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C
Well, really every denominations has its flaws. I am a Baptist, raised in that denomination, but even our "man made" doctrine is messed up. my thoughts are, you dont have to be charismatic in spiritual gifts to be saved...idk, i cant say much about that denomination, but they talk alot about moving in the Spirit.
C
its that they talk to much about moving in the Spirit, depends on which church u go. Like u may have someone tell you must speak in tongues or your not saved, or be a prophet in prophecy (not all are that way)...some judge you in your walk with the Holy Spirit, cause they are so "charismatic in spiritual gifts"
U
The problems i have with them, as a former Pentecostal myself, is that because they put so much focus on 'following the 'Holy' Spirit', that they put less emphasis on making sure these 'movements of the Spirit' are in check with the bible. Many times these things are not biblical. And in some case just plain scary.
Also they tend to have a higher propensity to fall into heresy teachings like Word of Faith/Prosperity.
I believe they are genuine Christians, but easily mislead.
Also they tend to have a higher propensity to fall into heresy teachings like Word of Faith/Prosperity.
I believe they are genuine Christians, but easily mislead.
S
gotta say I agree, the original church that Im coming out of was exactly this.....I struggled terribly, because of such confusion, but we are now attending another penticostal congregation that is absolutely in line with the Bibles teachings. I was saying to my husband the other day that I felt like we walked out of a zoo, and into civilization......it's quite refreshing.
I'm currently Pentecostal (specifically Assemblies of God), but in about four months I will likely be leaving the denomination in favor of Baptist or Lutheran. Or maybe something else.
Some of my quips with Pentecostalism include:
1. As a friend once described it, too much "Woohoo" and not enough, "Ah, I see." Pentecostal seems to be bent toward emotions and experiences instead of sitting down and learning the theology. Seeing as I am more interested in learning and applying what I know rather than emotions and experiences, it makes an odd fit for me indeed.
2. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. As a Charismatic denomination, it believes this is still in action. I've never seen it happen personally. They base this on Acts 2, when the 120 people in the upper room had tongues of fire rest on them and they spoke in foreign tongues. The Pentecostal will say that is repeatable, whereas Cessationist denominations like Baptist will say those things were only used to establish the church.
3. Being slain in the Spirit. I have not found any solid Biblical support for this.
4. Deviating from Scripture. Pentecostals are pretty inclined to do wacky, atypical stuff.
Yes, Pentecostals are loud. ^.^
I don't find Pentecostalism to be distasteful. However, there are many who are more conservative in nature. By that I mean they aren't so inclined to have bizarre supernatural things happen in their lives. They also aren't open to new stuff. I think I fit into this category. The Pentecostal denomination didn't exist until 1901! Assemblies of God wasn't around until 1914! That is centuries separated from the early church. These new, seemingly out-of-the-blue things aren't appealing to those used the more moderate nature of non-Pentecostal churches. Otherwise, I can't see why people would dislike them.
Some of my quips with Pentecostalism include:
1. As a friend once described it, too much "Woohoo" and not enough, "Ah, I see." Pentecostal seems to be bent toward emotions and experiences instead of sitting down and learning the theology. Seeing as I am more interested in learning and applying what I know rather than emotions and experiences, it makes an odd fit for me indeed.
2. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. As a Charismatic denomination, it believes this is still in action. I've never seen it happen personally. They base this on Acts 2, when the 120 people in the upper room had tongues of fire rest on them and they spoke in foreign tongues. The Pentecostal will say that is repeatable, whereas Cessationist denominations like Baptist will say those things were only used to establish the church.
3. Being slain in the Spirit. I have not found any solid Biblical support for this.
4. Deviating from Scripture. Pentecostals are pretty inclined to do wacky, atypical stuff.
Yes, Pentecostals are loud. ^.^
I don't find Pentecostalism to be distasteful. However, there are many who are more conservative in nature. By that I mean they aren't so inclined to have bizarre supernatural things happen in their lives. They also aren't open to new stuff. I think I fit into this category. The Pentecostal denomination didn't exist until 1901! Assemblies of God wasn't around until 1914! That is centuries separated from the early church. These new, seemingly out-of-the-blue things aren't appealing to those used the more moderate nature of non-Pentecostal churches. Otherwise, I can't see why people would dislike them.
