Please help me fit in somewhere

[donnamabob]

Hi there - a week ago, I considered myself to be a "Charismatic" I guess. I was raised in that type of an atmosphere, and refrained from questioning it because I had the phrase "dead church" pounded into my head a million times when it came to anything outside of it.

Last week, I had a "charismatic" minister stay with my family for a few days, and they stirred up so much strife and pure insanity amongst our otherwise peaceful family over things that they thought were "the devil" and what not. Their biblical references were very indirect and didn't seem to fit and 80% of their references were to things they read on the internet and what they claimed God told them. It was so confusing and horrible and I couldn't wait for them to leave. It's 5 days later and I still feel like I got hit by a truck.

After that, I had to stop and ask myself what on earth is wrong with that picture. It dawned on me, after all of these years, that the "charismatics" I've know are not bearing very good fruit. Now, I'm very confused about what I believe, and all of the things that I'd accepted as truth over the years.

I still believe in healing/prophecy/tongues because I see that in the bible...but there is a lot of weird, questionable things going on in these charismatic circles that I've been a part of that I just do not see. I think I might be very messed up, spiritually speaking, as a result of this.

Please help me! I started going to a "Christian missionary alliance" church recently, because I felt led to go there. I don't even know what they believe really. I don't know where I fit any more, and I feel so lost. Please help me at least find my way to someone/thing that can help me find the truth. Thanks!

 

[Joseph Hazen]

It may help if you told us what else you believe. For example, you say you believe in healing and prophecy, but there are various interpretations of that. My Church believes in those as well, but they're the result of God acting through men and women who have achieved high levels of sanctity on Earth. From our perspective it is dangerous for just anyone to begin messing around with spiritual forces without having put in the devotion to God that will allow them to discern who exactly they're dealing with, or listening to. Anyone is capable of attaining, through the help of God, that level of faith, but it's not something that goes without work. As Scripture says, it must be "worked out with fear and trembling."

So if you just wanted a church that had miracles and healings taking place within it, somewhere, then that fits several kinds of churches. If you believe any Christian anywhere should be able to speak in tongues or heal then that will limit you to Pentecostal and Charismatic churches probably.

Maybe try giving us your views on these subjects. If you're open to hearing apologetics for these topics then let us know that.

1) The Trinity
2) The Importance of History
3) Sacraments
4) Style of Worship
5) Ecclesiology
6) Saints
7) Roles for Men and Women

Start with that. The only other advice I would offer is to relax. God might be guiding you through an area you didn't expect to see, but He knew you would. He'll stay by you through this as well. Spiritual confusion sucks, but it also can be a great blessing, bringing us by leaps and bounds higher than we knew we could go. Don't stop praying.

 

[lismore]

I was raised in that type of an atmosphere, and refrained from questioning it because I had the phrase "dead church" pounded into my head a million times when it came to anything outside of it.

I know what you mean by the 'dead church' viewpoint.

However sometimes it's the Charismatic and Pentecostal churches that are dead while others are alive.

Pray to the Lord to lead you. Step out in faith and be willing to go where you would not go in the natural. The Lord will lead you to an ace place.

 

[WinBySurrender]

Donna, you might do better than the Christian Missionary Alliance, but not much better. In fact, much of the Statement of Faith lines up with the SBC. Here's a link so you can know what you can expect to hear.

The Alliance Stand

 

[karene7]

Hi Donna
You are not alone in how you are feeling and in your experiences . The enemy loves to bring confussion and division to try to isolate people. Christians are forgiven and not perfect and it is the same with churches there is no perfect church. It must give God sorrow with the divisions in his body the chuch. Maybe you could pray for God to lead you to where you will feel that you belong and this may mean that you go and look at some other churches .It is not the name on the building which is important but what happens in the church and if it is bible based and if the people there are walking in Gods love towards each other . The main thing is to find a church were the word is preached and not the type of church where the leaders are not giving bible based teachings but just crack jokes and talk about themselves and just pray for signs and wonders and dont preach from Gods word. I personally believe that churches should be Christ centred and not senior pastor centred and have been to church with two hour meetings where I have only had to refer to my bible for ten minutes which is disappointing !!!
Hope you find somewhere you feel that you belong and want to be. God wants us to be happy and doesnt want church to be a miserable experience!
Bless You

 

[thesunisout]

Hi there - a week ago, I considered myself to be a "Charismatic" I guess. I was raised in that type of an atmosphere, and refrained from questioning it because I had the phrase "dead church" pounded into my head a million times when it came to anything outside of it.

Last week, I had a "charismatic" minister stay with my family for a few days, and they stirred up so much strife and pure insanity amongst our otherwise peaceful family over things that they thought were "the devil" and what not. Their biblical references were very indirect and didn't seem to fit and 80% of their references were to things they read on the internet and what they claimed God told them. It was so confusing and horrible and I couldn't wait for them to leave. It's 5 days later and I still feel like I got hit by a truck.

After that, I had to stop and ask myself what on earth is wrong with that picture. It dawned on me, after all of these years, that the "charismatics" I've know are not bearing very good fruit. Now, I'm very confused about what I believe, and all of the things that I'd accepted as truth over the years.

