Apostolic 101

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by acerrak

reminds me of the harlot church riding on the beast in revelations

There is a generation of vipers among us. Men of God haven't ceased to warn them of the day to come and of what God is doing in the earth. But they do not listen. They are whited sepluchres, polished on the outside but full of dead men's bones. They will travel over land and sea to make a convert, yet when they are through the convert is twice as much a child of Hell as they are. They will place UNBIBLICAL burdens on men and women that are hard to bear, and not lift a finger to lighten their burdens. They not only refuse to enter the kingdom of God themselves, but they shut up the kingdom of God from those who would desire to enter in. They love to stand in their pulpits with pride. They make broad the boarders of their garments for the glory of their own names. They love being greeted in the malls to receive the praise of men. They are made in the image of their their dead and lifeless elders who lay in their graves... and not in the image of Jesus Himself! Their own elders will rise up and rebuke them in the Day of Judgment. Woe unto them! Woe unto them!

[HRea]

Originally Posted by Aquila

There is a generation of vipers among us. Men of God haven't ceased to warn them of the day to come and of what God is doing in the earth. But they do not listen. They are whited sepluchres, polished on the outside but full of dead men's bones. They will travel over land and sea to make a convert, yet when they are through the convert is twice as much a child of Hell as they are. They will place UNBIBLICAL burdens on men and women that are hard to bear, and not lift a finger to lighten their burdens. They not only refuse to enter the kingdom of God themselves, but they shut up the kingdom of God from those who would desire to enter in. They love to stand in their pulpits in their $400 suits and their wives behives 12 ft. tall. They make broad the boarders of their garments for the glory of their own names. They love being greeted in the malls to receive the praise of men. They are made in the image of their their dead and lifeless elders who lay in their graves... and not in the image of Jesus Himself! Their own elders will rise up and rebuke them in the Day of Judgment. Woe unto them!

It makes me sad to hear this type of accusation against pastors and evangelists. Not every preacher that preaches Jesus-name baptism and holiness is a pharisee, but there is a ground-swell amongst many who strongly disagree with their former pastors to paint all preachers with a very wide brush. I know, having personally been on the receiving end of such accusation. Some get too carried away with these accusations. It just makes me sad that there is such a wall of anger and resentment that must be removed before simple reconciliation can begin.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by HRea

It makes me sad to hear this type of accusation against pastors and evangelists. Not every preacher that preaches Jesus-name baptism and holiness is a pharisee, but there is a ground-swell amongst many who strongly disagree with their former pastors to paint all preachers with a very wide brush. I know, having personally been on the receiving end of such accusation. Some get too carried away with these accusations. It just makes me sad that there is such a wall of anger and resentment that must be removed before simple reconciliation can begin.

I never said "every preacher" or pastor. The man I respect most as a pastor is UPCI. I was UPCI for over 20 years. I know great preachers who are Jesus name preachers. And I advocate Jesus name baptism myself. I'm just not so quick to denounce those sincere Holy Ghost filled Christians who may still have a lot of learning to do.

But excellent post. By all means... not every Jesus name baptizing pastor is a viper. But many are. The question for me is... do they preach that the believer's identity is wrapped up in living and being like their organization... or do they teach that the believer's identity is wrapped up in being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ?

I've attended so many Apostolic churches who nearly worshipped their heritage and their own religious identity. When the truth is... Jesus Himself would be denied access to the pulpit in those churches... because He is wearing a beard. And somehow we're to think they are saved???

[HRea]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I never said "every preacher" or pastor. The man I respect most as a pastor is UPCI. I was UPCI for over 20 years. I know great preachers who are Jesus name preachers. And I advocate Jesus name baptism myself. I'm just not so quick to denounce those sincere Holy Ghost filled Christians who may still have a lot of learning to do.

Sorry, got the wrong impression from your exchange with acerrak.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by HRea

Sorry, got the wrong impression from your exchange with acerrak.

Yeah, but the "$400 suits and their wives behives 12 ft. tall" is still unnecessary sarcasm IMO

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Yeah, but the "$400 suits and their wives behives 12 ft. tall" is still unnecessary sarcasm IMO

I'm just trying to drive a point home. It doesn't matter how slick and polished a preacher is... and it doesn't matter how long a woman's hair is. The key is... are they like Jesus??? I was drawing from Christ's rebuke of the Pharisees and their taking pride in the broad boarders of their garments etc. We don't wear broad boarders on our garments. But we do often fall into a pride about our standards. No direct offence was intended.

Not all preachers are bad preachers. But today... I do believe we have a shortage of good solid men of God who are walking after the Spirit. Too many are walking after the manual to be accepted by the orgs they are a part of.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I'm just trying to drive a point home. It doesn't matter how slick and polished a preacher is... and it doesn't matter how long a woman's hair is. The key is... are they like Jesus. I was drawing from Christ's rebuke of the Pharisees and their taking pride in the broad boarders of their garments etc. We don't wear broad boarders on our garments. But we do often fall into a pride about our standards. No direct offence was intended.

Not all preachers are bad preachers. But today... I do believe we have a shortage of good solid men of God who are walking after the Spirit. Too many are walking after the manual to be accepted by the orgs they are a part of.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I'm just trying to drive a point home. It doesn't matter how slick and polished a preacher is... and it doesn't matter how long a woman's hair is. The key is... are they like Jesus??? I was drawing from Christ's rebuke of the Pharisees and their taking pride in the broad boarders of their garments etc. We don't wear broad boarders on our garments. But we do often fall into a pride about our standards. No direct offence was intended.

Not all preachers are bad preachers. But today... I do believe we have a shortage of good solid men of God who are walking after the Spirit. Too many are walking after the manual to be accepted by the orgs they are a part of.

But maybe you are wrong and it does matter that hair is long (some think the best way to keep it long is to not cut it). Personally I believe God is not pleased with butch cuts on women...

A four hundred $ suit is a low to moderate price.

If you actually know of those who place suits and long hair before being like Jesus in character - they should come to repentance, I think all will agree there.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Yeah, but the "$400 suits and their wives behives 12 ft. tall" is still unnecessary sarcasm IMO

Hmm...