What does it mean to say "I am...?"

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
D

Depleted

Guest
#1
Please realize, I'm asking because I don't get this. So don't expect me to ask the question and then give the answer here. If I knew the answer, I wouldn't ask the questions.

And also understand I'd like answers from people who know they are that. If you're not Pentecostal, don't speak for the Pentecostals. They are capable of speaking for themselves.

Okay, that's what I'd like to happen here, (and, yeah, what I'd like to happen is rarely what does happen, but it is what I would like to happen.)

Now my questions for the descriptions people give themselves that I don't get.

When you say "I am Pentecostal," what do you mean by Pentecostal?

When you say, "I am Charismatic," what do you mean by Charismatic?

AND, when you use these words to describe yourself, what are you saying you are not? What is the opposite of what you say you are?


For instance, I'm reformed. That means I do believe in T.U.L.I.P. I do believe that Jesus alone saves. I do not believe that we chose to be saved, so I'm not Wesleyan/Arminian/non-reformed/free-willingian. BUT, I also do not believe this difference determines if a person is saved or not. I think Christ saves, and then we go off and pick different forms of belief systems depending on where we land (which church we head to) after being saved. So, it does describe what I believe, but is not there to put anyone else down on that difference. (Granted, I'll argue all day and all night over the differences, but at least you know I'm not putting you down for disagreeing. lol)

So who wants to help me understand Pentecostal and Charismatic? And can you be one without being the other? And can you be both? Because as often as I've researched the words, I don't get why those particular words mean something special to people who are those words.

(And, do NOT slam other people beliefs, or I WILL send my hug of teddy bears to your house and tickle you for two hours or... until you give them a gross of hotdogs. They really like hotdogs, so you can bribe them. lol)
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#2
I associate the word charismatic with the Catholics who experience the baptism of Holy Spirit. I am Pentecostal and not Catholic.

Just don't know if this is correct though. My opinion only.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#3
I don't know. I am just a Christian.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#4
There are three areas of the Jewish temple. Outer court, holy place, Holy of Holies.

I see mans salvation as similar. Passover, salvation, Spirit of Christ. Pentecost, whelmed by His Presence. Tabernacles, fullness, or one with Him.
 
A

Amazing-Grace

Guest
#5
Please realize, I'm asking because I don't get this. So don't expect me to ask the question and then give the answer here. If I knew the answer, I wouldn't ask the questions.

And also understand I'd like answers from people who know they are that. If you're not Pentecostal, don't speak for the Pentecostals. They are capable of speaking for themselves.

Okay, that's what I'd like to happen here, (and, yeah, what I'd like to happen is rarely what does happen, but it is what I would like to happen.)

Now my questions for the descriptions people give themselves that I don't get.

When you say "I am Pentecostal," what do you mean by Pentecostal?

When you say, "I am Charismatic," what do you mean by Charismatic?

AND, when you use these words to describe yourself, what are you saying you are not? What is the opposite of what you say you are?


For instance, I'm reformed. That means I do believe in T.U.L.I.P. I do believe that Jesus alone saves. I do not believe that we chose to be saved, so I'm not Wesleyan/Arminian/non-reformed/free-willingian. BUT, I also do not believe this difference determines if a person is saved or not. I think Christ saves, and then we go off and pick different forms of belief systems depending on where we land (which church we head to) after being saved. So, it does describe what I believe, but is not there to put anyone else down on that difference. (Granted, I'll argue all day and all night over the differences, but at least you know I'm not putting you down for disagreeing. lol)

So who wants to help me understand Pentecostal and Charismatic? And can you be one without being the other? And can you be both? Because as often as I've researched the words, I don't get why those particular words mean something special to people who are those words.

(And, do NOT slam other people beliefs, or I WILL send my hug of teddy bears to your house and tickle you for two hours or... until you give them a gross of hotdogs. They really like hotdogs, so you can bribe them. lol)
This is an interesting thread to me because my church is Pentecostal but I do not consider myself as such - I would describe myself as Reformed too. To me Charismatic is just the style of worship and a focus on listening to and being in union with The Holy Spirit. The teaching at my Pentecostal church is Biblical - I can't fault it.

