| Author | Message | ||
| Berit Registered user Username: Berit Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2007 |
Since we moved I'm still in the search of a new church and today I visited a pentecost church. The people were nice and friendly. Music was OK and the testimonies were nice. What I experienced as very strange was their prayers. One man mentioned the name Jesus in the beginning AND end of almost every sentence! A woman said Jesus "only" once in every sentence. And while they were praying the rest of the congregation said Yes, Jesus, Amen, Hallelujah, Jesus, Yes, etc. I have wisited a pentecost church before, but their prayers were a bit more "normal". I dont know if words like sentimental or hysteric is the right to describe how I ecperienced this. To compare: I love my husband, but I don't use his name in every sentence when I talk with him! To me this was a bit too much, almost like they used the name Jesus as a mantra to come in a religious mood or something. So I was sceptical, and did not feel comfortable about their prayers, it was just too different. I felt like I had landed on a strange planet or so. On the other hand I thought this might be their prayer culture, just as some people pray in "King James". Can somebody help me to understand this "phenomena"? | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1221 Registered: 9-2006  |
Berit, There are Pentecostal churches who are called oneness, they do not believe in the trinity. Not saying that is what you encountered, just letting you know that there is churches with heretical views. That said, is it really over the top to yes Jesus or Hallelujah or get a bit excited about him? Even if a whole church full of people do it? Do you feel as if you landed in a whole church full of people not serious? We may find heaven a bit more praiseful than that. These same people may find you a bit strange because you sit through a service like a fence post. Does that mean you are suspect? Maybe they viewed your silence as a bit much. People in all diffrent denominations get comfortable with their mode of worship, some noisy and some you could hear a pin drop. Some play the drums, some do not have musical instruments at all, not even a piano. Just Voice. Personally I am comfortable with a middle of the road group, But thats just me. Its a jungle out there. Not much help was I?  River (Message edited by river on August 05, 2007) | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 667 Registered: 4-2006  |
Dear sister Berit, First of all I recommend you to listen to your spirit while being there in Church, there are many unhealthy churches out there, some even has gotten to the point of letting in behavior nearing the occult such as mantras you described above. I know there are many good pentecostal churches, but some has really strayed a bit far and entered into some kind of hyper pentecostalism or even into the Word Faith Movement. I can recommend you the following DVD set on this topic, its called "The Signs and Wonders Movement Exposed", you can get a copy here: http://christianvideos.co.uk/shopping/dvds.php?page=5&pageNum_npn_product=4 Just scroll down a bit. I pray that God will lead you to good solid Christians who you can worship the Lord with and go out and preach the Good News with, amen. In Christ, Martin | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1202 Registered: 4-2000  |
Berit, Since you were greatly blessed by a Baptist church in Austria, is there one in your Norwegian community as well? If so, it may help simplify your search for a church family. Continue to earnestly pray that the Lord will direct you as you make this important decision. There are also excellent, non-denominational, community churches (at least here is the USA). Any evangelical churches having ties with the historic Free Church movement in your area? The Free Church movement was initially centered in the Scandinavian countries. It is noteworthy that Charismatic groups (Pentecostalism included) also embrace some different theology, not merely having an informal, emotional style of worship. For example, they generally don't believe in the biblical concept of having eternal security in Christ. Their belief and dependence on tongue-speaking replaces this biblical doctrine that effectively divides believers into the "HAVES" and the "HAVE-NOTS." Moreover, their views on the nature of man differ (i.e., they commonly embrace the "tricotomous" view of man being in three parts instead of two parts). Their concept of prayer also frequently differs (i.e., an "ask, believe, and claim" view akin to that of Oral Roberts and the late SDA revivalist, Glen Coon). The trichotomous view leads to a crippling anti-intellectualism whereby insight and theological thought are separated to the impoverishing of both, theology being seen as "soulish" and unspiritual while spiritual perception is thought of as unrelated to the teaching and learning of God's revealed truth. It is truly a great blessing to have a variety of church families in our communities. So much of the world is now hostile toward the Christian faith. Christians truly need each other as never before. As Lyn Hough well said, "The Christianity which is shared is the Christianity which is convincing." Dennis Fischer | ||
| Berit Registered user Username: Berit Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2007 |
Dennis, Yes, I found a baptist church in a nearby town. Unfortunately it had mainly elderly members, and I look for a place that has a good children program that I can bring my children to. But whad I missed the most was that the prayer and testimony part was too silent, very few or almost nobody prayed aloud or shared something. The sermon was good though. It was just the whole program that came over to me as a bit too formal, and thats why I've been looking around for other churches closer to where I live. I guess I have to continue my search and compare what I find, and let God help me to choose the "best" (=right place for me) of what is around. Dear members of this forum, please keep all of us who are in the search of a new church home in your prayers! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6473 Registered: 12-2003  |
Berit, I am praying for you, also. Dennis is right that there are Pentecostal churches that believe charismatic manifestations (especially tongues) are a sign of being truly born again. This belief is just not biblical. There are other charismatic churches, though, that do not hold tongues to be a sign of being saved, and they even allow that not all Christ-followers will experience tongues. Churches vary widely. I agree with Martin that you need to pray and be sensitive to God's leading. It's impossible to tell without actually visiting what the true nature is of the church you mention. I know that I personally would be a bit distracted by a "formula use" of Jesus' name, but I cannot tell exactly what the church is about simply by your description. I would look for a church that deliberately and consistently had you turning to the Bible, where sermons were expositions of God's word, where people made a point to engage in Bible study—and where people were really alive in Jesus and filled with true joy and worship. God is faithful, Berit. He will show you where you need to be! Colleen | ||
| Magpie Registered user Username: Magpie Post Number: 23 Registered: 7-2004 |
Berit, It sounds like the church you went to was a United Pentxostal Churcch of some kind. They do not believe in the trinity, and they think that you "must" speak in tongues so that others can hear you or you won't go to heaven. Both views are of NOT scriptural as others here have already said. There are churches called Full Gospel, or Non-Denominational. they are a usually more balanced in the whole thing. They always teach a lot out of the bible, and give testamony etc. If you can find one, give them a try. Might be something you would like. God Bless you in your search. Magpie | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 672 Registered: 4-2006 |
Dear brother Dennis, peace and grace and love from our Savior, Jesus Christ. You stated: "The trichotomous view leads to a crippling anti-intellectualism whereby insight and theological thought are separated to the impoverishing of both, theology being seen as "soulish" and unspiritual while spiritual perception is thought of as unrelated to the teaching and learning of God's revealed truth." Well, I must disagree with you on that point and that on a biblical intellectual basis. Anyways we have debated this issue very much in the closed forum, if you would like to revive the debate then please do it there. http://64.226.233.122/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth.cgi?lm=1177193231&file=/4529/5326.html May you prosper in the love of our Lord, Christ Jesus. Your brother in Christ, Martin | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1233 Registered: 9-2006 |
Dear brother Dennis, Like wise peace and grace and love from our savior, Jesus Christ also from me. I second our dear Brother Martin. further more your Quote: It is truly a great blessing to have a variety of church families in our communities. So much of the world is now hostile toward the Christian faith. Christians truly need each other as never before. As Lyn Hough well said, "The Christianity which is shared is the Christianity which is convincing." Thank you for that excellent observation, I will just take that as your complete post and ignore the rest. |
