Members of Apostolic Churches have a sincere desire to follow truth. This is seen in their heartfelt commitment to lay aside the errors of tradition that entangle other churches and return to the pure faith of the apostles and early Christians. They also have a beautiful longing to be brought into close fellowship with Yahuwah through the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, these organized bodies of believers still have some errors that keep them from realizing the ultimate closeness with the Creator for which they long. While there is some difference of belief between the various denominations that fall under the term “Apostolic,” following is a list of some of the errors generally held by these sincere seekers of Truth:
- Most Apostolic churches believe in a triune godhead. This belief comes straight from ancient paganism rather than Scripture which clearly states: “Hear, O Israel: Yahuwah our Eloah, Yahuwah is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) The Bible makes plain that Yahushua, while born of a virgin, is a human being - not a diety.
- The promise of the Holy Spirit is most precious and it is a promise cherished by members of Apostolic communions. Apostolics point to speaking in tongues as proof of baptism by the Holy Spirit. Speaking in foreign languages certainly is a gift which Yahuwah has bestowed on believers -- even in modern times! However, the problem with most modern instances of glossolalia is two-fold:
1) Speech with no meaning – With rare exceptions, modern glossolalia occurs in “unknown tongues.” Contrarily, there are no documented instances in Scripture of any apostle speaking in unknown tongues. All recorded instances of the gift of tongues were more a gift of hearing, for Acts 2 explicitly states that the listeners heardeach in their own language. It is safe to assume that Peter’s explanation of why each heard in his own language was also understood by all.
2) Edification of self rather than spread of the Gospel – The Apostles spoke in tongues for the express purpose of spreading the Gospel. Nevertheless, the tendency to desire the gift of tongues as proof of one’s spiritual sincerity was present among early believers as well. Paul gently and diplomatically explained that true speaking in tongues is for the purpose of building up the church, while nonsensical speech that is not understood serves no other purpose than to edify self: “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” (See 1 Corinthians 14:1-4.) Self-edification is diametrically opposed to the character of Yahushua who stated: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)
- In their sincere desire to restore the church to apostolic purity, Apostolic Churches seek to reinstate the office of prophets and apostles. While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, the problem arises when Apostolics are taught not to question or speak against any who hold this office for the one who does so, speaks against Yahuwah. This is opposed to Scripture, which makes no fallible man the ultimate authority, “For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of Yah.” (Romans 3:23) Furthermore, the Bible commends the Bereans for searching the Scriptures to determine if what Paul told them was really true.
Yahuwah invites His children in the Apostolic Churches to step free of error and follow the Lamb into the fullness of Heaven’s pure truth.
