I hereby petition the powers that be to consider changing the name of this forum by removing "apostolic," or adding "ex" or "X" as a prefix to "apostolic."

Let's face it. Many, if not most of us were introduced to the Pharisee/Legalistic brand of the Apostolic church. Many, if not most of us have been freed from a form of the bewitching that the Apostle Paul wrote against in Galatians.

Seeing as how we are the constituents that have been called out from among them, I see no purpose to continue to use the title of "apostolic." We left them. They did not leave us.

For some of you it will be hard to let go. The word "apostolic" makes you nostalgic. You become reminiscent of many precious memories. Memories of camp meeting. Brush arbor days, etc.

It is time to stop living in the past. We need to rise up and embrace the bright future ahead of us.

The legalistic church is not going to be the conduit that brings the next wave of revival. It is you and I, us, we are the conduits. The time is here...

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ROFL. So it begins.

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I guess it would certainly clear up any confusion, that you are not in fact entering a forum of practicing apostolic pentecostals...

I think most of us roll our R's.

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Thus the confusion. SMH. Practicing...apostolic...pentecostals...by that exact name. This isn't a gathering of apostolic pentecostals. This is mostly people backslid out of church. And mostly very confused about what they believe in. No order whatsoever. A very scary place for someone IN church to be.

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You are right about the bolded statement. I'll give you that. How do you know that revival isn't already happening - some of it at 'legalistic' churches?

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I agree.

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...........

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Not even Apostolics are in agreement. There are probably some strains of Apostolic preachers and churches and organizations that would say you're backslidden and a compromiser. Labels are all relative.

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Love the "backslid out of church" quote (not really). First, the word is "backslidden" not "backslid". Second, many of us who have left the traditional OP denominations have found a lot of grace, love, fruit of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit and a world of people who aren't self righteous elitists who think that they are the only ones going to heaven. What I have discovered outside of the Apostolic movements I grew up around reflects more of what the Apostles were and did than what I experienced and observed and practiced in the movement. There are many wonderful Christians within the Ap movement. There are many outside of it too.

And the guy in your avatar? Probably wouldn't be very well received in most Ap churches...

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Awe shucks... This is hashed about every two months. Just because we have developed, progressed, matured - what ever, does not mean we change who we are.

Apostolic people or actually, I prefer "Pentecostals", are no different than Baptist or Lutherans in this regard. To some degree we all have maturing and even changing hermeneutics that effect how we live our faith.

So Apostolic Friends Forum is fine and reflects what we are now... Who cares about 1347?

We just need to do our best to hold fast to our anchor Christ Jesus, knowing that there is ebb and flow coming, but we are secure in Him.

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I personally like the word Friends...I want to be a known as a friend...

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Let's just cut some hair and get back to normal. :heeheehee

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I totally disagree, I believe that we are the true apostolics, for we are going back to the original church of the book of acts. We are a back to the Bible movement, back to being like the original apostles.

I have abandoned man made rules and precepts and have instead embraced biblical precepts.

We are the remmant that has decided to move forward to a fuller restoration of the Gospel.

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Yet, this IS a place you come to when you ask for prayer, Matt.
Why would you if you think this place is mostly backslidden people???

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And yet so many come here to post, and some to just lurk. And the more things change, the more they remain the same.

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I vote for renaming it the 'Magical Happy Wacky Fun Time Park!' Forum and Spa

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:nod What Hoovie said.

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like i told da a few days ago, apostolic charismatics need their own category. any other names for this group? apostolic charismatic friends forum.

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Amen Houston.:thumbsup:happydance:yourock:highfive

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I'm Apostolic, I'm just not oneness Pentecostal.

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Some of y'all need to just get over your pettiness. If it bothers you that much, you don't have to come here. Some of us really love everyone, whether they are "Apostolic" or not. Don't confuse that with accepting another doctrine. It doesn't change what I believe or who I am. If it does the opposite for you, it's not because of this place. And you are not as solid as you think you are.

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If you change the forum name you are endorse the narrow minded legalist definition. Legalists don't get to defome a[pst;pco
tolic and who isn't. The Bible doesn't make distinctions between what is apostolic and what isn't. Leave it like it is. Those who complain about who is apostolic should repent of their idolatry.

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You don't get to be sole arbitrator for a subjective definition. You can manipulate scripture and expect everyone to agree with a warped meaning.

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:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

Let me be the first to say it (before Cindy even!): Good grief! Here we go again. (that's my addition)

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I say things without thinking sometimes. Forgive me.

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Don't get me wrong, I love this place. It's just not what I expected when I first came here. What I mean by backslidden is not attending an apostolic pentecostal church, nothing else. And what I mean is people angry at the church now.

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Matt, with us having the knowledge now, (that AFF is a quite diverse group) it can serve to mature us, and provide us with an opportunity to show love and respect to one another - not because we all agree but in spite of it.

I am on favor of naming this place houstonhangsout.com

I mean.... houstonshangout.com

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?????

Pretty broad brush there, my friend, unless you're being facetious.......

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:highfive

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How about Christian Friends Forum. I relate more to the Biblical name for the followers of Jesus rather than Apostolic. The NT church did not call themselves as such.

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Nice signature!

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AFF has brand recognition. Nearly everyoine on the "apostolic motherload" knoe about the website.

