What do you think about Pentecostals?

[thesunisout]

I was raised Assembly of Gof but now I am a Calvinistic Holiness Pentecostal. There is very little difference between my beliefs and the beliefs of my denomination. I hold perseverance to be more of a mystery although I lean towards the Perseverance of the Saints. Other than stressing the sovereignty of God a little bit more, there's really no difference.

I do happen to believe in theistic evolution but as a Pentecostal preacher, I feel that helps me to preach Genesis, not as a science textbook, but from a deeply spiritual standpoint. So in some ways it actually makes me more Pentecostal because I am more free to spiritualize the text.

Hey brother, not to derail the conversation, but you're free to spiritualize the text and believe it is literal at the same time. There are many different layers to scripture and we can see that in the literal history of the Old Testament, many things are types and shadows of things to come. For example, Abraham going to sacrifice Issac was a picture of the Father sending Jesus to the cross. Paul gives us an allegory about Sarah and Hagar in Galatians 4, whom he uses to represent the two different covenants. I'm sure in Genesis there are depths we have yet imagined that we can plumb allegorically, but that doesn't undermine the literal history it portrays; in fact it enhances it. So, be mindful that literally interpreting Genesis does not close any doors to interpreting it in other ways.

 

[SayaOtonashi]

much of their teaches are completely out of context such has never wearing pants or cutting hair. That would mean mourning women would be sinning. Also Pants were made for both sexes.

 

[Veritas238]

much of their teaches are completely out of context such has never wearing pants or cutting hair. That would mean mourning women would be sinning. Also Pants were made for both sexes.

Pants ARE made... 60-80 years ago it may have been very difficult to find a woman in pants.

Anyhoo... the pants and skirts thing does not speak of all of pentecostalism. Most trinitarian pentecostals do not have these beliefs.

 

[XB3LI3V3RX]

much of their teaches are completely out of context such has never wearing pants or cutting hair. That would mean mourning women would be sinning. Also Pants were made for both sexes.

I have no idea where you got that, but at my church none of that is true.

°«Creatio ex nihilo»°

 

[SayaOtonashi]

I have no idea where you got that, but at my church none of that is true.

°«Creatio ex nihilo»°

in many other penecostal church it's true

 

[River-Dweller]

much of their teaches are completely out of context such has never wearing pants or cutting hair. That would mean mourning women would be sinning. Also Pants were made for both sexes.

I don't believe those things and I'm Pentecostal.

 

[XB3LI3V3RX]

I don't believe those things and I'm Pentecostal.

^

°«Creatio ex nihilo»°

 

[joeboonda]

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.

Good for you! While I consider them "brothers in Christ", some of their minor doctrines are wrong and can even be dangerous.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I would be open to attending an AG or other trinitarian Pentecostal church again if and only if it had no WoF, "Third Wave" or "Religious Right" associations or tendencies.

 

[x141]

Ultimately our relationship with our Father is based on our own fellowship with Him, and not another man's perception of what qualifies as the truth, that for them would define this relationship; being God defines this, and we even losing our very own soul for this relationship, who by Him, and through Him, becomes one with this definition.

 

[Forever trying]

Without reading everyone's post, I actually don't mind the AOG churches. I'm Catholic and go to both a Catholic and AOG church on Sunday's. Good friends of mine are Pentecostals. I admire aspects of it. I just don't like their mindset though. You hear from them very narrow minded views. Whereas most other denominations are getting on now, Pentecostal/AOG churches like to rip into the Catholic Church, and just about nearly every other church. Which is insulting to sit there and listen to it (especially since I contribute to their church). They don't go out of their way to make you think they're part of a wider brotherhood of Christian churches. I also don't like their never ending focus on "tithing". Particularly during times when you do have to listen to their self-righteous views.

 

[PersephonesTear]

Without reading everyone's post, I actually don't mind the AOG churches. I'm Catholic and go to both a Catholic and AOG church on Sunday's. Good friends of mine are Pentecostals. I admire aspects of it. I just don't like their mindset though. You hear from them very narrow minded views. Whereas most other denominations are getting on now, Pentecostal/AOG churches like to rip into the Catholic Church, and just about nearly every other church. Which is insulting to sit there and listen to it (especially since I contribute to their church). They don't go out of their way to make you think they're part of a wider brotherhood of Christian churches. I also don't like their never ending focus on "tithing". Particularly during times when you do have to listen to their self-righteous views.

Yeah, I'm AOG myself. I have to say that the general attitude toward the Catholic Church is so disheartening. I feel like I am constantly defending Catholicism to other AOG people, and I make very little progress. Most people raised AOG have a very skewed view of what Catholics actually believe, and trying to convince them that their pre-conceived notions don't match reality is basically impossible. My mom is one of the worst offenders. It's like talking to a brick wall. There is this view that says, "This is what Catholicism looks like," but that view is of an imaginary church that doesn't exist. People I talk to think I'm either too stupid to know what I'm talking about or somehow less informed than they are. When, really, they aren't informed at all, and that's the problem.

