Is there anyone who is Apostolic anymore?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Imagine the days that every town had 'a church' and if you were a follower of Christ, you belonged to it... what a concept.

I think that would be great... in the dark ages, maybe not.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I think that would be great... in the dark ages, maybe not.

OK... so in my perfect world it is a white clapboard buliding with a big wide center isle and old fashioned short pews set on an angle on both sides so you can see more of a person then the backs of their heads. Many elders speak and preach in turn, others are free to ask questions which are respectfully and thoughtfully answered. Children sleep peacefully beneath the pews or listen quitely. There is a picnic on the grass afterward where families visit and share friendship. Only monies needed for maintainence and the needy is collected and is given freely. Those who have surplus of anything contribute it and it is welcomed and used for those with a need. Young people are grown up and sent to spread the gospel, elder people, the disabled and the poor are tenderly cared for. Disagreements are never worth grudge and are settled quickly and peacefully.

I am sure by now many of you are dying laughing... but it could happen.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by acerrak

i think the church would grow as he would be comming out of legalism..

You need to go visit a nice growing Home Missions work.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Bro Joe - what would you do if one day your Pastor came to church and announced that he was no longer going to be responsible for setting and policing policy about standards? What if within 5 years the atmosphere of the Church changes, women are wearing bobs and pants, men have beards, and wear shorts. Not only that but the Pastor now believes that salvation is at repentance, and while he still baptizes in Jesus name and believes and talks about people receiving the HG and speaking in tongues, he doesn't preach three steps to salvation any more. Now what? Do you follow your Pastor in obedience now, do you become confused? do you proclaim him on his way to hell and find another church? what would you do?

I too would love to hear the answer to this Bro. Joe... because this is no hypothetical question... your own pastor will tell you, I'm sure, that this happens all the time and the people he never thought he'd see do it... even many of the old time preachers, have 'gone charismatic!". And I've seen it with my own eyes many times over the years. A church relaxes it's standards... many breathe a sigh of relief, many who were gone return but there are always the few who begin driving across town looking for the 'man of god' who will still make them wear long sleeves in 105 degree heat and make their wife wear her hair pinned to the top of her head. And the list is long and complicated in most places that have one... and it's different then the list of some other 'man of god' right up the road.

I am not poking fun, I swear... but I now have trouble fathoming the level of brainwashing it takes to convince a person that it is OK if we see a woman's legs from below the knee to the ankles but we should never see a man's legs because that would make him less holy... Or that God gave a man a beard with the intention that he get up every morning and spend 20 minutes shaving it off, making his face smooth like a woman's face to be on the platform but we would never think of telling old Sister Smith to shave HER mustache to be able to play the piano Or that a woman would have to deal with hair that drags the ground (see my avatar) in order to make it into heaven.

Sadly all of this reminds me that for a time I also wanted to believe myself somehow pleasing God by doing the ridiculous instead of really doing the kingdom's work. I somehow let every bit of common sense be sucked out of my brain in order to fit in, stopped doing my own thinking, and blindly followed another hoping that somehow they had the key to heaven's door and if I just followed closely enough behind I'd make it in. And more sadly, they encouraged me to believe it to feed their own power hungry little egos.

Not my proudest moment and the reason I post in threads like this... just hoping that somewhere in what everyone is saying something will be said that wakes another and helps them connect with a God who is desperately seeking them.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

I too would love to hear the answer to this Bro. Joe... because this is no hypothetical question...

I would like to hear his response as well.... but somehow I already know his answer from previous posts....

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Sadly all of this reminds me that for a time I also wanted to believe myself somehow pleasing God by doing the ridiculous instead of really doing the kingdom's work. I somehow let every bit of common sense be sucked out of my brain in order to fit in, stopped doing my own thinking, and blindly followed another hoping that somehow they had the key to heaven's door and if I just followed closely enough behind I'd make it in. And more sadly, they encouraged me to believe it to feed their own power hungry little egos.

Not my proudest moment and the reason I post in threads like this... just hoping that somewhere in what everyone is saying something will be said that wakes another and helps them connect with a God who is desperately seeking them.

I am with you on this one T2W!!!! I ran the rat race all my life trying to please every pastor and church with my family taking a back seat to all the fundraisers, and church functions I was a part of. Thank God I finally read the verse in James 1:27, and realized that a fundraiser to pay for the pastor's fancy vacation was not pure religion, according to James. The AP churches I have been a part of, for the most part, spend most of their money taking care of themselves, with the fancy cars, houses, vacations, buildings, musical equipment, and so on.

I am excited to finally be a part of a congregation that gets their hands dirty ministering to those in need in the community we live in.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

I too would love to hear the answer to this Bro. Joe... because this is no hypothetical question... your own pastor will tell you, I'm sure, that this happens all the time and the people he never thought he'd see do it... even many of the old time preachers, have 'gone charismatic!".

