For Your Information

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

Kirk Moore writes:
> We as apostolics deal harshly with everyone. We deal harshly with >people that deal genteelly and kindly to us. I look at the Mormons and >the have better families that most apostolics. I look at the JW's and >the witness much better that any of us for the most part. I look at the >Catholics and Mormons, and they pay tithes with a good attitude and in >full. The Pentecostal faith as a whole is stagnate and dead. We lose as >many as we gain. We tend to deal with folks that do not agree with us, >with our nose in the air. Let me ask you a question, if a Baptist has >repented at a Baptist alter, did God still forgive him. Or is it really >between him and God, to determine what state his repentance is. >Repentance means to turn away from the former life of sin, and start >walking with Jesus. I do believe that he needs further truth, and at >sometime will come in contact with truth, but until then, what of his >faith in God, is it invalidated?????

Dave responds:
Brother, you speak truth. Self examination does us a lot of good. I've
learned something about *me*...I haven't arrived yet. I used to condemn
people who had not followed Acts 2:38. Now I'm only speaking for me. I
recall debating and getting into it with other Christians, A/G, Baptist,
etc at restaurants after church. I felt that it was my duty to
straighten them out and tell them that they were going to hell. As time
went on, I began to grow in the things of God and learned that there are
ways of ministering to people without getting in their face. I hope
everyone reading this takes this well. I'm only speaking about me. 

Bro. Kirk Moore asks: 
> My question to you is: How can we claim anything when we have nothing >better to offer than rules and standards for people to follow?????

Dave responds:
In my years of being in the Oneness Movement (UPC), I saw so many people
turned off by our approach. People would leave our church and attend
another church which taught the whole council of God, not just
standards. Most of the time, that's all I would ever heard
preached...standards. We heard about how bad women were, how ugly the
world is, etc etc etc. Just negative preaching. Yes, we do need to hear
rebuke, exhortation, etc, but we also need to be fed. People are
sheep...they need to be fed, not driven.

Bro. Kirk Moore continues: 
> I would say that unless we as a group begin to return to the 1st >century roots, we will become another denomination that has lost touch >with God. There will always be true believer, there will always be a >church, but I contend that this church is not made up by an >organization, or a district board, or a general superintendent. The >true church of God is made up of those that worship in spirit and >truth, and allow God to call those that he will, and work on those >hearts that he calls. The true church hears the voice of the shepherd >and responds, it is like a wind that blows.... and those that hear it, >and follow it, they will hear well done, my good a faithful servant.

Dave responds:
Your point is well made brother. Though there may be differences in
opinion, it seems that people have categorized who is saved and who is
not; who is right with God and who is not; who is cold and who is hot by
how loud we shout or how much we dance and run the aisles. That has
nothing to do with it. The Bible says we are to come together in the
unity of the faith...not denomination.  

I have many wonderful friends who are in very strict churches that I sit
down and fellowship with all the time. We never discuss our differences
or preferences. We have one person in common: Jesus Christ, Almighty
God!