Moderate Apostolics 1

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I consider myself a moderate Apostolic.  What exactly does that mean?  I
would like to offer a definition.

Moderate Apostolics desire to be faithful to the essence of the
Apostolic faith.  They believe in the Apostolic experience of Jesus, the
baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, and
the Apostolic theology it creates, water baptism in the name of Jesus
Christ, and the revelation of the fullness of God in Jesus Christ. They
also believe in the importance of living a life separated unto God, i.e.
holiness.  What distinguishes moderate Apostolics from conservative
Apostolics is the way these central truths of the Apostolic faith are
presented and defended.  Let me explain.

Moderate Apostolics seek to present and defend their faith from 
biblical, historical, theological, and cultural perspectives. This means
moderate Apostolics desire to be in dialogue with greater Christendom
and the world.  Moderate Apostolics realize that their faith was not
developed in isolation from greater Christendom and the world.  Moderate
Apostolics want to understand the biblical, historical, theological, and
cultural trends which have influenced their understanding, presentation,
and defense of their faith.  Moderate Apostolics want to understand
these influences that they might better understand their faith and more
effectively present their faith to the world.  I will now give a few
examples.

All Apostolics seek to present the biblical basis for their faith. 
Moderate Apostolics are distinguished from conservative Apostolics by an
"openness" to allow Holy Scripture to present a "fresh" word from God
and by their willingness to acknowledge a diversity in the
interpretation of Holy Scripture. Moderate Apostolics know that they are
human, that their interpretation of Holy Scripture can err, and that
they must always be open to hear from God through His witness in Holy
Scripture.  Moderate Apostolics know that their creedal affirmations,
confessions of faith, are the fallible efforts of sinful men to express
the great reality of their faith.  While God remains the same,
confessions of faith have changed.  This willingness to hear from God,
to formulate new understandings of the Christian faith, and abandon past
creedal formulations, created the Apostolic movement.  Moderate
Apostolics believe that this  "openness" will sustain the Apostolic
movement as it enters into the new millennium.  Moderate Apostolics
desire to present the Apostolic faith using the very best in
contemporary biblical scholarship. Moderate Apostolics continually
present the Apostolic faith in new and exciting ways.

Moderate Apostolics also acknowledge the diversity of biblical
interpretation present in the Apostolic movement.  While all Apostolics
believe in the importance of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ,
in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the fullness of God in Jesus
Christ, they embrace different interpretations of these central tenets. 
This diversity in biblical interpretation is more pronounced in other
doctrinal areas, the second coming, holiness, prophecy, the Lord's
supper, et.al.  Moderate Apostolics do not view this diversity as a
challenge to the Apostolic faith.  Moderate Apostolics see this
diversity as reflecting the diversity present in Holy Scripture. 
Moderate Apostolics find the basis for Apostolic unity in the Apostolic
experience of Jesus Christ through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, water
baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and an understanding of the
fullness of God in Jesus Christ.  Moderate Apostolics are characterized
by their toleration of the diversity of belief present in the Apostolic
movement.

In contrast to moderate Apostolics, conservative Apostolics have made
themselves dependent on what they believe are "traditional" biblical
presentations of the Apostolic faith.  For them Apostolic confessions of
faith, doctrines, are the hermeneutical key to understanding Holy
Scripture.  There can be no variation or change.  Any interpretation
which has the appearance of being new challenges the integrity of their
faith. God revealed the Apostolic faith in the past.  God is not
revealing any new truth to Apsotolics today.  The window of Heaven is
closed.  God is silent.  Conservatives Apostolics desire to protect and
preserve the truth which they possess.  This truth needs no new
presentation. Moderate Apostolics are seen as straying from the original
Apostolic faith.

Conservative Apostolics see the diversity of biblical interpretation in
the Apostolic movement as a sign of apostasy, a falling away from the
original Apostolic faith.  Conservative Apostolics readily condemn all
Apostolics who disagree with their presentation of the Apostolic faith
and willingly separate from them.  For conservative Apostolics diversity
is sin and heresy.  There is only one true Apostolic faith, theirs!

Who has strayed from the original Apostolic faith?  By their openness to
hear a fresh word from God moderate Apostolics evidence a continuity
with the original Apostolic faith.  If our Apostolic forefathers had
embraced the theology of conservative Apostolics there would have been
no Apostolic movement and no Apostolic theology. Our Apostolic
forefathers embraced an openness to hear a "fresh" word from God and
receive new understandings of  water baptism, the baptism in the Holy
Spirit, and the doctrine of God.  Moderate Apostolics evidence a
continuity with our Apostolic forefathers.  Conservative Apostolics are
not protecting the "traditional" Apostolic faith but presenting a
radically different faith.

Who has strayed from the original Apostolic faith? The Apostolic
movement has always been characterized by a diversity in biblical
interpretation. The existence of the Apostolic World Christian
Fellowship is a reminder of and testimony to the diversity of the
Apostolic movement. Our Apostolic forefathers were tolerant of this
diversity.  At its founding the UPC even allowed for a diversity of
interpretation of Holiness standards and the New Birth!  Once again,
conservatives Apostolics are not protecting the "traditional" Apostolic
faith but presenting a radically different faith.

Moderate Apostolics desire to understand their faith historically.  In
the preceding paragraphs references were made to some very important
facts in Apostolic history.  Moderate Apostolics believe that knowing
the history of the Apostolic movement is essential to understanding
their faith.  Moderate Apostolics read the history of the Apostolic
movement and find sincere Christians eager to hear from God, willing to
embrace new understandings of the Christian faith, and tolerant of
diversity. They also find Apostolics willing to fellowship with
Trinitarians and acknowledge them as Christians.  Moderate Apostolics
seek to restore this spiritual dynamic to the Apostolic movement.

Conservative Apostolics ignore Apostolic history or selectively read
Apostolic history.  The theology of Apostolic forefathers is said to
mirror that of conservative Apostolics.  The "openness" and toleration
of  Apostolic diversity is either denied or explained away by an appeal
to a "complete" understanding of Holy Scripture.  This is the same
"complete" understanding of Scripture which is used to deny or explain
away past fellowship between Apostolics and Trinitarians and the
possibility that Trinitarians are Christians.

Who has strayed from the original Apostolic faith?  There is an
historical precedent for Apostolics to be tolerant of Apostolic
diversity, seek new scriptural expressions for their faith, and to
receive Trinitarians as Christians.  Conservative Apostolics, not
moderate Apostolics, have departed from this spiritual dynamic of the
early Apostolic movement.  Conservative Apostolics are not protecting
the original Apostolic faith, but presenting a radically different
faith.

This post will be continued.