From The Perspective of a Liberal
 

I thought this would be interesting to see how those that are liberal see the Apostolic movement in 2008. Please allow some liberal folks to answer before discussing what they say.




Where do you see the Apostolic movement (UPCI, ALJC, AMF, and the likes.) at this point?

What do you see as problems within it?

What are the strengths of todays movement?

Where do you think we are headed as a movement?

What is your advise to the generation that is to follow us.

I see it at a transition to becoming more in tune with the modern American technology and culture.


The movement as a whole is considered Ultra-con and even cultic by outsiders. The Oneness message is sometimes lost in their conservative outward holiness culture. The "different" look (for women) can turn some away from hearing the saving message of Jesus Christ.

Annointed preaching and singing.

Modernization.

Keep the faith, and roll with it! Keep the main thing the main thing. Fight to preserve Apostolic truth, not to preserve a 1900s culture.

I don't consider myself "liberal" by any means except when it comes to economic issues, I'm a Classical Liberal like Adam Smith. But this is where they lump me, so...
The movement as a whole is absolutely clueless when it comes to evangelism and church growth. There are a few bright spots that give you some hope, but the rest is dross.
A lack of education, too much rural superstition and delusional paranoia even about our own brethren.
Heartfelt worship and an innocence that borders on naviete.
Our evangelism doesn't even keep up with the overall population growth so we will always be a marginalized and poorly understood side bar to the bigger story of what God is doing in the lives of the people on this planet.
Stay in school.

*sigh*

[QUOTE=stmatthew;365600]I thought this would be interesting to see how those that are liberal see the Apostolic movement in 2008. Please allow some liberal folks to answer before discussing what they say.




Where do you see the Apostolic movement (UPCI, ALJC, AMF, and the likes.) at this point? Too much Sectarianism.
What do you see as problems within it? Groups all calling themselves the movement today. Kind of like 10 companies all using some 3rd party report to say they are number 1.
What are the strengths of todays movement? That men are stepping up in their local churches and doing the will of God. Not just subscribing to the pages of a manual....


Where do you think we are headed as a movement? The Lord is going to have an outpouring where we least expect it.

What is your advise to the generation that is to follow us. Write down the things of God in your generation. The generations before us and ours have done a dis-service by not writing more about the move of God in their lifetimes....

That's a great idea.

1. They still have a long way to go, but they are becoming the 20th Century church they should have been. Now they need to become the 21st Century church

2. Not yet modern enough to be the leader among mainstream Christianity. I agree with PM they disposition of womens dress still is a stand off point to some. The church world has looked at us for years and wanted our spirit and our song. They have it, but they have not caught up in extra Biblical beliefs. They also, IMO, need better out reach. Granted they are the largest oneness org out there. With the availablity to use media they might get going in the right direction.

3. The main strength is the openess to move in the spirit.

4. It depends on what happens in the '08 year. 8 is the number of new begginigs in the Bible hopefully the Apostolic Church, which tout themselves as a Bible Church, will make some leaps and catch up the other organizations out there. It seems to be heading toward God's direction and away from man direction.

5. Examine your beliefs from time to time. Make sure you are balanced. The Bible talks about balance, it is important. It is not easy to stand on one foot, nor is it easy for a stool to have one leg. Make sure your beliefs are solid in the word and not on mans ideals. Keep God's word supreme in your life. Once you questions its validity it is all down hil from there. Finally, use the past as a faoundation and God as the corner stone, but do not be affraid to build a great thing. Even if it is different, build it.

Ditto.

(Thanks Pianoperson for keeping me from having to type all that)

PianoPERSON???

Are you saying that there may be some DOUBT?
























hahaha...j/k PM. The devil made me say it...for sure. You know how that goes. :lol

:lol CC1's just jealous because he can't hang with me at golf! :D

Where do you think we are headed as a movement? Amen!

I say a liberal does not define their status.

It is the Moderate and the Conservative who defines the Liberal.

So there will be a portion in all of us to be called liberal at some point....

Some say being a liberal is someone who changes the social make-up of a religious order or body.

Then again is it liberal to no longer have church buses running on Sunday morning?

But have your service piped over the internet where anyone could stumble on your service (The spirit of the Lord could direct them to your IP address).

Is it liberal to stop wearing a tie in the pulpit?

Is it liberal to have a prophetic word spoken over somoneone in a service?

Would it be liberal for someone to stand up in church and ask a pastor a question or raise their hand?

Would it be liberal for a saint to step forward and hand the pastor a check for $1,000.00 towards the building program when he is preaching.

