CONCERNING THE NEW BIRTH

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Dear Brother Fretwell,

    As Apostolics we do indeed need to rediscover our heritage.  The
Christians who were to become Pentecostals came from a wide variety of
religious backgrounds.  They were not united by a common theology but by a
common experience, the baptism in the Holy Spirit as evidence by speaking in
tongues.  Through this experience they encountered the risen Lord who
empowered them to continue His ministry.  The first Pentecostals announced
and proclaimed the power of the risen Lord they had experienced in a new and
different way.  The Pentecostal movement was not driven by a passion for
right theology, these Christians had discovered that their understanding of
the Christian faith could change, but by passion for the furtherance of the
Gospel and the salvation of the lost.
    In a similar manner, the two organizations which merged to form the UPCI
did not agree on an explicit doctrine of what constitues the New Birth, or
the exact nature of Biblical holiness.  They did agree that any differences
of doctrine should be put aside so that the Apostolic message of water
baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the "name" of
Jesus, i.e. the fullness of God in Christ, could be proclaimed throughout
the world.
    This was the Spirit of toleration in which the UPCI was born.  It was a
fellowship which allowed for a diversity of understanding.  As a member of
the younger generation of Apostolics I am determined not to let this
heritage die.  My God richly bless you and others for giving it to me.

Steve Starcher


-----Original Message-----
From: Fretwell@aol.com <Fretwell@aol.com>
To: higher-fire@prairienet.org <higher-fire@prairienet.org>
Date: Sunday, February 01, 1998 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: CONCERNING THE NEW BIRTH


>In a message dated 98-02-01 01:02:55 EST, you write:
>
><<
> I esteem Bro. Fretwell as an elder of the faith, with a heart for God's
>people and a love for His Word. I do not take his admonition lightly.
>  >>
>
>Thank you!  Thank you, Bro. Robinson!
>
>I weep inwardly when I realize how far the UPC has drifted off course from
the
>original intent of those Godly men and women who hammered out the original
>constitution uniting the PA of JC and the PCI organizarions.
>
>I was told by one of our district superintendants that most of the hard
line
>doctrine was coming out of the Southern District, which was, at that time,
>stronger than the National body.
>
>I have also ascertained, from my own observation, that the dominant form of
>worship has come from the deep South.
>
>Songs of WORSHIP have fallen by the wayside-- replaced by songs of PRAISE
>which incite shouting, foot stomping and running around the building.
Deep,
>heartfelt WORSHIP is a thing unknown to most of the people.  This is sad,
sad,
>sad.
>
>I fear that the "truth has been held in unrighteousness." by some prominent
>leaders.
>
>Respectfully
>
>Marion