Maybe I'm Too Harsh

Originally Posted by SomebodyImportant

NI, what can be wrong with preaching to other denominations??...I am not saying that we can necessarily come in and feed them all of "the message", but it does open up a dialogue. Also, I have known oneness preachers who were invited to AOG or COG or even Baptist and they were given a chance to preach Acts 2:38 and the oneness of the Godhead, etc. Then others converted and came to the Oneness Church, got baptized and stayed in the Oneness Church. What could be wrong with this? The Oneness person did not change the other person did.

While I am not wholly opposed to preaching in other denominations, I am opposed to opening our pulpits to them. That is (sorry for not clarifying this) my major concern for if we do, then we invite a lot of false doctrine which should not be allowed.

Regarding those who have been invited, some of them went towards those same groups that they tried to reach. That presents a whole set of other problems.

What good does it do us if we reach one, but lose several to the other denoms because of their feel good beliefs? Shouldn't this rather be avoided?

Again, these are my own personal feelings. You may not agree, but I feel them to be right within the context of the Bible.

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

I do not believe that we should preach in other denominations nor allow them into our pulpits to preach. That IMO is inviting major trouble and is obviously already spreading mass confusion among what used to be the ranks of apostolics.

I am saddened by many posts here that spurn the old ways for what is being called modern outreach.

We can thank many of our fine leaders(?) for these things.

Church, you may want to reconsider your doings. You may not like the conservative voice for it is a voice that does not allow all the worldly vices that those who have been "set free" allow.

Which one of you can truly say that you live a more godly or holy life now that you have been "liberated"?
Which one of you lives closer to God than ever before since your new found freedom?

Just a thought to consider: if you maintain the same distance from the world that you always have, somewhere along the line you will accept things that you used to once shun for the world is continually moving further from God. The mentality of maintaining the same distance also means that you are moving further from God.

This is my own point of view. You may feel free to trash it if you wish, but it doesn't change the truth being presented.

I guess if you are a preacher, you wouldn't accept an invitation to preach in a Baptist, Methodist, or any other church. WHY NOT??? Would you be held accountable for the souls that could have been won by turning down the invitation to minister to them? I know my pastor would go in a heartbeat--- and take a large number of our church people to support the service.

I guess if you were to visit my church, you would think that our church has no dress standards, etc. There are plenty of women with long hair and a few men with long hair.There are plenty of men with short hair and there are some women who have short hair. There are some women who wear makeup, and those who choose not to. There are plenty of women who wear dresses or skirts in all lengths from the knee to the ankles. There are some women who wear slacks or jeans to church. Children who are brought in through our bus ministry may come wearing pajamas, shorts, jeans, etc.. It doesn't matter. We simply don't care. The important thing is that they are coming to church! While they are there, they are ministered to by annointed singing and preaching. They are welcomed and made to feel at home by a group of people who has a genuine concern for their SOUL. Not to see how fast we can whip them into shape by shoving "pentecostal/apostolic" standards down their throats.


Our church hasn't let down on anything. My pastor and the congregation simply realize that you don't reach anyone by shoving "standards" down their throat. You simply teach & preach, and set an example, and let Lord take care of the rest.

It's truly sad when you walk into an apostolic church and all you see are those who are completely lined up with every aspect of what the apostolic church teaches. To me, that says you aren't winning souls-- because you don't have any "sinners" or "new converts" sitting in your services.

What is wrong with "modern outreach"? When was the last time you had more visitors in service than members because of some form of "outreach"? When was the last time you had the front of the church filled with sinners repenting and being filled with the holy ghost? When was the last time that someone thanked you for not looking on their outward appearance, but seeing them as GOD sees them?

How many people have YOU pushed away with the attitude reflected in your first post? I would honestly hate to know the answer to that question.

NobodyImportant, I respect your views - but different things work for different folks. As long as I don't comprimise the gospel when I go to preach for another denomination, I do not see how anyone could condemn me for going.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

I guess since I still believe that holiness is essential (and biblical), then I am a little too harsh towards those who see it otherwise.
Since I still believe that ONLY one God believers will go to heaven (again it sure comes out of the Bible that way), then I am a little too harsh against those who propagate something else as true.
I do not believe that we should preach in other denominations nor allow them into our pulpits to preach. That IMO is inviting major trouble and is obviously already spreading mass confusion among what used to be the ranks of apostolics.

I am saddened by many posts here that spurn the old ways for what is being called modern outreach.

We can thank many of our fine leaders(?) for these things.

Church, you may want to reconsider your doings. You may not like the conservative voice for it is a voice that does not allow all the worldly vices that those who have been "set free" allow.

Which one of you can truly say that you live a more godly or holy life now that you have been "liberated"?
Which one of you lives closer to God than ever before since your new found freedom?

Just a thought to consider: if you maintain the same distance from the world that you always have, somewhere along the line you will accept things that you used to once shun for the world is continually moving further from God. The mentality of maintaining the same distance also means that you are moving further from God.

This is my own point of view. You may feel free to trash it if you wish, but it doesn't change the truth being presented.

NI, the thing is this: what you may consider "being holy" is not what someone may consider being holy. Somewhere along the line the church got wrapped up in outward appearances and what may have been good guidlines in the beginning turned into law along the way.

[Sam]

Hey, Forgiven,
I appreciate what you said in that post.

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

While I am not wholly opposed to preaching in other denominations, I am opposed to opening our pulpits to them. That is (sorry for not clarifying this) my major concern for if we do, then we invite a lot of false doctrine which should not be allowed.

Regarding those who have been invited, some of them went towards those same groups that they tried to reach. That presents a whole set of other problems.

What good does it do us if we reach one, but lose several to the other denoms because of their feel good beliefs? Shouldn't this rather be avoided?

