Firstly thanks heaps for sharing your opinion.
Just to put a different point of view on some of the things you have said:
I have to point out some pentecostal churches may not have any problems with the above, but I disagree with this notion of chasing after the gift of tongues. Not every Christian can speak in tongues, and the gift of tongues does not edify the body but the self.
Also at that particular pentecostal church the belief was held by some members (I don't know, as I never spoke to the pastor about it), by my friend told me that if water baptism, baptism by the spirit, and the gift of tongues occur at the same time. If you don't speak in tongues, then something's wrong. That is completely wrong, and it creates tension in the church, plus freaks out those who aren't Christians visiting the church.
I would definatly agree with you on this one Speaking in tounges is not the be all and end. Many people are baptized with the Holy Spirit but never speak in tounges.
Hillsong and Most other Pentecostal churches DO NOT belive that you HAVE to speak in tounges nor do they belive it's central to your slavation or that you are weird/strange if you don't.
Having said that there are some very out there pentecostal churches that belive this and i would say they are boarding on cults.
Certainly when I first became a Christian, it was at a pentecostal church, so I only speak of what I experienced there. But I came on Sunday's to "recharge" and to get on a high. It comes to a point when that was all a pack of lies. The gospel is not about me, nor is it about you, its about Christ. The whole concept or worship was wrong. Worship isn't just in song, or in speaking in tongues. Worship is something that our lives are meant to be. Every second, every moment - is meant to be worship.
Again something else i would have to agree with, Church is not about getting on a high the church is for two main reasons, For people of the same faith to come together and fellowship.
And the MOST IMPORTANT reason is for them to help and reach out to all in their community and the world.
I think this is a mjor misconception about Pentecostal churches. To me it sounds like you've experianced a very scary Pentecostal church one of those ones i would say boarders on being a cult.
Worship is alot more free and it can appear that becuase people are jumping around and enjoying themselevs then they some how are getting on a high and thats the only reason they come to church.
This is not the point of worship at all the point is to worship God to come before him and praise him for all that He has done in your life and to give Him glory for all that He is.
If thats what was taught at the pentecostal church you attended i would have to agree that this is very wrong.
I haven't seen Hillsong or any of the main stream Pentecostal movements Preach this at all. To them Worship is totally for Glorifying God.
The whole prosperity doctrine is scary. I don't know who from reading the bible one can get the notion that "By giving, God will give back to you" This was repeated everytime at tithing time. The gospels have nothing to do with worldly treasures. It is totally unscriptural.
This is is an other HUGE misconception of the pentecostal church.
You don't give to get back "Worldly Treasures".
Malachi 3:8-12 NIV
......"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a cursethe whole nation of youbecause you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
You give first and foremost because everything you have comes from God. God is simply asking to give back what is rightfully His. Then if you do this God will look after you, That DOESN'T mean you will get a big fat check in the mail or a whole stack of money in your bank account.
It means you will never hungry, you won't left out in the cold, If you first trust Him then He will provide for you.
It never ceases to amaze how mis-understood this simply practise is.
Its not about giving to get and it's not essentail to your salvation. Its about giving back to your God the creator of the universe who without you would not be here.
It digusts me that there are massive productions, constant pampering of how God has blessed the church. We are not blessed to be proud over it. We are blessed to bless others. There was never once talk of the homeless, or those living in poverty overseas. It was more "Look at us, God likes us, look at all our money and flashy shows" Church wasn't church - it was a show. And it wasn't real. People put on there Sunday selves there. What is the exact purpose of a massive church building with smoke, stage, lights, good equipment? I don't see how it glorifies God - Jesus never had flashy clothing or anything like that. Nor did Jesus ever indulge himself, and but excuse me, He's God. He could have and there would have been nothing wrong with it. Yet he doesn't, but people do? I must say however, there are wonderful Christians from the church.
Well again an other misconception, Having good equipment, lights, stage, instruments is NOT about showing off or being flashy.
Its about bring the first fruits to God. Its about in everything you do, Do it with excellence and not just give God the crumy left overs.
Having said that Only churches who can afford to have these things should have them. I don't belive in a church going into debit just so they can "keep up with the jones" so to speak.
I think it's disgusting and totally wrong that many churches do things half arsed becuase they belive God has called them to be poor.
I would again have to agree that we are blessed to be a blessing and if you went to a pentecostal church that wasn't interested in helping the homeless, the sick or the poor. Then that church was totally missing the point.
Hillsong and most Pentecostal churches have a huge outward focus church is not about them and it is evident in all the missons trips, the charitys and communitys they are involved in.
That is not to say other churches are completely correct either, but they are very obvious things that is not correct with pentecostals. I must point out I'm not attacking the gift of tongues, or the Holy Spirit that would be blasphemy of the Spirit. But I use to think I can speak in tongues when I was at that church, but I now can assure you I don't.
Well I would again have to agree there not all pentecostal churches are perfect and they are problems in every church.
I think your problems with the pentecostal movement spring from the fact that you obviously attended a very off and strange pentecostal church. They however are not a true representation of the pentecostal movement.
Like i said above this is just an other side of the coin, If you don't agree that's totally cool. But I hope you've learnt something about the TRUE nature of the pentecostal church.
