Taking my Baptist Boyfriend to a Pentecostal Service on Sunday

Tamara224 · #1 7th January 2009, 04:07 PM

I had an interesting discussion/debate with my boyfriend last night. Over the last few months, we've canvassed so many subjects in getting to know each other that it seems rather strange that last night was the first time this came up. Anyway, he knows I was raised in Pentecostal churches but apparently it never dawned on him that that means I probably raise and clap my hands while worshiping and other such "charismatic" activities.

Last night he said something poking a little fun at people who raise their hands in worship. I said "I raise my hands all the time. Haven't you seen me do it?" He said "no, I guess I don't look out at the congregation much." (He plays guitar for service). He was a little chagrined, I think. I went on to say "raising your hands during worship is almost mandatory in the churches I was raised in." Then I told him "I've danced during worship before too." His eyes widened a little and he said "really?"

Then I really shocked him with "and I speak in tongues." The look on his face was priceless. I was really surprised, I said "I told you I was raised Pentecostal."

That led us to a discussion of speaking in tongues. As a born-and-raised-Baptist, he'd never really thought much on the subject. Apparently, it's one of those things they are vaguely aware of but don't speak of. He said "I'm not saying I think it's wrong or anything, but I guess when I think of tongues I think of the time when the apostles spoke in tongues and then Peter preached and the crowd could understand the various languages." (He was referring to Acts 2). "Every time I've heard about or heard tongues it always sounded like just gibberish to me and I don't think anyone understood it."

So, we discussed/debated it a little bit - I made him get his Bible out and look at 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul talks about people who speak in tongues speaking mysteries to God that no one understands. He was pretty wowed by it - said "hmm, that's interesting. It is pretty clear, isn't it."

Anyway... after the discussion I got to thinking about how my boyfriend having been raised Baptist he's never experienced anything even close to the types of worship services I took for granted growing up. I tried explaining to him what it feels like to speak or sing in tongues - but of course, it's not really explainable.

And I started to realize that as much as I enjoy the Baptist church I'm attending, I do miss Pentecostal style worship. I had almost forgotten what it was like to be in a praise service where you could feel - tangibly feel - the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts were in operation and emotions were being expressed.

Then I realized that my boyfriend is missing out. Of course it all seems weird to him because he's only ever heard about it second hand - and that usually from people who disparage the experience.

So I decided I'm going to make him go to a Pentecostal church with me. There aren't any good ones in this town (Lord knows, I've tried them all - that's why I'm attending a Baptist church). But this weekend we're going to be in Denver for my brother's wedding. I talked my boyfriend into it and we're going to go on Sunday. I'm not sure where - maybe Vineyard or Faith Bible Chapel.

I'm pretty excited about it. I pray and hope that he is open-minded to it and doesn't go just to criticize.

Anyway... just wanted to share that. If anyone has any suggestions on a church in the Denver area, I'd appreciate it.

jeolmstead · #2 7th January 2009, 05:15 PM

My girlfriend was raised a Baptist and taught that “tongues” died out with the Apostles.

I took her to an AOG church where a little old lady promptly got up and spoke a message in tongues.

I thought she was going to freak out but what I didn’t understand was, she had the interpretation.

I never had to convince her, The Holy Spirit did!

That was 30 years ago.

(I married her by the way)

John O.

jeolmstead · #3 7th January 2009, 05:16 PM

Here is the story in detail from my blog:

After Cat and I had gone on a couple of dates her Father took me aside and told me I would have to take her to church every Sunday if I expected to continue this relationship. This really wasn’t an issue with me as I had been a Christian since I was a small child. While my immediate family never graced the doors of a church, I had an aunt and uncle who would take me whenever they could get me to go. Somehow the gospel came to me and made sense. The church however was an old time Pentecostal affair. Rules were strict and worship was wild! By the time I reached my teens I realized that I could not live out the life they expected so somewhere I slipped away from them, (them yes, but not God.) Now, Cat’s dad says I have to take her to church, “No problem with that” I said. I just didn’t have one to take her to! Cat suggested that we go to a particular Southern Baptist church in town. We did go once. You have to understand, the only church I’d ever attended was “Break-Dacin” “Holy-Rolin” Pentecostal. To me this service was the longest, coldest, deadest, and driest thing I’d ever seen. I told Cat, “These people must really love God, otherwise they’d never suffer through this week after week” I told her we needed to find someplace else, but where? I knew we could not go to my aunt and uncle’s church as “Those folks are crazy”. I had heard however of another place. An AOG church called Raleigh Assembly of God. I had heard they were progressive and not hung up on outward appearances. So we set our sights there for the next week never realizing we were about to have one of those “Pivotal experiences”

