Allowing children to seek the Holy Ghost?

[KWSS1976]

I don't like the term "seeking" as there was no one in the bible that was ever "seeking the holyghost"

[LadyRev]

Originally Posted by praxeas

and the rest is chedder?

lolrotf!

[LadyRev]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

No, I couldn't find that. I highly doubt that pentecostals would have a high rate of alcoholism because they are against alcohol.

However, (and please don't think I am bashing) I have noticed that people with addictive personalities seem to like pentecostalism.

There is an emotional high that comes with the worship and the release of emotion that happens at the end. You just never know what is going to happen in a service and people get to the point where they crave that "move of the spirit" to the point that when they get it it is like a little high.

People around here go to a Packer game and get an emotional high. You never know what may happen at a Packer game and people crave Packer games and all the other Packer related festivities. Its an addiction.

Shall we bash the Packers and tell them they must make their followers calm down?

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by LadyRev

People around here go to a Packer game and get an emotional high. You never know what may happen at a Packer game and people crave Packer games and all the other Packer related festivities. Its an addiction.

Shall we bash the Packers and tell them they must make their followers calm down?

There are certain things I do that give me an emotional high. I am not saying there is anything wrong with any of it.

Good food, good beer, and good music are all things that I enjoy. I like beautiful women and I married one. I wouldn't want anyone to tell me not to enjoy those things.

[stony ground]

I am constantly amazed at how many people I meet who are "ex-apostolic" or "ex-UPC", etc who hold grudges against the church or the folks in it. Seldom do I hear someone say "God just led me to another path" or "just not my cup of tea anymore". It's always "those people are crazy" or "it's a cult" or "I'm not gonna be told what to do". yada yada. If anyone finds a path better suited to them, may God bless them. But all of the venom is really not becoming of a Christian of any stripe. I have actually had people get angry when I invited them to stop by a service to say hi to old friends.

I was not raised apostolic, I was raised in a Southern Baptist church. I could regale you with tales of how racism, white supremacy, and other niceties was taught from the pulpit during my tender years, but that was only one little church and the main point was, after 21 years of being there I was as lost as I could be.

I joined a UPC church at 22, baptized in Jesus name while my Baptist mother cried, spoke in tongues and was on fire for years in that congregation. Then I left because I felt like I was not being "loved enough" when the truth is I just got lazy. But I never stopped believing.

I have had some bad experiences in apostolic churches, but my three boys were never pressured to do anything but attend the church, and even that not for very long. They stepped over me in the pew sometimes to get to the aisle to go and pray at the altar. They asked to be baptized in Jesus name. When I quit going to church, they asked to be dropped off there. My boys are young adults now, living for God, praying sinners and saints through, worshiping, speaking in tongues, running the aisles, on fire for God despite my poor attitude at times.

I thank God for kids hungry for His Spirit, not to go to heaven or avoid hell, but to be in touch with the Living God in mind, spirit and body.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

There are certain things I do that give me an emotional high. I am not saying there is anything wrong with any of it.

Good food, good beer, and good music are all things that I enjoy. I like beautiful women and I married one. I wouldn't want anyone to tell me not to enjoy those things.

Heathen!!!

[Bella1]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Personally I don't believe in strong "encouragement" for little kids to spend time at an alter begging God for the Holy Ghost

I believe in teaching kids HOW to pray, praying for others (Intercession) and offering praise and thanks giving. I believe in teaching about the Holy Ghost and letting them decide when they are ready

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Heathen!!!

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

OK, I do want to set the record straight.

There were a ton of good things in my life growing up. I was taught at a young age right and wrong and to love God with all my heart. My parents are truly godly people. Yes, they are pentecostal, and are like a lot of the people in this thread. I have never shared with them any of this because I really don't want them to think that I think they raised me wrong or did not protect me. They do know that I do not believe in altar calls and get very anxious around pentecostal stuff. They basically blame that on improper teaching.

I made the mistake of telling them that I thought I was not taught the gospel in the UPC and it upset them so bad there was tension between us for over a year. I don't blame my parents for anything other than picking the wrong group of people to serve God with. I never once felt any of this craziness that I am talking about directly from my parents. I was always at peace with them and always felt loved. Yet I knew the beliefs, I knew that if I didn't speak in tongues I was not saved and that meant hell.

I grew up in a christian school, went to every Sunday school class, had perfect attendance for 11 years straight. My dad was the Sunday school leader, youth leader, and overall leader in the church. He was teaching the college and career class about holiness right during the middle of our church split and I saw him lose many of the young people he had invested so much time in. And over the years I have seen my parents both suffer because of the movement they are a part of though I have never once heard them complain. My dad is known my many as a great teacher. I saw kids that were older than myself love my parents and almost become dependent on their help. Everyone respected them and still does. The most common question is how could I have left the church with such good parents. Both my brother and sister are in the UPC still. My sister is married to a minister in California and my brother is dating the pastor's daughter at a very popular church in Louisiana so I guess I am the only one with an issue.

The point is that if there was ever a "perfect" UPC home to grow up in it was mine. But my parents still could not shield me from everything.

If you met them, and I am sure there are people on this forum who know them you would never suspect that they could have a long lost black sheep like myself.

So, I am not at all comparing growing up in a godless home with the my family. I want all children to grow up learning about the grace and love of Christ and to learn to love His commands.

All I am doing is trying to find out if people with children would want to protect them from this the type of altar call situation I explained in the opening post.

Explaining it like this make sit a little bit better. Yes, I will encourage my children to seek the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues. Encourage does not mean force or pressure, just encourage. When they become of age to understand I will begin discussing that and baptism with them. I'm not familiar with some of the horror stories that have been talked about on this forum. Our church has a youth retreat every year, but it's just our church so I'd know and would be familiar with everyone working with my children, and would feel very comfortable with them helping my children receive the gift.

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by KWSS1976

I don't like the term "seeking" as there was no one in the bible that was ever "seeking the holyghost"

seek (sk)
v. sought (sôt), seek·ing, seeks
v.tr.
1. To try to locate or discover; search for.
2. To endeavor to obtain or reach: seek a college education.
3. To go to or toward: Water seeks its own level.
4. To inquire for; request: seek directions from a police officer.
5. To try; endeavor: seek to do good.
6. Obsolete To explore.

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:13

To seek means simply to ask, or to inquire for. The Bible says clearly the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.

Stop spreading false doctrine.