Who are we? How did we get here?

1. Who are we?How did we get here? Who are we as Apostolic Christians and how do we fit into Christianity at large? Edmund Reinhardt Toronto – May 2004

2. Growing up • Childhood – world revolves around self • Adolescence – become aware of others. Need to define self concept. • Some end up following others blindly to their own destruction • Others withdraw and isolate themselves • Maturity is knowing who you are and being comfortable with yourself so that you can relate confidently with others.

3. Goal of Forum • Our church was fairly isolated in the past • Firmly established patterns of separation • Uniformity of doctrine • Persecution • But with today’s urban, affluent, educated generation in the midst of the information age, we cannot avoid being very aware that we are not alone. • So who are we? • How do we relate to all these other branches of faith? • What are our strengths? What are our weaknesses? • Can we and should we avoid being assimilated in the New Evangelical Movement?

4. Disclaimer • We will be looking at history and at other faiths • Goal is not to judge the sincerity or eternal destiny of any individual • Respect for sincere efforts of others to further God’s work taught in Mark 9:38-40 • However need to discern the spirits both within and without the church. (1 John 4:1)

5. Agenda • Part 1: Overview of mega-trends in Christian History • Part 2: Historical roots to doctrinal error • Part 3: What about us?

6. Newton’s Law of Theology • In Physics “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” • In theology “for every heretic that moves away from true doctrine in one direction, there is a well-meaning person who tries to defend orthodoxy by going to an equal and opposite extreme” [1] Orthodoxy Error ‘Defender of the Faith’

7. Catholicism: Merge of Church & State by Constantine 313-325 Persecution by Jews, And Roman Empire Part 1: Historical Overview Crucifixion & Resurrection 33

8. Catholicism • Constantine conquers Rome in the sign of the cross but loses the way of the cross • World wanted to be friends with church and church reciprocates. • Issues edict of Milan stopping persecution of Christians. • Pays salaries for bishops to enable them to focus on work, promoted Christians • Become socially advantageous to be a Christians • Many pagans joined without the same level of commitment (10% of Roman Empire Christian in 313AD but other 90% within 100 years). • Begin to use the world’s methods to silence heretics. • (Christians in Egypt suffered so much from official Christianity that they saw the Muslim invasion in 639 as liberation.) • Notice the shift from operating from a position of weakness and sacrifice, to a position of privilege and power. • Catholics taught that the church could introduce new teaching that was on the same level of authority as the Bible. • Over time many teachings came in: • Worship of Mary and other saints • Purgatory • Etc.

9. Augustine of Hippo • Reacting to Pelagius – British monk who taught that man could be sinless if he really wanted to • Unbaptized infants are damned • “absolute double predestination” • As result of the fall man is totally depraved and unable to do anything good, not even believe on God • Therefore can only have faith in God if by grace God first gives them faith, no free will involved. • God’s decision to save one and damn another is totally arbitrary, cannot be influenced by man.

10. Donatus vs. Augustine • Priority is the holiness of the visible church • All members and priests need to be holy • Separation church & state • Sacrament invalid if priest not holy • Priority is the unity of the visible church • Pragmatic – impossible to separate pure & impure • War can be holy • God works through sacrament independent of holiness of priest

11. Reformation: Lutheran, Calvin, Anabaptist Catholicism: Merge of Church & State by Constantine 313-325 1517 Persecution by Jews, And Roman Empire Historical Overview Crucifixion & Resurrection 33

12. Reformation: Luther • Took a stand against the errors of Catholicism • Sola Scripture – Scripture the only authority • Wanted the protection of the German Dukes against the Roman backlash. • Formed state church. • Based his teachings on 4th century Augustine • Encouraged the use of force, infant baptism etc.

