What do you think about Pentecostals?

[Tim Myers]

I believe that Pentecostals are no more "off base with their teachings" than any other denomination in the world.......

In one way or another, they all have it wrong somewhere.....

 

[Hillsage]

I believe that Pentecostals are no more "off base with their teachings" than any other denomination in the world.......

In one way or another, they all have it wrong somewhere.....

and

When will the church ever figure out that 'unity of the Spirit' doesn't mean 'conformity of doctrine'.

 

[from scratch]

Could you please bad up your accusations about the AoG being a major proponent of the WoF from the AoG websites statement of faith...located at: ag.org ?? (Hint: you won't find any, because your statement is FALSE)

I'm sorry, I posted this before seeing that you corrected your original statement about the AoG being into the Wof

The AoG is my heritage. Even attended one of their Bible colleges. The AoG is a very emotional chruch following the trends. They are a major player in the WoF - Dad Hagain gang. It is with much tears that we parted company not so much over published doctrine but practice of doctrine.

 

[GarrickBrewer]

I finally made my decision to leave my A.O.G. church when we had an evangelist come in, and he was trying to tell everyone how to "speak in tounges." He said, "If you have never spoke in tongues, I want you to come down here in the front." So, a lot of people went down there. He told them, "Okay, you are all about to be speaking in tongues. Tilt your head back, open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and lift up your arms. When I count to three and snap my fingers, you will all speak in tongues!"

That was the craziest thing I have ever heard in my life, and no where is it biblical to do all that to "Speak in Tongues."

Before he spoke that night, the pastor of the church introduced him and was like, "This is one of my really good friends, he is a great man of God."

I could not agree with you more, that IS the craziest thing i have heard in my life, no single person can make that happen like that. Speaking in toungues comes from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. You are Baptised in the Holy Spirit because you seek a closer relationship with God, you want to let the Holy Spirit fill you so He can work his miracles through you, such as praying for healing and it coming true, The Baptism of the Holy spirit is basicly a tool kit which helps you do the will of God.

 

[thesunisout]

Edit..whoops was thinking of JW. Well, I know some pentecostals deny the Trinity, but that isn't really unique to them. The speaking in tongues bit as a requirement for salvation, that is fairly bizzare. I've heard these tongues and they all sound satanic to me.

I was raised in an Assembly Of God Church, I attended the same church for about 15 years. I never realized, until about 2 years ago, that many of the things that I was raised to believe were wrong and out of context. Mainly what they teach about "speaking in tounges," and the way they teach salvation.

I started Bible College a year and a half ago, now that I am learning how to study God's word properly and hermeneutically enterprit scripture I can safely say that I will never be going back to another AOG church.

Im not trying to inflame or anger anyone that is AOG or Pentecostal, I just personally believe that they are a little off on their teachings.

What are your views on AOG churches? Do you believe they are accurate in what they teach? This isn't going to be a debate or anything, I just want to have a mature conversation with people.

 

[mycatholicdiary]

I finally made my decision to leave my A.O.G. church when we had an evangelist come in, and he was trying to tell everyone how to "speak in tounges." He said, "If you have never spoke in tongues, I want you to come down here in the front." So, a lot of people went down there. He told them, "Okay, you are all about to be speaking in tongues. Tilt your head back, open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and lift up your arms. When I count to three and snap my fingers, you will all speak in tongues!"

I used to watch Creflo Dollar a lot back in the day. And on one of the shows he started to teaching people how to speak in tongues. It went much like you described. Needless to say, i don't watch/listen to him any longer.

 

[mycatholicdiary]

The catholic church has something called the charasmatic movement. In which they kind of 'spice up' the usual catholic mass with more lively music and some spiritual dancing and the like. There are things 'pentecostal-ish' that takes place from time to time such as miracles, healings and yes, speaking in tongues. But a big emphasis is placed on the fact that if someone does begin to speak in tongues, there has to be someone there to interpret it for the sake of the others who do not understand (as St Paul teaches). It would be great if the pentecostal churches would implement this. Because the first time I went into a pentecostal service, all i could think was, 'what weirdos' and searched for the closest exit. If there was an interpreter present, it might have made some sense to me, instead of me thinking that all these people are doing is looking for attention.

 

[cajunhillbilly]

I used to attend a Catholic charismatic prayer group back in the 70s. Loved their worship style very much. Pentecostals tend to be a lot more emotional than Catholic charismatics. I have attended Pentecostal churches and find a lot of their worship style to be disturbing. But most of them are true believers.

 

[ghendricks63]

I believe that Pentecostals are no more "off base with their teachings" than any other denomination in the world.......

In one way or another, they all have it wrong somewhere.....

Yeah I tend to agree with you. While I do not subscribe to some of their interpretations of scripture...I certainly accept them as Christian brethren.

 

[Hillsage]

But a big emphasis is placed on the fact that if someone does begin to speak in tongues, there has to be someone there to interpret it for the sake of the others who do not understand (as St Paul teaches). It would be great if the pentecostal churches would implement this.

