This Makes #2 on the List, REALLY???

[Dichotomy Girl]

Ok, so I'm wasting time on Facebook, and It's telling me to join various groups, one of which is an Apostolic Group, curious as to why it would tell me that, I clink on it, and it turns out that I have friends who are in the group. Anyway, the group calls itself "One God Apostolic Pentecostals" and describes itself as such:

We believe in One God and His name is Jesus.

We believe in traditional marriage.

Being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ not His titles.

Talking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance which is the initial evidence of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Being separate from the world.

Living a life acceptable to our Lord and seeking His will in our lives.

Doing our part in reaching the lost.

We desire revival in our lives as well as our church.

Praying and seeking out our Lord on a daily basis.

Reading and studying the bible on a daily basis.

We believe in having church like the bible instructs, we do not believe in being pew warmers.

We are not afraid to lift our hands in praise and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are not ashamed of these truths.

Really??? 1st one God who is Jesus, 2nd Traditional Marriage, followed by baptism, tongues and separation....

I don't know why, but this truly truly shocked me. What's will they add next? Hating Obamacare?

It's one thing to have a conviction, but another completely to define yourself (and others) by your conviction. And to actually make it 2nd, like your stance on gay marriage is more important in the definition of an Apostolic Christian, then baptism or the Holy Ghost.

I feel strangely disappointed in...I don't know...whoever wrote the list, or affirmed it....or something.....I don't know it just makes me sad.

[Luke]

Homosexual marriage is not a matter of conviction rather it is matter of accepting the bible as God's word.

[Luke]

Where do you think it would have been more appropriate to appear on the list?

[Reader]

I would not view it as a list of descending order of importance. I see it as nothing more than a list of beliefs. If someone asked you what your beliefs were, would you make certain they were shared in the order of importance-------and furthermore, could you?

Even with the ten commandments, can we claim that honoring mother and father is more important than not stealing or killing?

It would appear that #2 bothered you because you support gay marriage, not because of thinking it was a list in order of importance.

[Dichotomy Girl]

Originally Posted by Reader

I would not view it as a list of descending order of importance. I see it as nothing more than a list of beliefs. If someone asked you what your beliefs were, would you make certain they were shared in the order of importance-------and furthermore, could you?

Even with the ten commandments, can we claim that honoring mother and father is more important than not stealing or killing?

It would appear that #2 bothered you because you support gay marriage, not because of thinking it was a list in order of importance.

Actually, not really, because I don't follow (or support) standards ("separation from the world"), but it didn't bother me to see it on the list.

Originally Posted by Luke

Homosexual marriage is not a matter of conviction rather it is matter of accepting the bible as God's word.

Actually, I would argue that it's a matter of interpretation. Regardless of whether or not you believe the Bible to be God's word, you still need to interpret that Word, right? I personally interpret OT passages about homosexuality to be under law and therefore not applicable, and interpret Romans 1 to be speaking about worship practices in pagan temples. And one could hold those interpretations and still believe the Bible to be God's word.

But it's not secret that I believe Jesus to be God's Word, and that the Word is not living inside of us (i.e. written on our hearts) and not contained in a physical book.

Originally Posted by Luke

Where do you think it would have been more appropriate to appear on the list?

Not at all?

Look, it's not that it's a surprise. Everyone knows that the majority of Conservative Christians (of ANY denomination) are against gay marriage. And I respect their right to believe that. (Even if I disagree).

But It just seemed....off somehow....for them to use what they are against to define them.

I'm curious....what if someone was an Acts 2:38 3-stepper, Oneness, followed Standards, etc, but was...we won't even say pro-, we'll say neutral gay marriage. Would you still consider them to be a "One God Apostolic Pentecostal"?

[n david]

There are so-called gay Pentecostal or Apostolic churches.

[Reader]

Their statement about marriage wasn't using what they are against to define them. It was using what they are for. They believe in traditional marriage. They didn't mention anything outside that, nor go on a rant about homosexuality or polygamy.

It didn't bother you, but you were shocked by it? (but it didn't bother me to see it on the list. ....this truly truly shocked me) And you didn't address the rest.

Even individual states can state what they consider to constitute a marriage, so what is wrong with a group doing so?

[MissBrattified]

I agree that it seems out of place, but the list doesn't seem to be ordered logically anyway. As for whether it belongs on the list at all--if it's a doctrinal view rooted in scripture, related to a person's salvation or Christianity, then it belongs on the list. (From the perspective of the list maker, at least.) Most Christians aren't looking at this as a political issue; they are looking at it as a sin issue. Views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage certainly aren't on par with one's feelings regarding Obamacare, which is almost purely political in nature.

[Reader]

Most Christians aren't looking at this as a political issue; they are looking at it as a sin issue. Views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage certainly aren't on par with one's feelings regarding Obamacare, which is almost purely political in nature.

Well spoken!

[Dichotomy Girl]

Originally Posted by Reader

Their statement about marriage wasn't using what they are against to define them. It was using what they are for. They believe in traditional marriage. They didn't mention anything outside that, nor go on a rant about homosexuality or polygamy.

It didn't bother you, but you were shocked by it? (but it didn't bother me to see it on the list. ....this truly truly shocked me) And you didn't address the rest.

Even individual states can state what they consider to constitute a marriage, so what is wrong with a group doing so?

I guess because it was in the section where they describe their group, and because the group was called "One God Apostolic Pentecostals" it felt to me that they were defining what they believed to be OGAP's (I'm tired of typing that out!)

For all I know, maybe they had a bunch of the Gay Apostolic try to join, and they felt the need to specify, "hey, we're not cool with that".

It's just....do you ever tire of judging/and being judged by what you or other's are against. Cause we all do, on each and ever side. I do it, I did it in the original post. You do, you did to me in another thread.

I sit here crying because I just don't understand why we can't all just love Jesus and let it unite us, and show it to the world, imagine what we could accomplish.....and then I cynically wipe the tears off my face because it's a foolish dream that will never happen.