Do you still believe the doctrine after leaving?
 

When you left the standards did you also leave the doctrine of Acts 2:28?

Do you still believe in oneness?

Do you still baptize in Jesus name?

Why do I ask?

Because a good friend of mine believes and has been taught and often seems the case that once the door is open to leave the standards the next is the doctrine.

Where do you stand?

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

I stand firm, still on the solid rock.

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

I have heard that as long as I can remember, that when one drops 'standards', they lose doctrine as well.

I don't believe it.

Just because somebody knows somebody who doesn't believe the doctrine any longer, it's because the wife cuts her hair or the dude wears shorts when he cuts the grass.

That's generalizing, and it's not fair to the zillions of folks who still believe in Oneness and Jesus Name baptism.

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

Quit following standards 20 yrs ago.

Still believe Acts 2:38, oneness, baptism in Jesus Name.

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

I still stand for truth and I still believe the doctrine despite my dropping of the outward standards...I've also found it's a whole lot harder living for the Lord because now I don't have my "guidebook of rules" to go by :D!! No seriously, I mean no disrespect..but for me, now I actually have to "know" the voice of God when it is speaking to me and I have to have the courage to stand for what I feel is right and/or wrong. I still hold to some of the outward standards such as no pierced ears and that's a conviction! I believe the doctrine with all of my being...that for me had nothing to do with my outward standards, so I had no desire to drop the doctrine!

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

It might be good to define what you mean by doctrine. If by it you mean that one believe the ONLY proper response to the gospel, and the ONLY way to be saved, is by obeying in completion Acts 2:38, then I think you will find only a few that continue to hold for any length of time. But then again some had standards before and never believed this way prior (PCI).

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

I know many, some family members, that believe that if you let up on one thing then, before you know it, fat meat will no longer be greasy. I still believe that Acts 2:38 is essential just like all the rest of the Bible. I just do not believe that all the 'outward holiness' that I was taught is essential to salvation.

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

First, a few sentences on my background: I was raised until about age 7 in a UPC church (until about 1953). Our pastor left UPC around that time. In 1959 I received the Holy Ghost in a Pentecostal Church of God at age 12. At age 16 I returned to a UPC church then went to a UPC college graduating in 1969. I pastored and evangelized in the UPC until I left the UPC in 1981. This basic outline may help you see where I am coming from.

When I quit requiring others, and myself, to live by the standards that I never did really believe, and fellowship with other believers that I never really did believe had not been saved because they didn't get it the way I did, a whole new world opened up to me.

To answer the questions:
- Yes I still believe in the oneness. My statement on this issue is that There is but one God and He is Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
- I still baptize in Jesus name, but with a twist that most apostolics do not understand. Because it is recorded that Jesus commanded us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost I baptize using these words: "Upon the confession of your faith in Jesus the Christ as your savior and upon the command of Christ, In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost I now baptize you into the Lord Jesus Christ." (Incidently, I am on staff of a Charismatic church and when the senior pastor found out how I baptize he decided that everyone will be baptized that way and now I do most of the baptizing in our church).

Here are some observations:
- Trinitarians do not believe in three Gods and they all believe that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.
- They do not hate oneness folks because of their doctrine, they are offended at their attitude toward other believers.
- Trinitarian believers teach that we are baptized into Christ, not the godhead and Christian baptism represtents that.
- Is Acts 2:38 essential? Yes it is; but the way many apply it is not.
- Many in the "apostolic" churches live in compromise because they are afraid to express what they really believe for fear of being put down or being thought of as "a compromiser." Isn't it ironic that people will compromise their true feelings to keep from being called a compromiser
- Fear is a great tool in keeping people from going forward in their understanding of God and the body of Christ.

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

no, yes, yes, I believe in baptism in Jesus' name.

Re: Do you still believe the doctrine after leavin
 

Unfortunately, that's typical. People think just because you reevaluate a certain aspect of religion, you're going to forsake the critical doctrine as well (Acts 2:38, Oneness).

My Pastor believes the same thing, that if you leave one aspect of your beliefs, you're going to eventually abandon them all.