Like-minded folks in Manila

MarkBelosa · #1 07-14-2013, 11:40 PM

I wasn't raised Apostolic but the past 15 yrs I have believed in One God, obeyed and proclaimed Acts 2:38, spoken in tongues during prayer and worship, striven to live a holy life, and waited on the soon coming of the Lord Jesus.

The last few years, however, I began to see things a bit differently. I must admit that public forums like this one have a role in it (I was more active in another forum, though). But I wouldn't consider myself as someone who can be easily swayed. I have prayed hard to never fall into false teachings and I have a sincere desire to stay aligned with God's Word. I'm open to discovering deeper truths (even to the point of changing some of my current beliefs) but so far I have been convinced that some of the things I grew up believing are not exactly accurate/sound doctrine.

My apologies if starting this thread is not in order. My intent? I am looking for like-minded folks to fellowship with (online and offline). I am from the Philippines as some of you may have already noted in my introductory post. I have been searching for a church group with whom I can be on the same page on a few "difficult" issues:

- holiness standards including uncut hair on women (im a man, btw)
- tithes
- prophecy

Some folks have been so kind to provide me with some information that they may have regarding churches in Metro Manila. I have also been searching google and facebook but I haven't really found one who would be open to accepting me despite my views on the things I mentioned above.

I have never discussed this with my former pastor nor with anyone in my previous church family (the only one I ever had, actually) because I do not want to cut off my ties with them altogether. I hate labels and its divisiveness but I understand that they are conservative and would probably not change their stance on those topics I mentioned - no not in this lifetime. I love and respect them and I would rather be quiet about my beliefs than cause confusion and division in their midst.

Unfortunately, the past year or so that I have not attended church services, my relationship with God has also grown cold (or lukewarm?). I have not been praying and studying as I should and my, I miss the presence of God during corporate worship! I am also struggling with some personal weaknesses. I know I am not "OK" and I need to have active participation in the kingdom of God again. I feel like I'm dying inside, really.

Problem is, I am in Manila and I haven't found the group that I could fellowship with. I probably have more "choices" if I were in some place like the US. I don't know, but I am hoping that through this thread, God will finally lead me to where I belong.

Please help me pray for guidance.

Thanks,
Mark B.

KeptByTheWord · #2 07-14-2013, 11:43 PM

Just to clarify, where do you stand on the three above mentioned issues? Agree or disagree with them?

MarkBelosa · #3 07-15-2013, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Just to clarify, where do you stand on the three above mentioned issues? Agree or disagree with them?

1. Holiness is first and foremost a matter of the heart and is only possible through the blood of Jesus and the Spirit of God. Standards may serve a good purpose and helpful in keeping ourselves "spotless." But certain standards have rather made a lot of believers hypocritical and have caused unbelievers to shun the gospel message. As for the uncut hair doctrine. I believe that women should have hair that is long enough to distinguish them from men but to teach that it is a sin for women to cut their hair? I am not convinced.

2. Tithes should not be dogmatically instituted in the NT Church. Believers should be encouraged to give liberally and sacrificially and consider everything they have as God's property. Pastors and preachers should be able to reap material fruits from their labor but church members should not be obliged to give 10% of their income to them. Also, giving should be done in secret and it is my personal conviction that to put your name on the envelope and identify you as a tithe giver is not biblical.

3. I'm no expert in these things and I am open to learning new stuff but I believe in a physical return of the Lord Jesus and the rapture of the saints. I believe in the resurrection of the dead and final judgment. I believe that we are in the last days but the "last days" started in the days of the apostles. I believe that some of the "last days" prophecies have been fulfilled and some are yet to come.

MarkBelosa · #4 07-27-2013, 04:13 PM

Bump...

MarkBelosa · #5 02-24-2014, 01:33 PM

I miss the church... I would really like to have fellowship with my brothers and sisters again... But then again... sigh... Please pray for me... A lot of transition lately in the workplace. It's killing me inside... Then I have some family issues to face as well... Would have felt different if I knew that I am right with God and I have active participation in His kingdom with other believers...

MawMaw · #6 02-24-2014, 01:39 PM

Hey Bro Belosa!
MawMaw from GNC here.

Sorry to hear of your temporary setbacks brother.
I will sure help you pray that God restores
all things good in your life....and MORE!!

MarkBelosa · #7 02-24-2014, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MawMaw

Hey Bro Belosa!
MawMaw from GNC here.

Sorry to hear of your temporary setbacks brother.
I will sure help you pray that God restores
all things good in your life....and MORE!!

Thanks, MawMaw! I really appreciate it! I was logged in earlier as "soldout4Jesus" and asked you that question. I didn't realize that i was using my old AFF account which was also my GNC username. hehehe. Feels good to be reconnected, even online!

shazeep · #8 02-24-2014, 01:48 PM

i pray you find it here. i saw this months ago, and was tempted to post then, but i am no longer Apo/Pent, per se, and since that was what you were interested in pursuing, i felt that it wouldn't be right. due to the meagerness of your replies, i don't mind too much saying that i now feel differently about all three of those than most; but i come here because i spent my formative years Pentecostal, and still have much in common with them. my short reply to those is that it is easy to strain at a gnat, and pass a camel (i think the quote goes), and a bit longer reply would be
1) see the short reply
2) when tithes were written about, the church was entirely different than now. your understanding here may undergo several changes. let the spirit be your guide. i no longer feel correct paying tithes to a guy driving the nicest car in the parking lot, to a mortgaged church ($ loaned at interest)
3) Paul plainly told us that prophecy would cease; a fairly strong argument can be made that in order to prophesy, there must be a canon open to record the prophecy. i think what we call modern-day prophecy is better termed visions or dreams, perhaps. what can one 'prophesy' that is not already in Scripture, without adding to it?

loved the PI,stationed there at Cubi Point about...6 lifetimes ago; great people. i'll reply whenever you post, mostly, but see that i am a heretic now

peace to you

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkBelosa

I miss the church... I would really like to have fellowship with my brothers and sisters again... But then again... sigh... Please pray for me... A lot of transition lately in the workplace. It's killing me inside... Then I have some family issues to face as well... Would have felt different if I knew that I am right with God and I have active participation in His kingdom with other believers...

MarkBelosa · #9 02-24-2014, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazeep

i pray you find it here. i saw this months ago, and was tempted to post then, but i am no longer Apo/Pent, per se, and since that was what you were interested in pursuing, i felt that it wouldn't be right. due to the meagerness of your replies, i don't mind too much saying that i now feel differently about all three of those than most; but i come here because i spent my formative years Pentecostal, and still have much in common with them. my short reply to those is that it is easy to strain at a gnat, and pass a camel (i think the quote goes), and a bit longer reply would be
1) see the short reply
2) when tithes were written about, the church was entirely different than now. your understanding here may undergo several changes. let the spirit be your guide. i no longer feel correct paying tithes to a guy driving the nicest car in the parking lot, to a mortgaged church ($ loaned at interest)
3) Paul plainly told us that prophecy would cease; a fairly strong argument can be made that in order to prophesy, there must be a canon open to record the prophecy. i think what we call modern-day prophecy is better termed visions or dreams, perhaps. what can one 'prophesy' that is not already in Scripture, without adding to it?

loved the PI,stationed there at Cubi Point about...6 lifetimes ago; great people. i'll reply whenever you post, mostly, but see that i am a heretic now

peace to you

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You have a nice sense of humor.