What all fundamentalists, and even most Pentecostals don't understand, is that there are two sources of Sspiritual tongues speech. One tongue is from The Holy Spirit and one is from YOUR spirit.

When the tongue is from The Holy Spirit, an interpretation will accompany it....UNLESS, the person who was given the 'gift of interpretation' from 'The Holy Spirit' fails to step out in faith and give it. In such a case the tongue may be very valid even though there was no interpretation.

But if it is your spirit's prayer language/tongue there is no interpretation. And the people who freak out about someone praying in tongues in front of them, better not go into the jail ministry like I was for two years where the Mexican's would speak English and then pray in Spanish. Well, I don't know Spanish so how is that different than what happens in church?

Because the first time I went into a pentecostal service, all i could think was, 'what weirdos' and searched for the closest exit. If there was an interpreter present, it might have made some sense to me, instead of me thinking that all these people are doing is looking for attention.

My position concerning your opinion is this, it isn't that they are weird, it's that you were simply uninformed. Hopefully what I've shared here helps you to understand that a bit more.

 

[Yarddog]

What do you think about Pentecostals?

I have friends and family who are Pentecostal and haven't had any problems with any of them. We don't sit around and talk doctrine. We love each other and respect each other's love for Jesus.

 

[Hillsage]

I have friends and family who are Pentecostal and haven't had any problems with any of them. We don't sit around and talk doctrine. We love each other and respect each other's love for Jesus.

Now that's what I was talking about in my first post..."unity of the Spirit", as opposed to 'conformity of doctrine'.

 

[mycatholicdiary]

My position concerning your opinion is this, it isn't that they are weird, it's that you were simply uninformed. Hopefully what I've shared here helps you to understand that a bit more.

Thanks, it did help.
When I went to a Pentecostal church, it was back in the days of me being extrememly ignorant on many things Christian. And having someone taking me to a Pentecostal church was a huge culture shock (what with me coming from a Moravian Church background and all) so that experience didn't work for me personally(not saying that it wouldn't work for another).
i dont really visit pentecostal churches unless someone invites me for something important. The whole jumping up and down, clapping, shouting and lots of noise still kinda doesn't agree with me, but then again, that's just me
There's a place for everyone, and for me, peace and quiet is always good when praising God, that's probably one of the reasons I was attracted to the Catholic church

 

[Hillsage]

When I went to a Pentecostal church, it was back in the days of me being extrememly ignorant on many things Christian.

But at least you had to courage to GO. I think we have something to learn from every denomination. As far as I'm concerned 'they' were all formed by a move of the Spirit in their day. It was a move whose purpose was to bring those in the body of Christ, who were no longer growing where they were planted, into a new place that was also real and meaningful.

And having someone taking me to a Pentecostal church was a huge culture shock (what with me coming from a Moravian Church background and all) so that experience didn't work for me personally(not saying that it wouldn't work for another).

I totally understand. I was raised Catholic but never had a knowledge OF God...only knowledge ABOUT him (I hope that makes sense). So when my family first came to our Charismatic church they all had that same "freak out" experience you felt. But they also felt the presence of God in a way that they never had before too. And it was 'that' feeling which ended up making them all go to the church we were going to.

The whole jumping up and down, clapping, shouting and lots of noise still kinda doesn't agree with me, but then again, that's just me
There's a place for everyone,

I understand...and I fellowship with Catholics regularly in my office.

and for me, peace and quiet is always good when praising God, that's probably one of the reasons I was attracted to the Catholic church

Grow where you are planted sister.

 

[dayhiker]

I grew up Baptist, God baptized in the Holy Spirit in my 20's went to an AG Bible college in my late 20's. I really enjoyed the AG churches for years. I've been to many other churches along the way. I find Pentecostal church to be the most enjoyable and have experienced God many times there. Speaking in tongues has been on of the blessing of God in my life. I really miss the free expression of worship in tongues that was common in the Jesus' people and Charismatic movements.

Its pretty clear to me that tongues is a gift from the Holy Spirit.

 

[thesunisout]

I think anyone who believes in Jesus' name on faith is saved. Apart from that, I think denominations are not only not biblical, but the work of the devil. We are unified in Christ. Any division in the body of Christ came from sin and mans failings, not from God.

The true church is the body of Christ, of which every believer is a member. If we all came together, we could work this out through the Holy Spirit. The reason we have so many differences is *not* because of the Holy Spirit.

To some of the people in this thread who are suggesting denominations are the work of the Holy Spirit, I would tell you what Jesus said..can a house divided against itself stand? Would the Holy Spirit tell one person one truth and tell another person a different truth? Does God contridict himself?

Knowing that God does not contradict himself, any conflict has come from man receiving the doctrine of devils. For instance, Pentecostals believe if you don't speak in tongues you're not saved. That's a lie of satan, not Gods holy truth. It's only through Christ we are saved; speaking in tongues is not part of the salvation plan.