C
I was raised Pentecostal - Holiness. I have both witnessed and experienced things in my own life to know that the both the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are very real, not to mention the many times that God miraculously intervined in various situations for myself and others.
I left the Pentecostal denomination when it became very apparent that they had let their guard down allowing various bad doctrine infiltrate the church. I personally do not trust any spiritual gift that is not accompanied by the fruit of Holy Spirit. Both the Gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit operate through the manifest love of God in one's life. You'll never convince me that you have a spiritual gift when your life is being dominated by certain sin(s) which is proof that your heart is not in the right place.
I left the Pentecostal denomination when it became very apparent that they had let their guard down allowing various bad doctrine infiltrate the church. I personally do not trust any spiritual gift that is not accompanied by the fruit of Holy Spirit. Both the Gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit operate through the manifest love of God in one's life. You'll never convince me that you have a spiritual gift when your life is being dominated by certain sin(s) which is proof that your heart is not in the right place.
R
It seems to me like the kind of set up that makes it very difficult to distinguish true from false and really makes little attempt to do so. Anything you don't like is of the devil. Anything you do like is a gift. And the ability to speak in tongues and shake all over the place doesn't require an interpreter or any understanding at all. I have only ever had one experience at a Pentecostal church. It was snake day. For obvious reason I didn't go back.
(I don't know if all Pentecostals have snake day, but this one totally did. They would take turns standing in this big plastic thing with snakes all around them...hoping to be bitten and healed to prove God is with them. My dad worked at the Emergency Room and would complain about 'snake day.' I didn't really get it until I saw it for myself. Bonkers.)
The former Pentecostals that I have met are some of the saddest people in the world. They want desperately to be saved. They want desperately to be with God. But they are not willing to pretend to be moved by the Spirit, so they are left to just sit there feeling like they aren't good enough for God. Why doesn't the Spirit want to move in them? What are they doing wrong?
It's seriously heartbreaking. That's a mentality that runs really really deep and it's hard to convince them that many or even some of those people are charlatans. It's hard to convince them that you could go your entire life without speaking in tongues or having a seizure in front of your church and still be saved...by grace through faith.
(I don't know if all Pentecostals have snake day, but this one totally did. They would take turns standing in this big plastic thing with snakes all around them...hoping to be bitten and healed to prove God is with them. My dad worked at the Emergency Room and would complain about 'snake day.' I didn't really get it until I saw it for myself. Bonkers.)
The former Pentecostals that I have met are some of the saddest people in the world. They want desperately to be saved. They want desperately to be with God. But they are not willing to pretend to be moved by the Spirit, so they are left to just sit there feeling like they aren't good enough for God. Why doesn't the Spirit want to move in them? What are they doing wrong?
It's seriously heartbreaking. That's a mentality that runs really really deep and it's hard to convince them that many or even some of those people are charlatans. It's hard to convince them that you could go your entire life without speaking in tongues or having a seizure in front of your church and still be saved...by grace through faith.
That could be me in a few years if I remain in this kind of church. When the "Spirit is moving," so many people around me are crying and shouting and getting prayed for and falling. And I'm just sitting there. I may as well be twiddling my thumbs. Nothing's happening to me. Am I worshipping wrong? What are these people doing that I'm not? That's part of my frustration with Pentecostalism. I go to a Southern Baptist church on Wednesday evenings and have attended a few of its Sunday services and I'm way more comfortable there.
