For those of you that have the whole truth

[Godsdrummer]

For those of you that think you have the whole truth

I am putting this out as many of you have read my post now I have even had many say things like "this is a apostolic forum why are there those that are not apostolic here". I would like to explain a few things. I was raised UPCI, held many postions within the local churches within my state. Having carried General license not going on to Ordination only because I did not see the need while, time and study requirements were fulfilled.

I began a personal study of the things that many call standards of holiness. The reason for this was one of my saints came to me with concerns that they had found while studing certain points within our doctrine of standard. This persons final words were "the church teaches that this is bible but I have found it is not true, and I feel lied to". This caused me to question everything concerning this area of doctine. Would that others would do the same.

Within the first year I found what any person would find if they open thier heart to the spirit of God instead of being preached as gospel just because the person sets themselves up as the man of God and tell us that if we don't follow what he preaches we are in rebelion. See I was the pastor so I could not be in rebelion in questioning these things I myself preached.

What I found was that what so many of us take as the unadulterated word of God preached from the pulpit is in fact mans traditions based not on sound understanding but rather the twisting and pulling of passages out of context to preach what we see as sin.

Now I say all of this to say, to those that wonder why those of us like me are aloud to stay on this site. I thank God for brotheren like Praxxes that keep us here as this is a life line for at least me. You see while I may come accross as a know it all and that I am right and you are wrong, the bottom line is I cherish the discutions from other points of view as they help keep me on the right path and not off in truly false doctrine. (even though some think I am)

James tell us to "contend for the faith", and Paul tells us to "seek out our own salvation" and "study to show yourself approved" I have always felt deep sorrow when the UPCI went through splits over such things as differance of opinion of things that to me seem of such little consequence as tv, women wearing pants, cutting thier hair, whether one is saved at repentance, or after all 4 steps are complete.

You see we all need each other, as Paul say we are to be subject one to another, when we have these splits we are taking ourselve out of the natural order God set forth of checks and balances. Those liberals in the faith need the concervitive as much as the concervitive need the liberals. It keeps us balanced, or else we fall into cultism. There must always be differances of opinion else there would be no growth spiritualy. There is always something new to understand in the kingdom of God.

As for me this site is a testing of those deeper things I feel I have learned from God. Many times the arguments directed at me have caused me to look again at those things and restudy. Trust me when I say this any time some one quotes a passage in debate to me I relook at the passage again regardless of how many times in the past I have read and studied them. I just hope others are doing the same thing when I post.

I know we could all learn from a deeper study of Romans 14.

[Amanah]

One of the best ways to study a subject is to consider opposing viewpoints, and see things through another's eyes.

Aside from that, how much fun would this be if we all believed the exact same thing, without some variance of opinion to keep us discussing scripture, this forum would die.

For instance, Aquila didn't post much if at all yesterday, and I missed him. Sometimes when I read his posts I want to fuss at him for some of the things he says. But when he is not around I miss him.

Sorry Aquila, not meaning to pick on you, but that is the example that came to mind.

And yes, thank God for Prax, I think his voice keeps the forum from going off the deep end sometimes. Maybe that is just my opinion, but it seems that way to me.

There is always more we can learn and if we just hole up with our own little group and don't listen to others then we miss out on possibly learning more.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Amanah

One of the best ways to study a subject is to consider opposing viewpoints, and see things through another's eyes.

Aside from that, how much fun would this be if we all believed the exact same thing, without some variance of opinion to keep us discussing scripture, this forum would die.

For instance, Aquila didn't post much if at all yesterday, and I missed him. Sometimes when I read his posts I want to fuss at him for some of the things he says. But when he is not around I miss him.

Sorry Aquila, not meaning to pick on you, but that is the example that came to mind.

And yes, thank God for Prax, I think his voice keeps the forum from going off the deep end sometimes. Maybe that is just my opinion, but it seems that way to me.

There is always more we can learn and if we just hole up with our own little group and don't listen to others then we miss out on possibly learning more.

If you were to go to a far more conservative board such as Everyone's Apostolic, you would find griping galore -all aimed at the reprobate sinners on boards such as this and those who would question the local pastors wishes. The more things change......

I am perhaps the least biblically literate person here and the very few times I have posted any sort of study (years ago) it has taken me hours to post what others seem to come up here in mere minutes, only to have it brushed off in a single sentence or two. I have better things to do with my time (but I DO enjoy reading what others write). I like to think that I bring a common-sense viewpoint. It is amazing to see how silly many doctrines are when one steps back a few feet and sees the big picture. Not only are some unable to see the forest for the trees but they are unable to even see the tree because their looking too closely at the bark.

[seekerman]

As I've said before, if everyone would simply agree with *ME* there wouldn't be all this arguing. *I* know *I'M* right and everyone else is wrong but their eyes are blinded and they just can't see that.

It's gonna be lonely with just *ME* in heaven!!

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by seekerman

As I've said before, if everyone would simply agree with *ME* there wouldn't be all this arguing. *I* know *I'M* right and everyone else is wrong but their eyes are blinded and they just can't see that.

It's gonna be lonely with just *ME* in heaven!!

yea not to mention when one doesnt agree they pull out the

Your carnal mind cant understand the way of the Spirit scripture.
Or
The way of a man leads to destruction

It gets used like some ace in the hole card or they just trumped you...


but on a serious note, Iron sharpens Iron, and i like are debates. It causes me to focus my studies, sometimes in areas i have not gotten deep into, and expecially some greek,hebrew and a little aramaic.

since my deeper studies i have changed on doctrine, solidified on some, still searching on others.

so good things and some bad things

[Dagwood]

Agree with you, Godsdrummer...

The short time I was around traditional pentecost, I saw a few things, as many of us have. But, it was enough to show me some people's true colors. Now that I'm not part of the circle of traditional pentecost, it's nice to have God reveal things to me instead of a man trying to convince me God spoke to him to show me what's in reality his own personal conviction...

While they (the traditional folks) sustain, so will I. So what if I've been there, done and made my mind up to live differently than some? So many times, I've heard "Well, God doesn't change, so why should I?" Well, no one's asking or telling anyone to change anything. Rather, provide another way to look at the Biblical core of some of the topics so heavily emphasized and preached on instead of hearing a bunch of personal convictions inserted as Heaven/Hell issues...

[houston]

GD,

I enjoy reading your posts and I am glad that you are here.

[FlamingZword]

The fact that christian brethren disagree sould not be a cause for each going into his own little corner, unfortunately even Paul and Barnabas split over a simple disagreement.

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

The fact that christian brethren disagree sould not be a cause for each going into his own little corner, unfortunately even Paul and Barnabas split over a simple disagreement.

i wouldnt call it simple or they wouldnt have split over it. probably more than what scriptures have revealed to us. but enough that paul did not want to take mark with him

what little we have
Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them speaking of mark.

so there is alot envolved in that we dont know but i wouldnt call it simple

[crakjak]

Though I was initially rejected by the community of faith, of my youth, I embraced much more, the greater, larger,expansive.... Body of Christ! What an awesome God, I have found Him to be, there is none like Him!!!