When you study the Bible, you'll discover the NT did not suscribe to labels. The label christian was put on the NT believers by non-believers.
Self labelling is for self affirmation.
If people outside the circle know you are apostolic, chances are their interpretation of the word is diffreent than your definition...
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Originally Posted by Praxeas
So when someone labels themself Christian or believer or follower of Jesus or baptist or whatever...it's about self righteousness?!?! I see you asserting that, but I still don't see you proving that. In fact that is quite a judgement to say you know a persons heart...that because someone says "I am Apostolic" or "I am Pentecostal" they are being self righteous.
As for people outside the "circle" don't be so sure. They know we call ourselves Apostolic. They would never know we call ourselves Pentecostal or Oneness either until they get to know us more and those that have done that know what we mean when we say we are Apostolic.
If asked I can dance around it all day long or I can come right out and say "Well I am a Oneness Pentecostal"...Or I can take half an hour and explain all the things I believe the bible is saying, but the shortest way is to simply say "I am Oneness" or "I am a Pentecostal" and they will probably know what I believe in general without having to go through a mini-bible study
Who said anything about labels drawing people to Jesus?? lol
You know, when asked what I am, I have tried just saying "Oh I believe in jesus" or "Oh, I am a Christian", but by folks that wanted to know what I believed they felt I was hiding something. They wanted more specifics...that is what labels are for. If I asked someone where they are at theologically on the godhead and they say "I am a Trinitarian" my first thought would not be "Hmmm....self righteousness"...Im wondering why that is what pops into your mind when someone use a label
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