Bishops and Apostles

[Cow Poke]

I'm encountering more and more "Bishops" and "Apostles" who appear to be pretty much self-appointed as such.

Recently, I had a guy ask to speak at our Ministerial Association, and noted he identifies as "Apostle [firstname lastname]"

That just feels really weird.

[mossrose]

It's heresy. You can bet they'll be forthcoming with "new revelation".

(At least the Apostle part, anyway.)

Do a search on the NAR -- New Apostoloc Reformation.

[Sparko]

I blame the Internetwebz.

It allows kooks to find a platform to spew their nonsense and even get an audience which just encourages them in real life.

[Sparko]

So what did you tell Mr. Apostle [firstname lastname]?

[Cow Poke]

So what did you tell Mr. Apostle [firstname lastname]?

In this case, he was on the agenda to speak because the previous president (I'm now president of the association) had invited him, and I inherited that agenda. He failed to show, so if he tries again, I'll just politely tell him he had his chance, and wasn't gracious enough to notify us he wouldn't be there.

I actually had a meeting with our VP, secretary and treasurer to agree that we'll use those offices (the four of us) as an executive committee to approve or decline any requests to address our group. The others agree we don't really need to hear from an "Apostle" without a really good reason.

[mossrose]

In this case, he was on the agenda to speak because the previous president (I'm now president of the association) had invited him, and I inherited that agenda. He failed to show, so if he tries again, I'll just politely tell him he had his chance, and wasn't gracious enough to notify us he wouldn't be there.

I actually had a meeting with our VP, secretary and treasurer to agree that we'll use those offices (the four of us) as an executive committee to approve or decline any requests to address our group. The others agree we don't really need to hear from an "Apostle" without a really good reason.

Yeah. Unless his name is Paul of Tarsus, I wouldn't bother letting him come and speak.

[Cow Poke]

Yeah. Unless his name is Paul of Tarsus, I wouldn't bother letting him come and speak.

Well, not just if his NAME is Paul of Tarsus -- he has to be the REAL Paul of Tarsus. I wouldn't put it past some of these 'gentlemen' to take on that name. After all, back in my police days, I even arrested Jesus for vagrancy.



(And, no, not just some guy named Jesus, but a guy who claimed to BE Jesus, dressed and groomed for the part)

[mossrose]

Well, not just if his NAME is Paul of Tarsus -- he has to be the REAL Paul of Tarsus.

Good point.

I wouldn't put it past some of these 'gentlemen' to take on that name. After all, back in my police days, I even arrested Jesus for vagrancy.

Wow! You're tough!

[Cow Poke]

Wow! You're tough!

I was treading very carefully "just in case".

[Sparko]

I was treading very carefully "just in case".

You could have cut off your ear and see if he would heal it.

[Cow Poke]

You could have cut off your ear and see if he would heal it.

Yeah.... no.

[One Bad Pig]

You could have cut off your ear and see if he would heal it.

Maybe he tried that with his fingers!

[NorrinRadd]

In principle, I am not opposed to the idea that "apostles" still exist. However, claiming that label for oneself definitely makes me raise an eyebrow.

This article is pertinent.

Part 2.

Part 3.

[One Bad Pig]

The concept of the early church was that apostles needed to be sent by Jesus Himself; Paul, who saw him "last of all, as one who is born out of due time" would necessarily have been the last.

[Cow Poke]

In principle, I am not opposed to the idea that "apostles" still exist. However, claiming that label for oneself definitely makes me raise an eyebrow.

And that's my main concern ... in my experience, this is usually done by somebody who started a church, and often where the man and wife are "pastors and founders". Even says so on the sign out front, or on billboards in the neighborhood.

One day the guy's a pastor, the next he's a Bishop or Apostle, with no known (to me) body granting that title.