Hi All, Im curious

[freenow0]

Hi there,

I recently took a Christian Denomination selector test. I cant post the link yet...

I am looking for a chuch home, and it said my beliefs were most compatible with Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. And Assemblies of God too.

This surprised me. I always considered Presbyterian as sort of formal for me, lots of ritual and stuff. Maybe I am way off here. I love contemporary christian music, and informal praise and worship services. I am new to being free IN Chirst, and am amazed by what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. Is there emphasis on the Holy SPirit in Presbyterian/Reformed circles? I will read the definitions, and creeds etc, but was hoping for some responses from personal experience from those of you who have experience in these churches.
Thanks all
Happy Thanksgiving!
His Praise is continuously on my lips.

freenow

 

[pinkieposies]

Hi there,

I recently took a Christian Denomination selector test. I cant post the link yet...

I am looking for a chuch home, and it said my beliefs were most compatible with Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. And Assemblies of God too.

This surprised me. I always considered Presbyterian as sort of formal for me, lots of ritual and stuff. Maybe I am way off here. I love contemporary christian music, and informal praise and worship services. I am new to being free IN Chirst, and am amazed by what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. Is there emphasis on the Holy SPirit in Presbyterian/Reformed circles? I will read the definitions, and creeds etc, but was hoping for some responses from personal experience from those of you who have experience in these churches.
Thanks all
Happy Thanksgiving!
His Praise is continuously on my lips.

freenow

Hi, Freenow! Welcome!

As for your question, well, it depends on what Holy Spirit you are talking about. In Reformed churches {I don't personally know about Presbyterian churches}, the Holy Spirit is given reverence and emphasis equal as that of each of the Persons of the triune God; The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all to be honored and worshiped as equals, not one over the other. In other words, we do not put emphasis on the Holy Spirit over the Son or the Father {Just in case that's what you meant! }. If you are speaking of the Holy Spirit as in the Holy Ghost {As there are many churches that teach that receiving the "Holy Ghost", which is one af the signs of salvation, is proven by speaking in tongues and similar miracles}, no. The Reformed church does not practice tongue speaking.

I wish I could better answer your question. But I don't really know what you mean by the Holy Spirit.

God Bless,
Erin

 

[hlaltimus]

Hi there,

I recently took a Christian Denomination selector test. I cant post the link yet...

I am looking for a chuch home, and it said my beliefs were most compatible with Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. And Assemblies of God too.

This surprised me. I always considered Presbyterian as sort of formal for me, lots of ritual and stuff. Maybe I am way off here. I love contemporary christian music, and informal praise and worship services. I am new to being free IN Chirst, and am amazed by what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. Is there emphasis on the Holy SPirit in Presbyterian/Reformed circles? I will read the definitions, and creeds etc, but was hoping for some responses from personal experience from those of you who have experience in these churches.
Thanks all
Happy Thanksgiving!
His Praise is continuously on my lips.

freenow

I don't know about the main-line Presbyterian denominations as I go to an O.P.C. church which is more similar to the older, historic Presbyterians. As for emphasis upon the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, I must admit that this isn't a strongly emphasized area in the Presbyterian/Reformed Churches that I have known of. I consider it a fault on their part. Some of the greatest literary works ever written on the Holy Spirit were done by people like; Owen, Buchanan, Goodwin & Smeaton...all Calvinist paedobaptists and all from earlier generations. They weren't ashamed to teach, preach and write on the Holy Spirit and we shouldn't be either. However I must give credit to the Godly Calvinist Churches that I have known of...They do place a strong emphasis upon honoring the Word of God in it's entirety and, owing to that practice, have produced some of the Godliest saints that I have known of. Godly saints, by the way, are the ones most likely in which to find the greatest portion of God the Holy Spirit for a very obvious reason. You know what they say about, "still waters run deep".

 

[daughteroftheking1983]

I attend a Presbyterian church although I am a spirit filled believer. The Presbyterian church does believe in the triune nature of God, including the work of the Holy Spirit but as has been stated previously, does not highlight this. My own church believe in the healing power of the Holy Spirit but do not actively practice the gifts of the spirit. There are a number of believers in my church who operate in the gifts and speak in tongues, but we have to be quite sensitive about their use. From my experience of Presbyterian churches, this is probably the case in most places, with varying degrees of freedom. There are some that are stuck in the dark ages and dead as anything, but on the other hand, there are some which you could mistake for a good going pentecostal!

PM me if you have any more questions

 

[freenow0]

I am referring to the continued presence and power of the holy spirit in your life? After you believe? I am "aware" for lack of a better word, of the presence of the Spirit in my life. I am indeed a different person than I was before. I have unexplained love and compassion for people, I am "in communion" with God throughout the day. I am changing from being totally self-centered to becomming God/other centered. I am overwhelmed with Gratitude for God, which just seems to well up from somewhere deep inside me.
I havent "spoken in tongues" which some of the Charismatic churches seem to require as evidence of the Holy Spirit and true conversion. But I am very different. Something is changing me from within. I consider it the Holy SPirit of God. The "fruit" of the Spirit, patience. gentleness, self control.......are growing in my life, without consious effort on my part, except submission to GOd and his will. Does all that make sence? I guess all that brings about joy and praise, and I dont think I want to return to a "cold" formal religion. I doubt I could actually.

 

[GrinningDwarf]

Hi there,

I recently took a Christian Denomination selector test. I cant post the link yet...

I am looking for a chuch home, and it said my beliefs were most compatible with Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. And Assemblies of God too.

