BEING APOSTOLIC
It's more than you might think. Most of us, think Apostolic means being baptized in Jesus' Name and having a Pentecostal experience of speaking in other tongues. Some of us, quite a few in fact, add to that, clothing rules and regulations.
Just about all of us miss the point of what it is to be Apostolic, really. Paul writes to the Hebrews, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." [Hebrews 6:1,2]. Clearly, these verses refers back to Old Testament Law and ritual, but they also include the doctrine of Christ--and we have a tendency to get stuck at the elementary. The initial elements of Apostolicism are for "new creatures", but once we have received the New Birth we must go on unto perfection--maturity, and beyond the rehearsal of the "principles of the doctrine". For many of us, that is all that we know about being Apostolic. However, it is a way of life that calls us to move from "milk" to "meat' as we grow in the Body of Christ.
The first Apostolics left the firstfruits for those who needed them, as they began to walk in this new life. It was characterized by many things--inward things, that manifested in very spiritual and life-changing ways. Those first visitors to the Upper Room were drastically changed. We see Jesus with some of the disciples as He was commissioning them in Matthew 28:17, and they worshipped Him, "but some doubted." He still commissioned them, because He knew the change that was about to overtake them--and that it would compensate for any lack that existed in them--and in us. Our doubts and fears don't frighten or phase God, and they don't change His plans for us, or His mission. All it takes is an encounter with His Spirit to make up the difference--He fills in every blank, replaces fear with boldness, and anxiety with peace; He's too Omnipotent to be held up by our doubts, fears and anxieties. He will make them part of the testimony--like He did with Gideon. It wasn't about them (the disciples turned apostles) being spiritual powerhouse's or full of faith. It was their obedience to wait and their worship, in spite of the doubt, that moved God. Peter, stood and preached on Pentecost so powerfully that thousands were saved in one day, and this is the same Peter who not many weeks prior had cursed and denied Christ, and displayed his very violent temper in the Garden when he cut off Malchus' ear--the very same Peter. The apostles who stood with him that day, were the same men who (some of them doubted) and a few had issues of power thirst, and wanted places of status. And, they had all left Jesusat His darkest hour--and they all had raised eyebrows of doubt when they were told that He was resurrected.
These are the first Apostolics, and they were full of power and it was displayed mightily through them, by the Holy Ghost--in preaching, in healing, in teaching, but never more powerfully than in giving and standing alongside the brethren and showing them the example of Christ--and how to live an Apostolic lifestyle--of oneness. True Oneness recognizes that Jesus prayed, "Make them one" even as We are One--not just that the Father and the Son are One, but the that Body of Christ must be one, united in love. Apostolicism in reality allows for no division within the Body--no schisms [1 Corinthians 12:25]; NONE. It ensures that each one esteems others more highly than self [Philippians 2:3,4]. Being Apostolic doesn't leave room for any to have an exalted status, or any to be rejected or despised [1 Corinthians 12:13-24]. Being a true Apostolic means that no one has an abundance among us, while others go without basic needs being met [Acts 4:32-37]. It also means that there is no room to judge a brother or sister based on "liberty's" taken or not--agreed, or not [Romans 14]. Many things that we label doctrine, are simply "liberty's", as they were in the Early Church, and they are divisive today, just as they were then (but addressed more readily; and quenched)--different issues, same impact. Food rituals, then; clothing and jewelry, today; Day's (Sabbath), then; celebration of some holiday's, and worship styles, today.
The objective of the writers of the epistles, and especially of Christ was not to focus on doctrine. It is important and it serves a valuable purpose, but don't get stuck--move on to maturity. Grow, in love. Learn how to live with one another, and "so fulfill the Law of Christ".
"I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another." [John 13:34]
"...for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." [Romans 13:8b-10]
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' [Galatians 5:13,14].
Grace!
Just about all of us miss the point of what it is to be Apostolic, really. Paul writes to the Hebrews, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." [Hebrews 6:1,2]. Clearly, these verses refers back to Old Testament Law and ritual, but they also include the doctrine of Christ--and we have a tendency to get stuck at the elementary. The initial elements of Apostolicism are for "new creatures", but once we have received the New Birth we must go on unto perfection--maturity, and beyond the rehearsal of the "principles of the doctrine". For many of us, that is all that we know about being Apostolic. However, it is a way of life that calls us to move from "milk" to "meat' as we grow in the Body of Christ.
The first Apostolics left the firstfruits for those who needed them, as they began to walk in this new life. It was characterized by many things--inward things, that manifested in very spiritual and life-changing ways. Those first visitors to the Upper Room were drastically changed. We see Jesus with some of the disciples as He was commissioning them in Matthew 28:17, and they worshipped Him, "but some doubted." He still commissioned them, because He knew the change that was about to overtake them--and that it would compensate for any lack that existed in them--and in us. Our doubts and fears don't frighten or phase God, and they don't change His plans for us, or His mission. All it takes is an encounter with His Spirit to make up the difference--He fills in every blank, replaces fear with boldness, and anxiety with peace; He's too Omnipotent to be held up by our doubts, fears and anxieties. He will make them part of the testimony--like He did with Gideon. It wasn't about them (the disciples turned apostles) being spiritual powerhouse's or full of faith. It was their obedience to wait and their worship, in spite of the doubt, that moved God. Peter, stood and preached on Pentecost so powerfully that thousands were saved in one day, and this is the same Peter who not many weeks prior had cursed and denied Christ, and displayed his very violent temper in the Garden when he cut off Malchus' ear--the very same Peter. The apostles who stood with him that day, were the same men who (some of them doubted) and a few had issues of power thirst, and wanted places of status. And, they had all left Jesusat His darkest hour--and they all had raised eyebrows of doubt when they were told that He was resurrected.
These are the first Apostolics, and they were full of power and it was displayed mightily through them, by the Holy Ghost--in preaching, in healing, in teaching, but never more powerfully than in giving and standing alongside the brethren and showing them the example of Christ--and how to live an Apostolic lifestyle--of oneness. True Oneness recognizes that Jesus prayed, "Make them one" even as We are One--not just that the Father and the Son are One, but the that Body of Christ must be one, united in love. Apostolicism in reality allows for no division within the Body--no schisms [1 Corinthians 12:25]; NONE. It ensures that each one esteems others more highly than self [Philippians 2:3,4]. Being Apostolic doesn't leave room for any to have an exalted status, or any to be rejected or despised [1 Corinthians 12:13-24]. Being a true Apostolic means that no one has an abundance among us, while others go without basic needs being met [Acts 4:32-37]. It also means that there is no room to judge a brother or sister based on "liberty's" taken or not--agreed, or not [Romans 14]. Many things that we label doctrine, are simply "liberty's", as they were in the Early Church, and they are divisive today, just as they were then (but addressed more readily; and quenched)--different issues, same impact. Food rituals, then; clothing and jewelry, today; Day's (Sabbath), then; celebration of some holiday's, and worship styles, today.
The objective of the writers of the epistles, and especially of Christ was not to focus on doctrine. It is important and it serves a valuable purpose, but don't get stuck--move on to maturity. Grow, in love. Learn how to live with one another, and "so fulfill the Law of Christ".
"I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another." [John 13:34]
"...for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." [Romans 13:8b-10]
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' [Galatians 5:13,14].
Grace!
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