Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Really?
 

Okay... so let me say, I'm new to the Apostolic movement. I realize there are as many flavors and sects within the movement as there are in other movements.

As I stated in another thread, I was COG for 18 years. Served as Evangelist, Associate pastor, Min. of Music, etc. After a moral failure in my life and ministry, I came back to the Lord, and came into Truth.

I'm feeling my way around, and for the most part, have felt right at home in the Apostolic church. I feel like I've found my way to where I belonged, and it just all clicks theologically for me.

I love Holiness. Not rules, not battering rams to be used over people's heads, and not as measuring for hell or not. To me, keeping personally convicted standards one finds in the Word and is led by isn't as much of a heaven or hell issue (in general) as it is a power in your personal walk issue. Strength in relationship with Jesus.

That being said, I am very, very conservative in my personal standards regarding lifestyle holiness. When I was COG, I was part of the more conservative group. I remember there being Churches of God that would never think of having an Easter Egg hunt on their property at all. If the people want to at home, that's to them, but not a church sponsored event.

Now that I've been Apostolic for about 3 years, I'm amazed at how many Apostolics, even those that really preach lifestyle holiness, allow Easter Egg Hunts...(as well as Trunk or Treats, Santa Claus Christmas parties, etc).

Seriously, I thought I was joining a refuge of a movement... but am seeing so much of what I left.... Somebody please explain it to me... I feel like a man who was searching for a safe place, and just got to it 5 minutes after it closed..

:banghead

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

Yeah, there are not very many assemblies left that fit your definition of conservative.

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

Hmmm, we dont have easter egg hunts, or santa parties.

We do have Trunks of Treats, great community outreach tool . We have had as many as 3 to 5 hundred come through. The church members dont dress up in any demonic icons and we have food, drink, puppet shows with christian themes. Its pretty cool .

What would be the problem with this ?

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

Uh oh....here we go again. :)

We had this discussion about pagan practices in December and it raised some hackles here. But, I knew and said that this discussion would come up again at Easter time.

I wholeheartedly agree with you though. It is silly to teach our kids about easter using the pagan concept of renewal of the earth and using bunny eggs for fun. But easter in general, imho is just another pagan holiday that the Christians have taken up to celebrate.

Why can't we celebrate Christ only ...everyday , every week and every year because HE is the Savior?

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

well, from my perspective, it's still in a small way caving to even acknowledging the secular day. Even when I was COG, or being raised Baptist, we just ignored it. It was something the world observed and acknowledged, but wasn't part of our culture... it was secular.

I'm not a "do whatever it takes to get them on the property" kind of guy. I still believe that God is as concerned with our methods as He is the outcome. To me, it hurts the image and witness of the church... confuses our testimony of who we are in the community.

.....it's sort of funny, to find an assembly that believes like I do regarding lifestyle holiness, they unfortunately seem to all have Pastors that are dictators and want to run every little aspect of the members lives. I just don't see that in the Scriptures.

From my background, I saw growing up people able to live by the standards, without having to be MADE TO LIVE by the standards.

So I'm faced with a quandry... to find the liberty from a pastor that I'm used to and believe is more Biblical... I seem to have to settle for a church that doesn't preach any kind of lifestyle holiness, and if I want a church that preaches lifestyle holiness, then I'm gonna have to have a Pastor that tells me how often to change my undies... I just don't get it.

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

:yourock

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

I have a hard time believing the bolded statement. Is the pastor endorsing sin? Good grief.

Here's what you do. Attend a church that is "loose on standards" and live your personal convictions. You will have a loving pastor (to a fault) that is not trying to micromanage your life.

I attended a conservative church. I was an idiot for not celebrating christmas.

I attended what you would consider to be a liberal church. I was an idiot for not celebrating christmas.

You just can't win with some people.

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

I probably shouldn't have painted the picture with such broad wording. I have distinct personal beliefs about how we should dress, the places we should go, the kinds of things we should watch on television (if you choose to watch one), the kinds of music to listen to, etc. I was the minority for the last few years of my time in the COG.

I had hoped to not have to attend a more progressive church, because I spent so much of my time in the COG being the odd ball out. Brother Todd, wanna go out to eat at Chili's after church? Nope, I don't go to restaurants with alcohol, but thanks for thinking of me. Brother Todd, have you seen such and such movie? Nope, sorry, I don't go to theatres or rent secular movies... Brother Todd, why are you at the church picnic in 90 degree weather in long pants and shirt? I don't wear shorts or tank tops.... Brother Todd, you gonna work with the Easter Egg Hunt this year? Nope, sorry, I don't feel like we should have things like that at the church.

I know this sounds like I'm whining, but I'd at least like a couple of times a week, to be able to join with other like minded folks, that are like family, and feel like there is somewhere I belong. People that don't look at me like I'm some kind of Amish Dinosaur that they should try to "enlighten".

And when I visit a more conservative church, then I'm the odd man out, because I believe in checks and balances regarding finances, that the Pastor is an advisor/teacher in my life, but not the final authority, and I won't say that Trinitarians worship 3 Gods.....

So, guess I'll always be odd man out. I surely can't be the only person that is in this same boat.

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

Not to beat a dead horse but first define Holiness, then move on from there. Holiness and modest apparel are two seperate yet equally important issues. the problem is, most define Holiness with more of the external then internal, then try to persuade others that it is really the internal then the external...please.

At the end of the day I will be more conservative then some, more strict on "standards" then some, and at the same time I will be to some much more "liberal". Define your walk based on scripture and personal relationship and you will grow in grace; define it in terms of a list of rules and perception and you will grow in legalism.

So....my point...who cares about Easter Egg hunts, there are much greater issues to give energy to then Christmas trees, Santa, or the Easter Bunny....

Re: Apostolics... Having Easter Egg Hunts???? Real
 

I used to be angry at pastors who felt got away with this sort of micromanagement until I realized (quite early in life) that it is the church members who allow it to happen. THEY are the ones who call up the pastor and ask him what color undies are acceptable to the pastor/God (usually in that order).