Is there anyone who is Apostolic anymore? - Page 4

CC1 · #31 07-04-2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew8383

Most of my Sunday school teachers, friends from church, pastors family have all backslid. This is from my childhood not my current church. My current pastor still believes in the old standards and ways, which I love. I'm the Youth Pastor and I know the bible speaks of the great falling away but it makes me so angry to see this. Anyone else notice this in their area?

The obvious question that jumps out to me is what is your definition of "backslid". Are the folks you mentioned not professing to be Christians any more? Not going to church, etc?

Or are they just not what you consider Christian because they changed their views on some things?

Pilgrum · #32 07-04-2012, 10:24 PM

There was a time when both of those suppositions would have described my thought process. Until.........I dared to contemplate other view points. I realized one day that many of the "convictions" that I swore by were not my convictions but somebody else's. Now I'm waaaay out there.

Sam · #33 07-04-2012, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrum

There was a time when both of those suppositions would have described my thought process. Until.........I dared to contemplate other view points. I realized one day that many of the "convictions" that I swore by were not my convictions but somebody else's. Now I'm waaaay out there.

"A lot of our convictions are preferences, and that is all right. But don't impose your preference upon someone and call it holiness."
page 259 of "The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing" by T.F. Tenney, copyright 1993 by Word Aflame Press

BroJoe · #34 07-05-2012, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv1a

The apostle's doctrine was a lot more than hair length and what to wear. Very little deals with one's personal appearance. It seems the apostles were more concerned about fruit of spirit and works of flesh, gifts of Spirit, 5 fold ministry, equipping the saints to minister, and bring God's kingdom to earth as Jesus taught.

I agree with this 100 percent.

However, if the question of standards is raised and someone is talking about it, I'm happy to talk about it with them in regards to my beliefs and/or interpretation of the Scripture.

BroJoe · #35 07-05-2012, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

This is the button to push when one wants to spur discussion about why some are on a higher spiritual plane and those who leave are "backslid".

I find this phenomenon with people. People who leave the Church are generally the one's that point back and make references to them "being on a higher spiritual plane". It's rooted in bitterness.

They feel offended because they are labeled as backsliders, so they allow that seed of bitterness to creep in their hearts and control their outlook on the Church.

For the record, I hold that anyone who slides away from this Acts 2:38, 1 God, Apostolic message is considered backslidden. No other way to describe it.

Quote:

It has been my experience that many apostolics do not want to know or won't accept any answer given to them because it is too hard for them to understand where the "backslider" comes from.

I'm sorry this has been your experience.

Quote:

Now here is a question for you...do you know for certain, without a shadow of a doubt that all people who leave the church system are backslid from God?

I know without a shadow of a doubt that all people who backslide from this Acts 2:38, 1 God, Apostolic message are backslid from God.

Acts 2:38, 1 God, and Holiness is what it's gonna take for anyone to see the Father. I'm in the book here.

If people wanna leave the WPF, AA, ALJC, UPCI, UAC, or whatever Apostolic organization you can come up with, and they go independent that's one thing.

Titus2woman · #36 07-05-2012, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroJoe

Nope, that's not what I said. I said if my Pastor says to be clean shaven while on the platform, I obey.

I don't believe my Pastor makes it out to be a Heaven or Hell issue either. He just prefers the members on the platform to be clean shaven. We have people in our Church that wear mustaches and they are accepted just fine.

Hope this helps.

But are you saying that if said bearded persons are also gifted in music or given a word by the Lord they could not share from the platform? That smacks of either believing that the Lord does not use those with facial hair in the assembly or that the pastor has the right to over-ride the Lord and deny a person the opportunity to share what the Lord has given them for the group.... Scary stuff, that is.

Titus2woman · #37 07-05-2012, 08:25 AM

Let me just expound a sec... I find this 'It's OK to have facial hair (or wear pants or whatever) but "I just can use you" on the platform, in ministry, etc. to be even more disingenuous than to just say you believe that one can not be saved with facial hair or pants or... or... or...

I can at least respect someone who believes that they are keeping someone from sharing with the assembly because that person is unsaved and does not hear from God...

But the person who is simply punishing someone for not conforming with a rule that they themselves do not have serious conviction over or the backbone to enforce... and actually would hold back God given gifts from the group to force submission on those petty issues... well they really tick me off.

It's that kind of desire for control of things that are meaningless that just freaks me out about what I'm sure you consider 'Apostolic'... and that is one of the biggest reasons why people are jumping ship right and left, IMO.

acerrak · #38 07-05-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroJoe

I don't believe it's a sin for a man to have a beard, but if my pastor says to keep the unity of our district that he doesn't want anyone with a bear or mustache on the platform, I will conform out of obedience.

However, cutting of the hair for a female, I do believe is a sin.

bible teaches neither. so what are you guys preaching at your district? traditions?

acerrak · #39 07-05-2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroJoe

Nope, that's not what I said. I said if my Pastor says to be clean shaven while on the platform, I obey.

I don't believe my Pastor makes it out to be a Heaven or Hell issue either. He just prefers the members on the platform to be clean shaven. We have people in our Church that wear mustaches and they are accepted just fine.

Hope this helps.

did Christ teach this if not then he doesnt need to teach it behind the pullpit.

spiritual obedience is not to be used for legalism which what you have described is.

shag · #40 07-05-2012, 08:39 AM

I played the role of Jesus 5 straight years for our church Easter drama, of which the last year I grew a real beard, and I haven't been smooth shaven since. I was outreach director, Sunday school teacher, on the board, but I was basically asked to choose between the beard and "leadership role". I chose the beard, and told him we have rules in our church even Jesus wouldn't adhere to. And I even keep my beard short...