Being Apostolic In The Modern World 14

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It was recently posted:

>The reality of the present day Apostolic Church, however, sometimes
>fail to meet these expectations.  Anointed messages are proclaimed with
>little or no results.  Pastors struggle for years with small
>congregations in large cities.  Large numbers of Apostolics have
>forsaken their faith and embraced a new understanding of the Gospel.
>Brethren once committed to unity to advance the Apostolic faith now
>separate over minor doctrinal differences.  Influential denominations,
>organizations, and magazines refer to  the Apostolic faith as heresy
and
>consider the Apostolic movement cultic.   As a result Apostolics face
>enormous pressure to abandon their faith and embrace doctrines more
>acceptable to "mainstream" Christianity.  How is the Church Maintained
>in Truth in the midst of this reality?
>
>Many Apostolics believe that the Church will be Maintained in Truth
>by a reaffirmation of traditional Apostolic doctrines.  This
affirmation
>is twofold.  First, the doctrines are said to be the explicit teachings
>of the founders of the Apostolic movement.  Second, the doctrines are
>said to be the explicit teaching of Holy Scripture.  A hierarchical
>system of denominational and organizational officials is given the task
>of formulating these essential Apostolic doctrines and of monitoring
the
>Apostolic faith.  Their interpretations of the Apostolic faith are
>considered authoritative, if not infallible, and are not to be
>questioned.  Through their effort heretics within the Church will be
>exposed, enemies of the Church defeated, and the Church Maintained in
>Truth.    Is this the pattern of the  Apostolic Church  of the New
>Testament?


In contrast to this Paul told Timothy to hold to the Paul's teachings,
he chastized the Galations for leaving the Gospel and the Lord blasted
many of the churches in Revelation for leaving the basics. Rather than
repost the details I would only refer my series on "Modern Thinking in
the Life of a Christian" specifically the third post. Do discount
importance of doctrine and basic beliefs we risk falling into the same
pitfalls that many of the original church and many in our current ranks
fell into.

To follow a system of teachings that is not 100% backed by the BIble (as
opposed to the advertized 100% of God's truth) is asking for trouble. If
doctrine explains away the Scripture, then doctrine fails. You should
have complete agreement of the Bible with all that is preached and
taught.

If you follow the Bible you will find that the Apostiles went about and
preached Jesus (just as we should) There is no doubt that the Lord and
that the Name of Jesus was central to the teachings of them...or as
another word would be...their doctrine. Doctrine is not a bad word if
backed by the Word. Doctrine is a item that "Promise Keepers" say is
unimportant and that faith is all that matters! Of course they also
recognize Mormans, Catholics, Protestants and Pentecostal of all walk as
equal. Those that stand on Biblical doctrine are chastized.

>
>The Apostolic Church of the New Testament was not unlike the present
>day Apostolic Church.  A realistic reading of the book of Acts reveals
a
>Church experiencing failure, hypocrisy, backsliding, persecution,
>heresy, and schism, in the midst of a successful ministry.  However,
>they were not Maintained in Truth by authoritative doctrinal
traditions,
>or a hierarchical system of church officials.  They were Maintained in
>Truth by the power of the Holy Spirit because of their faith in Jesus
>Christ.

True, true so very true...but at the same time they were exhorted to
hold to the original teachings....doctrinie is important. How do you
expect to lead new people to the rebirth without doctrine, How do you
expect to hold to that which is good...if you declare all beliefs
(doctrine) to be unimportant.

>Maintaining the Church in Truth is not a manner of being able to
>trace Church doctrines from past to present.  It is not about being
able
>to give the most rational and coherent accounting of faith.  It is not
>about having an ecclesiastical hierarchy to present, interpret, and
>defend the faith.  It is also not a manner of being a member of a
>particular denomination.


Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11:For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not
be ashamed.
Rom 10:12:For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for
the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is
written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

And what will they preach...their doctrine, which held Jesus at the
center. You can not separate doctrine from a Christian, to try will give
you a person that could be blown by every wind of doctrine.