The next Sunday I picked up Cat and off we drive to the church. “What’s the difference?” she asked. “Well” I said, “Not much really, you might see someone raise their hands, and if the pastor makes a good point you might hear someone say “Amen”. Also, you’ll notice that the congregation will sing along with the choir” I didn’t say anything about tongues . (Not that I knew anything anyway). In fact the subject didn’t even enter my mind. We slipped into the back row just as the service started and since there were over a thousand people there we were just two more faces in the crowd. Everything was progressing pretty much as I had described it to Cat when suddenly everything got quiet. I had a sense that something was going to happen but I had no idea as to what. As if on queue, a little old lady stood up and began to loudly speak out. She was speaking in a foreign language. I knew at once that this was a message in tongues even though I’d never seen this before. I had seen public displays of people praying in tongues and had always found it to be a little unsettling especially with the backdrop of the rolling, running and raving that always seemed to accompany it. This was very different. It was beautiful melodic and powerful. I looked over at Cat and got the impression from her body language that she was about the freak. “It’s ok dear, I’ll explain” I said trying to reassure her. “No, you don’t understand, I know” was her reply. I leaned over and whispered “It’s ok, I promise, this is in the bible, I can show you” She said sternly this time “No, you don’t understand I know!, I understand what she is saying!” And so she did, I never had to convince this little Southern Baptist girl tongues were real as she had the interpretation the first time she heard them.

Cody2 · #4 7th January 2009, 05:26 PM

Tongues are not for today. Tongues were a sign to the Jews because the Jews sought after a sign. We seek after wisdom and we find that wisdom in God's word. We don't need signs to believe in God.

1 Corinthians 1:22 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:" KJB

1 Corinthians 14:22 "Wherefore tongues are for a sign.." KJB

cyberlizard · #5 7th January 2009, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Cody2

Tongues are not for today. Tongues were a sign to the Jews because the Jews sought after a sign. We seek after wisdom and we find that wisdom in God's word. We don't need signs to believe in God.

1 Corinthians 1:22 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:" KJB

1 Corinthians 14:22 "Wherefore tongues are for a sign.." KJB

If your academic and enjoy digging into the depth of the scriptures I'll send you PDF file that will blow these superficial assertions out of the window.

Steve

p.s. if anyone else wants a copy - email me.

bithiah2 · #6 7th January 2009, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Cody2

Tongues are not for today. Tongues were a sign to the Jews because the Jews sought after a sign. We seek after wisdom and we find that wisdom in God's word. We don't need signs to believe in God.

1 Corinthians 1:22 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:" KJB

1 Corinthians 14:22 "Wherefore tongues are for a sign.." KJB

you are entitled to your opinion and your beliefs. but in this forum that is not what we believe. yes, all wisdom comes from God's word. no, we don't need signs to believe in God. that is not what the Bible says at all. but we believe that everything that Christ gave, has not changed. signs and wonders did not cease when the last apostle died. the Bible does not teach that. we believe otherwise. tongues are for today. signs and wonders still happen, healing, miracles and prophecy are for today. it is in the Word of God, and here we choose to believe it.
blessings
bithiah2

FaultySurplus · #7 8th January 2009, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Tamara224

So I decided I'm going to make him go to a Pentecostal church with me. There aren't any good ones in this town (Lord knows, I've tried them all - that's why I'm attending a Baptist church). But this weekend we're going to be in Denver for my brother's wedding. I talked my boyfriend into it and we're going to go on Sunday. I'm not sure where - maybe Vineyard or Faith Bible Chapel.

I'm pretty excited about it. I pray and hope that he is open-minded to it and doesn't go just to criticize.

Good luck to you both and you may want to consider the Glenn Beck approach. Wrap his head up in duct tape first, that way if his head explodes during the service, you'll still have all the pieces and they can reassemble it for him at the hospital.

JimfromOhio · #8 11th January 2009, 03:09 PM

I grew up Baptist and I now understand why Baptists tends to stay away from tongues. Over the years, I have learned differently. The best thing is to testify of Christ, preach the gospel, apply his Word to the whole of life and thought, and do not forbid tongues, as long as they meet the conditions established by Paul to prevent their misuse.

In my view, speaking in tongues should stay out of churches. Tongues can be practiced in a matter that should be consistent with the Bible. Tongues spoken in private is permissionable because it is "in private between God and the person" and no interpreters are needed. Only God knows and understands.

JimfromOhio · #9 11th January 2009, 03:10 PM

I grew up Baptist and I now understand why Baptists tends to stay away from tongues. Over the years, I have learned differently. The best thing is to testify of Christ, preach the gospel, apply his Word to the whole of life and thought, and do not forbid tongues, as long as they meet the conditions established by Paul to prevent their misuse.

In my view, speaking in tongues should stay out of churches. Tongues can be practiced in a matter that should be consistent with the Bible. Tongues spoken in private is permissionable because it is "in private between God and the person" and no interpreters are needed. Only God knows and understands.

BrBob · #10 12th January 2009, 03:24 PM

Soooo... How'd it go?