I don't know what to believe anymore. I grew up in a particular denomination all my life and never questioned any of their teachings. This is probably the largest pentecostal denomination in India. After reading scripture with an open mind in the past few years I have seen many unbiblical rules and regulations in the church. To give you an idea here are some.
1. Taking medicine will defile your body. I didn't for most of my life and there were many instances where I was healed miraculously after the church leaders/believers prayed.
2. Ban on getting married to a person from another denomination. If you do, you'll be excommunicated for 6 months and will not be let in unless you ask forgiveness before the congregation.
3. Ban on wearing jewelry
4. Ban on wine/alcohol
5. Ban on attending other churches
6. Television is banned
7. Church leaders must be unmarried and this is mandatory. If a married couple steps to do full time ministry, they'll be kept apart in 2 different churches.
8. Ban on publishing church materials like sermons online.
9. Ban on sharing photographs of church leaders online/whatsapp
10. They have a doctrine called "doctrine of Zion" where they claim 1,44,000 church leaders like themselves who have given up worldly possessions and live as celibates will inherit a place in eternity called "Zion" which is closest to God and the rest of the believers will inherit a place called "New Jerusalem".
11. We look down on other Christians as not having the "complete truth" and think we are the best church there is.
12. I was conditioned into thinking any believer who wears jewelry was a "worldly christian".
But the problem is most of these things aren't in writing. All of their sermons are about how to live a holy life and how to be like Jesus. All of their preaching is always centered on being like Jesus. If you read their publications, you will not see what's said between the lines unless you're a member. They never explicitly say they are the best church but say any church with leaders who are consecrated (celibacy, giving up earthly possessions, leaving earthly relations etc) will be the best church.
I can't argue with them because they will quote 1 Cor 7 where Paul says those who are married will be worried about pleasing their wives and so the best church is the one where ministers are unmarried and can give full attention to the believers. They will also quote Jesus says some have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of God. They will ask me to show any other ministry with such a consecration.
I have never had a bad experience with them. Whenever I was sick they've come and prayed for me even in the dead of night. They are the most loving people I know.
But then I think of some of their teachings and elitism I feel like they're wrong.
1. Taking medicine will defile your body. I didn't for most of my life and there were many instances where I was healed miraculously after the church leaders/believers prayed.
2. Ban on getting married to a person from another denomination. If you do, you'll be excommunicated for 6 months and will not be let in unless you ask forgiveness before the congregation.
3. Ban on wearing jewelry
4. Ban on wine/alcohol
5. Ban on attending other churches
6. Television is banned
7. Church leaders must be unmarried and this is mandatory. If a married couple steps to do full time ministry, they'll be kept apart in 2 different churches.
8. Ban on publishing church materials like sermons online.
9. Ban on sharing photographs of church leaders online/whatsapp
10. They have a doctrine called "doctrine of Zion" where they claim 1,44,000 church leaders like themselves who have given up worldly possessions and live as celibates will inherit a place in eternity called "Zion" which is closest to God and the rest of the believers will inherit a place called "New Jerusalem".
11. We look down on other Christians as not having the "complete truth" and think we are the best church there is.
12. I was conditioned into thinking any believer who wears jewelry was a "worldly christian".
But the problem is most of these things aren't in writing. All of their sermons are about how to live a holy life and how to be like Jesus. All of their preaching is always centered on being like Jesus. If you read their publications, you will not see what's said between the lines unless you're a member. They never explicitly say they are the best church but say any church with leaders who are consecrated (celibacy, giving up earthly possessions, leaving earthly relations etc) will be the best church.
I can't argue with them because they will quote 1 Cor 7 where Paul says those who are married will be worried about pleasing their wives and so the best church is the one where ministers are unmarried and can give full attention to the believers. They will also quote Jesus says some have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of God. They will ask me to show any other ministry with such a consecration.
I have never had a bad experience with them. Whenever I was sick they've come and prayed for me even in the dead of night. They are the most loving people I know.
But then I think of some of their teachings and elitism I feel like they're wrong.