I don't think there are many here who consider themselves Pentecostal so you may not get many replies if you only want those to reply here.

Good topic BTW!
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#6
This is an interesting thread to me because my church is Pentecostal but I do not consider myself as such - I would describe myself as Reformed too. To me Charismatic is just the style of worship and a focus on listening to and being in union with The Holy Spirit. The teaching at my Pentecostal church is Biblical - I can't fault it.

I don't think there are many here who consider themselves Pentecostal so you may not get many replies if you only want those to reply here.

Good topic BTW!
Were you Pentecostal before becoming reformed? (I was in a nondenom that used both words, before I became reformed, but I didn't know what either word meant back then either, so that doesn't help me.) If you were and know what it was, that works for me too.

I'm really into not insulting people who are those things, and most of the times we who aren't only know how to put other beliefs down. That's the reason I don't want people to talk about others when they have no idea what it means.
 

notmyown

Senior Member
May 26, 2016
4,586
1,047
113
#7
i'm having trouble calculating how many packages of hot dogs = 144. (okay, it's eighteen)

i can't even discover why they're sold in packages of eight, while the rolls are sold in twelves. lol
 
A

Amazing-Grace

Guest
#8
Were you Pentecostal before becoming reformed? (I was in a nondenom that used both words, before I became reformed, but I didn't know what either word meant back then either, so that doesn't help me.) If you were and know what it was, that works for me too.

I'm really into not insulting people who are those things, and most of the times we who aren't only know how to put other beliefs down. That's the reason I don't want people to talk about others when they have no idea what it means.
No I don't believe I have ever been Pentecostal. I think Pentecostal is the denomination (belief system) and Charismatic refers to the style of worship...that is the way I understand it anyway.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#9
I currently go to a Pentecostal church. Before that I went to an independent
envangelical Congregational church.

I have Christian friends who attend all sorts of denominations and I have visited
their churches as well. For example baptist, evangelical Church of England (not the
strange ones), various other independent churches, an evangelical Methodist (some
Methodist churches are ok some are not).

Sooooo I don't see myself as belonging to a specific denomination. In fact I hate
the way the church divides itself up with denominations.

Having said that I would prefer to attend a church which recognises the gifts of the
holy Spirit. That's not really a problem as some of the churches mentioned above also
exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit even though they are not technically Pentecostal.


I would add that in my current church the worship is exeuberant, but the main thing is that
people are free to worship as they wish. So no one would blink an eyelid if you sat down to
pray while others were standing singing.

No one would bat an eyelid if you stood with arms in the air or if they were firmly
clenched by your sides.

No one would think you strange if you got weepy during the
service, but if you would rather have a stiff upper lip that's ok too.
Basically you can just be you before God and I love that freedom to be myself.

I've never seen anyone bark like a dog, writhe on the floor or do cart wheels
down the aisles. I have seen a pensioner dance before the Lord (well sort of shuffle!)
when they were healed of bowel cancer, I've seen a 92 year old grab a flag and wave it
as an expression of praise. Ive heard people speak in tongues.

Ive seen the church fall so quiet under the heavy presence of the Holy Spirit that you
could hear a pin drop. (That's a congregation of a 1000).

So for me Pentecostal just means a church which recognises the presence and gifts of
the Holy Spirit, but so do many other denominations and/or churches in the U.K. :)
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#10
I currently go to a Pentecostal church. Before that I went to an independent
envangelical Congregational church.

I have Christian friends who attend all sorts of denominations and I have visited
their churches as well. For example baptist, evangelical Church of England (not the
strange ones), various other independent churches, an evangelical Methodist (some
Methodist churches are ok some are not).

Sooooo I don't see myself as belonging to a specific denomination. In fact I hate
the way the church divides itself up with denominations.

Having said that I would prefer to attend a church which recognises the gifts of the
holy Spirit. That's not really a problem as some of the churches mentioned above also
exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit even though they are not technically Pentecostal.


I would add that in my current church the worship is exeuberant, but the main thing is that
people are free to worship as they wish. So no one would blink an eyelid if you sat down to
pray while others were standing singing.