Catholics worship Mary, bow to statues and pray to intercessors. Not only is this not biblical, it is sinful. It is against the word of God! Yet we tolerate these things as mere differences in theology! When sin becomes ritualized in the body of Christ you know something is desperately wrong.

There is one church, led by the Holy Spirit. No institution is required, nor could any save you. Christ took us out of the world, our church is spiritual. Christ saves anytime, any place. Where ever there is a bible, salvation is there also. Give up your particular faction and join the true church, the body of Christ. Read your bible and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

I was raised in an Assembly Of God Church, I attended the same church for about 15 years. I never realized, until about 2 years ago, that many of the things that I was raised to believe were wrong and out of context. Mainly what they teach about "speaking in tounges," and the way they teach salvation.

I started Bible College a year and a half ago, now that I am learning how to study God's word properly and hermeneutically enterprit scripture I can safely say that I will never be going back to another AOG church.

Im not trying to inflame or anger anyone that is AOG or Pentecostal, I just personally believe that they are a little off on their teachings.

What are your views on AOG churches? Do you believe they are accurate in what they teach? This isn't going to be a debate or anything, I just want to have a mature conversation with people.

 

[mycatholicdiary]

Catholics worship Mary,

Uh...no we don't

bow to statues

We do not bow to statues as a form of worshipping it. For example, while doing stations of the cross, yes we do bow before each station's "statue" as it were, but while we're bowing, we say the words 'Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world" So we are actually bowing because of our due reverence for Jesus' saving act of the crucifixion. It has nothing to do with the statue.

and pray to intercessors.

We ask saints/people to intercede for us. ALL Christians asks for the intecessions of others. We just include Saints in this group.

Not only is this not biblical, it is sinful. It is against the word of God!

Do some good studying on the Catholic faith first and then come back to us. It's very easy to judge that which you know nothing about. I admit I too judge others because I simply do not know their teachings well enough. But I have come to learn that if I do not know the whole story, then it's better for me just to keep quiet and learn first before saying anything.

 

[thesunisout]

In the catholic religion, Mary is practically the fourth member of the Holy Trinity. Catholics do bow to statues. I have seen photographs of the pope bowing to statues. That is idolotry. Catholics make vain repretitions, like when they say their Hail Marys. Christ specifically warned us not to do this.

In the Catholic religion, Mary is called the Queen of Heaven. Sorry, not only is this not biblical, it is blasphemy. Mary is not queen of anything, let alone Heaven. God is King alone in heaven, there is no queen.

The immaculate conception is not biblical. Only Christ was born a virgin. Catholics call Mary the co-redeemer. Christ has no partner in redemption. It is only in His name a man can be saved, and His name alone. There is also a satanic doctrine that says Mary was assumed into Heaven. Again, not biblical.

Catholics call their pastor father. Christ specifically told us never to call anyone our father except our Father in heaven. The sacrements are not biblical.

Catholics pray to intercessors, yet Christ is our intercessor before the Throne of God. We need no intercessor before Christ, He intercedes for us! Only God can answer prayers. Dead people cannot receive prayers. None of this is biblical.

The catholic church claims it is the true church, yet the bible teaches that the true church is the body of Christ. An institution cannot save you, manmade religion cannot save you. Only Christ, and Christ alone can save you, no middle man required. You never have to set foot in a catholic church, or even hear about it to be saved. The catholic church and all of its works could be removed from the world tomorrow, and people would still be saved.

For this and many other reasons too the catholic church is following the doctrine of devils and is thoroughly corrupted.

Uh...no we don't



We do not bow to statues as a form of worshipping it. For example, while doing stations of the cross, yes we do bow before each station's "statue" as it were, but while we're bowing, we say the words 'Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world" So we are actually bowing because of our due reverence for Jesus' saving act of the crucifixion. It has nothing to do with the statue.



We ask saints/people to intercede for us. ALL Christians asks for the intecessions of others. We just include Saints in this group.



Do some good studying on the Catholic faith first and then come back to us. It's very easy to judge that which you know nothing about. I admit I too judge others because I simply do not know their teachings well enough. But I have come to learn that if I do not know the whole story, then it's better for me just to keep quiet and learn first before saying anything.

 

[mycatholicdiary]

@thesunisout You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. Check out some other threads that explain all of this for you. Anyway, we digress, this thread is about the Pentecostal doctrine. So lets stay on track shall we.

 

[Dutch42]

Uh...no we don't



We do not bow to statues as a form of worshipping it. For example, while doing stations of the cross, yes we do bow before each station's "statue" as it were, but while we're bowing, we say the words 'Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world" So we are actually bowing because of our due reverence for Jesus' saving act of the crucifixion. It has nothing to do with the statue.



We ask saints/people to intercede for us. ALL Christians asks for the intecessions of others. We just include Saints in this group.



Do some good studying on the Catholic faith first and then come back to us. It's very easy to judge that which you know nothing about. I admit I too judge others because I simply do not know their teachings well enough. But I have come to learn that if I do not know the whole story, then it's better for me just to keep quiet and learn first before saying anything.

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