>The problem is that in a rationalistic, scientific, and
>technological age we want empirical proof that the Church is being
>Maintained in Truth.  We look for consensus in doctrine, uniformity of
>appearance, evangelistic results,  denominational affiliation,  and
>intellectual victories over our opponents.

This could happen...except that false doctrine abounds (even the Lord
warned us of it) and so we have to be sure we are right and rebuke that
which is not right in the sight of God. To accept false doctrine could
be as dangerious as "worshipping other gods".

>The Bible presents a very different conception of Truth.  Truth,
>Hebrew emet, Greek aletheia, means fidelity, permanence, reliability.
>In the Bible it refers to the absolute reliability and faithfulness of
>God in keeping His promises toward His people.  Truth was not a series
>of propositional statements demonstrated by observation and reasoning
to
>be true.  God was true because of  His faithfulness.  Jesus is
>proclaimed to be the Truth because He is faithful in bringing to His
>people all of the blessings of the new covenant.  For Apostolics, Truth
>should have a very human face, the face of Jesus.  Because Jesus is
>faithful there is the perpetual promise that the Church will be
>Maintained in Truth.  He who is the Truth will Maintain the Truth!  In
>the midst of doubts and divisions, persecution and heresies,
backsliding
>and compromising, Jesus will Maintain His Church in Truth!


The bible also says a great deal about obedience and keeping
commandments. How can you maintian the truth if you toss out all
teachings that might be doctrinal?

>It is from the perspective of faith that the Church sees concrete
>evidence that it is Maintained in Truth.  The Church  Maintained in
>Truth  proclaims Jesus Christ to be the Truth.  Doctrines and beliefs
>formulated as guidelines for fellowship are secondary to the One who is
>the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Conversion is not a manner of an
>intellectual assent to Church dogmas but a real experience of the risen
>savior.


I totally agree (pause for all the readers to get over the shock!) but
when they ask what shall we do....what do we tell them? How do we get
them to that experience, how do we ge them into repentance? By teaching
them about the Lord and His teachings...this is oft called your
doctrine...can we ignore it?

>Finally, the Church Maintained in Truth is true to its Vision.  This
>Vision, this self understanding,  is found outside of denominational
>hierarchies, official theology, and recognized ministries.  It is found
>in the faith of the precious saints of God who attend church, pay their
>tithes, worship the Lord, witness to their faith, and give themselves
>for Christian service.

Again I would call this their doctrine...they hold to the doctrine
because of their faith in the Lord and desire to please Him and an
understanding that the things you mentioned are pleasing to Him and part
of being a Christian.

>They do all of this without a complete
>understanding of the doctrine of God, without knowing all of the
>arguments that support Acts 2:38 as the New Birth, and without
>comprehending all of the reasons for holiness standards.

Agreed, strong in their faith of the Lord and again an understanding (or
faith) that the doctrine they agree with is right...otherwise they would
dump it for an easier path for the flesh.

>They endure
>Church divisions, denominational infighting, the quest for power and
>prestige by pastors, and the assaults on Apostolic beliefs.  They are
>tolerant when others are intolerant.  They are loving when others are
>unloving.  They fellowship when others separate.  They continue to live
>for God when the Church is at its worst.  Because they do they can hear
>the voice of God and follow the guidance of the Spirit.  They can call
>the Church to repentance and prepare the Church for renewal.  They know
>He who is the Truth and are convinced by faith of the reality of their
>experience and of their Lord.  Together, these saints give us the
>Apostolic Vision. A Vision of the continuing ministry of Jesus upon
this
>earth.  A Vision of countless souls receiving the baptism in the Holy
>Spirit and being baptized in Jesus name.  A Vision of a Holy People
>separated unto God.  A Vision of the Church Maintained in Truth by
Jesus
>Christ until He returns.


The question that Bro Tyler asked about why God gives us the Holy
Ghost...is so applicable here. We maintain because of the guidance of
the Holy Ghost. We maintain due to the  comfort and strength given by
the Holy Ghost. When we share, we have to have Bible based teachings to
share to show people that this is the Will of the Lord.

Lord Bless,
Bill


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