An Apostolic Declaration for the Third Millenium 1

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Steve Starcher wrote:
>An Apostolic Declaration for the Third Millenium
>
>Our Apostolic forefathers were Christians in another way before they
>became Apostolic Pentecostals.

This is correct if you are referring to our "Modern" Apostolic
forefathers we also have a set of forefathers that sat and learned at
the Lord's feet. The Modern forefathers were definately biased by prior
teaching and I praise the Lord that many have left false teaching, but
at the same time I know that it is hard to fully leave Egypt once one
has been delivered. It is hard to accept some tough issues and hold fast
to a persecuted minority view. But we all will one day have to answer
for our actions.

>Apostolics are in agreement on what constitutes the Apostolic faith.
>They have never been in agreement on how to express this faith
>theologically.

The original church was and this is why IT should be the pattern, not
the 20th century organizations.

>Finally,  it  should be noted that Howard Goss, the first General
>Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church, made several attempts
>to gain membership for the UPC in the Pentecostal Fellowship of North
>American. Howard Goss was not reluctant to seek fellowship with
>Trinitarians while maintaining his distinctive Apostolic beliefs.


This has been noted many times in the past, and has little bearing on
the conversation as the "trinity" did not exist during the time of the
original church. It would then have to be grouped with other false
teachings that man has derived over the last two millenia.

>As Apostolics entering the third millennium we affirm our Apostolic
heritage.

No...we affirm the Gospel of Christ and fulfill His wishes. Forget our
heritage, forget what a man 40 years ago did, remember what the Lord did
2000 years ago and what He wanted done. To get wrapped up in ,albeit
good, men of the last century is to risk adopting any flaws (being men
they were not always right) and projecting them. Who we need to focus on
is the Lord and the teachings He left us.

>We affirm that God spoke to our Apostolic forefathers and
>revealed to them the fullness of God in Jesus Christ and the importance
>of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.

Again, He gave it to the eleven before His ascension and more
later...then the world changed it. But it has always been there...it did
not start in Topeka or on Azusa Street. It started in Jerusalem!

>We affirm that the first
>Apostolics were Christians in another way before they became
Apostolics.


Define Christians!

>We affirm that it is consistent with our Apostolic heritage to:  1)
>fellowship with Trinitarians while retaining our Apostolic beliefs;

One should only do this if one is strong enough to witness and resist
the easy path they teach. If one is not that strong it could be liken to
making an alcoholic a bartender....the flesh will fight and if the
spirit is not strong enough the flesh will win.

>2) acknowledge others as Christians while maintaining that they should
all
>embrace and obey the Apostolic gospel;

again define Chirstians....the only use of the term in the Bible refers
to those that had followed Acts 2:38...it did not apply to Cornielus, or
the followers of John the Baptist.

>3) allow Apostolics to interpret the New Birth, Acts 2:38, in different
ways;

Only one way to interprete it and that is laid out in the BIble. We can
argue this all day, but the Lord set forth the new covenant, and ALL we
can do is obey! Either you blindly, by faith obey or you are against
Him....that is a scary thought to me!

>4)  practice different forms of holiness ;

WHOA....watch out...we agree (I think) The Lord expects Holiness...but
the application thereof is a tough issue. This is one of those "Better
safe than sorry issuses" IMHO

>and 5)  believe that Apostolic doctrines are not the
>final and infallible formulation of the Christian faith.

Been done this road before...do we really want to go down it again? If
we know it is wrong then we better change it. We have to be 100% in the
Word and Will of God or we risk failure. Salvation is not that
hard...theoligans (like politicians and lawyers) have clouded the simple
to make it seem confusing to furhter their own agendas.

>We affirm that
>this is our Apostolic heritage and that those who embrace it in no way
>compromise the Apostolic faith.


Is this what Peter and Paul taught? That is what we need to set as our
bench mark.

>Copyright 1999, Steven A. Starcher


hmmm...can I reproduce this in part as a response without the express
written consent of the author?

Lord Bless;
Bill Clifton


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