Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

So I can't remember the last time I stepped foot in an Apostolic Church. I estimate 2005 but that may not be the exact year.

How have things changed since then?

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

There is no one size fits all answer. It would have to be a case by case analysis. So, why not step into one and find our for yourself?

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

Obviously. But that doesn't mean you can't share your perspective.

1. Because It 5:30 AM on a Saturday morning.
2. Because this is a discussion forum - and so you should discuss the topic instead of immediately discount it as you are doing
3. Because as you noted - your experience could be different than mine

Thus, stepping into 1 isn't possible at this very moment and even if I could it simply cannot answer my question as sufficiently as asking for community input of individuals from various apostolic churches.

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

Speaking from just my own experience I can say:

There are no more set aside times for testimonies. There is no what used to be called "shouting". They do not teach "be perfect".

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

The lack of teaching or belief In being "made perfect" has become normative in most churches. And I visit around a lot , lots of fellowship meeting and political correctness(code name love and kindness)runs the pulpits.

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

The way I always see it happen is, they preach a message about holiness or hit on it for a minute. Then they say "Im not talking about being perfect". "Anyone here think their perfect"? So what was gained?

As far as fellowship goes I have never been part of a mainstream Apostolic Church that encourages it.

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

One of my beliefs is that, you will have good fellowship when you find people who want to be perfect. My expectation of the standard for church is not that everyone has to be perfect, but they need to have an earnest desire to be made perfect. The moment someone professes that you cant be perfect , then there is a high potential of never being so. I have not met anyone who I think is perfect, but I have met some who strive to be. Some dont today , but then later they change and do strive that way. The bible message is "let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity". When we sin do we feel we have let God down? Why would he be let down about something he has put beyond our control.

I went to the Lord about this very idea. How that we struggle against sin and the flesh, but yet we are not perfect. The Lord has never rebuked me for approaching him with this train of thought. He did speak to me in a dream , in which I put this dilemma of "the struggle" before him. He conveyed to me that we had better earnestly be in the struggle. In other words we better be pressing for the place where we have the victory over the thing we are struggling with. If we are not pressing for that place of victory, then we have given in to this idea that perfection is impossible.

The apostle Paul said it best in Philippians: 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you

Re: Have Apostolic Churches changed since 2005?
 

Exactly. We will never be perfect until we are given our glorified bodies, but we need to strive for perfection while here on earth.