Quesiton

[freedomnchrist]

I am going to try and address this as gently as I can. I DO NOT want to offend anyone. I am currently attending a non-denom. Charismatic church. I enjoy watching the Spirit move in a Pentecostal Church. But I am still unsure about the women wearing long hair and dresses. Also, the only Pentecostal Church I ever went to had the women and men separated when they prayed. Is this still in effect? Is there a branch of Pentecostal that does not practice the above mentioned but is still free with it's worship> Am I totally confusing you? I do confuse myself sometimes. This might sound like a totally crazy question but I really would like to know.

 

[freedomnchrist]

Question not Quesiton...sheesh!!

 

[ralangley]

I am going to try and address this as gently as I can. I DO NOT want to offend anyone. I am currently attending a non-denom. Charismatic church. I enjoy watching the Spirit move in a Pentecostal Church. But I am still unsure about the women wearing long hair and dresses. Also, the only Pentecostal Church I ever went to had the women and men separated when they prayed. Is this still in effect? Is there a branch of Pentecostal that does not practice the above mentioned but is still free with it's worship> Am I totally confusing you? I do confuse myself sometimes. This might sound like a totally crazy question but I really would like to know.

Hi! I can't speak to for all Pentecostal churches - I've only attended a handful of AOG and 4-square churches. I've also attended a handful of non-demon. charismatic churches. In the AOG and 4-Square, none of those rules apply. In fact, if they had, I would have hightailed it out of there. I have heard of frantically conservative Pentecostal churches - mostly from people in this forum. I don't think we have them on the West Coast. The AOG and the non-demon. charismatic churches seem about the same from my experience. I think a big divisive area in the AOG is the church doctrine about tongues being evidience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And yet, I've heard two AOG pastors admit they've known many spirit-filled people who don't speak in tongues. So even that doctrine is not universally embraced. I think another difference is that in both the 4-Square and the AOG churches I've attended, they control the expression of the Holy Spirit. There's healing, but within limited parameters, tongues, but in quiet whispers, etc. In some charismatic churches I've attended, they're much more expressive and non-structured. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Hope this helps!

 

[freedomnchrist]

Hi! I can't speak to for all Pentecostal churches - I've only attended a handful of AOG and 4-square churches. I've also attended a handful of non-demon. charismatic churches. In the AOG and 4-Square, none of those rules apply. In fact, if they had, I would have hightailed it out of there. I have heard of frantically conservative Pentecostal churches - mostly from people in this forum. I don't think we have them on the West Coast. The AOG and the non-demon. charismatic churches seem about the same from my experience. I think a big divisive area in the AOG is the church doctrine about tongues being evidience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And yet, I've heard two AOG pastors admit they've known many spirit-filled people who don't speak in tongues. So even that doctrine is not universally embraced. I think another difference is that in both the 4-Square and the AOG churches I've attended, they control the expression of the Holy Spirit. There's healing, but within limited parameters, tongues, but in quiet whispers, etc. In some charismatic churches I've attended, they're much more expressive and non-structured. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Hope this helps!

Thank you for your input! I guess I had such a scary experience before I am kind of "gun shy". But I really do enjoy the freedom that seems to be in most Pentecostal Churches!!

 

[FosterAngel73]

No, my church is mixed. Family members can sit together and we encourage praying together as well. No everyone wears a dress or has long hair, I'm old fashioned and though there is no biblical basis to go for or against that I'm aware of, I personally believe that on Sunday morning you are supposed to wear a dress and I also believe that women and or girls in general are supposed to have long hair and men or boys short clean cut. Though I don't push my personal belief on this matter, I do practice it and so does my three year old. I also believe in modesty and my dresses will always touch the ground no belly shirts or tank tops or short shorts. NO 2 piece swim wear or low cut necks on shirts. NO pants with words on butt ect. Again I'm an Assemblys of God member and this is only my personal belief.

 

[freedomnchrist]

No, my church is mixed. Family members can sit together and we encourage praying together as well. No everyone wears a dress or has long hair, I'm old fashioned and though there is no biblical basis to go for or against that I'm aware of, I personally believe that on Sunday morning you are supposed to wear a dress and I also believe that women and or girls in general are supposed to have long hair and men or boys short clean cut. Though I don't push my personal belief on this matter, I do practice it and so does my three year old. I also believe in modesty and my dresses will always touch the ground no belly shirts or tank tops or short shorts. NO 2 piece swim wear or low cut necks on shirts. NO pants with words on butt ect. Again I'm an Assemblys of God member and this is only my personal belief.

I think modesty goes a long way....I wish this country would stray back to it!! So I can now safely that not all Pentecostal Churches have the same "guidelines." It bothered me very much so about not praying together.

