I'm a Restorationist. I believe that the church began to fall into apostasy with the rise of the Roman Church and that this apostasy was codified under Constantine. I believe that it became progressively worse through the centuries under the Roman Catholic Church.
However, during this apostasy, I believe that many did receive the Holy Spirit based on their sincere love for God, in spite of their misunderstandings and the errors that were being taught. I believe that many of the "Saints" that Catholics venerate were indeed Spirit Filled saints of God who worked miracles among them. However, I don't believe that these people should have become canonized for veneration. I believe that as men began to read and study the Bible many began to see that the Catholic church was in grave error. I believe that these were also Spirit filled and inspired men (and yes, women) who became Reformers.
I believe that as a result of the Reformation there was an explosion of churches seeking the truths of the Bible that the Roman Catholic Church had distorted. This process continued until the late 1800's and early 1900's when people began reporting wide spread outpourings of the Spirit with spiritual ecstasy and tongues. I believe that this outpouring is what resulted in the rediscovery of Oneness truth and Jesus name baptism (the New Issue). And so the Apostolic movement burst onto the scene.
I believe that the Apostolic movement is actually the great revival sincere church leaders had prayed for for centuries. However, Satan is a sly old fox. He brought division. The spiritually dying and struggling traditional churches began casting out their Oneness brethren instead of heading or examining Apostolic doctrine. This division was so painful to that first generation of Apostolic leaders, the Apostolics formed their own organizations and rendered evil for evil, cursing for cursing, and they condemned the traditional church. This bitterness and hatred continues in most Apostolic organizations today. Satan sidelined the very revival that was supposed to revive all of Christendom. Sidelined, and isolated, the revival became a legalistic cult drowning in their own bitterness, condemning all who do not believe as they do. Isolated, essentially reduced to a minority sect that is by and large ineffective and an oddity. Isolation allows legalism to grow unchecked. And so their legalism increased beyond imagination. The global revival was now successfully neutralized by Satan.
In spite of this, the Holy Spirit continued to move. In every denomination that previously condemned the Pentecostals & Apostolics we see outpourings of the Holy Spirit. So much so that nearly every denomination on earth now has a "Charismatic" wing of their denomination that believes in and has experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
As time passed, a new generation of Apostolics rose up through the ranks of the isolated Oneness organizations. Many were injected with the same bitterness and hatred of their fathers and grandfathers. These continue the division, basking in their tiny kingdoms and cults of personality, condemning all who do not think like them. In fact, they condemn each other over disagreements, but they will work together on the same platform during revivals and events as though they are united, only for the sake of money fame. Then they retreat to their churches and badmouth one another.
However, others within these Oneness bodies who have sincere love and desire to see the revival restored advocate that we seek friendship with the larger bodies of Christendom. That we mend our differences. That we befriend the traditional churches and simply allow the Bible to speak for itself in areas wherein we disagree. However, such openness and change isn't welcomed in most Oneness bodies. So many of these men were slandered and discouraged, crushed, and rejected. The wise left their Oneness organizations entirely to follow the Spirit of God.
Today, the Apostolic truth is making headway. I'm a member of several "Christian" forums and have been for years. I remember being asked, "Apostolic, what's that?" I remember explaining Oneness and every heresy hunter on the board would leap forward to condemn my "heretical" understanding. However, things have changed within the past 8 or so years. I've noticed more and more Oneness folks on "Christian" forums. I've noticed that they are often welcomed, asked their perspective, and even respected for their convictions on the Christian forums that once condemned them as heretics. I've visited churches ranging from Baptist, to Methodist, to Episcopal, and even Quaker...all of them knowing that I'm "Apostolic" and welcoming me and encouraging me to share my perspective in their fellowship groups, services, and events. I've seen greater openness to Jesus name baptism in bodies that once outright rejected it. Oneness leaders are even being welcomed on "Christian" television and radio. Even some of the most popular musicians, teachers, and preachers in popular Christianity are known to be Oneness... and instead of being rejected... they are embraced.
The "Charismatic" outpourings softened every denomination with regards to the "Pentecostal experience" of tongues, visions, healing, and spiritual warfare. Now the walls are coming down and they are becoming more open to fellowshipping the truth. And as this happens, more are accepting it. Even in the local Baptist house church network we have house church pastors willing to baptize in Jesus name upon request. This is slow and often tricky progress. But it is happening. Today, we're seeing more growth in the numbers reporting the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the acceptance of Oneness outside of the traditional Oneness organizations than we see within them! This is the Lord's doing, and we rejoice and are glad.
This is the Restoration of the Apostolic understanding, anointing, and power.
And so, as it relates to this topic... these are fellow believers, some born again of the Spirit, some not, who are suffering under persecution on account of the name of Jesus. God isn't impressed with us rolling our eyes at their sacrifice. They are the very Christians our revival was sent from Heaven to reach. In most cases, they don't have full truth and many have misunderstandings. That is an indictment against US, not them. We should pray for fellow Christians who are suffering and dying in the growing trend of persecution.
We need to realize that we have to stand together in solidarity with everyone who honors the name of Jesus. This has to be a global push. We can settle our disagreements in house, they are a family matter. But as it relates to dealing with this world... we must show them that Christians are united against evil and tyranny.
First they came for the Lutherans, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Lutheran.
Then they came for the Coptic Christians, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Coptic Christian.
Then they came for the Baptists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Baptist.
Then they came for the Apostolics—and there was no one left to speak for me.
An example of Restorationist understanding can be found in the attached chart.
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