13. Radical Reformation: Anabaptists • Return to early Christian principles of taking up the cross • Non-resistance • Lived what they believed, Sermon on the Mount • If someone did not swear and was honest and good-hearted, they might be “suspected” of being an Anabaptist and singled out for persecution. • Sense of community and care for each other

14. Anabaptist Community “We teach and practice this mercy, love and community, and we have taught and practiced it for seventeen years. God be thanked forever that although our property has to a great extent been taken away from us and is still daily taken, and many a righteous father and mother are put to the sword or fire, and although we are not allowed the free enjoyment of our homes as is manifest … Yet none of those who have joined us nor any of their orphaned children have been forced to beg. If this is not Christian practice, then we might as well abandon the whole Gospel of our Lord. Is it not sad and intolerable hypocrisy that these poor people [the Lutherans] boast of having the Word of God, of being the true Christian church, never remembering that they have entirely lost their sign of true Christianity? Although many of them have plenty of everything, go about in silk and velvet, gold and silver, and in all manner of pomp and splendor, … they allow many of their own poor and afflicted members to ask for alms. [They force] the poor, the hungry, the suffering, the elderly, the lame, the blind, and the sick to beg for bread at their doors. Oh preachers, dear preachers, where is the power of the Gospel you preach? … Where are the fruits of the Spirit you have received?” Menno Simons “Reply to False Accusations”

15. Anabaptist Vision • “They demanded an outward expression of the inner experience. Repentance must be “evidenced” by newness of behaviour.” • “The true test of the Christian, they held , is discipleship. The great word of the Anabaptists was not faith as it was for the reformers, but following”.

16. Reformation: Lutheran, Calvin, Anabaptist Catholicism: Merge of Church & State by Constantine 1737 313-325 1517 Persecution by Jews, And Roman Empire Moravians first missionaries to West Indies Historical Overview Crucifixion & Resurrection 33 • .

17. Reformation: Lutheran, Calvin, Anabaptist Catholicism: Merge of Church & State by Constantine Higher criticism, Bible not inspired, modernist liberal theology, Rationalism 1737 313-325 1517 1827 Persecution by Jews, And Roman Empire Moravians first missionaries to West Indies Historical Overview Crucifixion & Resurrection 33

18. Age of Enlightenment (1700-1900) • Belief in human reason breaking the shackles of traditions propagated by self-interested authorities. • (Rejection of external authority – foundations of current relativism). • Use of unaided reason – rejection of any other source of truth (i.e. revelation) To these men the Enlightenment was an emergence of mankind from a period of immaturity marked by a dependence upon external authorities such as the Bible and the church. No more would mortals need to be bound by the rigors of fixed dogmas. Now men could engage in “free thought.” unfettered by outdated theological concepts. The “miraculous” must be judged in the light of human reason, they said. No longer could one be credulous and accept biblical accounts as authentic. One must think for himself apart from that which claimed to be divine revelation. No more should men view the Bible as authoritative. Scholarly pens were echoing the utterance of the prince of liars, “Yea, hath God said …?”

19. Theological Liberalism - Modernism • Bible is not inspired • Human experience > revealed truth • Rejection of supernatural – even about Christ • Man is basically good • Man came through evolution not creation • Social gospel => sin = social problems therefore salvation = fixing society

20. Reformation: Lutheran, Calvin, Anabaptist Catholicism: Merge of Church & State by Constantine Higher criticism, Bible not inspired, modernist liberal theology, Rationalism 1909 1737 313-325 1517 1827 Fundamentalism Persecution by Jews, And Roman Empire Moravians first missionaries to West Indies Historical Overview Crucifixion & Resurrection 33

21. Fundamentalism • In reaction to liberalism • " the affirmation of religious authority as holistic and absolute, admitting of neither criticism nor reduction; it is expressed through the collective demand that specific creedal and ethical dictates derived from scripture be publicly recognized and legally enforced."

22. New Evangelicalism Reformation: Lutheran, Calvin, Anabaptist Catholicism: Merge of Church & State by Constantine Higher criticism, Bible not inspired, modernist liberal theology, Rationalism 1909 1620 313-325 1942 1517 1827 Fundamentalism Persecution by Jews, And Roman Empire Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock Historical Overview Crucifixion & Resurrection 33

23. New Evangelicalism • By 1940’s Fundamentalism had seemed reactionary and out of touch to increasingly sophisticated American population. • In reaction a new brand of Christianity was formed called “New Evangelicalism” • Open-minded, intellectual, acceptable to modern, highly-educated people and compatible with popular individualistic lifestyles • I.e. rather than resist the culture, let’s become like the people we are trying to win.

