What's new
By:
Filters
Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

What really goes on in Pentecostal Churches?

This Word 4 Today is also very timely, following that last link to how global South Christians read the Bible:-

We can know Him!

We can Know Him...
Through His Wonderful Word

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD;
and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Jeremiah 23;29 KJV

__________________

And Jesus answered him, saying,

"It is written, That man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Luke 4:4 KJV

__________________

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:19-21 NASB

__________________

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.



Printer Friendly Version | Send this story to a friend | Back to Top


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Through the Bible in a Year - Readings for December 6
December 6: Ephesians 3, Ezekiel 8-9, Isaiah 41

Click Here for the complete schedule

Or Copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.arcamax.com/ttb-yr.html



Printer Friendly Version | Send this story to a friend | Back to Top


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meditation 12/3 - 12/9: Fight the good fight 2 Tim 4:2-8 ESV

Fight the good fight

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:2-8 ESV

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I always clear my inboxes before getting into details, so it may be an hour-plus before I can read all this thread

God bless!

Ian
 
Having read the whole thread, I just have time to say see http://www.elim.org.uk & http://www.ag.org

See their doctrinal statements

They also have chuchfinder clicks

Any regular reader knows I study & like to research & learn

& am very concerned indeed @ the Bible

Ask Pentecostals & charismatics to comment

Must go!

Ian
 
I would like to thank destiny for clarifying that the Laughter and Running movement was Chraistmatic. I myself admitted that not every Pentecostal church is like that, so I don't claim that 98% of the Pentecostal churches do this stuff but I did single out "radical Pentecostals" which now seems equivalent to "Charismatic Pentecostals." And I don't mean to offend anybody but I despise false spiritual movements (not that they aren't spiritual in the evil sense) that claim to be from God and also how freakish some of those services are. I've heard many-a-person scared off from the pentecostal church after one of their "jamborees".

I have also been to a tent meeting where the speaker was putting his hands on the forehead of the people who went forward and was quite obviously attempting to 'push' them down.
Click to expand...

My parents originally went to a church like this when I was but a child (5-10 years old) and finally left when things went wierd. One night we invited the son of a Pastor whose church we would eventually move to, who was my good friend at the time, to our Church "bonfire" at night. They had the same thing there where a man up front (I think the pastor) just touched their foreheads and they fell over like dead people and the Pastor's son looked at me freaked out and asked "Is that black magic or something?" I mean he was freaked out. Now that I think back on it it was the perfect cult setting: Dark, a giant hypnotizing fire which the congregation was around, and a man supposedly enacting the spiritual "Slain in the Spirit" ritual. That was some bad stuff and that's why I stay away from it and my Dad has been careful since to council me on how to identify false movings of the Holy Spirit.
 
reply

I am a Charismatic Pentecostal. I belong to a non-denominational Word of faith Church. So, I will give you my read about this holy laughter and slain in the Spirit stuff:

There are many brands of Pentecostal's. We have Holiness Pentecostals, who are really into being slain in the Spirit, and like to dance too. They came from the Azuza street revival. Also, we must mention the AOG Church too. Are some acting like crazies? You bet. Does it do any harm? I don't think so. Yes, we can be slain in the Spirit. You see, when the anointing of the Holy Spirit is on you, you are moved in His flow and knowledge. Is it wrong for someone to lay hands on someone? No. Is it wrong for someone to push another down? You bet. Is it wrong to act like the early church in the book of Acts? No way. You see, God's people can be overzealous in looking for the anticipated end-time revival. They try to force it. But it will happen pretty soon. You will see many healings and young men have visions and old men have dreams because the Bible says so. We will even have greater wonders and miracles in these last days, more than earlier in the Book of Acts Days. If you see Holy Laughter and people kind of rock and rolling it is beaause they are so excited in the Lord because of all He has done for us. As long this move glorifies God and not man, I don't have a problem with it. Also, if we remember not to be so spiritual that we are no earthly good and so earthly that we are no heavenly good.


Sometimes in Praise and worship, we do get excited and dance some in the back of the church. We are humans and have much emotion towards God. Do you think there is something wrong with that. In private, I have experienced holy laughter. It was really good the exchange I had with the Holy Spirit. It just seemed like that the Holy Spirit was laughing with me, and believe it or not, He was calling me ridiculous. Have any of you had a Holy Ghost moment? Try it, you will like it.


May God bless, golfjack
 
So golfjack,

Are you saying that when you walk into your church, the usher does not hand you a bulletin that tells you when to stand up, when to sit down, and when to recite a verse?
 
