- May 6, 2016
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Even though I am not thrilled (by any means) about having to post a topic specifically for Oneness Apostolics in a "non-Christian" section of CF, I know this is probably the best (and perhaps only) place I will get the discussion I'm wanting.
Apostolic Pentecostalism has three defining components:
I know of a few churches whose standards of holiness had dropped considerably. More often than not, the expectations were dropped because a pastor's leniency with his or her family members, or because of new converts. There are a few cases that I know of where a strong holiness leader (mostly females) that have passed on and their children (and in-laws) took over the church. The "new generation" have different opinions about what it means for a believer to be Spirit-filled. They tend to preach inward holiness strongly, the pureness of the heart, and that Jesus weighs one's heart over the outward appearance. (Don't get me wrong, Jesus wants our hearts to be right, but the outward reflects the inward.) Some pastors now preach and/or say that the Lord has "opened up" the scriptures to them when defending their decision to loosen the restrictions of their expectations of their congregation's outward holiness. I know of two churches in particular that have strong holiness roots, but the majority of their congregation now do not practice it anymore.
Does this bring concern to any other Apostolics here? I know there any varying opinions on some holiness standards, but there is a basic line that each of us should maintain, correct?
To clarify, I am aiming this discussion to Apostolic Pentecostals and perhaps even to other groups who have strong holiness roots (i.e. Holiness Baptists, Wesleyan Methodists, Trinitarian Pentecostals, etc).
Apostolic Pentecostalism has three defining components:
Apostolic by Doctrine
Pentecostal by Experience
Holiness by Lifestyle
We all believe in the Oneness of God, the baptism of the Holy Ghost as first experienced on the Day of Pentecost, and that the Christian should live a holiness life (inwardly and outwardly) unto the Lord. There has been a continuing trend among the Apostolic church that is alarming to some; that being the "lowering" or "relaxing" of preaching and expectations of a believer's outward holiness. Pentecostal by Experience
Holiness by Lifestyle
I know of a few churches whose standards of holiness had dropped considerably. More often than not, the expectations were dropped because a pastor's leniency with his or her family members, or because of new converts. There are a few cases that I know of where a strong holiness leader (mostly females) that have passed on and their children (and in-laws) took over the church. The "new generation" have different opinions about what it means for a believer to be Spirit-filled. They tend to preach inward holiness strongly, the pureness of the heart, and that Jesus weighs one's heart over the outward appearance. (Don't get me wrong, Jesus wants our hearts to be right, but the outward reflects the inward.) Some pastors now preach and/or say that the Lord has "opened up" the scriptures to them when defending their decision to loosen the restrictions of their expectations of their congregation's outward holiness. I know of two churches in particular that have strong holiness roots, but the majority of their congregation now do not practice it anymore.
Does this bring concern to any other Apostolics here? I know there any varying opinions on some holiness standards, but there is a basic line that each of us should maintain, correct?
To clarify, I am aiming this discussion to Apostolic Pentecostals and perhaps even to other groups who have strong holiness roots (i.e. Holiness Baptists, Wesleyan Methodists, Trinitarian Pentecostals, etc).