 

[NorrinRadd]

... I am still unsure about the women wearing long hair and dresses. Also, the only Pentecostal Church I ever went to had the women and men separated when they prayed. Is this still in effect? Is there a branch of Pentecostal that does not practice the above mentioned but is still free with it's worship> ...

I will add to the chorus that says such is definitely NOT the norm. I have been to many Pentecostal churches -- Assemblies of God (AG), Independent Assemblies of God (IAOGI), Christian Assemblies (CCNA -- Christian Church of North America), and NONE of them practiced gender segregation.

Historically, the AG and Foursquare churches have been toward the forefront of the gender-equality issue. The IAOGI church I attended was somewhat more in the "leadership is male" direction.

The local AG did lean a bit in the "dress your best for God" direction, but that was two or three pastors ago. Not sure now.

I don't know of any Pentecostal churches around here that cling to the old notions about hair length and dresses vs. pants.

 

[CrabWalk]

The only church around my area that practices the separation of men and women with women being required to keep hair long and long dress' and men are required to wear white dress shirt to church is an apostolic church. They have knocked on my door several times to tell me I'm not saved because I was baptized wrong. Many people I know have closed their doors to going to church because of their contact with this particular church, it really pains me to see the damage they have done in my area.

The church I go to is no that way and a friend of mines Assembly of God church isn't that way either.

Crabwalk

 

[joris]

I'm in a pentecostal/evangelical church, there is no seperation of genders, like others mentioned (families being together). There isn't such a requirement to wear dresses or have long hair or such.

The only church around my area that practices the separation of men and women with women being required to keep hair long and long dress' and men are required to wear white dress shirt to church is an apostolic church. They have knocked on my door several times to tell me I'm not saved because I was baptized wrong. Many people I know have closed their doors to going to church because of their contact with this particular church, it really pains me to see the damage they have done in my area.

I've been confused greatly by some group of christians who have.. well, similar views;
I think it confused me so much because I just was/am so uncertain of myself, finding it hard to decide how to respond to such "it must be like this and that" -- including using (abusing?) bible texts for that - finding it hard to see "is this really wrong or is there some truth in there"

 

[cyberlizard]

i think it must be an american thing.... all the churches of the AoG strain in the UK have mixed meeting, no separation of any kind re: male/female. Women are not obligated to wear either very short or very long dresses and men are not expected to keep their hair short.

america does strike me as very odd with its very polarised right wing evangelical practices.

Steve

p.s. our church is very open, and it is not unusual for me to take a jewish prayer shawl with me.

 

[freedomnchrist]

Well...I guess I'll just go on and tell yall what happened now. When I was about 16 a friend of mine asked me to go to her church. I agreed. I wish I hadn't. It was one of the strangest things I have ever seen. Like I said earlier...they did separate us, the women went up stairs to have prayer and the men stayed in the sanctuary. But the weirdest part was that some of the men were running around this flag pole when they prayed. Very strange I thought. Anyhow...needless to say I never went back.

 

[freedomnchrist]

I don't mind an open church...matter of fact that is what I am looking for. I guess I just have a bad taste in my mouth from a past experience and I ASSUMED , which we all know is a dangerous thing, that all Pentecostal churches were like the one I went to.

I have seen many people bring a prayer shawl to praise and worship and cover themselves with it as they worship. I think it is neat!

 

[okieray]

i attend an aog church, the ladies here wear jeans,pants and a few of the older women do wear lond dresses. we pray together or as we feel there are no rules on praying, its mostly how the HOLY SPIRIT moves is how each one prays. women are very active in all areas in the church, it would be a very dull church family if the ladies wern`t involved. i find that a lot of men have problems with letting the SPIRIT move on them. please find you an local aog church and visit,not just one but pray for the HOLY SPIRIT to lead you to what your spirit is hungary for. each aog church will be a little differnt from each other, i`m sure the HOLY SPIRIT will lead to just what you are needing! i`ll allso pray for the SPIRIT to lead you!

 

[NorrinRadd]

Question not Quesiton...sheesh!!

Ah, yes, the recently-discovered sub-atomic particle. Electrons, Neutrons, Protons, and Quesitons.

 

[CrabWalk]

okieray has a good point, go visit! Pray for guidance for where you are to call your home church. Pray that God will make it amazingly clear where you should be. I think you will find that when you find that church the Holy Spirit will let you know... It will feel like home you might say... I see it like this, if you are not going to the church you are called to be at, not only are you not doing yourself any good, but you may be slowing the church body down as well. I am sure you will find a church home if you look and pray!

Luv
Crabwalk

 

[freedomnchrist]

Ah, yes, the recently-discovered sub-atomic particle. Electrons, Neutrons, Protons, and Quesitons.

I am so embarrassed!!!