Yeah, all we ever hear about are the wrongs committed by the pentecostals.
What about the frozen chosen? The dead churches who keep the Holy Spirit in a straight jacket for fear He might cause something that isn't orchestrated or organized by man.
You know from start to finish everything that will happen during the service, there is never any spontaneous reaction to the Holy Spirit because in mausoleums there is no Holy Spirit :-D .....only dead religion, dead knowledge, dead works, void of the living Spirit of God. :-?
Of course, these people think theirs is the "true church" also. ;-)
 
Another thing, they told me they only took Holy Communion on Easter?

EDITED

I also get the impression he doesn't kneel at the altar and make the sign of the cross.

I'm trying to get ahold of this "Holy Laughter" concept and failing. I'll go now and muddle through those links. I know there's a "Charismatic Catholic" movement, but I only have passing familiarity with it.

If Pentecostals and charismatics are the fastest-growing denomination, there has to be some reason(s) why that's so.


Edited made by Atonement
 
lawhammer said:
Another thing, they told me they only took Holy Communion on Easter?

EDITED
Edited made by Atonement

I also get the impression he doesn't kneel at the altar and make the sign of the cross.

I'm trying to get ahold of this "Holy Laughter" concept and failing. I'll go now and muddle through those links. I know there's a "Charismatic Catholic" movement, but I only have passing familiarity with it.

If Pentecostals and charismatics are the fastest-growing denomination, there has to be some reason(s) why that's so.
Click to expand...
See my previous post and you'll find out why.
 
Are some acting like crazies? You bet. Does it do any harm? I don't think so.
Click to expand...

Crazy disorder in the house of God is chaos and a wild spirit. "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls." (Proverbs 25:28) . It is choas and it keep members inside the Church and non-members outside the Church, which is the opposite of edification and the great commission. God doesn't work like that.

Yes, we can be slain in the Spirit
Click to expand...

Scripture? I want Scripture please.
 
Cyber, if it was edited, then maybe you should not re-ask it here. If someone would like to explain this in a PM, that I'm okay with.
 
I'm really sorry, I won't be back.
Click to expand...

lawhammer,
I sorry you feel this way, but if you can not use sensible remarks when posting. You like many others here will receive a warning and your post edited. Many have received warnings here, but they apologize and understand where they are posting (Christian Forum). They take the warning as a friendly one and move past it. Most try not to post in a manner that can cause them to receive another warning. If you feel that you must leave because a mistake on your part has been made, for that I'm truly sorry. No one here is asking you to leave, or even wants you to leave. We just want you to think about what you are posting before you post it here. As staff that is not asking to much.

-Atone
 
I started off in the Assemblies of God. Not as bad a Word of faith, but still bad. I belonged to that church for three years and still have friends from there. I left because their teaching was unbiblical and "mystery religionish". I have never seen a more well meaning people do more damage in such a short amount of time. I know the "special" doctrines and I also know the scriptures that refute it. These are generally good natures people that mean well but are very imature in the understanding of scripture.

To sum it up, Pentecostals have built most of their doctrines on liberalism i.e. "feelings", "experiences", and use the rebukes of Paul in 1 Corinthians towards that church and teach them as commands from Paul to be sought after to justify these "mystery religionish" false teachings. If you can get them to look it over honestly, they will usually figure it out and leave. It's hard to get past their putting experience over scripture though.

For anyone who is interested.

Tongues, a different aproach.
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=11204

The gift of healing
http://www.hannity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78557

What really happened in Acts
http://www.hannity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64386

God Bless

Dave
 
cybershark said:
Scripture? I want Scripture please.
Click to expand...
We all know the one Scripture that is as close as it gets to any mention of being "slain in the Spirit". But even if one rejects that verse it is of no consequence. Scriptural support for specific spiritual experiences are not necessary and any lack thereof does not prove any specific spiritual experience false or "of the devil".


Dave... said:
I left because their teaching was unbiblical and "mystery religionish".
Click to expand...
This is a fallacious argument designed to make people think that Pentecostalism has its roots based in paganism and/or the occult. That there may or may not be similarities in practices or beliefs to ancient mystery religions is irrelevant. As I stated already regarding your use of this argument, you ought to be consistent and take it all the way which, according to some, would show all of Christianity to be "borrowed" from the mystery religions. But I suspect you won't do that; it's only for the beliefs and practices that you happen to disagree with. Not very consistent.