I am Pentecostal and I do not plan to leave. We were taught in Bible college not to be out of order. Speaking in tongues is very real. We were taught that it should be interpreted or we should pray in tongues quietly. Nothing strange happens at our church and we do not use snakes. Pentecostals are really strong in doctrine especially in the Assemblies of God. The Pentecostals I disagree with are Oneness Pentecostals. Many of them believe you must speak in tongues to be saved. The apostles recieved the Holy Spirit for salvation in John 20 and later recieved the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. They are two seperate events. Not to mention that Oneness Pentecostals deny the three persons of God which are evident in 1 John 5:7.
H
One of the most important changes that MUST take place in a born again believer is the change in vocabulary! We are so quickly to identify ourselves in front of others and say I'm a pentecostal, baptist, lutheran, reformed, methodist and the list goes on and on. However, all of these denominations are all subject to biases and stereotypes. For instance a brother or sister identifying themselves as a pentecostal will be subject to perhaps being thought to be legalistic, religious or of the oneness heresy and this is probably far from being the truth. A confession of being a baptist would probably mean to someone that they don't believe in healing for today or in the gifts of the Spirit of the church that was given to edify the church and perhaps this again is not the case. And I can go and on. Often there were people who have hurt individuals to which they have identified themselves as part of a particular denomination. The results? The individual puts up a wall when ever he or she hears that particular denomination mentioned. So how should we identify ourselves? With the Word of God, of course! Who are you if you're born again? You're born of God, a Child of God, a Servant of the Most High, a Friend of God and so forth as the Word declares you to be because of Jesus who is the Word of God!
Colossians 1:9-14
9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Notice that Colossians states He translated US into the Kingdom of His Dear Son not denomination or religious affiliations or titles!
Is there a need to be under a covering (or umbrella) other than what God actually states in His Word?
Now by no means am I implying to those who are members of a church of a certain denomination that you are heading in the wrong direction or that you should leave or abandon the current church you are attending or meeting with (unless the Spirit of God is leading you to which you must ask God for discernment, wisdom and most importantly confirmation and unless of course that church is not preaching, teaching and reaching souls with the Gospel). The purpose of this post is to remind you of Him who has called you into His grace and He has called you by name: Friend, child, beloved and so forth. There is no need to state that you are of a certain denomination because the one who people see and read through your words and actions is Jesus Christ.The unadulterated Word of God unites so why abandon a flock of brother and sisters that all have one thing in common? WE all need to mature in love and unity! It's true when the Word of God states that bitterness defiles many BUT Greater is He that dwells in You than he that dwells in the world! Speak the truth of God's Word unadulterated, live the truth by dying daily which includes admitting when you're wrong (you will know when you're wrong) and always use what God states you are in His Word because anything else is washed down with water that isn't pure! The Word of God has been purified seven times Psalm 12:6! Naaman (2 Kings 5) washed himself seven times in the Jordan River (which typifies the unadulterated Holy Word of God) and although the rivers he was accustomed to appeared to be cleaner they were not pure!!!
Colossians 1:9-14
9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Notice that Colossians states He translated US into the Kingdom of His Dear Son not denomination or religious affiliations or titles!
Is there a need to be under a covering (or umbrella) other than what God actually states in His Word?
Now by no means am I implying to those who are members of a church of a certain denomination that you are heading in the wrong direction or that you should leave or abandon the current church you are attending or meeting with (unless the Spirit of God is leading you to which you must ask God for discernment, wisdom and most importantly confirmation and unless of course that church is not preaching, teaching and reaching souls with the Gospel). The purpose of this post is to remind you of Him who has called you into His grace and He has called you by name: Friend, child, beloved and so forth. There is no need to state that you are of a certain denomination because the one who people see and read through your words and actions is Jesus Christ.The unadulterated Word of God unites so why abandon a flock of brother and sisters that all have one thing in common? WE all need to mature in love and unity! It's true when the Word of God states that bitterness defiles many BUT Greater is He that dwells in You than he that dwells in the world! Speak the truth of God's Word unadulterated, live the truth by dying daily which includes admitting when you're wrong (you will know when you're wrong) and always use what God states you are in His Word because anything else is washed down with water that isn't pure! The Word of God has been purified seven times Psalm 12:6! Naaman (2 Kings 5) washed himself seven times in the Jordan River (which typifies the unadulterated Holy Word of God) and although the rivers he was accustomed to appeared to be cleaner they were not pure!!!
