Question...

[meldel]

My husband is 'pentecostal'....we've been married only 4 years, and he has backslidden terribly, so we are not currently going to church.....But, I have a couple of questions about 'penecostal' churches in general....and he is a little stubborn in his ways to really hear my questions.....

1) My husband said that if someone isn't healed of a disease....then they a) didn't have the faith or b) someone that was called to pray for them didn't or c) sin. I just wonder where people stood on this in the penecostal church in general.

2) When I've gone to my husbands church there is ALWAYS someone who speaks in tounges and ALWAYS someone who falls over at the altar call......is this normal? It feels kind of 'showy' to me.....And I'll be the first to admit it's new to me....so, I could be very naive.


There are a couple to start with

I'm sure I'll end up asking more.....and I hope that is ok!

 

[Dr. Holly]

Hi meldel

Hopefully I can answer your questions as you are looking to have them answered.

You are going to find that every Pentecostal church is slightly different in their chosen style of worship. It depends so much on the pastor and where he wants to take the service. So it might be hard to get the same answer from everyone but I will start my adding in what I feel about the questions you have asked.

1) My husband said that if someone isn't healed of a disease....then they a) didn't have the faith or b) someone that was called to pray for them didn't or c) sin. I just wonder where people stood on this in the penecostal church in general.

This is fairly common to hear in the Pentecostal church belief. However, at my church for example, this is not the case. God's will takes the ultimate choice in who gets healed & when. It is wonderful that our brothers and sisters pray for us, but this does not mean that we are guaranteed a healing OR that we have done anything wrong to not deserve it. It also does not mean that the person praying was of enough faith. Some Pentecostal churches might believe this however, as other denominations do as well. I personally feel it also depends on how the individual feels about this issue.

2) When I've gone to my husbands church there is ALWAYS someone who speaks in tounges and ALWAYS someone who falls over at the altar call......is this normal? It feels kind of 'showy' to me.....And I'll be the first to admit it's new to me....so, I could be very naive.

Speaking in tongues and being slain in the spirit (falling out at the altar call hehe) are what Pentecostals consider "gifts of the Spirit." This is more or less what our denomination focuses on. However, you WILL find some churches that focus on this more so than others. Some speak in tongues for 10-15 minutes after every song or in between prayers (we have one like that around my area) and some that only speak in tongues with the Holy Spirit is speaking to/through them. There is a big difference between a 'showy' Pentecostal church and one that is genuine. I can assure you though that most Pentecostal churches are not being 'showy,' but are rather just feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit.

For those who are new to the denomination, it's understandable to be taken aback It is quite a circus (meaning that in all due respect) sometimes, but overall, we just love the presence of the Holy Spirit and are very hungry for it...allowing ourselves to be very free in what He would have us do. If we feel in our spirit the need to run, we run. If we feel the need in our spirit to speak in tongues, we speak in tongues.

What's important is that you don't join a Pentecostal church that forces or expects you to do these things as soon as you attend 1 service or even your first service. This tends to be more of a 'showy' church. I have found that most are very accepting of how the Holy Spirit works in different individuals. God gives each of us different "gifts" and that's what being a Pentecostal is all about...being able to express those gifts freely.

I hope this helps you, sister. Feel free to ask any other questions. I'll be here to help God bless you!

 

[BarbB]

Before I was born-again, attending my brother's AOG church was a frightening experience and until a couple of years ago I believed that it was demonic. Then I began to desire the experience of intense worship and the presence of the Holy Spirit. I do not speak or pray in tongues (doesn't happen all that often in my Church of God), but I was slain in the spirit and it was the most amazing experience. Hard to describe.

Also, my church does not believe that not being healed is due to any of the three reasons your husband gave you. It could be that it's part of God's plan or the answer to the prayer is "not now". I don't let it bother me, even though I would love to be healed.

God bless your search!

 

[Emma!]

1) My husband said that if someone isn't healed of a disease....then they a) didn't have the faith or b) someone that was called to pray for them didn't or c) sin. I just wonder where people stood on this in the penecostal church in general.!

This question will be answered slightly different by everyone regardless of denomination. When it comes down to it, Gods will, will be done in each individual situation. The reasons as to why people are 'not' healed is different in each situation. I do believe that everyone 'can' be healed and i believe that some people who 'are' healed also dont 'go on' (or 'walk') in that healing and therefore loose it. There are quite a few factors involved here. (if you want me to be more specific let me know ).

2) When I've gone to my husbands church there is ALWAYS someone who speaks in tounges and ALWAYS someone who falls over at the altar call......is this normal? It feels kind of 'showy' to me.....And I'll be the first to admit it's new to me....so, I could be very naive.

Tongues is a gift from the Holy Spirit, there are 2 types of tongues. One type must be interparated by 2 or 3 people and is used for God to bring a message to His church of eg. encouragement etc...the other type is a 'personal prayer' language that is available to all believers, and is basically a unknown language just to God (doesnt have to be interparated), it is used for a few reasons one of which to help God to build you up, another is to use in prayer for others and in private prayer because the Holy Spirit prayers the 'deep gronings' of the heart when we are not sure what to pray.

As for the people falling over at the alter that is simply a matter of that person feeling the presence of God so strongly that they just fall (its not a 'bad' falling over its like being 'overwhelmed' by the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, peace...etc)).

As for the church being 'showy' have a read of the church in Acts in the Bible...church was never boring there! Nothing is meant to be boring when the Holy Spirit is involved!

I'm sure I'll end up asking more.....and I hope that is ok

That is more than ok