Remaining Apostolic

same time I acknowledge that I share with them a common faith. I cannot leave "home" just because of a few disagreements! Why should I turn my back on the Church and leave behind the spiritual life it brings to me?

I remain an Apostolic because I am not comfortable with failure. For so many former Apostolics leaving the Apostolic movement makes a statement of conviction, courage, or intellectual honesty. For others it just says "I can't take it anymore!" For me, leaving the Apostolic movement would be a sign of failure, weakness, and capitulation. It is hard for me to think of abandoning the ship just because of the presence of a storm and some rough water. I've had too many good voyages when the seas were calm and the crew was actually working together! This community of faith has given me so much how could I think of leaving it in the dark of the storm, gale winds blowing, water needing bailed? How could I inflate the life raft and jump into the unknown waters of the denominational world leaving my family behind to survive? No, I must stay and work with those who desire to renew the Church and steer it through the storm.

I remain an Apostolic because I am convinced of the reality of the Apostolic experience of Jesus and of the truth of the Apostolic faith. It is amazing, but true, that God continues to bless the Apostolic Church in the midst of its weaknesses, failures and shortcomings. As Jesus is proclaimed in Apostolic communities souls are baptized in the Holy Spirit, saints are renewed, and disciples are made. Yes, the Apostolic movement has its faults, but, no God has not departed! This gives me hope; hope that the Apostolic Church will hear the many prophetic voices calling for self examination and renewal.

I remain an Apostolic because I love the Apostolic Church. It's easy to say I love the Church when all is well; the church has direction, vision, unity, and love. But the Church, just like family, needs to loved when it is wondering, sightless, divided, and without love. The Church needs to be loved because in the midst of its turmoil, and in the midst of its crisis, it continues to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ to a lost world and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Church needs to be loved because the spiritual blessings it has given in the past are a harbinger of greater spiritual blessings to come. The Church needs to be loved because only love will heal its many wounds and restore it to health and vitality.

I remain an Apostolic to share in the struggle for the renewal of the Apostolic Church I love.

Steve Starcher is an ordained minister with the Associated Brotherhood of Christians who lives in Fresno, California. His email address is sastarcher@gmail.com.