Would it be liberal for someone to stand up and walk over to a church member and hand them a check for $500.00 in the Holy Ghost anointing?

Would it be liberal for a saint to stand and ask the minister in a part of his sermon to lay hands on them as the word of God brought faith in that moment?

There are many area's of the church in Pentecost that the walls have brought an inability for the move of God.

There should be respect and order.

There should also be the understanding by the leaders when the spirit of the Lord has come....

We can call ourselves liberal without ever taking to a conservative or moderate about 3 steps or standards.

I for one want the move of God to actually be the move of God.

Not just a feeling that is felt and then you have no unction on why the you feel what you felt.

Or what you need to do with the anointing.

I think we need to start asking God in those moments and then listhen to the spirit......

If some of the things above after having done them makes me a liberal then being a liberal is a walk in the spirit kind of walk....

I'm not sure what a liberal is these days, but here is what I think...

Where do you see the Apostolic movement (UPCI, ALJC, AMF, and the likes.) at this point? The Apostolic movement is a ship on the rocks, and with few exceptions, it is likely that God will move on to more biblical expressions of what the church should be

What do you see as problems within it?servants lording over the saints, men grasping for power openly, trampling over the meek by the arrogant, devouring one another, massive self righteousness, and slander on an unforseen scale

What are the strengths of todays movement? God's amazing grace and mercy that never fails

Where do you think we are headed as a movement? The movement is sinking, but the move of the Spirit of God is to home churches. Also the season of Lording over the saints is over. The watchmen will see eye to eye {on the same level} when the Lord brings again Zion.

What is your advise to the generation that is to follow us. Walk with God every day. Don't learn oppression, slander, and the selfish grasping for name recognition and power. Avoid the money traps. The call relates to the King and His kingdom, not to organizations, buildings, headcounts, and efforts to control others.

Or playing the piano....
Or playing the organ....
Or playing the bass....

However I can hang with you when it comes to eating!

I don't know about that! Have you seen me lately? :lol

1) The "Apostolic Movement" as defined by those organizations you list above are at a juncture ... they need to separate truth from opinion. We need to "Unpervert" This Gospel!

2) The main problem is the extra-biblical requirements (legalism)... which causes self-righteousness, judgment, and the worse spirit of all...condemnation and exclusion.

3) Hardworking people whose desire is to spread the Gospel to the whole world.

4) Organizations are going DOWN if they do not repent and return to their first LOVE. (The movement will never die, because God will find a way.)

5) Advice to all generations: Put your love in Christ... Follow Him ALWAYS. Organizations are just people. Jesus Christ is LORD! Let Him do His job!

(Nice thread. Let's see what you do with it!! It would be nice to see Cons answer the same questions.)

Re: From The Perspective of a Liberal
 

Bump

Re: From The Perspective of a Liberal
 

Why bump it. There is nothing else to say.

You guys, with a couple of exceptions, have written your vision and made it plain... plain enough that I can read it as I am running away from you.

The sky is falling the sky is falling! I am pretty sure most of these posts made God laugh!

Again I am reminded why I seldom visit here.

Now, please excuse me while I go roll in the floor and travail over the demise of the Apostolic movement as spoken by you prophets of God.

Re: From The Perspective of a Liberal
 

Goodbye, Chicken Little.

Re: From The Perspective of a Liberal
 

It wasn't me predicting and prophesying doom and gloom and the demise of the Apostolic movement! It was you and the rest of the roosters clucking in the hen house! :D

Re: From The Perspective of a Liberal
 

[QUOTE=Fiyahstarter;367621]

"Organizations" are going DOWN if they do not repent and return to their first LOVE. The movement will NEVER die, because God will find a way."


Really. Is that what you got out of it?

Re: From The Perspective of a Liberal
 

I'm not sure I'm a liberal...but...I'm gonna answer:

I see it as being in limbo (UPCI), stagnant (AMF), ineffective (ALJC), and unaccountable (Independents). All of these groups have great potential that hasn't been realized for various reasons. All of these groups have the possibility for growth that is inhibited by a lack of unity and love for one another. Lack of standards or too many standards is never a growth inhibitor.

See above. I would add a lack of unified prayer, fasting and evangelism is a BIG problem.

A renewed focus on evangelism and reaching out, rather than just having church for the benefit of the existing saints.

I hope we are headed towards revival. It will take more than permission to advertise on tv to get us there.

Develop an organic relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray, fast, win souls, and love God with all your heart. Everything else will fall into place.