 

[Knockinghard]

i think like any church not every denomination has a 100% grasp on doctrine. what matters is the nature of salvation, and who God is. AoG is the major proponent of the Word of Faith movement which turns God into a vending machine and it is also taught that those saved must speak in tongues to be saved. this doesn't mean that all AoG churches teach these things, especially the WoF view, but many do. the speaking in tongues imo isn't a big ordeal because it is only one of many gifts. the WoF doctrines though are heretical, and people should run far and fast from these teachings.

i like to think of the pentecostals as the rowdy disfunctional part of the christian family

 

[Albion]

"have raised people from the dead. Is this a practice you commonly believe to be true and of the Lord?"[/B]

Sure - why not? Jesus ministered ressurection from physical death, as did Peter and Paul - why shouldn't we also???? It's the SAME power resident in US through the Holy Spirit which indwells us that the Apostles had.

If someone has been "raised from the dead," he wasn't dead.

 

[seashale76]

Yeah, I'm AOG myself. I have to say that the general attitude toward the Catholic Church is so disheartening. I feel like I am constantly defending Catholicism to other AOG people, and I make very little progress. Most people raised AOG have a very skewed view of what Catholics actually believe, and trying to convince them that their pre-conceived notions don't match reality is basically impossible. My mom is one of the worst offenders. It's like talking to a brick wall. There is this view that says, "This is what Catholicism looks like," but that view is of an imaginary church that doesn't exist. People I talk to think I'm either too stupid to know what I'm talking about or somehow less informed than they are. When, really, they aren't informed at all, and that's the problem.

Yep. I was raised A/G. My mother is exactly like this too. She even goes so far as to believe that Catholics aren't Christian to begin with. My extended family is Catholic- so anytime we're invited to christenings, first communions, whatever- I always get an ear full of anti-Catholic rant after the event.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

"Pentecostal/AOG churches like to rip into the Catholic Church, and just about nearly every other church."

Well - not ALL of us do (Our pastor and his wife received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit at the Catholic Charismatic meetings at Notre Dame back in the late '60s).

But in the smaller AoG and more rural operations, there is the problem with the "OLD GUARD" that is still convinced that the Pope is the antichrist. There are some folks that you can't turn with a 4 foot pipe wrench.

In my case, if we get into discussions like that I always tell 'em about the Secretary of the Full Gospel Business men's fellowship that I was president of back in the '70s who was "Living" the Book of Acts - just a simple fellow, who got saved, Filled with the Spirit, Had a "tight" relationship with his wife (who was saved and filled too), and almost singlehandedly got the Catholic Church in St Mary's Ohio turned around and into revival - All the Priests, and Nuns were Spirit filled, and Significant spiritual things happened every week -

 

[mark kennedy]

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.

I don't believe that Pentecostal tongues are New Testament tongues but I've convinced that they are New Testament Christians. I'm attending a Nazarene Bible college myself and I've never had a problem fellowshiping with AOG Christians. It seems the initial tension fades quickly since the doctrine of tongues being the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit only has a half a dozen proof texts.

I spent a lot of time on the subject years ago and I've had almost no luck getting a good debate from Pentecostals on the subject matter. I disagree with the doctrine but debating them is like kicking kittens and puppy dogs, I just can't do it.

 

[The realist]

I don't believe that Pentecostal tongues are New Testament tongues but I've convinced that they are New Testament Christians. I'm attending a Nazarene Bible college myself and I've never had a problem fellowshiping with AOG Christians. It seems the initial tension fades quickly since the doctrine of tongues being the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit only has a half a dozen proof texts.

I spent a lot of time on the subject years ago and I've had almost no luck getting a good debate from Pentecostals on the subject matter. I disagree with the doctrine but debating them is like kicking kittens and puppy dogs, I just can't do it.

I think the same way about those who reject the gifts of the spirit.
I haven't yet hurd one single compelling argument that supports non-pentecostal and charasmatic agendas. In fact their argument's are based on assumptions and theoretical ideas that's to far away from scriptural support. So I feel the same way about you guys and I'm not apart of any denonmination.
But I do believe that all of you who believe in the foundational principles of christianity are still my brothers in the lord, eventhough you dont believe the way that I do. We just have separate differences thats all.

 

[The realist]

If someone has been "raised from the dead," he wasn't dead.

Now that is just crazy thinking!

 

[The realist]

I don't believe that Pentecostal tongues are New Testament tongues but I've convinced that they are New Testament Christians. I'm attending a Nazarene Bible college myself and I've never had a problem fellowshiping with AOG Christians. It seems the initial tension fades quickly since the doctrine of tongues being the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit only has a half a dozen proof texts.

I spent a lot of time on the subject years ago and I've had almost no luck getting a good debate from Pentecostals on the subject matter. I disagree with the doctrine but debating them is like kicking kittens and puppy dogs, I just can't do it.

Why don't you believe that modern pentecostal tongues is the same gift as in the early first century church?