No one would bat an eyelid if you stood with arms in the air or if they were firmly
clenched by your sides.

No one would think you strange if you got weepy during the
service, but if you would rather have a stiff upper lip that's ok too.
Basically you can just be you before God and I love that freedom to be myself.

I've never seen anyone bark like a dog, writhe on the floor or do cart wheels
down the aisles. I have seen a pensioner dance before the Lord (well sort of shuffle!)
when they were healed of bowel cancer, I've seen a 92 year old grab a flag and wave it
as an expression of praise. Ive heard people speak in tongues.

Ive seen the church fall so quiet under the heavy presence of the Holy Spirit that you
could hear a pin drop. (That's a congregation of a 1000).

So for me Pentecostal just means a church which recognises the presence and gifts of
the Holy Spirit, but so do many other denominations and/or churches in the U.K. :)
Ha! You've told me the little I do know. Something about gifts. But you also gave a hint that there IS "technically Pentecostal." Since you recognize many denoms and nondenoms believe in gifts, (and that can go into "Who doesn't," which then goes on to secessionists and we've already been down that road -- even they believe in gifts, it's just which gifts that's the sticking point), then the "technically" is more than just gifts.

Understand, I really do know most churches don't bark, and aren't whirling dervishes, so I get why you're feeling defensive, but I don't think you have to be. (Again, if anyone makes her feel she has to be 14 stuffed animals arriving at your house for two hours of tickling or 144 hotdogs WITH enough rolls and fillers, so you don't want that. lol) What is the "technical" part of Pentecostal? What stops someone from being a pedigreed Pentecostal from a mixed-with-something-else Pentecostal?


(And why after writing word Pentecostal at least a dozen times, can't I ever remember there is an E in the middle, not an A.Yeesh!)
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#11
Hot dogs...armor hot dogs...what kind of kids eat armor hot dogs? Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks.
Short kids silly kids....even kids with chicken pox. Love hot dogs armor hot dogs......I...aaaaa....ooops wrong thread.:confused:
 
A

Amazing-Grace

Guest
#12
I currently go to a Pentecostal church. Before that I went to an independent
envangelical Congregational church.

I have Christian friends who attend all sorts of denominations and I have visited
their churches as well. For example baptist, evangelical Church of England (not the
strange ones), various other independent churches, an evangelical Methodist (some
Methodist churches are ok some are not).

Sooooo I don't see myself as belonging to a specific denomination. In fact I hate
the way the church divides itself up with denominations.

Having said that I would prefer to attend a church which recognises the gifts of the
holy Spirit. That's not really a problem as some of the churches mentioned above also
exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit even though they are not technically Pentecostal.


I would add that in my current church the worship is exeuberant, but the main thing is that
people are free to worship as they wish. So no one would blink an eyelid if you sat down to
pray while others were standing singing.

No one would bat an eyelid if you stood with arms in the air or if they were firmly
clenched by your sides.

No one would think you strange if you got weepy during the
service, but if you would rather have a stiff upper lip that's ok too.
Basically you can just be you before God and I love that freedom to be myself.

I've never seen anyone bark like a dog, writhe on the floor or do cart wheels
down the aisles. I have seen a pensioner dance before the Lord (well sort of shuffle!)
when they were healed of bowel cancer, I've seen a 92 year old grab a flag and wave it
as an expression of praise. Ive heard people speak in tongues.

Ive seen the church fall so quiet under the heavy presence of the Holy Spirit that you
could hear a pin drop. (That's a congregation of a 1000).


So for me Pentecostal just means a church which recognises the presence and gifts of
the Holy Spirit, but so do many other denominations and/or churches in the U.K. :)
This is exactly what I mean by the style of worship that I love, being able to worship God in one's own way without being concerned about "doing wrong". Shouldn't we be celebrating the risen Christ and not be afraid of doing so? I have never been one for "religion" or formality so this suits me. I do not speak in tongues and I'm not made to feel bad for that, if it was the case I would not hesitate to leave my church. Many in my church do speak in tongues and that's fine too.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#13
I currently go to a Pentecostal church. Before that I went to an independent
envangelical Congregational church.