Yes, we preach about that.

And I've seen it with my own eyes many times over the years. A church relaxes it's standards... many breathe a sigh of relief, many who were gone return

The reason why the Church relaxes it's standards is because they think more people means more success. A number does not equal anointing with God.

I believe this down deep in my heart. The more consecrated a person is to God, the higher the level of anointing and the greater the presence of God is felt. You can't convince me otherwise, so don't even try.

but there are always the few who begin driving across town looking for the 'man of god' who will still make them wear long sleeves in 105 degree heat and make their wife wear her hair pinned to the top of her head. And the list is long and complicated in most places that have one... and it's different then the list of some other 'man of god' right up the road.

Hey...if you don't want to wear sleeves to the elbow, then don't. If you feel like it's a big enough issue to leave the Church over, then go.

I'm not made to do anything. I do it out of my own choice and free will. If I wanted to do something different, trust and believe I would be.

I am not poking fun, I swear... but I now have trouble fathoming the level of brainwashing it takes to convince a person that it is OK if we see a woman's legs from below the knee to the ankles but we should never see a man's legs because that would make him less holy

I agree with you here. I'm obedient in wearing only pants. Not to mention, I'm ministering more and more. Have you ever seen a professional wear shorts to a meeting? Nope. They suit up. You ever seen Tiger woods when golfing wear shorts on 105 degrees? Nope. Professional.

I'm keeping it professional .

... Or that God gave a man a beard with the intention that he get up every morning and spend 20 minutes shaving it off, making his face smooth like a woman's face to be on the platform
but we would never think of telling old Sister Smith to shave HER mustache to be able to play the piano Or that a woman would have to deal with hair that drags the ground (see my avatar) in order to make it into heaven.

My opinion. These are insignificant issues to me. Really. Honestly. I don't really care too much that they want me to shave to be on the platform. The presence of God is in that sanctuary and I'm staying in. My mind is made up.

Sadly all of this reminds me that for a time I also wanted to believe myself somehow pleasing God by doing the ridiculous instead of really doing the kingdom's work. I somehow let every bit of common sense be sucked out of my brain in order to fit in, stopped doing my own thinking, and blindly followed another hoping that somehow they had the key to heaven's door and if I just followed closely enough behind I'd make it in. And more sadly, they encouraged me to believe it to feed their own power hungry little egos.

Not my proudest moment and the reason I post in threads like this... just hoping that somewhere in what everyone is saying something will be said that wakes another and helps them connect with a God who is desperately seeking them.

I'm sorry you experienced some sour things in your life.

It's always been about getting the convictions for yourself. If people don't get it for themselves, they never last. They go charismatic. They go somewhere else where they feel better. Either way, they wash out of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by BroJoe

It's always been about getting the convictions for yourself. If people don't get it for themselves, they never last. They go charismatic. They go somewhere else where they feel better. Either way, they wash out of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

There...you said it.

It's not about being in Jesus Christ's church is it? It's about being in the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

If one does not eventually adopt the "convictions" of the organizational rules, then they "never last".

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

There...you said it.

It's not about being in Jesus Christ's church is it? It's about being in the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

If one does not eventually adopt the "convictions" of the organizational rules, then they "never last".

Acts 2:38, 1 God, and holiness is what it's gonna take to get to Heaven.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by BroJoe

...The reason why the Church relaxes it's standards is because they think more people means more success. A number does not equal anointing with God....

I think you are painting us all with too broad a brush there.

I personally know ministers who have come to the conclusion that some of the stuff we called "standards" over the years are not only irrelevant but wrong.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Bro Joe - what would you do if one day your Pastor came to church and announced that he was no longer going to be responsible for setting and policing policy about standards?

I'd hardly call what he does now policing, lol.

What if within 5 years the atmosphere of the Church changes, women are wearing bobs and pants, men have beards, and wear shorts.

You mean what if they started looking more and more like the world? God forbid.

Not only that but the Pastor now believes that salvation is at repentance, and while he still baptizes in Jesus name and believes and talks about people receiving the HG and speaking in tongues, he doesn't preach three steps to salvation any more.

We all believe (in my church) that repentance is necessary for salvation, so we don't care if you wanna say repentance is the beginning of salvation or a piece of salvation.

Now what? Do you follow your Pastor in obedience now, do you become confused?

I'd prayerfully consider what the Lord would want me to do.

If my Church were to do these things that you have listed (besides the repentance bit) I'd be put in a rock and a hard spot. I'd eventually would have to leave to another church that aligned itself with what was Scriptural.

do you proclaim him on his way to hell and find another church? what would you do?

Absolutely not. Does he still believe in Acts 2:38? Does he still believe in 1 God? Does he still believe holiness is what it's gonna take to get to Heaven? If he doesn't agree on any of these, he is backslidden.