This surprised me. I always considered Presbyterian as sort of formal for me, lots of ritual and stuff. Maybe I am way off here. I love contemporary christian music, and informal praise and worship services. I am new to being free IN Chirst, and am amazed by what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. Is there emphasis on the Holy SPirit in Presbyterian/Reformed circles? I will read the definitions, and creeds etc, but was hoping for some responses from personal experience from those of you who have experience in these churches.
Thanks all
Happy Thanksgiving!
His Praise is continuously on my lips.

freenow

Believe it or not, there are indeed Reformed charismatics out there...but you won't find many in Assembly of God bodies. AG follows basically an Arminian theology. Their official stance is that a person can indeed lose their salvation. (I know this for a fact. I used to go to AG churches and still have an adult Sunday school book covering basic AG theology.) I've also met several pastors on a Reformed charismatic board who left the AG because of all the opposition to anything smelling the slightest of Calvinism.

Try this for a Reformed charismatic denomination...well, group of churches within the PCA, anyway:

http://www.sovereigngrace.org/

This is the website for a charismatic pastor of a Presyterian church:

http://www.rbvincent.com/

 

[TubaFour]

I recently heard the gentlemen on the White Horse Inn say something that made a lot of sense to me... I'll try to repeat it here. They essentially said that the ministry of the Spirit is to exalt Christ (and not to draw attention to Himself). So, whenever Christ is exalted, the Spirit is present and at work.

Seems simple and biblical.

aL

 

[edie19]

I recently heard the gentlemen on the White Horse Inn say something that made a lot of sense to me... I'll try to repeat it here. They essentially said that the ministry of the Spirit is to exalt Christ (and not to draw attention to Himself). So, whenever Christ is exalted, the Spirit is present and at work.

Seems simple and biblical.

aL

I love the White Horse Inn - I don't think I've ever heard them say something that I would question or find to be unsound doctrine. OK - a couple of them are pedobaptists - but no one's perfect.

 

[TubaFour]

I love the White Horse Inn - I don't think I've ever heard them say something that I would question or find to be unsound doctrine. OK - a couple of them are pedobaptists - but no one's perfect.

Yeah, I really enjoy their show.

It's too bad they only do it once a week, but it's so packed with information and they go at a fairly fast pace that I listen to it two to three times every week (on the web) to make sure I got all the little nuances of their discussion.

Yeah, it's a great mix of traditions between Rod Rosenbladt the Lutheran, Ken Jones the Reformed Baptist, and Horton & Riddlebarger the Reformed... You do get a lot of interesting discussions, but it's truly amazing how much agreement there is between these traditions.

aL

 

[edie19]

Yeah, I really enjoy their show.

It's too bad they only do it once a week, but it's so packed with information and they go at a fairly fast pace that I listen to it two to three times every week (on the web) to make sure I got all the little nuances of their discussion.

Yeah, it's a great mix of traditions between Rod Rosenbladt the Lutheran, Ken Jones the Reformed Baptist, and Horton & Riddlebarger the Reformed... You do get a lot of interesting discussions, but it's truly amazing how much agreement there is between these traditions.

aL

I listen to their cd's in my car all the time. I'm with you - have to listen several times because they pack so much information into the short time they have.

Pastor Jones has been a guest in my church's pulpit several times, expecting him again in February. He's a wonderful speaker and just a pleasure to talk to. I've heard Dr. Horton a couple of times at local reformed conferences - again, awesome speaker.

 

[TubaFour]

Horton is one of my all time favorite speakers. I've seen him speak in person, and he's just a delight. Ken Jones MC'd a Ligonier conference I attended... He happens to be one of my senior pastors' good friends.

aL

PS: I noticed somewhere you're from Toledo. I am a BGSU grad!!!!

 

[Bob Moore]

Hi there,

I recently took a Christian Denomination selector test.

Oh. You have read your Bible.


Seriously, the only remotely valid test of any denomination is whether or not they accept the Bible as the only authority to bind men's hearts. And having so accepted it, do they preach and teach it, in it's entirety, with neither legalism nor license.

I always considered Presbyterian as sort of formal for me, lots of ritual and stuff.

Nah. The only thing that could be considered 'ritual' is the presentation of the Lord's Supper, and the service of Baptism. The PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) in which I am an ordained Deacon, does not stand on formality. Everone is on a first name basis with everyone else, including the pastor. I could not immagine approaching the pastor and saying, "Excuse me, Reverend Doctor, may I speak with you?" It's more, "Hey Doug, got a minute?"

Maybe I am way off here. I love contemporary christian music, and informal praise and worship services.

You are not off at all. Contemporary music (some of it anyway) does have a place in worship, but the primary purpose of assembling together is to be edified concerning the Word of God. So that is the focus of PCA churches. Yes, we utilize prayer and praise as well, but one should always desire to come away knowing more about God than before.

I am new to being free IN Chirst, and am amazed by what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. Is there emphasis on the Holy SPirit in Presbyterian/Reformed circles?

No special emphasis. God the Holy Spirit is co-eternal with, equal in power to, and equally worthy of thanks, glory, and praise as God the Father and God the Son. Some churches have gotten caught up in "life in the spirit", and manifestation of 'gifts'. I caution you here. When God regenerates the heart of a sinner he equips the new man to function productively in His church. Most times the spiritual gifts are not at all showy, but are performed in the background, which is where a right heart will usually desire to be. Administration, helps, prayer, service of one sort or another, etc. Not everyone receives the gift of teaching, for instance (though a lot of people think they have it ), nor of preaching. The same is true of all other gifts. And you may have more than one. Ask the Lord about it. He doesn't keep such things secret.

Welcome to the family. The more kinfolks, the better.