I have Christian friends who attend all sorts of denominations and I have visited
their churches as well. For example baptist, evangelical Church of England (not the
strange ones), various other independent churches, an evangelical Methodist (some
Methodist churches are ok some are not).

Sooooo I don't see myself as belonging to a specific denomination. In fact I hate
the way the church divides itself up with denominations.

Having said that I would prefer to attend a church which recognises the gifts of the
holy Spirit. That's not really a problem as some of the churches mentioned above also
exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit even though they are not technically Pentecostal.


I would add that in my current church the worship is exeuberant, but the main thing is that
people are free to worship as they wish. So no one would blink an eyelid if you sat down to
pray while others were standing singing.

No one would bat an eyelid if you stood with arms in the air or if they were firmly
clenched by your sides.

No one would think you strange if you got weepy during the
service, but if you would rather have a stiff upper lip that's ok too.
Basically you can just be you before God and I love that freedom to be myself.

I've never seen anyone bark like a dog, writhe on the floor or do cart wheels
down the aisles. I have seen a pensioner dance before the Lord (well sort of shuffle!)
when they were healed of bowel cancer, I've seen a 92 year old grab a flag and wave it
as an expression of praise. Ive heard people speak in tongues.

Ive seen the church fall so quiet under the heavy presence of the Holy Spirit that you
could hear a pin drop. (That's a congregation of a 1000).

So for me Pentecostal just means a church which recognises the presence and gifts of
the Holy Spirit, but so do many other denominations and/or churches in the U.K. :)
On a humorous note, my dad was slain the spirit. Why is this humorous? He's a chemical engineer, so really not into that emotional stuff at all. He's also not a Christian, so this was totally unexpected. I could see Margaret Thatcher as a backup dancer for Beyonce in my head easier than I can picture Dad being slain in the spirit. lol
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#14
Hot dogs...armor hot dogs...what kind of kids eat armor hot dogs? Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks.
Short kids silly kids....even kids with chicken pox. Love hot dogs armor hot dogs......I...aaaaa....ooops wrong thread.:confused:
That's one of two songs I sing when I'm trying to get an earworm out of my head. Sadly, that's one of two songs that get stuck in my head for a week from trying to unstick another song in my head. lol

(My bologna has a first name.... The other song.)
 

Bladerunner

Senior Member
Aug 22, 2016
3,076
59
48
#15
Please realize, I'm asking because I don't get this. So don't expect me to ask the question and then give the answer here. If I knew the answer, I wouldn't ask the questions.

And also understand I'd like answers from people who know they are that. If you're not Pentecostal, don't speak for the Pentecostals. They are capable of speaking for themselves.

Okay, that's what I'd like to happen here, (and, yeah, what I'd like to happen is rarely what does happen, but it is what I would like to happen.)

Now my questions for the descriptions people give themselves that I don't get.

When you say "I am Pentecostal," what do you mean by Pentecostal?

When you say, "I am Charismatic," what do you mean by Charismatic?

AND, when you use these words to describe yourself, what are you saying you are not? What is the opposite of what you say you are?


For instance, I'm reformed. That means I do believe in T.U.L.I.P. I do believe that Jesus alone saves. I do not believe that we chose to be saved, so I'm not Wesleyan/Arminian/non-reformed/free-willingian. BUT, I also do not believe this difference determines if a person is saved or not. I think Christ saves, and then we go off and pick different forms of belief systems depending on where we land (which church we head to) after being saved. So, it does describe what I believe, but is not there to put anyone else down on that difference. (Granted, I'll argue all day and all night over the differences, but at least you know I'm not putting you down for disagreeing. lol)

So who wants to help me understand Pentecostal and Charismatic? And can you be one without being the other? And can you be both? Because as often as I've researched the words, I don't get why those particular words mean something special to people who are those words.

(And, do NOT slam other people beliefs, or I WILL send my hug of teddy bears to your house and tickle you for two hours or... until you give them a gross of hotdogs. They really like hotdogs, so you can bribe them. lol)

Ms. Depleted. hope this finds you have had a good day.

