Moderate Apostolics 1

gdrost@mailserv.nbnet.nb.ca (gdrost@mailserv.nbnet.nb.ca)
Tue, 21 Apr 1998 17:26:17 +0000


Steve Starcher writes:
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. 
I write:
Diversity of biblical interpretation in a movement is good as it 
shows that people can think and God is a God of variety.  We are not 
bricks but stones. Among Apostolics we have had a tendency to make us 
all look alike, speak alike, think alike, etc and that is only 
creating a brick factory.  We are not bricks, all coming out the same 
off the assembly line but living stones. I definitely am very 
encouraged to see some hope in the Apostolic movement that we are 
going back to our real roots and why we became what we are today. To 
have contact with trinitarians is not easy but is necessary to allow 
them to see what we are really like and not say we are just another 
heresy.  And if they do call us heretical so what, that is usually a 
sign of a lack of original ideas and that they are losing the 
scriptural reasons for their faith, give them time, our movement was 
made up of trinitarians who decided to look further in the scripture 
and I thank God they did, I love the truths that identify us but let 
us teach the truth in love. Contact with trinitarians will not cause 
us to lose what we believe in and if it does then it couldn't have 
been believed from the heart, heart felt convictions based on 
scripture are not lost. Let us not lose our identity but let us not 
be so closed in that others don't know our real identity.  Trust that 
others will look into our history and be as our forefathers were, in 
loving contact with trinitarians so that they too might have an 
opportunity to see the wonderful truths that we present and love.
I can identify myself as a Moderate Apostolic and my desire is that 
we can remain Apostolic but at the same time willing to dialogue with 
others that don't agree with our message and present the truth in 
love.