24. Tolerance of Doctrinal Variance • “As long as I am associated with the Coalition for Revival, I will not quarrel with other CFR associates over the following issues:… baptism and communion, Calvinism, Arminianism …, Christian freedom, differences such as smoking, dancing, etc.; tongues and other activity; modes of worship and methods of evangelism.”—Coalition For Revival

25. Rapid Growth • Through effective use of mass media. • 61 million Americans receive impacted by TV evangelists • In 1986, > 3,500 Christian bookstores, > $1.2 billion sales, videos, radio • Lots of money of money to be made in this growth industry, can affect motives • National Association of Evangelicals = 43,000 congregations, 77 denomination + 100’s of independent churches, 43,000 parachurch ministries, benefit 27 million people.

26. Pragmatism – Mega Churches • “Whatever means result in salvation of souls are acceptable.” • “The nagging question arises: Is our reliance on church growth techniques or on the surprising work of the Holy Spirit.” • Leaning on the arm of flesh • “Evangelicals are simply playing musical churches, moving around to more exciting, larger churches.” • Meeting wants rather than needs

27. God is like the king of fun "MALIBU - ... it was a week in which Christianity came with top-notch food served by waiters, bikini-clad girls, water skiing, immaculate facilities, games galore, rock music, new friends, affection and some of the most glorious scenery in Creation. "One hundred miles north of Vancouver ... the Malibu Club brings in about 4,000 teenagers each summer. "Malibu teaches the teens that Christianity can be a blast. "`It's just they make God, like, really fun,' said Crystal Primrose, 15, from North Vancouver. "A casually dressed club director, John McNichol, led the final night's session in which he asked kids to make a commitment to Jesus. He told the teens they have doubts about whether they'd still have fun if they became Christian and about what their friends might think if they converted. `But don't worry. God is like the king of fun,' said McNichol, who earlier in the day dressed up as James Bond for a comedy skit" (Report on YOUNG LIFE'S Malibu, The Spectator, Hamilton, Ontario, Sat., Oct. 1, 1994).

28. Just be positive • No room for talk of sin or negative vibes. • “We should avoid making them feel guilty but rather make them feel good about themselves.” • Need to be broad minded and positive • Focus is on me • “People today hunger not for personal salvation … but for the feeling, the momentary illusion of personal well-being, health, and psychic security.”

29. Part 2: Historical Roots to Current Doctrinal Positions • Eternal Security • Role of Church – influence through power or through purity • Does the church have authority? Community of faith vs. individual

30. SalvationWorks vs. Grace Pelagius (360-420) Augustine (354-430s) Roman Catholic Works Theology “Protestantism” Martin Luther (1483-1546) Fundamentalism Evangelicalism

31. Salvation Implications • Shallow Concept of Conversion • No teaching of repentance, changed life, confession of sin • Casual Attitudes toward Sin • “The church is a mixed society. It is not a community of saints and dedicated persons, but a society of sinners at every variety of spiritual development.” • Overcoming sin no longer expected • Eternal security

32. What is the role of the church Change society to become Christian Call people out of a sin-sick society to a community of holy brethren EarlyChurch Constantine/Augustine Way of the Cross Donatists Catholicism Anabaptists Luther Liberals Fundamentalists Fundamentalist Politicians Russian and Chinese Underground Churches Evangelicalism

33. Social Activism • "The mission of the Christian Coalition is simple. It is to mobilize Christians -- one precinct at a time, one community at a time -- until once again we are the head and not the tail, and at the top rather than the bottom of our political system. The Christian Coalition will be the most powerful political force in America by the end of the decade." -- Pat Robertson, President, Christian Coalition

