Why are pentecostals so.....

[AlabamaMan]

Why are pentecostals so judgmental. I was a part of the pentecostal church for a loooong time. I am now more nondenominational...but one thing I noticed growing up in the pentecostal church is that most...not all...of them were very very judgmental.

I know that not all are this way and that you should not focus on one bad apple...but from what I have seen its been more than one bad apple....its very prevelant from what I have seen. Just wondering what your thoughts on this are.

 

[Tenebrae]

Why are pentecostals so judgmental. I was a part of the pentecostal church for a loooong time. I am now more nondenominational...but one thing I noticed growing up in the pentecostal church is that most...not all...of them were very very judgmental.

I know that not all are this way and that you should not focus on one bad apple...but from what I have seen its been more than one bad apple....its very prevelant from what I have seen. Just wondering what your thoughts on this are.

I think its a christian thing in general

 

[live4grace]

Why are pentecostals so judgmental. I was a part of the pentecostal church for a loooong time. I am now more nondenominational...but one thing I noticed growing up in the pentecostal church is that most...not all...of them were very very judgmental.

I know that not all are this way and that you should not focus on one bad apple...but from what I have seen its been more than one bad apple....its very prevelant from what I have seen. Just wondering what your thoughts on this are.

It's the "gift of judgment", certainly you've heard of that.

Seriously, though I do agree that by no means do pentecostals have the corner on the judgment market, I think you have observed something that's definitely true, but to be sure .. what kind of judmentalism are you talking about? What particular kinds of things were judged?

 

[USMC]

I think it definitely depends on the church you're talking about. I've been to plenty of the Protestant churches that were extremely judgemental, so much so that my father was asked to leave a particular Protestant church (I won't say the denomination) when he got divorced. You may have had a bad experience in certain Pentecostal denominations, but I wouldn't go so far as to say Pentecostals are more judgemental than other denominations/churches. It all depends on the pastor and the congregation, how accepting they are to view or doctrine which may differ from there's in any way.

Now, I have attended some churches that belong to a sect which is extremely legalistic in it's doctrine. This may be what you're talking about (i.e. women can't cut there hair or where pants, everyone who hasn't spoken in tongues is going to hell, etc.) But we can go on forever talking about the things I find wrong with THAT particular sect (I have a hard time calling them a denomination, as many of their practices I find very cultic).

 

[takemedeeper]

I agree with USMC it depends on the church and the people. If the church is filled with people whos walk with God as been pretty short or if they have stopped entierly. If the later is the case sin develops in there life and although they are filled with it themselves they judge other people on ther sin.

 

[live4grace]

Now, I have attended some churches that belong to a sect which is extremely legalistic in it's doctrine. This may be what you're talking about (i.e. women can't cut there hair or where pants, everyone who hasn't spoken in tongues is going to hell, etc.) But we can go on forever talking about the things I find wrong with THAT particular sect (I have a hard time calling them a denomination, as many of their practices I find very cultic).

I have heard doctrine like that and you're right, it is a cult. They are preaching a different gospel (Gal 1:6-8 - not a good practice).

But again, if it isn't speaking in tongues that's required for salvation, it would be getting baptized a certain way or eating the right foods. Anything but being saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus is false teaching.

 

[Compass05]

A lot of Pentecostal churches ARE quite judgemental, from what I've seen recently. Mine isn't quite so. They prefer their women to wear skirts, and the women of the church don't seem to WANT to cut their hair, so that's not an issue. As for guys with their hair, they don't seem to care if it's cut short or not, though most men like a nice trim anyway.

As for the conditions for being saved, I am not knowledgeable. I am not saved by baptism as of yet, but I am welcomed in the church with open arms. I have been saved by praying to the Lord and asking for salvation, though. And the members of my church get very excited about new members as well, which I guess is an evangelical thing. The people of my church would rather have the chance to tell someone the Truth than shun them because they don't know it.

 

[catlover]

I don't see how expecting people, who profess to be Christians, is judgemental. Lately, I have met some folks who claim to be Pentecostal who enjoy ripping thy neighbor off.

Maybe if they were at a "judgemental" church and feared God they would refrain from ripping thy neighbor off.

 

[WannaWitness]

There are judgemental people from many denominations -- not just Pentecostal.

 

[AlabamaMan]

There are judgemental people from many denominations -- not just Pentecostal.

It seems like some of ya'll did not bother reading my whole post...because if you did there would be no need for comments like this.

I said I know its not all pentecostals but...I have been in several different type pentecostal churches as well as nonpentecostal...even catholic and by far the ones who were most judgemental were the pentecostals....again...this is NOT ALL PENTECOSTALS...but most.

 

[catlover]

It seems like some of ya'll did not bother reading my whole post...because if you did there would be no need for comments like this.

I said I know its not all pentecostals but...I have been in several different type pentecostal churches as well as nonpentecostal...even catholic and by far the ones who were most judgemental were the pentecostals....again...this is NOT ALL PENTECOSTALS...but most.

Just how were they judgemental? In what ways did they exhibit this behavior?

 

[ed2]

bama,

i did read your whole post, but you asked why pentecostals are so judgemental. you didn't ask why baptists, methodists, or whatever are so judgemental. it seemed that you pointed out pentecostals.

but i do agree with you. i am pentecostal and there is a lot of judgemental folks in the pentecostal movement. i can't speak for other denominations since i have never been part of any other.

however, i cannot answer your question. i myself try not to be judgemental, or get worked up if i think someone else is being judgemental toward me. but to answer your question (why are pentecostals so judgemental) i cannot.

i will ask this question that i asked my wife. she is always saying that this one or that one is being judgemental.
by saying that this one or that one is judgemental, are you not being judgemental yourself? when i asked her this, she like to hit the roof.

i guess what i am saying is just let God handle those that are being judgemental and not get worked up over it.