Dave... said:
To sum it up, Pentecostals have built most of their doctrines on liberalism i.e. "feelings", "experiences", and use the rebukes of Paul in 1 Corinthians towards that church and teach them as commands from Paul to be sought after to justify these "mystery religionish" false teachings.
Click to expand...
Be careful when using the term "liberalism" as it is used of theological positions which typcially deny the deity and resurrection of Christ and the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture - they take "liberties" in changing orthodox Christian beliefs. But this most certainly is not Pentecostalism.

That 'Pentecostals have built most of their doctrines on..."feelings", "experiences"', is false. What Pentecostals believe is what is taught in Scripture regarding the infilling of the Spirit and spiritual gifts and this is supported by the experiences.
 
We all know the one Scripture that is as close as it gets to any mention of being "slain in the Spirit".
Click to expand...

Actually I'm not sure I do. You couldn't possibly be refering to the baptism of the Holy Spirit because what it happened at Pentecost and Cornelius' household and also the doctrine of Baptism of the Holy Spirit have no parallel with this supposed "being Slain in the Spirit" stuff. Then again perhaps this isn't the verse you were refering to.

Scriptural support for specific spiritual experiences are not necessary
Click to expand...

Not necessary for what? And what kind of spiritual experiences are we talking about?

and any lack thereof does not prove any specific spiritual experience false or "of the devil".
Click to expand...

The Bible enables us to know how God moves and works in people's lives. If we can't measure a supposed move of God against God's actions and character in the past, then we can indeed rule it out as it being from God.
 
cybershark said:
Then again perhaps this isn't the verse you were refering to.
Click to expand...
No, that wasn't the verse. But having re-read the verse I had in mind I withdraw it. A quick read can make it seem to say something that it isn't.

cybershark said:
Not necessary for what? And what kind of spiritual experiences are we talking about?
Click to expand...
Scriptural support isn't necessary for proving that a particular experience is of God. By spiritual experiences I am referring to "being slain in the Spirit", visions, tongues, etc.

cybershark said:
The Bible enables us to know how God moves and works in people's lives. If we can't measure a supposed move of God against God's actions and character in the past, then we can indeed rule it out as it being from God.
Click to expand...
Then I am curious as to what grounds people have for stating that being slain in the Spirit is not of God.
 
I attended a Pentecostal church in our neighborhood between the ages of 10 and 13+. I learned some very good things from them, but could not agree with their teaching. It was a hard decision, but I had to leave. It relieved my dad a great deal. He was an atheist, and he felt that they were a more cultish denomination. Of course, he probably felt that about every church I ever attended. :o I learned a lot of Scripture while I was there, and I learned a lot of basics like good character traits, fruits of the Spirit, the whole armor of God, standing for God alone, lots of songs, Bible stories, and how to memorize Bible passages, and other such things.

The main thing that I disagreed with, and I don't know if this is characteristic of all Pentecostal churches, but I found a good deal of judgmentalism there. It seemed to be promoted. As a child, it had also shaped me, and I took this with me when I left. It wasn't until years later that God was able to really deal with me about it, and I still struggle a great deal with this sin. I never saw anyone slain in the spirit, or pushed down on the floor, though. I didn't know the Pentecostals did that. I learned to pray openly to God in that church, and learned to lay my burdens down at the altar...I like that, and took that with me as well, only now it's at the foot of the cross. Oh, I also learned to pray before services, so that the Word would penetrate hearts. I tend to be more reserved in my own worship style, but I enjoyed their worship hymns very much, and their teaching type songs.

I still have friends there, we have been friends most of our lives (about 25 years), and I love them very much. Most do not believe I am saved, but that I have backslidden...except for a few that I am closer with. I still visit there a few times a year, and actually have seen some changes in their church body these past few years as far as the judgemental thing goes. In all this time, I still have never seen anyone slain there, or laughing, or anything like that. I never even heard of that stuff till this board. They do anoint the heads of those needing prayer with oil, though....I like that too, reminds me of Psalms 23. They do believe in the gift of tongues, and I have heard someone speak in the church in tongues before, and have heard another person interpret. It was not common to every service, but it did happen now and again. It always seemed to cause the congregation to be somber, though, not rowdy. One of my main disagreements with them, however, is that they do not believe you have the Holy Spirit unless you speak in tongues...they believe it is the evidence.

Anyway, I pray for them, and some of them pray for me...in fact, I will be seeing a few of them tomorrow night...some of the ones who believe I am still a believer. I love all of them, though, even those who think I have been backslidden the past 25 years. :-D

The Lord bless all of you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top