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Am I Disqualified From Considering Myself A Member Of The Assemblies Of God?

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Should the OP be allowed to identify as a member of the Assemblies of God?

  • No, The OP does not agree with a core belief of the AG cannot consider himself a member of the AG.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, the OP's disagreement does not disqualify him from being a member of the AG.

    Votes: 2 100.0%
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(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)

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BLUF: I currently identify as Non-Denominational however I attend an AG church because the Assemblies of God most directly agrees with my personal theological convictions. However, there are a couple of things I am struggling with in regards to speaking in tongues. I am charismatic in the sense that I believe the gifts of the Spirit are still applicable today to include the gift of speaking in tongues.
However, here is where I disagree. First, although I believe that speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift, I believe that, like any other gift of the Holy Spirit (teaching, kindness, healing, ect.), some have it and some do not. Just because someone doesn't have the gift of speaking in tongues it doesn't mean they are any more or less spirit filled than someone who doesn't have the gift of prophesy, teaching, or kindness. 1 Corinthians 12:11, 28-30. I understand that one of the major tenant of the AOG is that "The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance" (Assemblies of God (USA) Official Web Site | Assemblies of God 16 Fundamental Truths) . However, it was explained to me that the emphasis was "the initial physical sign", not the "initial sign". Thus, speaking in tongues isn't necessarily a prerequisite to being Spirit filled.
Second, I believe that speaking in tongues is not the same as "prayer language" or "glossolalia". It would be a real and intelligible language (1 Corinthians 14:10). It would be for the purpose of communicating God's Word with a person of another language (Acts 2:6-12). It would be in agreement with the command God gave through the apostle Paul, “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God” (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). It would also be in accordance with 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
So my question is simple, in light of these personal convictions, can I consider myself Assemblies of God? Or do still need to remain Non-Denominational?
 
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Johnny4ChristJesus

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If you really seek to join any visible church body, you have to be willing to agree with what they say or they have to be willing to accept you without you believing what they claim to believe. Even non-denominational churches have things they believe and don't believe.

You are accountable before God for what you agree to, not what others believe. So, if I seek to join a Baptist church that doesn't believe the gifts are for today, I am making a choice before God (and not a good one, since I believe all the gifts are in use today--whether I have been blessed with them or not). If I tell them that I believe the gifts are active today and that I walk in some gifts, and they choose to accept me, then I am free to practice the gifts in their domain until either God uses me to open their eyes or they kick me out.

There is no reason that you couldn't continue to go to that church and tithe into that church (if you feel led, because it is the closest in your area to what you believe) without joining that church if you feel you can't come into 100% agreement and that is turns out to be an issue for them. It is also possible that, over time, you will come grow into agreement with them, if that is God's plan for you. That issue doesn't sound like a humongous issue to be divided over within the bigger picture of church divisions....
 
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musicalpilgrim

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I am not sure who you are disagreeing with, surely not the Scriptures that you quote.
The Word of God says it all...
 
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(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)

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Seadish said:
In the pentacostal church I attended yes you would be shunned is a shame
Click to expand...
Would this be a common response from most AG churches? Also, how do these church congregations reconcile glossolalia with 1 Corinthians 14:6-10?

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
 
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Albion

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If you want to consider yourself to be a "MEMBER" of the AofG, you would have to join the AofG.

As with almost all church bodies, joining would require you to affirm your acceptance of its beliefs, but exactly what would be essential in this case and about what you might be allowed to dissent, I do not know.

But if you simply want to say that the AofG is your "RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE," as is a common practice whatever the denomination, there is no test.
 
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NBB

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I was filled with the Holy spirit and not spoke in tongues ever, my mother speaks in tongues in private and i believe it is from God, because, why she would 'show off' alone and be a crazy inventing gibberish? i don't think is that way, she is a sincere christian.
It happens to her when she prays a lot.
But being filled with the Holy spirit means much more, than just speaking in tongues.
 
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rjs330

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I grew up in the Assemblies as a pastors kid. I went to an Assemblies Bible College. But I believe it would be wrong for any Assembly Church to shun you or deny you fellowship for believing what you do. If being an official voting member is important to you then you may need to find another church if they make you sign something that says you have to believe that tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism. But that may not happen in your church. I know of Assemblies that would welcome you as a member without signing such a thing. God bless you my friend. The Assemblies is one of the few denominations that still believe in tongues.
 
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Johnny4ChristJesus

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Jason, I can't tell you what is right for you; but I can tell you what is right for me. God has made clear to me that if I join a church that I don't agree with their doctrine, I will be subject to their doctrine, because I made that willful choice to "subscribe" to them. But, I am a member of the true church, whether I am just an attender at a visible church or a member. In the beginning, they didn't have to all agree on every issue. That is clear from Scripture.

As far as tongues, I disagree with your assessment on tongues. There are certainly situations where tongues manifests as a world-known language. But, I can tell you from experience that isn't the only kind of tongues there are. And, while the kind you limit yourself to is certainly good for communication, you are missing out on more than you know in your walk with God. I pray for people more in tongues--in Walmart and other stores--than I do in English or a known language. I am praying in the Name of Jesus Christ and asking the Father for their healing. Inevitably, people who aren't expecting anything to happen say things like "I feel that" or "wow, its gone" after I have prayed in tongues for them.

There isn't a benefit of debating this. I know what I get to see when people are in tears of joy after being given life into their broken bodies. And, you don't know because you aren't here for me to take you out to see the shocked looks when someone gets healed in Walmart or another store despite not even really expecting to see a change.

I would suggest you look into the Scriptures where Paul talks about "speaking in the tongues of angels", "I wish you all spoke in tongues....", and where Paul said that he speaks in tongues more than them all" and where Paul talks about speaking mysteries in tongues and edifying your spirit. There is a prayer language called tongues. I just urge you to re-examine. If you don't, you will never know what you are missing and you will just be another teaching a false doctrine born out of ignorance to the Truth.
 
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(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)

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Thank you for your response. I just wanted to clarify that I am not debating speaking in tongues. My position is that speaking in tongues exist. I also believe that praying in the spirit "glossolalia" exists. However, like baptism by water and baptism by fire of the Spirit, speaking in tongues and glossolalia are separate and distinct. Furthermore, I do not believe that speaking in tongues is any more or less of an indicator of baptism by fire than any other spiritual gift. As you mentioned Paul said himself "I wish you all spoke in tongues...". This indicated that not everyone who is saved has the ability to speak in tongues.
 
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Johnny4ChristJesus

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Thank you for clarifying.
 
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