Again, these are my own personal feelings. You may not agree, but I feel them to be right within the context of the Bible.

I agree with you on opening our pulpits to them (and I know many here are more liberal in that respect). I have no problem with them coming to worship with us, stand at seat and testify, etc. I think they need to feel comfortable enough with us TO STAY AND HEAR THE WORD PREACHED. I have preached for several different denominations and had some who came back to our church and stayed - got baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, received Holy Ghost and remain steadfast.

Originally Posted by Forgiven

I guess if you are a preacher, you wouldn't accept an invitation to preach in a Baptist, Methodist, or any other church. WHY NOT??? Would you be held accountable for the souls that could have been won by turning down the invitation to minister to them? I know my pastor would go in a heartbeat--- and take a large number of our church people to support the service.

I guess if you were to visit my church, you would think that our church has no dress standards, etc. There are plenty of women with long hair and a few men with long hair.There are plenty of men with short hair and there are some women who have short hair. There are some women who wear makeup, and those who choose not to. There are plenty of women who wear dresses or skirts in all lengths from the knee to the ankles. There are some women who wear slacks or jeans to church. Children who are brought in through our bus ministry may come wearing pajamas, shorts, jeans, etc.. It doesn't matter. We simply don't care. The important thing is that they are coming to church! While they are there, they are ministered to by annointed singing and preaching. They are welcomed and made to feel at home by a group of people who has a genuine concern for their SOUL. Not to see how fast we can whip them into shape by shoving "pentecostal/apostolic" standards down their throats.


Our church hasn't let down on anything. My pastor and the congregation simply realize that you don't reach anyone by shoving "standards" down their throat. You simply teach & preach, and set an example, and let Lord take care of the rest.

It's truly sad when you walk into an apostolic church and all you see are those who are completely lined up with every aspect of what the apostolic church teaches. To me, that says you aren't winning souls-- because you don't have any "sinners" or "new converts" sitting in your services.

What is wrong with "modern outreach"? When was the last time you had more visitors in service than members because of some form of "outreach"? When was the last time you had the front of the church filled with sinners repenting and being filled with the holy ghost? When was the last time that someone thanked you for not looking on their outward appearance, but seeing them as GOD sees them?

How many people have YOU pushed away with the attitude reflected in your first post? I would honestly hate to know the answer to that question.

Thanks for your thoughtful and kind response.
Our church is made up of a variety of people. Many who don't fit the bill of standards. New people generally don't for some time. I am glad that your church is growing as seems evident by your post. Ours is too (shocking, huh), yet we hold to extremely conservative beliefs.
I have found that when muslims are as conservatvie as they come, yet grow exponentially, then the problem is not standards. If it were, there isn't a woman on this earth who would wear an abaya since it is so ugly.

Yes, attitude is a lot of it. I have displayed my thoughts, which some here confuse with attitude. There is a big difference.

I, being a human being do get upset at things that I disagree with as you seem to have gotten with your response. We are both human. I realize that we will likely never agree 100%, but again that is likely true with everyone on this board. We do not all agree nor will we ever likely do so as I have stated before.

Maybe you don't like the way it comes across. I am working on that aspect, but I refuse to back down from what I believe just to make the majority happy. Since when is the majority always right? I have found that they are often wrong.

These are still my thoughts. You don't have to agree.
If you don't that is certainly your choice.
Good Day!!

Originally Posted by SomebodyImportant

I agree with you on opening our pulpits to them (and I know many here are more liberal in that respect). I have no problem with them coming to worship with us, stand at seat and testify, etc. I think they need to feel comfortable enough with us TO STAY AND HEAR THE WORD PREACHED. I have preached for several different denominations and had some who came back to our church and stayed - got baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, received Holy Ghost and remain steadfast.

I agree with you here. I am also glad to hear that some have come back and been saved. That is good news indeed.

[Whole Hearted]

Originally Posted by Forgiven

I guess if you are a preacher, you wouldn't accept an invitation to preach in a Baptist, Methodist, or any other church. WHY NOT??? Would you be held accountable for the souls that could have been won by turning down the invitation to minister to them? I know my pastor would go in a heartbeat--- and take a large number of our church people to support the service.

I guess if you were to visit my church, you would think that our church has no dress standards, etc. There are plenty of women with long hair and a few men with long hair.There are plenty of men with short hair and there are some women who have short hair. There are some women who wear makeup, and those who choose not to. There are plenty of women who wear dresses or skirts in all lengths from the knee to the ankles. There are some women who wear slacks or jeans to church. Children who are brought in through our bus ministry may come wearing pajamas, shorts, jeans, etc.. It doesn't matter. We simply don't care. The important thing is that they are coming to church! While they are there, they are ministered to by annointed singing and preaching. They are welcomed and made to feel at home by a group of people who has a genuine concern for their SOUL. Not to see how fast we can whip them into shape by shoving "pentecostal/apostolic" standards down their throats.


Our church hasn't let down on anything. My pastor and the congregation simply realize that you don't reach anyone by shoving "standards" down their throat. You simply teach & preach, and set an example, and let Lord take care of the rest.

It's truly sad when you walk into an apostolic church and all you see are those who are completely lined up with every aspect of what the apostolic church teaches. To me, that says you aren't winning souls-- because you don't have any "sinners" or "new converts" sitting in your services.

What is wrong with "modern outreach"? When was the last time you had more visitors in service than members because of some form of "outreach"? When was the last time you had the front of the church filled with sinners repenting and being filled with the holy ghost? When was the last time that someone thanked you for not looking on their outward appearance, but seeing them as GOD sees them?

How many people have YOU pushed away with the attitude reflected in your first post? I would honestly hate to know the answer to that question.

Are these people on the platform?

[Whole Hearted]

MI you are in no way too harsh. There are those here that take offence to anyone who stands for truth.