Seriously, What does an Apostolic look like (was Barbie's New Look)

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> From: BAdams7117@aol.com
On the subject of 'the look'

> dear friends ......heres the first prototype for the APOSTOLIC Barbie
> 
>      Lets make her a pastor also......and if shes stays holy enough..i.e.
> never wears pants or earings....we will promote her to bishop.  In fact
make
> the robe she wears unremovable.  Oh and make sure she handles ALL the
> problems in the church too.
> 
> All in good fun at our "trappings"
> bro bruce

Just how do you tell an Apostolic from anybody else?
I know this topic was mentioned in fun but it is a 
serious question.  Let me offer a disclaimer first that 
I dress as modestly as most in our fellowship and I 
neither wear makeup nor jewelry and I have a few other 
particular convictions (such as not wearing a metallic or 
fancy bracelet looking watch and not wearing fancy hair 
ornaments, just simple barrettes or bands).  Having said 
those things, to me, that is NOT what defines an 
Apostolic.  What did Jesus say would be the identifying 
characteristics of His disciples.  Was it outward clothing, 
hair styles, beards or no beards?  It was, of course, none 
of these things.

(John 13:34-35 KJV)  "A new commandment I give unto 
you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, 
that ye also love one another. {35} By this shall all 
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love 
one to another."

All men shall know us if we have love one to another.

(John 15:13 KJV)  "Greater love hath no man than this, 
that a man lay down his life for his friends."

(Romans 12:9-10 KJV)  "Let love be without dissimulation. 
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 
{10} Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly 
love; in honour preferring one another;"

dissimulation = 505. anupokritos, an-oo-pok'-ree-tos; from G1 
(as a neg. particle) and a presumed der. of G5271; undissembled, 
i.e. sincere:--without dissimulation (hypocrisy), unfeigned.

>From Matthew Henry's commentary:
Verses 9-16. The professed love of Christians to each other should be
sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. ... We
must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty
towards one another is summed up in one word, love. ... Not only must there
be kindness to friends and brethren, but Christians must not harbour anger
against enemies. It is but mock love, which rests in words of kindness,
while our brethren need real supplies, and it is in our power to furnish
them. Be ready to entertain those who do good: as there is occasion, we
must welcome strangers. ... True Christian love will make us take part in
the sorrows and joys of each other. Labour as much as you can to agree in
the same spiritual truths; and when you come short of that, yet agree in
affection. Look upon worldly pomp and dignity with holy contempt. Do not
mind it; be not in love with it. Be reconciled to the place God in his
providence puts you in, whatever it be. Nothing is below us, but sin. We
shall never find in our hearts to condescend to others, while we indulge
conceit of ourselves; therefore that must be mortified. 

Here is how Paul described the marks of his Apostolic ministry

(2 Corinthians 6:4-10 KJV)  "But in all things 
approving ourselves as the ministers of God, 
in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, 
in distresses, {5} In stripes, in imprisonments, 
in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 
{6} By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, 
by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by ** love unfeigned,** 
{7} By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the 
armour of righteousness on the right hand and 
on the left, {8} By honour and dishonour, by evil report 
and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; {9} As 
unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, 
we live; as chastened, and not killed; {10} As sorrowful, 
yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as 
having nothing, and yet possessing all things."

Here is how he distinguished the saints in Ephesus:

(Ephesians 1:15 KJV)  "Wherefore I also, after I heard of 
your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,"

And those at Colosse:
(Colossians 1:4 KJV)  "Since we heard of your faith in 
Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,"

And of Philemon:
(Philemon 1:5 KJV)  "Hearing of thy love and faith, 
which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and 
toward all saints;"
(Philemon 1:7 KJV)  "For we have great joy and 
consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the 
saints are refreshed by thee, brother."

And to the Philippians he spoke:

(Philippians 2:2-5 KJV)  "Fulfil ye my joy, that 
ye be likeminded, having the same love, 
being of one accord, of one mind. {3} Let nothing 
be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness 
of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 
{4} Look not every man on his own things, but 
every man also on the things of others. {5} Let this 
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

The mark of an Apostolic Christian is the love he has 
towards the brethren, not thinking of himself more highly 
than he ought (knowing God is no respecter of persons), 
and having intimate concern for the needs of the brethren 
(both physical and spiritual).

And Peter's Amen:
(1 Peter 1:22 KJV)  "Seeing ye have purified your 
souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto 
unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love 
one another with a pure heart fervently:"

And John's Amen:
(1 John 3:14 KJV)  "We know that we have passed 
from death unto life, because we love the brethren. 
He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
(1 John 3:16-19 KJV)  "Hereby perceive we the love 
of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we 
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. {17} But 
whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother 
have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion 
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 
{18} My little children, let us not love in word, neither 
in tongue; but in deed and in truth. {19} And hereby we 
know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our 
hearts before him."

And as widely discussed among us:
(1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJV)  "In like manner also, that women 
adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness 
and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, 
or costly array; {10} But (which becometh women 
professing godliness) with good works."

(1 Peter 3:3-4 KJV)  "Whose adorning let it not be 
that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of 
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; {4} But 
let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is 
not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and 
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."


And my humble opinion:
Our adornment is not outward adornment of the wearing 
of poufs or buns or ties or robes or jacketed suits, but 
it is to be the adorning of a meek and humble spirit 
with compassion on the saints and a giving of ourselves 
and our possessions to build up one another and meet 
each other's needs. 

Here is something we seldom speak about:
(Acts 2:44-45 KJV)  "And all that believed were together, 
and had all things common; {45} And sold their 
possessions and goods, and parted them to all 
men, as every man had need."

(Acts 4:32 KJV)  "And the multitude of them that 
believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither 
said any of them that ought of the things which he 
possessed was his own; but they had all things common."

[Note: I am not advocating communism, but compassion 
and selflessness.]

So what does a Apostolic look like?  He looks like Christ; 
he looks like someone who gives his life for others.

Kathy (not having arrived yet, but pressing forward) Dimick
Falkville, Alabama
kdimick@colsa.com
kedimick@hotmail.com
http://members.tripod.com/~coffeepleaz/index.html

"For to me to live is Christ"