When Man says "I am" he is usually speaking something he is going to do, something he is going to be. (i.e. "I am headed this direction or I am going there tonight or I am making an Ass out of myself with this definition...lol). It directs the sentence to the individual.

However, when God says it "I AM" ; the meaning well,,,, 'Our (mankind's) universe and ALL that is within it'. Everything you touch is Him. Everything you see is Him. Yes, everything is Him. thus "I AM" means 'Everything' God is Everything
 
Last edited:
P

pottersclay

Guest
#16
That's one of two songs I sing when I'm trying to get an earworm out of my head. Sadly, that's one of two songs that get stuck in my head for a week from trying to unstick another song in my head. lol

(My bologna has a first name.... The other song.)
Glad I could help, actually I was going to answer your question and had a senior moment...lol:rolleyes:
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#17
Haven't heard from steph lately....hope everything is alright.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#18

Ms. Depleted. hope this finds you have had a good day.

When Man says "I am" he is usually speaking something he is going to do, something he is going to be. (i.e. "I am headed this direction or I am going there tonight or I am making an Ass out of myself with this definition...lol). It directs the sentence to the individual.

However, when God says it "I AM" ; the meaning well,,,, 'Our (mankind's) universe and ALL that is within it'. Everything you touch is Him. Everything you see is Him. Yes, everything is Him. thus "I AM" means 'Everything' God is Everything
Actually, I mean the kind of I am as in
I am 60. (This tells you something of how set in my ways I am.)
I am left handed. (This tells you not to trust I'll be able to turn a knob or handle the correct way at any moment, and would probably explain a smug under my left hand whenever I write on paper.)
I am conservative. (This tells you not to expect a safety pin from me and not to expect I would ever like Obama.)
I am Presbyterian. (This tells you something of the type of church I prefer -- not well, since Presbys cross the spectrum anymore.)

No, really? "I am" often tells what we already know about ourselves. I just don't get what people are trying to tell me about who they are when they follow that by "Pentecostal" or "Charismatic." To me, it's like Dad telling me he was a chemical engineer. Until he told me what he did at work, I had no idea what that meant other than five-years of college with a lot of math/sciences for courses.

Ends up, Dad made a coker for an oil refinery. He helped figure out how to extract crude oil from coke. (And coke is a bit younger than coal, not a type of soda pop. lol)
 
M

Miri

Guest
#20
Ha! You've told me the little I do know. Something about gifts. But you also gave a hint that there IS "technically Pentecostal." Since you recognize many denoms and nondenoms believe in gifts, (and that can go into "Who doesn't," which then goes on to secessionists and we've already been down that road -- even they believe in gifts, it's just which gifts that's the sticking point), then the "technically" is more than just gifts.

Understand, I really do know most churches don't bark, and aren't whirling dervishes, so I get why you're feeling defensive, but I don't think you have to be. (Again, if anyone makes her feel she has to be 14 stuffed animals arriving at your house for two hours of tickling or 144 hotdogs WITH enough rolls and fillers, so you don't want that. lol) What is the "technical" part of Pentecostal? What stops someone from being a pedigreed Pentecostal from a mixed-with-something-else Pentecostal?


(And why after writing word Pentecostal at least a dozen times, can't I ever remember there is an E in the middle, not an A.Yeesh!)

I suppose what I meant by technically Pentecostal, is some churches have this
in their name. Others like Baptist don't, but they do church same as the named Pentecostal
down the road. Probably when the Pentecostal movement started out, it was different from
the more traditionally stiff starchy way of doing church. Lol But now there isn't the same
defining borders, there is a lot of overlap between the denominations and I think
that now, it's just a case of finding a church which suits you and teaches the truth,
Irrespective of the title in the name :)


To me i suppose Pentecostal goes together with freedom, like amazinggrace said.
Some churches are so rigid you can almost feel strangled and instead of meeting
with God, you spend your time trying to meet the approval of the rest of the
congregation.

For me a church should be a place of freedom, and I find my current church is
the place which allows me to be free to meet with God.

Soooo Lynn are you going to visit the dark side. Lol