So thats my definition of a destructive cult. The Apostolic Church is a multi-faith denomination based upon Christian doctrine but also includes elements of other Abrahamic religions; Apostolics believe God speaks through modern day prophets while retaining reverence for Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross as Lord Savior Redeemer & Judge humbling/sanctifying every human life value respect earth stewardship sustainable living global well-being interconnectivity & power love towards all Gods children including our neighbor enemy strangers immigrants etc so we bring reconciliation salvation hope through us sharing our faith testimony beneficially spiritually mentally emotionally socially physically ecologically occupationally politically creatively artistically never pressuring forced religion indoctrination but spirit / prophetic led service ministry missions which glorify & honor 'Abba Father' throughout this present world! Click to expand. I left the church because I wanted to help people in my community without feeling pressure to convert them to Christianity. By Jocelyn Mackie | Related Read: Why are baptist churches dying? Glad to see you in service to our Lord, Chuck! Who came to you and taught you? The man from the group earnestly replied, Have you ever heard of the Holy Bible? Organizational affiliations do not save a person; God saves the person who, in obedience to Gods Word, follows what He has commanded. God cares about your happiness. This new group retained its old church name in opposition to its mother group. Lastly, some of these responses were in direct contradiction with scripture (i.e. Acts 2 records the Apostle Peter, on the day of Pentecost, preaching to the crowds to repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (or forgiveness) of sins (Acts 2:38). Leaving the Apostolic Christian Church was certainly a demanding process for me, but now I look back with gratitude as it has allowed me to grow spiritually in multiple ways. Do you think that people who practice these other religions are given such a hard time about what is true and what isnt and standards? I think I felt as good as he did. First, let me start by saying that I am truly sorry for the hurt you experienced and pray that God will eventually heal the wounds you suffered. The main difference between Mennonites and Anabaptists is that while both communities advocate nonviolence and pacifism in some form or another, Mennonites tend to emphasize more conservative views with biblical literalism while many other Anabaptist groups have adopted more progressive stances on certain issues such as LGBTQ inclusion among other topics which blur traditional lines between scripture interpretation/practices within Christian theology at large even universally outside these particular denominations & traditions most commonly associated under this historical umbrella term "Anabaptist.". . Keep also in mind, that it may not be right when we want it. It was a difficult decision, but I left the Apostolic Christian Church. Turn left (North) on 4th St. and travel .9 of a mile to the cemetery. "The senior pastor himself was declared as an apostle by an Elijah List prophetess, and that his church would be known as the "loving church."Armed with this fresh knowledge, the church became fanatical in making that prophecy happen." Related Articles: 6 Hallmarks of an NAR Church NAR: Influence and Teachings One major issue for me was that of exclusiveness. Here are three beliefs that set Apostolics apart from other Christians: 1. They formed their own branch (, The small fraction that did not join and emphasized more traditional/conservative standards call themselves. In studying various destructive cults I started to notice a pattern of spiritual abuse. But he never names these Gospels. We are part of the Apostolic Christian Church of America , serving the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. Amy Grant has ignored Christian leaders and pastors who have called for her to reverse a controversial public decision. During the 1980s members and leaders were pushing for more liberties, which resulted in a vast majority of churches changing their doctrine and rules to more evangelical/free church standards. Demons were bound and cast out. The lawyer Baker later told the news media that the job was later given to a white man, who was young too. Ive realized that there has to be something about Jesus because the devil will only fight this hard when things are going against his will. I began to recognize that my values no longer aligned with those of the Church, and rather than attending out of obligation, I decided it was best that I no longer associated with them. Members have retained traditional teachings on divorce and remarriage, sins unto death, baptism, the head covering, voting, birth control, and higher education, whereas the Apostolic Christian Church of America and Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) have departed somewhat from earlier practice in these areas. There are a lot of religious groups that have unhealthy dynamics but are not destructive cults, just like there are a lot of families who have dysfunctional relationship dynamics but do not have abuse. Although many will stay for longer, some may find themselves uninspired or unsupported by their new spiritual home whether due to lack of communication from pastors or gaps in topics or areas which dont otherwise fit within its doctrinal structures. In this case, it would be a sin. My grandfather preached "fire and brimstone" from the time I could remember until his death in 1968. Once put in place, Ministers, Deacons and Elders can only be removed of their position by death, voluntary retirement or in extreme cases by the national elder body. They believe in the unity of