doctrines like post trib rapture, soul sleep, annihilation and the head covering will be taken for granted. Today they are seen as false doctrine.

I wouldn't call them "false" doctrines.
I would just consider them differences of opinion.