Pentecostal Worship isn't so Pentecostal Nowadays.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

I wasn't throwing out being emotional, I do object to out of control antics that put others at risk. When an individual loses control of themselves in such a way that they are stomping on the hands of sleeping babies and knocking other people to the ground, it is clearly a "I know it when I see it" moment.

Well, I agree with this. I've seen some stuff that I knew wasn't God. But you chalk it up to people being "flesh" and hope that they mature. We don't have anything like that in our services - very few people are from traditional Pentecostal backgrounds. But we do have a lot of jumping, shouting (verbal), some dancing, etc. It's a very exciting time of praise!

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

When someone is truly worshipping God to be seen of God and not of men, they become emotional and display emotion.

If someone wants to run because they don't know what else to do when they feel the presence of God, then let them run. If someone else dances, let them dance. If someone wants to silently lift their hands, what of it?

But let it all be done unto the Lord and not because someone told them to do it.

After all, we are worshipping the Creator of the universe and the Savior of our souls. Shouldn't we worship Him will ALL of our hearts?

During the past few months a few streaming services have been posted here where people were running and jumping at the alter area of the church, even while the preaching was going on.

This act of trying to impress the rest of the congregation offended me to no end. It would be one thing if these same men (I "think" they were all men) went to the BACK of the church, or parking lot, where the camera's or other peoples eyes, would not see them, but no, they were right in front of LS and whoever else was preaching.

I would have been the guy to look the other direction while quietly whistling, as I put my leg out to trip them.

.....then upload the video to utube. (Which is the amount of respect I have for them.)

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Absolutly it is manipulation, achieved through emotionalism.

As Potter Stewart said about pornogrophy.

"I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it..."

"it" refers to what you said about manipulating, not being emotional, running, dancing or whatever. That's not emotionalism unless someone can define at what point "too much" is too much :-)

[StillStanding]

Is it possible to both admire and despise something at the same time?

[CC1]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

During the past few months a few streaming services have been posted here where people were running and jumping at the alter area of the church, even while the preaching was going on.

This act of trying to impress the rest of the congregation offended me to no end. It would be one thing if these same men (I "think" they were all men) went to the BACK of the church, or parking lot, where the camera's or other peoples eyes, would not see them, but no, they were right in front of LS and whoever else was preaching.

I would have been the guy to look the other direction while quietly whistling, as I put my leg out to trip them.

.....then upload the video to utube. (Which is the amount of respect I have for them.)

I visited a "shockamoo" UPC church several times a few years ago that had three or four young men high school through college aged who pretty much stood the whole service and during the praise and worship portion at any given time one to four of them would be "running the aisles" (in this case really more of "jogging the aisles". Except they stayed at the front of the church and generally crossed back and forth at the front. I wondered why they didn't feel led to do it on the side aisle or at the rear.

[StillStanding]

Is there an echo in here?

[coadie]

Originally Posted by CC1

I visited a "shockamoo" UPC church several times a few years ago that had three or four young men high school through college aged who pretty much stood the whole service and during the praise and worship portion at any given time one to four of them would be "running the aisles" (in this case really more of "jogging the aisles". Except they stayed at the front of the church and generally crossed back and forth at the front. I wondered why they didn't feel led to do it on the side aisle or at the rear.

Didn't you have the nerve to go in front and ask what they had been delivered from? They may have held it back.

Some people are waitijng for a move of God. God never moved. He is in the same place all the time. It looks like man is the one that needs to move.

[MrsMcD]

I personally think the way people worship has a lot to do with their temperament.

[edjen01]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Emotion or emotionalism?

When I go to a football game or a concert I prefer to sit and watch, which makes me resent the often poorly made comparison between how one acts at those events and how they should worship.

Am I emotional? Yes. Do I ever get caught up in emotionalism? I don't think so. I really don't see running around a building as worship.

you must be loads of fun at these events.

IMO....we can be as emotional as God made us to be. I've been in churches and seen very crazy things...but I don't have a problem with someone being emotional when it comes to God and what He means to them.

[LadyRev]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Am I less than Pentecostal for NOT worshiping in this way? It seems to me that many churches, particularly UPC churches, equate a move of God with loud music and an over empahasis on emotionalism. Weird that you don't see any of this in the book of Acts.

We don't see holiness standards in the book of Acts either but that doesn't mean we don't have them.