Need some advice

[Touma]

Hello all! I hope and pray you are all doing so very well.

I need some advice. I've recently began to see a young lady (yay me!!!). We really fit each other in most ways, and I feel myself falling for her. However, there is one small reservation I have...her church denomination. She is Assembly of God. I am not. I've been going to her church. It's a typical Pentecostal service (but in Spanish). I know she is a lover of Christ. I know she loves him and follows him. However, the teachings of the denomination scare me, because they are essentially neo-Montanism. I haven't seen it so much in her church (mostly because I don't understand the services 100%), but I know it is a teaching prevalent in the movement.

My question is this...As I am moving slowly towards the Church and Orthodoxy, how do I try to convince her to at least consider the same path? I don't want to throw it at her and say she is completely wrong. That would have the opposite impact.

I just want to let her see it from a good light and not the negative light that Protestants see it in.

I know there are a few people here who came from the Charismatic movement to Orthodoxy...How did it happen for you?

 

[MariaRegina]

I came into Orthodoxy even though I was active in the Charismatic Movement of the Catholic Church.

What appealed to me was the mysticism, and reading Dr. Kyriakos Markides' book, The Mountain of Silence, really helped. Mother Victoria of the OCA monastery in California said that quite a few inquirers came into Orthodoxy through reading Markides' books and even lapsed Orthodox members who were critical of clergy and monasticism changed their viewpoint. Although Dr. Markides writes this book primarily from an inquirer point of view as one who was very skeptical, his search for the truth shows. It is this honesty which has helped so many discover the truth.

When your girlfriend realizes how many charismatic saints the Orthodox Church has, she will be blown away. Our saints, both living and those who have fallen asleep in Christ, have possessed many gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Have you read the life of St. Seraphim of Sarov by Father Lazarus Moore (may his memory be eternal)? It is awesome. Here is a saint who lived in the 19th century who was known for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He could read souls, and the Theotokos healed him several times when he was on the verge of death. He even knew when he was going to die.

Also read the life of St. Nektarios of Aegina. I have read two biographies. St. Nektarios died in 1920. He was persecuted by his own brothers in Christ, and thus endured a bloodless martyrdom. Through the grace of Christ and those imparted by the Most Holy Theotokos, he worked many miracles both before his death and afterwards.

 

[Dorothea]

You all could take turns visiting each other's churches for liturgy and worship services at her church. My husband and I did that when we were first dating. Although, he was a seeker and the first time he stepped foot into our little Orthodox mission church, he never went back to any other Christian or non Christian place, I know the girl you're seeing is already involved in her church and feels at home there. I would say don't push it, but offer to take turns visiting each other's churches. Hopefully, she'll be open to just visiting a few times. If she visits and doesn't feel comfortable with it, I wouldn't push it. Other than that, I'm not sure what you can do.

 

[SeventhValley]

Hello all! I hope and pray you are all doing so very well.

I need some advice. I've recently began to see a young lady (yay me!!!). We really fit each other in most ways, and I feel myself falling for her. However, there is one small reservation I have...her church denomination. She is Assembly of God. I am not. I've been going to her church. It's a typical Pentecostal service (but in Spanish). I know she is a lover of Christ. I know she loves him and follows him. However, the teachings of the denomination scare me, because they are essentially neo-Montanism. I haven't seen it so much in her church (mostly because I don't understand the services 100%), but I know it is a teaching prevalent in the movement.

My question is this...As I am moving slowly towards the Church and Orthodoxy, how do I try to convince her to at least consider the same path? I don't want to throw it at her and say she is completely wrong. That would have the opposite impact.

I just want to let her see it from a good light and not the negative light that Protestants see it in.

I know there are a few people here who came from the Charismatic movement to Orthodoxy...How did it happen for you?

Assembly of God is one of the trinitarian Pentacostal groups. Just for your FYI

 

[SeventhValley]

Don't push her. But don't marry her unless she converts or you are in for a world of headache. Also make sure she goes for about a year or year and a half after converting before marriage also to make sure she is for real. Experience talking

 

[gracefullamb]

Touma are you a catechumen yet? As to your question if you haven't invited her with you to Orthodox services, I think that would be the first place to start. She cannot really consider such a path if she has not even attended services with you yet. Reading about Orthodoxy really isn't the same as seeing it through the services, hence why we say, "Come and See."

 

[E.C.]

Don't push, but be an example and let the relationship mature a bit.

 

[seashale76]

I was raised in the Assemblies of God. My grandfather was a minister and the Superintendent for the state district for many years. The first time I ever went to an Orthodox Church was when I was seventeen. The only reason I did so was for a comparative religions class I was taking. It fascinated me endlessly and was all I could talk about for at least a week. However, I remember telling this guy during coffee hour that I already had a faith and would never become Orthodox.

It took lots of questioning of the doctrines I was raised with, leaving Christianity altogether, and a few years of spiritual angst before randomly deciding to look into Orthodoxy from a historical perspective and then convincing my husband to go visit a parish (the same one I went to years before). I was 29 the second time.

You can't push this. I came to my questions on my own after reading the scriptures and realizing that what I was being taught didn't mesh well with them. Asking questions didn't provide decent answers, and I was often told we wouldn't know 'this side of glory'. Concentrate on what they get right, pray for her, and keep an open invitation to go to church with you.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Hello all! I hope and pray you are all doing so very well.

I need some advice. I've recently began to see a young lady (yay me!!!). We really fit each other in most ways, and I feel myself falling for her. However, there is one small reservation I have...her church denomination. She is Assembly of God. I am not. I've been going to her church. It's a typical Pentecostal service (but in Spanish). I know she is a lover of Christ. I know she loves him and follows him. However, the teachings of the denomination scare me, because they are essentially neo-Montanism. I haven't seen it so much in her church (mostly because I don't understand the services 100%), but I know it is a teaching prevalent in the movement.

My question is this...As I am moving slowly towards the Church and Orthodoxy, how do I try to convince her to at least consider the same path? I don't want to throw it at her and say she is completely wrong. That would have the opposite impact.

I just want to let her see it from a good light and not the negative light that Protestants see it in.

I know there are a few people here who came from the Charismatic movement to Orthodoxy...How did it happen for you?

As somebody who's inquiring into Orthodoxy and presently married to someone who comes from a very strong Charismatic background (she used to be involved with the International House of Prayer, went to conferences like Acquire the Fire, believes in the ecstatic prophesying and speaking in tongues that you so often see in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles), granted, she doesn't really practice that much these days. I can affirm that everyone here is giving sound advice: don't push it.

I've come to realize that trying to engage in debate and arguments with my wife over why what we believe matters, why Orthodoxy has it right, etc all just ends up being counter-productive if she's not ready for it. I think as I put my focus on becoming more Christ-like and loving my wife well, then perhaps a curiosity about Orthodoxy will emerge in her heart and mind. Trying to convince a person usually just backs them into a corner and they end up defending themselves and their beliefs.

 

[Soderquj]

This ^ . Become Christ to her and through your actions show here what Orthodoxy is.

 

[ArmyMatt]

for one, don't push or argue, that normally will lead someone away. just love her as you should, and let God do what He does. remember, He is the one who converts folks, not us. so answer stuff when she asks, pray, and be patient.