I still believe in healing/prophecy/tongues because I see that in the bible...but there is a lot of weird, questionable things going on in these charismatic circles that I've been a part of that I just do not see. I think I might be very messed up, spiritually speaking, as a result of this.

Please help me! I started going to a "Christian missionary alliance" church recently, because I felt led to go there. I don't even know what they believe really. I don't know where I fit any more, and I feel so lost. Please help me at least find my way to someone/thing that can help me find the truth. Thanks!

That's the key thing, that you know a tree by its fruit. The enemy can take a truth and twist it until it comes out on the other side as some ridiculous extreme, like we see going on in the charismatic church. I recommend you watch this series:

SHOCKING DOCUMENTARY 1- False spirits invade the church - KUNDALINI WARNING - Andrew Strom -Part 1 - YouTube

You need a solid church that teaches the bible and that focuses on Jesus, and that also talks about sin and sanctification. The supernatural manifestations are not the center of our Christian life. The center is Jesus, and living holy and sanctified lives for Him. Really pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to a church that will teach the whole gospel. I'll pray for you too. God bless.

 

[Faith.Man]

That's the key thing, that you know a tree by its fruit. The enemy can take a truth and twist it until it comes out on the other side as some ridiculous extreme, like we see going on in the charismatic church. I recommend you watch this series:

SHOCKING DOCUMENTARY 1- False spirits invade the church - KUNDALINI WARNING - Andrew Strom -Part 1 - YouTube

You need a solid church that teaches the bible and that focuses on Jesus, and that also talks about sin and sanctification. The supernatural manifestations are not the center of our Christian life. The center is Jesus, and living holy and sanctified lives for Him. Really pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to a church that will teach the whole gospel. I'll pray for you too. God bless.

The beginnings of the "New Age Movement" influence on the "Charismatic Movement" I believe started years earlier with the wealth and prosperity gospel. Nevertheless, if you see a church or denomination preaching "new revelation" not backed up by sound Biblical teaching, run away.

 

[tturt]

I've read a few articles by Andrew Strom. Have you ever seen anything by him that wasn't very critical of others? - just wondering.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I had a similar experience when I first became a Christian. My world was really turned upside down. I studied the Bible intensely. It took about six years for me to find a church that I believe was biblically solid. Be patient, pray constantly, study scripture, and trust God above all.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I was involved in Charismatic churches for the first 12 years of my Christian life, and I believed for a while that other churches were "dead". But then I decided to see how the other half lived, so I joined an Anglican church and found that underneath the ritual and liturgy, they were as mad as I was! (in a good sense). After that I had about six years as a Baptist in two cities, and found great fellowship with the folks, even though they were not Charismatic. Now I am a Presbyterian elder and I view my traditional "brothers and sisters" there as my church family.

What I have discovered is that I have met many lovely Christian people who are committed to the Lord and want His best for their lives, even though they don't speak in tongues and do all the Charismatic "manifestations". I have learned that a lot of these manifestations are more psychological than spiritual.

You would be surprised at how many "traditional" Christians believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, healing, and setting free from demons. This is because they read the Gospels and believed them.

I have never regretted leaving the Charismatic church and having fellowship with Anglicans, Baptists and Presbyterians. I still subscribe to Pentecostal theology because it is my foundation of faith, but even though everyone I have fellowshipped with through the years have known that, they have always loved and accepted me. I guess that being real and genuine with people and being teachable has a lot to do with that. And also, not forcing my theology on others.

So, don't worry about having a Charismatic theology and fellowshipping with different churches. If you are genuine and you love people, they will respond to that, and will accept you as the person you are. Maybe then they might want to find out more about why you believe what you believe and you might have a positive influence where you are.

It is not that traditional Christians are intolerant toward Charismatics as such, but are mainly spooked by some of the weird manifestations that some Charismatics do.

My wife is not Charismatic and has been quite clear that she does not view it as her cup of tea, and yet we get on marvellously. I hold her in very high regard as a woman of character even though she views faith as a "retired" RC. Having been married to her for the last 22 years has caused me to calm down from some of the flights of fancy I used to go on while in the Charismatic church. I have had to make sure that my faith is real and genuine to ensure that she doesn't think I am getting too "holy" for her.

She knows that I speak in tongues, believe in healing and casting out of demons, etc., but she is more impressed by my attitude at home, treating her with respect, telephoning or texting her when I am delayed getting home from somewhere, doing the dishes when she has cooked the meal, helping her emptying the cat litter box, getting the washing in when it rains, etc.; All those practical things.

It's one thing spouting "hallelujah" in church, it is quite another thing getting up at 5am to take my 20 year old daughter to the airport to catch the cheapest flight when she needs to go back to College to resume her studies.

The instruction is to love God with all our hearts, but love our "neighbours" as we love ourselves, and to do to others as we would have them do to us.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I'm another who believes at least a fair bit of Pentecostal theology, but has left that faith tradition for another, in my case Anglican. It's all about the fruit, and the nuts. My new church has the former without the latter.