R
I will say this in favor of Pentecostals...they are prayer WARRIORS. Even though I feel like much of what they do is put on (intentionally or unintentionally), I really respect their 'open channel' with God and how quickly they'll jump into prayer. Coming from a Lutheran background, it's something I've come to admire about the more evangelical denominations. For Lutherans, it's like 'keep it to yourself, buddy.' lol
Now I go to a Southern Baptist Church and, for me, it really strikes a good balance between the personal relationship and being part of the Body.
Now I go to a Southern Baptist Church and, for me, it really strikes a good balance between the personal relationship and being part of the Body.
C
Don't you find it funny how just there mere mention of the Pentecostal denomination draws such a crowd? You could have named the thread 'Presbyterian Denomination' or 'Anglican Denomination' and you'd be lucky to get a handful of responses however, everyone outside of the denomination, who know very little if anything at all about it, are quick to join in the bash fest of the Pentecostals.
Personally, I'm not a Pentecostal. I can say this because I do not agree with certain aspects of their doctrine, specifically the mainstream Pentecostal view of eschotology. However, my best friends, my family and many within my church are Pentecostal. They are good people who are just as saved, if not more so, than anyone else on these boards.
How do I know this? Because they have the faith not only to believe that when someone is sick or injured that God can heal, but also that God will heal and people do get healed. I see it happen all the time. Also, I have seen more conversions at a single Pentecostal service than most churches see in a decade. That's no lie!
Sure there are some flakes and some fakes in the Pentecostal church. However, the same holds true for every denomination. If you believe that everyone in your church is saved and living a consecrated lifestyle then you're probably kidding yourself.
Most other denominations are too busy arguing over whether or not they should tithe and if so, then how much. You can forget about church planting or helping the homeless.They're too busy selling brownies just to pay the electric bill.
Personally, I'm not a Pentecostal. I can say this because I do not agree with certain aspects of their doctrine, specifically the mainstream Pentecostal view of eschotology. However, my best friends, my family and many within my church are Pentecostal. They are good people who are just as saved, if not more so, than anyone else on these boards.
How do I know this? Because they have the faith not only to believe that when someone is sick or injured that God can heal, but also that God will heal and people do get healed. I see it happen all the time. Also, I have seen more conversions at a single Pentecostal service than most churches see in a decade. That's no lie!
Sure there are some flakes and some fakes in the Pentecostal church. However, the same holds true for every denomination. If you believe that everyone in your church is saved and living a consecrated lifestyle then you're probably kidding yourself.
Most other denominations are too busy arguing over whether or not they should tithe and if so, then how much. You can forget about church planting or helping the homeless.They're too busy selling brownies just to pay the electric bill.
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R
I don't find it especially funny. Pentecostalism was and is considered a 'radical sect' of Christianity. The same cannot really be said for Presbyterians or Anglicans. I know we treat all denominations as equal, but why? They aren't.
That's not to say one is better than the other, but for the various mainline protestant denominations their differences are more cultural than doctrinal. The same cannot be said for Pentecostalism.
That's not to say one is better than the other, but for the various mainline protestant denominations their differences are more cultural than doctrinal. The same cannot be said for Pentecostalism.
S
Very true. If you say "Christianity" to a non-believer they often think of Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and Catholic churches; because those are the historic churches that have made up America's Christian populace for centuries.
Somewhat. Anglicans and Lutherans for example usually feel closer to Catholics because of similar theology and practice (sacramental systems and liturgy) than they would Methodists. But for the most part your right in saying that among the mainline denominations theres a large amount of theological overlap.
Somewhat. Anglicans and Lutherans for example usually feel closer to Catholics because of similar theology and practice (sacramental systems and liturgy) than they would Methodists. But for the most part your right in saying that among the mainline denominations theres a large amount of theological overlap.