AGs will debate Tongues at the next GC

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Are you saying they have ceased to preach ... hence the Spirit of God has stopped manifesting through the evidence of tongues?

Or that this org is slipping further down the slippery slope ????

The AG is a mere shadow od what they once were. The HGB with tongues is the ONLY reason for their existance. Thus their reason is gone.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

The AG is a mere shadow od what they once were. The HGB with tongues is the ONLY reason for their existance. Thus their reason is gone.

Really...??? I don't think they are eliminating this as a belief, Steve. Just whether or not it is the initial evidence ... it is still being practiced and encouraged (?). Pentocostalism is leading Christianity in growth numbers ... and the AG still remains the largest Pentecostal org ... dwarfing any Oneness org in size, resources and growth.

[SDG]

I will say that I believe denominationalism is reaching it's end ... and this may be more evidence of that ....

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by bkstokes

Good stuff! This sounds exactly like they've been writing about Christ Church.

Pianoman

I have seen your posts before but I don't know you. Do you go to Christ Church?

Yes, I do attend Christ Church. I have attended there for the last 14 years.

It concerns me when Holy Ghost baptism is never brought up for weeks or months at a time in Sunday services.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Yes, I do attend Christ Church. I have attended there for the last 14 years.

It concerns me when Holy Ghost baptism is never brought up for weeks or months at a time in Sunday services.

You have expressed this before ... I think even at dinner ... how important is this issue to you? Would you consider going some place else because of this "lack of emphasis"?

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

You have expressed this before ... I think even at dinner ... how important is this issue to you? Would you consider going some place else because of this "lack of emphasis"?

I consider myself pretty loyal, but if the right church came to town that is like Christ Church but more up front about the importance of the Holy Ghost, I would consider changing churches.

[deltaguitar]

This is a fascinating topic. I was concerned myself when we left the UPC that we would see less move of the Holy Spirit because most of the people we left behind at the old church were the more emotional crowd.

Now we have much more powerful moves of God but in a less manufactured way. When God moves he moves and it is on his time and not ours.

[Encryptus]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I will say that I believe denominationalism is reaching it's end ... and this may be more evidence of that ....

Could you define your interpretation of "denominationalism" please?

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

The AG is a mere shadow od what they once were. The HGB with tongues is the ONLY reason for their existance. Thus their reason is gone.

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

This is what happens when folks do not preach what they were founded on it ceases to exist.

I agree. Its very sad to see how they've declined over the years. Maybe they've increased in number, but they've declined in terms of Holy Ghost power. According to their own statistics, barely 1/4 of the people they list as "converts" actually receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

If some of the libs had their way, the UPC would end up becoming very similar to the AG. I'm glad that kind of watering-down of the Holy-Ghost doctrine has been fiercely resisted so far by the UPC leadership as a whole.

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by bkstokes

I have been informed that at the next General Council there will be a serious debate amongst the AGs concerning the intial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. The majority of the AC churches that are located outside of the Bible belt are now trying to appeal to more nominal people and thus they are less and less of them in these churches who are actually receiving the Holy Spirit. This group that is moving away from the baptism of the Holy Spirit represents between 60 to 80 percent of the movement. Thus, some are speculating that things could actually boil to a head that results in the minority calling for a spliting off.

Well, I was shocked by what I read here today! I have relatives that attend Assembly of God churches and I haven't heard any mention of this latest development.

In fact, my brother and his family attend a moderately size assembly, about 700 people, here in Houston and trust me they are a Spirit-filled church. My mother and her two sisters left the COG several years ago and went to the AOG in their town (they no longer attend because one has passed and the other two have health issues). Again, from what I know, their little old AOG church in Trinity is a Spirit-filled church. They shout to every up tempo song they sing...lol.

I could see the majority of the assemblies located here in the bible belt spliting from the AOG if they were to try sanctioning speaking in tongues during their services. People down here in the bible belt tend to lean more on the conservative/traditional side and this sort of thing just wouldn't sit very well, IMO.