the Godhead and the distinctions between the members of the Trinity. In an easy to follow and very organized layout, you will find yourself making the best Chicken Wild Rice Soups and sweetest Angel Food Cakes . They also assist the Elder or Deacon as the need arises in their home congregation. Since leaving the church I have been better able to follow my spiritual intuition and reconnect with God on an individual level. The Apostolic Christian Church of America did not retain German language preaching. By the way, "sin not", "does not sin", "can not sin" "should not sin" are all bearing different meanings & are directives. Well, my friend didnt want to do IVF because she was sure God would come through on the miracle. The members of the congregation take their role as leaders seriously, helping lead towards a successful church life by inspiring fellow congregants to reach their full potential. And Im not sorry I did! Great. He disagreed with me. When I saw the title of your thread I had to read it. Vote Now, Can Prayer Heal You? Converts give a testimony before the members of the church prior to the public baptism service, telling the story of their personal conversion experience. In some of the branches, such as the Nazarene branch, this service is for members and converts only. People must be granted the freedom to explore their own spiritual needs before settling long-term with any church organisation, in order for them to truly benefit from any shared religious beliefs they may have. God is hearing my prayers and answering them one by one. It bothered me. Firstly, believing in a cause is essential for spiritual growth. 400 out of 700 people split or defected. God was glorified! Ok, back to the Apostolic Christian Church. I stayed there until about 3 years ago when I became disgruntled and left. Their miracle baby will be delivered next Monday. Though they may differ in structure and beliefs, many values like love, mercy and justice always remain at its core. American. First, its good to clarify what you mean by a cult. The same is true of other Apostolic Fathers. He told me after service that The destructive cult leader preys on this noble ability and uses it exclusively for his own personal gain. An example of Anabaptism would be baptizing people as adults after they have fully understood their commitment to Christianity and made an informed decision to follow Jesus Christ. Worship services are held on Sunday while various churches also conduct additional mid-week services. Marriage is the most life-impacting decision you will ever make. The Apostolic church forbids its members from participating in any activity outside of the belief system of the church - such as seeing a movie or attending another Christian denomination service - both activities which allowed me to develop a bigger understanding and appreciation for life with Jesus and what's important to Him. They claimed they wanted it like the "good old days". | GotQuestions.org. Ministers' duties include both preaching and teaching in their home congregation and in other Apostolic Christian congregations. Peter was the chief Apostle of the early church. As a result, some believers feel that it has become less about worshipping God and more about building and maintaining power. Have you ever considered the sign of Jesus followers about love among each other , to love even enemies? Apostolic Pentecostals teach that women should not cut their hair. And it does not isolate its members so that they cannot leave. They need to re-baptized. A little over 1,800 congregations disaffiliated from the UMC in 2022, according to a report by UM News, with more than 400 of those congregations in Texas. Apostolic Church is a Pentecostal denomination. It is a common misconception that German language preaching was a primary issue in the division. How do you know when it may be time for you to leave your church? A final hymn is sometimes sung following the afternoon service. Amy is quoted as saying, "Jesus, you just narrowed it down to two things . By ditching any prior held religious expectations or obligationswhich often come with their own pressure and valuesI could discover an inherent connection with That-Which-Is without feeling like I had to fit into any preconceived spiritual box. Scripture also states that the apostles are the foundation of the church ( Eph. Immerse yourself in yummy recipes from the Apostolic Christian Church Cookbook! When I get to heaven and see people like him dancing and shouting praise to God for eternity, Ill be so glad for the day I left the church to go out and find that hurting person so he could know Jesus like I know Him. Although these weren't major issues for me personally, it showed me how believing different can look different across multiple churches something I hadnt previously thought about in such a tangible way. There's a verse in Ecclesiastes about that: Ecc 7:10. as a couple going through different doctors, but nothing happen. The next question you should ask yourself is whether the Apostolic Christian Church is good for your spiritual development. Another aspect of spiritual growth after leaving the Apostolic Church has been in creating more mindful practices that better serve me and foster a closer relationship with myself. I don't think the sister church members are even considered valid Christians. Please do counsel with your pastor on this. The Apostolic Christian Church holds strict beliefs that differ from mine, and our differences in beliefs ultimately caused a divide between myself and the Church. A lot of the aspects of the Apostolic Christian Church that at first glance seem cult-like are actually just cultural. It is note worthy how easily we overlook that our God is faithful and just.
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