34. Authority of Visible Church Authority usurped by Humans Fear of God Autonomous Individuals Early Church Augustine Catholicism Maintain unity Donatists European Corrupt Church Leadership Enlightenment – reason > faith Modernists Secular Humanism Evangelicalism

35. Evangelical view of Visible Church Quotes from Evangelicals • “It is an individual-centered faith” • “Jesus proclaimed a direct personal relationship with God with no need for the mediation of a religious hierarchy” • Leading author/TV speaker urges to free ourselves from ”ecclesiastical captors”

36. Church no longer center • Focus on parachurch organizations (non-denominational ministries that do not answer to anyone) • Youth For Christ, Young Life, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade • These have grown to eclipse existing churches and undermine their authority and outreach • “parachurch corporations eclipsed ecclesiastical structures” according to their own writings

37. Visible Church - Implications • Every man does what is right in his own eyes • “To argue that the Bible is authoritative, but to be unable to come to anything like agreement on what is says (even with those who share an evangelical commitment ) is self-defeating” • Lax church discipline • Open Communion

38. Even Evangelicals see things getting out of hand. • Francis Schaeffer The Great Evangelical Disaster • Deplores “failure of the evangelical world to stand for truth as truth” • “the evangelical church has accommodated to the world spirit of the age” • Early promoter of New Evangelicalism Dr. Harold Lindsell • “It is clear that evangelicalism is now broader and shallower, and is becoming more so. Evangelicalism’s children are in the process of forsaking the faith of their fathers.”

39. What about us • Dare we feel smug and superior? • In what ways are we over-reacting? • In what ways are we accommodating the world spirit of the age?

40. Apostolic Christian Church Fear of God Dependence on God Rationalism Samuel Froehlich 1830 Persecution by State Church Fundamentalism Persecution for not bearing arms 1890 -1950s Relative Prosperity and security post-war

41. ACC no longer immune • Our church is now allowing the Christian culture to influence us. • Increased education • Increased wealth • Less isolation from society • Occupation • Geographic location • Exposure to media influences • All contribute to • Greater independence of thinking • Self-reliance • Resistance to restraint and authority

42. Influence of Evangelicalism on ACC Relative Prosperity and security post-war Keeping form while forgetting purpose Abandonment of outward appearance Reactivity = Loss ofVision Loss of close-knit community Evangelicalism Example of evangelism thru compromise Anti-evangelism Bad experiences Fear of prayer- meetings and Bible studies Abandonment of doctrine Eternal Security Taking up arms

43. Outward vs. Inward Separation • It has been observed that if separation is in word only and not in deed, … then assimilation into the surrounding world will be very hard to resist. • On the other hand if separation is maintained outwardly but the purpose is forgotten, … then the move to isolationism will also be very hard to resist. (Bro. Mark Igic 2003)

44. Liberal or Legalistic Lukewarm Reactivity Liberalism Legalism John Zeug Eastern Camp 1976

45. Church = Lifeboat The purpose of the church is rescue souls from the world But if we are careless and bring the water (the world) into the lifeboat, we will be in as much danger as those we are rescuing. If we keep the lifeboat safe on the land it will never serve its purpose!

46. Back to the Cross! (1 Cor 1:23-24) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; {24} But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

47. Are you willing to pay the price? • Truth & Love • Willing to be accountable • Willing to hold each other accountable • Willing to see those around us as lost and going to hell • Willing to get personally involved with people you are not comfortable with to save them from that fate • Willing to make sacrifices of time, and money and career

48. Conclusion

49. Bibliography • Winds of Doctrine ACCA Elder Body – 1986 • Fraternization Revisited Mark Igic – 2003 • http://www.apostolicchristianchurch.org/Pages/beliefs-main.htm • http://www.apostolicchristianchurch.org/Pages/History.htm • Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up David W Bercot – Scroll Publishing • The Tragedy of Compromise Ernest D. Pickering – BJU Press

50. Outward, purpose-driven focus • “When revival came to China – 1,000s went out with fire from the altar • When God moves in the West you want to stop and build an altar to your experiences” – Leader of Chinese house-churches