God bless

 

[AlabamaMan]

Oh...I'm not worked up about it. And the reason I did not ask about baptists or methodist is because I have not witnessed a judgmental behavior from them as much as I have the pentecostals. Also, this is a pentecostal forum.

I have been a part of baptist churches, as well as catholic and nondenom. churches. By far, in my experience pentecostals are the most judgemental...that was my own observation I also stated that it is NOT ALL PENTECOSTALS. My question is just that a question....why do you think pentecostals can be soooo judgmental.

Someone asked for examples....people shunned me because I had hair to my shoulders...cannot wear shorts(only some churches). I have seen people asked not to come back unless they wore a shorter skirt or something that covered more. It's not just that but the things I overheard people saying about visitors was awful...a real turn off.

 

[catlover]

Someone asked for examples....people shunned me because I had hair to my shoulders...cannot wear shorts(only some churches). I have seen people asked not to come back unless they wore a shorter skirt or something that covered more. It's not just that but the things I overheard people saying about visitors was awful...a real turn off.

I am really sorry that happened. IT sounds like those particular churches felt like they were an exclusive country club for saints. Gee, what's the point of a church if it's only for people who think they are saints!? However, please, keep in mind that not all Pentecostals are that way. In the church I attend, we've had folks with spiked hair, piercings, drunks, and butts literally hanging out on the alter.(one gal wor an odd pair of tight pants, and when she squated down,on that alter to pray, her butt and gee string stuck out,someone simply covered her butt with a jacket)
But, while we are one the subject of butts, those folks were never told not to come back. In fact the Pentecostals made it a point to make those folks feel welcome and prayed over the visitors in tongues.

 

[JamesBurrow]

It depends on the church. I have a friend that refuses to visit my church because at an Assembly church in Montana they condemned her for being Baptist. This is something that has not happened at my church (also an Assembly of God). In fact, we normally have visitors from other denominations (and a few regular attendees).
In fact, every Wednesday during Youth we have goths, punks, skaters, everyone (we even encourage it! we have a mini-skate park and everything!). We definately defy what is considered the "norm" for pentecostals.

 

[live4grace]

I think the judgmentalism we've all seen comes from the history of the movement. Many who founded or joined Pentecostal denominations and churches in the early days did so as outcasts of non-Pentecostal, mainline denominations. The friction was pretty awful, and like any new movement, the early Pentecostals focused on become unlike the other churches as much as having their own distinctive practices and doctrine. Whenever this happens (and it's been a recurring theme in the Church since Jesus walked the earth), tribalism, a sense of "us" versus "them" becomes more important than discipleship. The church gets ugly.

So, the dress codes that everyone is talking about, legalism in all manner of things that were considered either worldly or non-Spirit-filled and a peculiar aversion to higher learning were all adopted as defining what it meant to be "Pentecostal". The manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit were placed on a higher plane than balanced, Biblical teaching and living.

For example, if an inanimate object like a pool table was considered linked with sin, it was a very easy thing to ban. That way no one had to bother to learn that a pool table in the church basement could actually win young people for Christ and it needn't be part of an environment that featured gambling or smoking or chewing gum (gasp!). This very ban was in force in the church in which I came to saving faith.

I think we've seen quite a bit of balance come into the Pentecostal movement though. Preacher/teacher/academics like Jack Hayford and Joseph Garlington have provided so much solid discipleship and balance that they've been used by God as peacemakers, healing the painful schism created by the prior generation. This is where the future of the movement lies, it's where true fruit has always grown.

 

[FireOfGod]

I think its a christian thing in general

Sadly, I'd have to agree here...

 

[Heinrich]

Some churches has fallen into legalism and moved away from an outreaching perspective.
Never judge a church on it's label. Just because it says pentecostal or "bible believing" or whateva doesn't mean that much. That's sad.

True: We must preach that God will judge every person. That's the truth.
But we are not suppose to judge people around us. Especially not unsaved people. The Holy Spirit will convict them! We should love them.
If a church does things like shun people away for hair or dress ect... well stay away. I don't think you belong there anyways
But for a church to give a request through in cell groups to girls to please not dress so sexually explicit (BECUASE THIS DOES DRAW AWAY THE ATTENTION OF GUYS) then I think that is good.

Do not judge. Rom 2

 

[WannaWitness]

Someone asked for examples....people shunned me because I had hair to my shoulders...cannot wear shorts(only some churches). I have seen people asked not to come back unless they wore a shorter skirt or something that covered more. It's not just that but the things I overheard people saying about visitors was awful...a real turn off.

I'm also familiar with churches that are sticklers about whether or not women are wearing trousers, makeup, and jewelry, and if they're cutting/trimming their hair. Usually, that's associated with UPC/Apostolic churches, although I know there are other denominations with churches just like this. Yes, as you say, it would be a turn off. Any church (denomination aside) that would judge another person on such things -- well, it's just petty.

I'm a firm believer that we should all let God work with other people in their lives, and let them have their own convictions.

 

[Religious Crisis]

I personly have never felt that way at the church I go to, in fact I came to this one after feeling the one I was at was too judgmental; best thing that could have happened to me. But I also see parts of the church where people a bit too legalist, and that can push people away, but I know who I am in Christ and I fear no man or what any man thinks of me.