How can a Pentecostal Church call itself this?

[krissy343]

We have a Pentecostal Church down the street from our house called the Apostolic Lighthouse. How can they use that name since the definition of Apostolic is:

1. of or characteristic of an apostle.
2. pertaining to or characteristic of the 12 apostles.
3. derived from the apostles in regular succession.
4. of or pertaining to the pope; papal

This makes absolutely no sense to me. Someone care to explain?

 

[rlg94086]

We have a Pentecostal Church down the street from our house called the Apostolic Lighthouse. How can they use that name since the definition of Apostolic is:

1. of or characteristic of an apostle.
2. pertaining to or characteristic of the 12 apostles.
3. derived from the apostles in regular succession.
4. of or pertaining to the pope; papal

This makes absolutely no sense to me. Someone care to explain?

Advertising?

I would guess that they would answer with definitions 1. or 2. because they believe their teachings are in line with the Apostles. Of course, they can’t claim 3. or 4.

 

[Rawb]

When I was a protestant I had no idea what apostolic succession was. I’d be willing to bet that this community, or at least the majority of the attendents, don’t either, especially not in the way The Church looks at it. If anything they’d be using the first definition, as they see themselves as similar too or like the apostles. If you confronted them about the idea of apostolic succession, they’d probably see a ‘spiritual’ succession between themselves and the apostles, in that they think they share the same faith and worship in the manner of the apostles.

 

[mystified]

In the US, you can call yourself anything you wish, as long as you are not doing so to commit fraud. This includes self-proclaimed churches. Try googling “catholic” and see how many people are using this word in the names of their churches that often clearly state that they are not part of the Church whose earthly leader is the Pope.

 

[Contarini]

We have a Pentecostal Church down the street from our house called the Apostolic Lighthouse. How can they use that name since the definition of Apostolic is:

1. of or characteristic of an apostle.
2. pertaining to or characteristic of the 12 apostles.
3. derived from the apostles in regular succession.
4. of or pertaining to the pope; papal

This makes absolutely no sense to me. Someone care to explain?

For Pentecostals, “Apostolic” primarily refers to the gift of the Spirit which came upon the Apostles at Pentecost. Anyone who has that Spirit is “Apostolic” in their view.

For some Pentecostals, “Apostolic” is actually a code-word for “non-Trinitarian.” But you can’t be sure, since many Trinitarian Pentecostals use the term as well.

Edwin

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

There’s a trend in America for Evangelical Protestant churches to call themselves ‘catholic’ or ‘apostolic’. Perhaps it’s a good thing… But if a Pentecostal Church wanted to call itself the Apostolic Catholic Pentecostal Church of America, there’s nothing stopping it.