An Apostolic Declaration for the Third Millenium 1

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Bro. Starcher, i would really like to know how you define a "Christian".

At 08:26 AM 3/22/99 -0700, you wrote:
>
>
>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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