Moderate Apostolics 2

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

> Matthew Shaw wrote:

  Bro. Starcher, explain your idea of
> fellowship outside of the Apostolic (conservative and moderate)
> movement.  Where do we draw lines?  How do we respond to the
> invitation of mutual fellowship?

I will try my best to answer your questions Brother Matthew, but I want
to address them from a different perspective, the perspective of
dialogue.  Traditionally Apostolics have been very concerned about
fellowship with Christians.  Their concern, I believe, is based on the
fear that other Christians possess the same attitude as they about the
purpose of fellowship.  For a lot of Apostolics the primary purpose of
fellowship with other Christians is to make new Apostolic converts. 
These Apostolics really don't engage in a dialogue with the  Christians
they fellowship with. They engage in a self centered monologue.  Their
goal is not to understand what Trinitarians are saying, but to gain
ammunition for a vigorous presentation and defense of their own
Apostolic faith.  They assume that all Trinitarians have the same
attitude.  Apostolics immediately become defensive, remembering all of
the  Apostolics who have forsaken their faith and are now Trinitarians. 
My few visits to Bible discussion forums on the internet have witnessed
numerous conversations of this sort on the part of both Apostolic and
Trinitarians. They are very confrontive.  The goal is not understanding,
but winning an intellectual victory and conversion.
	 
For true fellowship to occur there must be genuine dialogue.  This means
listening and trying to understand what your conversation partner is
saying.  True communication only occurs when two people reach an
agreement on what has been said.  This means not assuming that you know
what the other person believes and asking questions which can facilitate
your understanding.  We all have a tendency to reinterpret what we hear
to fit the patterns of thought we already possess.  Changing these
patterns of thought is hard. It takes time to digest and assimilate that
which is new.  We need to be open to new ways of expressing the same
reality and not assume that all variations from our existing
understandings are wrong.

Once we engage in a real dialogue true fellowship is possible.  Areas of
agreement which bind us together as Christians can be emphasized, the
Gospel story, salvation by faith, the love of God, etc.  Differences can
be discussed, not debated, in an appropriate context and manner.  For
many Apostolics the only context they know is the worship service and
the only manner of presentation of Christian belief is preaching. I
recently visited a large Apostolic church which followed this format. 
Adult Sunday school was really just another worship and preaching
service.  There was no teaching of the Word of God and no time for
saints or visitors to ask questions.  This was right around the time
Pastoral authority was being discussed on higher-fire.  I could only
imagine what would have happened if someone had raised their hand and
dared to ask a question!  In many Trinitarian Churches there are forums
for teaching, called Sunday school, and the people attending can
actually question the pastor about what he is teaching without the
Pastor feeling intimidated or the questioner threatened.  The worship
service is not a time for the presentation of divisive doctrinal
issues.  It is a time for the presentation of Jesus Christ!

When I was in College I attended an ecumenical Good Friday service. 
Eleven Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Nazarene, 
and Church of Christ ministers spoke and  a single Pentecostal
preacher.  They spoke about the words of Jesus on the cross and about
the significance of His death for all Christians.  I enjoyed all of the
short "sermonettes", but the message of the Pentecostal Pastor
captivated me and the congregation.  He spoke with simplicity, with
love, and with conviction about the new life made possible by the death
of Jesus, a new life that all men could experience.  As he proclaimed
the Word of God I could see the Episcopal priest quivering behind him,
being moved upon by the Spirit of God.  The Pentecostal preacher touched
the hearts of a multi denominational assembly because he choose to
preach about their common Christian heritage, not his doctrinal
distinctives.  

Fellowship outside of Apostolic circles is for dialogue, sincerely
seeking to understand the faith of others. Fellowship outside of
Apostolic Churches is a time for presenting the great truths of the
Christian faith we share with other Christians with the depth and love
of Christ which characterizes Apostolics. Fellowship outside of
Apostolic circles means knowing the proper context for the presentation
of Apostolic distinctives. Why do Apostolics think that they always have
only one opportunity to present the entirety of their faith?  I like to
use the "frog" approach.  Place a live frog in boiling water and he will
jump out.  Place him in cold water and gradually heat it and he will
happily swim around and before he realizes what is happening he will be
cooked!  
	
Fellowship outside of Apostolic churches is for establishing
relationships.  Trinitarians have just as many stereotypes about
Apostolics as Apostolics have about Trinitarians.  Dialogue can destroy
stereotypes and develop trust.  Trust is the basis for an ongoing
relationship, the type of relationship which can establish real
friendship and create understanding.  Words spoken from within such a
relationship carry more "weight" than those spoken without.  If we
sincerely believe the truth of our faith then we should give time for
human relationships to develop that our witness to Christ might be more
effective.

Where do we draw the lines?  I am sure that Brother Matthew does not
mean, "Where do we build the barriers?"  Dialogue seeks to tear down
barriers not erect them.  Common sense dictates that Apostolics should
not fellowship with true cults, Jehovah Witness, Mormons, etc. We have
no basis for dialogue.  They are not Christian and do not accept Holy
Scripture.   Common sense also dictates that the attitudes and the goals
of those with whom we are fellowshiping  should be known.  This is where
relationship building is important. Why not join ministerial
associations, become involved in community activities, and get to know
other ministers, and let them get to know you.  Everyone's reason for
fellowship will soon become apparent.  Fellowship with those with whom
you feel comfortable.  Pray for those you don't!

Finally, Apostolics need to practice dialogue and fellowship within
their own movement.  Many Apostolics just want a monologue.  Several
years ago a multi denominational symposium on "Oneness" Pentecostalism
was held and a variety of different views of the Apostolic movement were
presented.  In response, one Pentecostal denomination held another
symposium, inviting only members of their denomination.  What good did
that do?  It only confirmed that many Apostolics don't want to dialogue,
not only with those outside their movement, but with the doctrinally
different Apostolics  within it.  How can we fellowship with others when
we can't fellowship with ourselves?  We need to move from a monologue to
dialogue and seek to understand the reasons for our differences. 
Dialogue is dangerous!  New knowledge can challenge our cherished
beliefs!  But only through dialogue will Apostolics  learn what it means
to be an Apostolic in the modern world and be equipped to present the
Gospel in the Third Millennium.