Acts20.com

Other than language, dress, or culture, how well would you fit into the church at Jerusalem

Not well. I'm a Gentile Christian and its seems the church in Jerusalem was still very Law and Temple oriented. Reading what happened in the Book of Acts, when Paul returned after his third missionary journey, many in the church were displeased that he had been among the Gentiles. They suspected he had taught against the Law and the Temple. James required Paul to take a vow (perhaps Nazirite) which included shaving his head and going on a seven day fast at the Temple (and perhaps some blood sacrifices for cleansing). This led directly to his arrest and deportation to Rome. With his head saved he looked like an Egyptian and the Romans though he was the Egyptian who had stirred up rebellion. Egyptians were not big on hair and beards, where as the Jews were a hairy people.I don't think the Jerusalem Christians would allow me to hang with them. Messianic or not.

Provocative question. If I could just 'ozmos' in I would like to know the real feelings. If I could 'remember and know as now, I am positive this would be a learning situation. I would like to hear how someone who actually KNEW the Messiah had actually came and departed, felt.I see it akin to how my daddy and mama felt in 1918 being raised Methodist and receiving the Baptism at a Fire Baptized tent meeting and returning to the Methodist church thinking they would be 'LOVED' for this NEW FOUND revelation. They found confusion.I imagine there was a lot of mixed emotions at that church in Jerusalem. What an eye opener I am sure if we could stand there.This is real in my thinking just after learning a 'smidgen' of the Orthodox church that claims to be the first Christian Church.I hope this thought catches fire. LOL I like it. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

I smiled and said AMEN when I read that. I like it when you guys say something I had not thought of at all. I would think there is a lot of truth in that statement. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

In other words, is your church functioning like the book of acts church did? Are there miracles, signs and wonders, gifts of the spirit, healings, tongues and p er prophecies and anointed worship/praise and powerfulTeaching and preaching in your church?I for one say yes, unashmedly. I still believe that the book of acts is a pattern for the new testament church today. You do not have to sacrifice the holy spirit and his manifestations on the altar of cultural relevance. Methods are not sacred but some principles do not change. That doesn't make us primitive it makes us scriptural. Our church is trying to manifest the Antioch church of acts 13as a pattern. Apostolic , prophetic, training and releasing God's people to the nations and operating as a local church with an international ministry. A place of refreshing ministry leaders and being used as a base for them while allowing the Lord to add to the local church daily such as would be saved. So count us as an acts 13

The church of the first century should be the template and goal of the Last Days church. We should be Apostolic, as in the continuance of the New Testament church. The question was about the Jerusalem church, which most likely ceased to be after the destruction of the city by Rome (70 AD). I have always felt this was God's will (Jesus prophecy) that the church not be Jerusalem centric. I see the Apostolic church on the rise around the world, and I also see that being Cleveland, Springfield or Oklahoma City centric in decline.

We do our best to keep our overall focus similar to the Jerusalem church concerning our aim to teach people in these areas: Sound doctrine, how to develop a continual personal prayer, study of the Word a praise/worship lifestyle, holiness and summing it up continual spiritual growth.

Re: Preacher777 I like your post but

I feel as if there is a generational spiritual gravity which draws the grand grandchildren of spiritual pioneers back to the very place their ancestors broke free of. For the Holiness/Pentecostal Movement, that would be greatly influenced by the Methodist tradition we came out of. Perhaps for others, there is a pull back to the Baptist congregational tradition. In both these traditions, the manifestation of the Gifts of the Spirit were not only not welcomed, they were not taught, other than being simply a Early Church experience until the Bible (New Testament) was completed. Its Scofield's revenge. I have been reading AJT's journal/diary for the years 1901 - 1924. This is a chronological full text no commentary version (from the Church of God movement Heritage Series - White Wing Publishing House). While it reports some Holy Ghost manifestations prior to AJT's Spirit Baptism, it is extraordinary what happens afterwards. I find it interesting reading, but question my willingness to live in the Spirit to that extreme. I'm afraid I might be more comfortable in a Methodist or Baptist church setting. Do we love the ideal of traditional church more then the reality of Spirit-filled church?

[quote=Dunamis007]I assume the Holy Spirit is the integral base of your model. That may be an erroneous assumption given the rise of the seeker model and it's desire to push the holy spirit ans his manifestations out the door of the church. Let us never do that. Come Holy Spirit we cry. Build your church.[/quote]