From Baptist to Pentecostal

[natenh]

I've been currently trying to find a church to fellowship, worship and serve in. I grew up going to a baptist church which was to be honest kinda dry and lacking, and still is. Therefore I have been going to a pentecostal church (Church of God (Cleveland Tennessee)) which is known as the New Testament Church Of God here in the UK. Generally I really like it there. The People are friendly, the music ministry is exceptional, and the theology/preaching is sound etc. However, being from a rather conservative baptist background, some of the things that I see during the worship e.g. the shouting, loudness, jerking, shaking etc. can be kinda intense for me. As I've said everything else about this church is fine, but its just this one thing that kinda bothers me a little bit, however it doesn't seem big enough for me to leave. I've fasted and prayed and seeked God for an answer regarding whether or not this is the church that he wants me to stay at, but I feel that he hasn't give me a definitive yes or no answer, I feel as if he's telling me to use the wisdom he's given me to find the answer, rather than him just 'revealing' the answer to me. I've been to many different types of churches (Church of England, Anglican, SDA, Methodist, Catholic etc.) but theres something about pentecostal worship that keeps drawing me back despite how awkard it can sometimes feel, yet I have no desire to go into any of the other churches I've mentioned above, they just don't do it for me to be honest. I just wanted to know if there has been anyone in a similar situation to me, has made that transition into pentecostalism, and if there is any advice anyone could give me with regards to making that transition

Yours in Christ
NateNH

 

[FuegoPentecostes]

Well praise God for leading you to the Pentecostal Church ^.^

Just like you I also grew up in a Baptist Church (however I was always aware of the Pentecostal church because the majority of my family is Pentecostal). I know it can be strange to see this worship for the first time, but you should try what I did. Instead of asking God what it was or anything like that, I asked to have my own experience. In the name of Jesus just ask to feel the Holy Spirit! In my church we commonly shout "dejalo que se mueva" and "dale la libertad" which translates to "just let it move" and "give Him the freedom". Literally, just let Him move. It can be hard letting your guard down when coming from a Baptist church but trust me, it feels so good and makes you feel so much closer to God when you can finally let Him move in you and you can have your own personal experience with Him. Some shake, some jump, some run, some fall-out, some cry, some shout, as long as you ask God in the name of Jesus to truly let you feel His Holy Spirit He'll give it to you.

Luke 11:13 -
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Keep praying ^.^

 

[stormdancer0]

Also remember that not every Church of God is that expressive. Some are very conservative. It depends on the members and clergy involved.

I will tell you that the CoG I attend is quite calm compared to yours - and I'm thinking about looking for one with more energy. I have only been Pentecostal for about six years.

 

[FuegoPentecostes]

Also remember that not every Church of God is that expressive. Some are very conservative. It depends on the members and clergy involved.

I will tell you that the CoG I attend is quite calm compared to yours - and I'm thinking about looking for one with more energy. I have only been Pentecostal for about six years.

This is reallly true. I've been to Church of God churches that don't even allow members to clap . . . crazy. I actually changed churches recently because of how, well, not-Pentecostal my last Pentecostal church was . . . If you ask me, being crazy in church should just be a given if "Pentecostal" is in the title. We are one of the few denominations that realize the power and FIRE of God and we should express it in church. So many complain to me about how church, and Christians in general, are boring . . . I tell them, come to MY church and see if you can still say that afterwards
God loves to see His people rejoice and be joyful in His house!!!

Video of my current church, it's in Spanish, but skip around it anyways, you can just FEEL God's POWER here !!!!!! This is Pentecostal worship!!!

Culto de Poder/Ministerio Porque de Dios es el Poder - YouTube

 

[stormdancer0]

That's a little nuts for me, but the Spirit hits each person differently.

SOmetimes, though, I would love to go to some church on fire for God like that.

 

[Jethro99]

As Stormdancer said, look around if you like. Pentecostal churches can vary quite a bit as to how expressive the services are.

Also, to consider is how much pressure (if any) the clergy or congregation is going to put on you to be as expressive as they are when you do not feel led to do so or are not yet ready.

I have been in some Pentecostal churches where it was perfectly OK to worship quietly while others are being expressive (and the reverse was perfectly OK too).

I have been in others where if you worshiped quietly while everyone else was worshiping loudly (or the reverse) then you were basically made to feel that you were wrong and put under lots of pressure to get with the program and do what everyone else is doing.

It can be a tough thing to be worshiping from the heart but to be told you are "wrong" because you aren't doing it loud enough or quite enough to please the clergy or congregation.

 

[true2theword]

I've been currently trying to find a church to fellowship, worship and serve in. I grew up going to a baptist church which was to be honest kinda dry and lacking, and still is. Therefore I have been going to a pentecostal church (Church of God (Cleveland Tennessee)) which is known as the New Testament Church Of God here in the UK. Generally I really like it there. The People are friendly, the music ministry is exceptional, and the theology/preaching is sound etc. However, being from a rather conservative baptist background, some of the things that I see during the worship e.g. the shouting, loudness, jerking, shaking etc. can be kinda intense for me. As I've said everything else about this church is fine, but its just this one thing that kinda bothers me a little bit, however it doesn't seem big enough for me to leave. I've fasted and prayed and seeked God for an answer regarding whether or not this is the church that he wants me to stay at, but I feel that he hasn't give me a definitive yes or no answer, I feel as if he's telling me to use the wisdom he's given me to find the answer, rather than him just 'revealing' the answer to me. I've been to many different types of churches (Church of England, Anglican, SDA, Methodist, Catholic etc.) but theres something about pentecostal worship that keeps drawing me back despite how awkard it can sometimes feel, yet I have no desire to go into any of the other churches I've mentioned above, they just don't do it for me to be honest. I just wanted to know if there has been anyone in a similar situation to me, has made that transition into pentecostalism, and if there is any advice anyone could give me with regards to making that transition

Yours in Christ



the gifts of the Spirit are biblical, the notion that everyone receives the gift of tongues is not biblical. learn as much as you can, but be aware there are great abuses done in the name of the Spirit, and many are led to lie and fake the gift of tongues just to remain in fellowship


NateNH

opps I posted this to high on the page

 

[natenh]

As Stormdancer said, look around if you like. Pentecostal churches can vary quite a bit as to how expressive the services are.

Also, to consider is how much pressure (if any) the clergy or congregation is going to put on you to be as expressive as they are when you do not feel led to do so or are not yet ready.

I have been in some Pentecostal churches where it was perfectly OK to worship quietly while others are being expressive (and the reverse was perfectly OK too).

I have been in others where if you worshiped quietly while everyone else was worshiping loudly (or the reverse) then you were basically made to feel that you were wrong and put under lots of pressure to get with the program and do what everyone else is doing.

It can be a tough thing to be worshiping from the heart but to be told you are "wrong" because you aren't doing it loud enough or quite enough to please the clergy or congregation.

The church itself is fine in this sense, you are allowed to worship any way you please so long as theres discipline and order, there's no pressure to be like or do what anybody else is doing its just the way I see other people act can be a little alien for me, but everything else is fine

 

[Nikos7]

Wild emotion is not normal pentecostal worship. God is not pleased with emotion that originates in the passion of man but God wants worship that comes from the passion of God. True pentecostal worship holds to the moving of the Spirit. People are moved upon by the Spirit and the Spirit is a gentleman and will always act properly and decently. I would be careful if when you go to church all you see are people and their unbridled emotions. We must be a people that is close to God and follows the leading of the Spirit.