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Christ lived on earth and taught the disciples/apostles. He taught them what to teach and preach to the world. Before Jesus ascended, he gave them instructions as what to do. In the 24th chapter of Luke, He was with them and gave clear instructions as what to do. Earlier he had told them that if he did not go away, the Comforter (Holy Ghost) could not come. The role of Son had been completed, now the Spirit could be poured out from on high.
The chosen apostles were given instructions by Jesus and their understanding opened. They were equipped to go into the world and preach the gospel. And preach and teach they did. They preached Christ and him crucified. Those who have followed the Apostles of the LORD, teach and preach the same thing. If not, they are not APOSTLICS! Apostolics came from the Apostles Doctrine or teaching. Pentecostal comes from the experience received on the DAY OF PENTECOST! I have absolutely no problem being called an APOSTOLIC PENTECOSTAL! DO YOU? IF SO, WHY! I also do not have a problem being called a JESUS NAME APOSTOLIC PENTECOSTAL! For I am not ashamed of the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, for it is the POWER OF GOD unto salvation to everyone that believeth! It is for WHOSOEVER WILL!!

Falla39

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catholics call themselves apostolic. and mother teresa lived a more holy life dedicated to God over some of these jesus named apostolics.. but some of these Jesus named apostolics condem her to hell....just saying.

Jesus also told the disciples there name was written in the book of life before they had this pentacostal experience. He said wait in jerusalem to be endued with Power. not with salvation.

Many people differ on what the term apostolic doctrine as defined is. my view of apostolic doctrine and your view are totally different views. yet i consider both of us christians on our way to heaven.

i mean i can sing that song to Im a pentacostal I am not ashamed. but im gonna change the words up a bit.

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I don't think any of us have reached the Apostolic level the apostles had. Most of them died for the gospel. When they preached with such anointing it caused whole cities to respond. Most wanted them run out of town.


Peter was so anointed his shadow healed them. They had power I don't see today.

I hope and pray we can see that power again!

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We may not like to admit it, but we are all flawed folks, trying to find and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. If we, use his example, he rejected the legalist, religious leaders that "knew" they were right on every count. His rebukes were almost exclusively for those that used their "right" position to beat "publicans" and sinners into submission.
I personal love the scriptures, and I love what Jesus came to do, and I continue to earnestly seek the paths that he sets before me day by day. I am glad to have community with all that call on the name of Jesus, and to be open to allow His love in me to flow out to "all" I meet. I don't know if I am 100% correct on "my" doctrine, but I do know that I see His favor when I love those I have contact with, and recognize their value as creatures, created for His love and His redemption. So, I visit this place to hear what you folks are experiencing and becoming. Apostolic? As much as we know. Friends? Yeah! Fellow travelers, seeking the narrow path of life.

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This forums most certainly surprised me too when I first came here. But, I think this place is a pretty neat place. I love the diversity. It sharpens my walk with Christ to be reminded that not everybody has mal intentions towards other people, but that they only want to be treated with respect. Well most here do... but a few don't and don't care. But that is not my problem what they think.

I don't attend an Apostolic Church, but I believe the message that Christ and the disciples taught and more importantly I believe God. I believe that He is, came to earth in the form of man and that He is coming back for His bride. I was baptized in Jesus Name and received the Holy Ghost. I do not have to attend a place regularly to live according to Christian principles. Nobody has to make me do right...not to defraud my neighbor, not to covet, not steal etc. The Holy Spirit does that. I do certain things that are biblical because I love God. Likewise, I do not do certain things because I love God and He says in His Word not to do them. So trying to walk by faith everyday looking at Christ only does not make me feel backslidden, although I do understand that there are some people who have the ability to just look at me and automatically *know* that I am backslid. ;)

The reason why I do not attend a Oneness church anymore is because I've been injured by some of them. It was not a once or twice offense. It happened over a period of many years. If you want to call it 'butthurt" that is ok with me. Whatever anybody wants to call it...it does not matter because hurt is hurt. And I really do not believe that God expects us to stay in hurtful places with hurtful people. Jesus told His disciples to shake the dust off their feet if they were not received when he sent them out into the cities.

However, when the people of God allow themselves unwittingly to be used by satan to hurt, maim and destroy another person, through words and actions, they become a tool to come between another person and Christ. I left the organization out of self-preservation of my walk with Christ. I am not a perfect person, but neither are they. Whether I line up with their interpretation of the Word has nothing to do with their walk with Christ so they should leave other people alone to work out their own salvation as many here have said. The funny thing about all of this is that I did line up with all their standards, yet, I was not accepted simply because I was a northerner and had different opinions about certain subjects.

Everybody has their own story about why they have left any particular organized church system. Most likely the reason is more a series of harmful experiences rather than just a few offenses.

I probably would be there today if I felt any love in that place. It was the love of Christ that drew me to UPC. But constant criticism over nonsensical things will wear a person out.

That being said, I forgive you Matt because I know you have your own struggles in life. You are still young and you are learning about Christ. We all continue to learn because none of us has arrived yet. Our mistakes and what we learn from them helps us to grow in Spirit. Likewise forgiving others helps us to grow in grace like our Lord and Savior. It doesn't mean we have to stay in bad situations if we can remove ourselves from it though.

Hang in there brother.

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For every 1 Apostolic who openly questions their beliefs, there are about 4 that just go with the flow.

As much as I miss my old church, I know that I am no longer an Apostolic in the 20th and 21st century meaning of the word. If I decide to return to an Apostolic church, it doesn't mean that I believe like them-- it only means that that is the place I've decided to continue to seek the Face of GOD.

I miss the Apostolics. I miss their worship services. I miss their sermons. I don't miss their legalism and mis-interpretation of the "Plan of Salvation."