An Apostolic Vision

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The Church Maintained in Truth is true to its vision.  What is the
Apostolic Vision?

	A vision is a community's self understanding, the way it perceives
itself in relationship to its past, present, and future existence.  It
is communicated tacitly as well as cognitively to members of the
community through their active participation in its life.  I am an
Apostolic Pentecostal because I have received the Apostolic Vision. 
Throughout my life the Apostolic community has influenced my
relationship with God and shaped my understanding of the Christian
faith.  As a child I first heard the Gospel story in an Apostolic
church.  I participated in Apostolic worship singing inspiring hymns,
learning to praise God audibly and spontaneously for His Grace, and
praying fervently for the needs of the community and revival.  Within
the Apostolic community I witnessed the presence and power of Jesus in
miracle and conversion.  As a young adult I was received into the
Apostolic community through water baptism in name of Jesus Christ, and
the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues.  I
was received with love, nurtured in the scriptures, and encouraged to be
a disciple of Christ.  The Apostolic Vision which follows is written by
one passionately committed to the Apostolic community.  I remain an
Apostolic not because of a naive and nostalgic allegiance to my past but
because I believe in the reality of the Apostolic experience of Jesus,
embrace the community's form of life, and choose to engage in its
mission.
	The Apostolic Vision is rooted in the worship of the community.  In the
event of worship Apostolics experience the presence and power of Jesus. 
The presence of Jesus in the midst of the community is the central theme
of of Apostolic worship.  The emphasis is not only on what Christ has
done but on the expectation of what He will do.  Through sermons, songs,
personal testimonies, and spontaneous demonstrations such as raising of
hands, shouting, hand clapping, and praise the Apostolic community
acknowledges the presence of Jesus, participates in the present reality
of His salvation, and expects a demonstration of His power.
	The presence of Jesus is made known in the Apostolic community through
demonstrations of His power.  These demonstrations include miracles such
as healing, the conversion of the lost, and the renewal of the saved. 
For Apostolics these demonstrations serve as signs of the reality of
Jesus and of His salvation.  Salvation in the Apostolic community is
received through water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and the
baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Through the invocation of the name of Jesus
in water baptism an individual becomes a disciple of Christ.  Through
the baptism in the Holy Spirit as signified by speaking in tongues the
indwelling of Jesus is demonstrated within an individual's life. 
Tongues are s sign of the real presence of Jesus in the midst of the
Apostolic community.  They are also a sign of spiritual vitality in the
life of the believer, evidencing the continuing presence of Jesus within
him or her.  Together, water baptism and spirit baptism are outward
visible signs of the reality of salvation being performed by Jesus
within the Apostolic community.  Through them an individual is received
as a member in the Apostolic community.
	For Apostolic Pentecostals the experience of Jesus in worship is
followed by a demonstration of the presence of Jesus in the world.
Apostolics do not only possess a commitment to the person of Jesus but
to a Christ like lifestyle and mission.  Apostolics take seriously the
challenge of being conformed to the image of Christ.  For this reason
Apostolics choose to pattern their lives after the Lord whom they serve
rather than the world in which they reside.  Apostolics see themselves
as a Holy people separated unto Christ and called to evidence the fruits
of the transformed life which they possess 
	Apostolics believe that they are participating in the continuing
mission of Jesus in the world.  Evangelism is the heartbeat of the
Apostolic movement. Apostolics have a desire to witness to the reality
of the salvation provided by Jesus.  Apostolics are dedicated to
fulfilling the Great Commission through the power of the Holy Spirit.
	Apostolics place their faith, hope, and love in the person of Jesus
Christ.  The Apostolic confession of faith is "Jesus is Lord". 
Apostolics worship Jesus and assign to Him all of the titles and
attributes of God.  Jesus is the definitive revelation of God to
humankind.  Jesus is the Name of God.  To be an Apostolic is to receive
the "revelation of the Name," i.e. the fullness of God in Christ.  
	Apostolics identify with the churches founded by the apostles in the
book of Acts.  Apostolics believe that the revelation of the fullness of
God in Christ and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ are a
restoration of New Testament Faith.  Apostolics understand the baptism
in the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of speaking in tongues to be a
New Testament experience.  For Apostolics the focal purpose of God in
the Pentecostal revival is the restoration of the faith and power of the
apostles.  The original emphasis and the rationale for the continued
existence of Apostolic Pentecostalism is its self identity as a
contemporary expression of New Testament Christianity.  The goal of
Apostolic Pentecostalism is the restoration of New Testament faith in
both word and deed.  This is the Apostolic Vision!
	The Apostolic Vision is attractive because it articulates the Christ
centered and restorationist faith present within the Pentecostal
movement.  Pentecostal worship and life are centered upon the present
reality of Jesus Christ.  All Pentecostals possess a desire to conform
to the example of the New Testament churches found in the Acts of the
Apostles.
	The proclamation of the Apostolic Vision is accompanied by the
spiritual renewal Pentecostals desire.  Signs, wonders, miracles, and
manifestations of God are commonplace in meetings where the Apostolic
faith is embraced.  Individuals who are rebaptized in the Name of Jesus
Christ testify that they enter into a new dimension of the Christian
life.  New converts who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ often
emerge from the water baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking in
tongues.
	The power of the Apostolic Vision is demonstrated by the willingness of
Apostolics to suffer persecution for their faith.  They are willing to
break with church tradition and sacrifice all for the spiritual life it
brings.  Those who reject the Apostolic faith wrongly associated it with
the ancient heresies of Modalism and Sabellianism.  Because of this
association Apostolics have been isolated from the larger Christian
community.  They are described as "simple, ignorant, innocent, but
deluded people".  The Apostolic faith is portrayed as being heretical
and the Apostolic movement labeled sectarian and cultic.  The Apostolic
Vision is ridiculed by Trinitarian Pentecostals who eagerly await the
return of Apostolics to the "orthodox" faith.  But Apostolics remain
steadfast in their affirmation of the Apostolic Vision.  For them its
truth is confirmed by Holy Scripture and by  Christian experience.
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