Bad Things About The Pentecostal Religion?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by acerrak

whine? You want to talk about being a wimp? Im a gulf war vet! You want to talk about horrid stuff? The fact that i have been to many countries so deep in poverty and seen people try to sale their own daughters. I had seen the women that was kidnapped as kids plasced in a front window as a display for legalized prostitution.

I have seen the hungry,

No what has happened is these people Got hurt and left the institution. They didnt leave God.

Hey did the apostles abandon the widows when they were complaining when they Got hurt Epley?? When they got left out or cheated from the distrubution. No they sent 7 men to make it right.. What i am seeing is you have an excuse.........

I applaud and honor you for your service to this nation. You are a survivor no doubt of the worse of human conditions just use the same forbearance in living for God. The Church is made of imperfect folks like you and I. If you are waiting for the perfect church you will not find it. A good trip to the altar and giving your cares to Him will help.

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I applaud and honor you for your service to this nation. You are a survivor no doubt of the worse of human conditions just use the same forbearance in living for God. The Church is made of imperfect folks like you and I. If you are waiting for the perfect church you will not find it. A good trip to the altar and giving your cares to Him will help.

i understand there isnt a perfect church, but it happends all the time and im not just localizing this to just apostolic churches. But any institution. These wounded worshipers need love, they actually need some one to vent on and share, which that is what we are aupposed to do as Christians.

When one member hurts th whole Body burts

1 corinthians 12:26
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

Hmm, bad things about the Pentecostal religion? It's not perfect and neither are the people who make it up. Point being, it's made up of people. Flesh. Personalities. Attitudes.

A good thing about the Pentecostal religion? Not all within it are like the few bad apples we seem to never forget. That goes with anyone, anywhere. Period.

Just thought I'd throw a twist in the thread. Carry on...

Amen.

[AreYouReady?]

I've pretty much tried to stay out of this thread because of the nature of the title.

Not to many UPC churches want to mess with "wounded worshippers" acerrak.

People are not self-made victims as Epley posts. That is the mindset that criminals have towards their victims. "They asked for it". And no...before I get accused of calling Epley a criminal, I am not saying Epley is a criminal, but only that this mindset does happen towards some victims of any crime or hurt.

Most would not bother to even step foot in a church if they did not have a desire to live for God. Nobody enters a church wishing to become a victim of
spiritual abuse. They come because they want to change their life and because they have a longing...a yearning for God and His Spirit.

However, some people can nibble away at another with constant criticism of how they look, or their demeanor, or have personal problems that endure past what others think it ought to last or a whole host of other human problems. Many of these people never know what conditions others came out of...rape, incest, beatings, homelessness, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality and other hard-core sins. They do not know how it feels to have their mind shattered by life and sin. They are not going to think in the same fashion as other pentecostals who were blessed throughout their lives not to know some of the life happenings that other people went through.

And Epley, how do you know that people do not go to the altar and cast their cares upon Him? How do you know that they do not pray at home for love and acceptance from their fellow church members only to go the next time and receive another knife in the back?

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

Hmm, bad things about the Pentecostal religion? It's not perfect and neither are the people who make it up. Point being, it's made up of people. Flesh. Personalities. Attitudes.

A good thing about the Pentecostal religion? Not all within it are like the few bad apples we seem to never forget. That goes with anyone, anywhere. Period.

Just thought I'd throw a twist in the thread. Carry on...

This is true. It is part of the reason that I attempt to never allow the slips, errors, and occasional small pettiness of all people, or the gross pettiness of a few people affect me and my walk with God. In fact, I find that the more I pray for them, the better I become.

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Excuse me I could write a book and some things were so horrid I would have to write in under fiction because no one would believe it. Quit being a wimp and a whine baby and get over it. Everyone gets hurts in life that is part of the process. No pain no gain. That does not excuse anyone who hurt you but the truth known you have hurt folks and so have I. This is nothing but an excuse for those who do not want to live for God. It takes courage and fortitude to live for God. You have been hurt by family-friends-co-workkers-folks in the neighborhood and you haven't moved to the wilderness in a cave. Good grief grow up.

Bro. Epley, this is very true. I have heard the stories of those who attempted to be 'lords in the house'. They do more to bring disrepute upon the work of God through the ministry than any other issue. However, too many wish to accuse truly good men of God who are taking a stand for truth with this brush. They need to travel to other churches, talk to other saints, and see that not all pastors are like that.

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

However, some people can nibble away at another with constant criticism of how they look, or their demeanor, or have personal problems that endure past what others think it ought to last or a whole host of other human problems. Many of these people never know what conditions others came out of...rape, incest, beatings, homelessness, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality and other hard-core sins. They do not know how it feels to have their mind shattered by life and sin. They are not going to think in the same fashion as other Pentecostals who were blessed throughout their lives not to know some of the life happenings that other people went through.

Actually, there are many of us who are well aware of the places that people have come from, even if we do not know always the story of every situation. However, that is where the testimony comes in. When people testify of where they came from and give God the glory, then all know, but not all gory details must be shared.

However, there is often too much pride that keeps people from giving a meaningful testimony. If this were a more common practice, perhaps the spirit that says 'everyone is judging me' would have less room to stay.

And Epley, how do you know that people do not go to the altar and cast their cares upon Him? How do you know that they do not pray at home for love and acceptance from their fellow church members only to go the next time and receive another knife in the back?

Having been there and done this, I can say that you keep attending services, do not worry about the carnal people, live by the word, obey the pastor, love God, and be patient. Eventually, you develop the strength to stand, this is especially true when you look back and see how God changes others. Jesus said that we are to pray for those who have done us wrong, not abandon the fellowship of believers just because there was one who went wrong.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Jay

Having been there and done this, I can say that you keep attending services, do not worry about the carnal people, live by the word, obey the pastor, love God, and be patient. Eventually, you develop the strength to stand, this is especially true when you look back and see how God changes others. Jesus said that we are to pray for those who have done us wrong, not abandon the fellowship of believers just because there was one who went wrong.

This is where you and I differ Jay. I respect that you are a fine, upstanding young man who loves God and wants to live for him. But I have nearly 30 years on you, seen and experienced life in a different way than you have. Being aware of where people come from and having empathy with them are horses of two different colors. And actually experiencing the trauma is a whole 'nuther thing. It's been my experience that the apostolics in my region don't want to know what one has experienced. The goal is to follow the leader. They cannot handle the anger people feel after traumatic experiences. They take it personally instead of just being kind. I know that is not an easy thing to do, but many just do not even try.

And I'm sorry, but I am not trying to be abrasive here. Just trying to share my feelings.

There is nothing scriptural about "obeying the pastor". He is but a mere man who makes mistakes too. I've seen people leave churches because of the pastor not having the ability to listen to the people or have any empathy. Some pastors only want obedience, like they are god. Some have just been in the same church for so long that it becomes their kingdom. Someone I know described to me a pastor who was shaking his finger at people saying "Nobody tells me what to do in my church"!!

His church? I thought the churches are Christ's churches.

Not worrying about carnal people is easier if I don't have to spend my church services with them...watching them laugh at other people or snub others who may not look the part. A loving and kind church is hard to find. When I do find one, they are miles and miles away and cannot visit very often.

My God is a loving God. He shed his blood for my salvation. Loving Him is easy. But nowhere does God insist that people have to continue to attend any place that is abusive. Even Paul separated himself from people whom he disagreed with in order to keep peace.

[Cindy]

God is not the author of confusion or division. That is Satan's tool. We MUST be kind and loving to hurting people, or how then will they know that we are His disciples? If we have love, one for another, they will know. Let us rejoice with each other that we are God's beloved. There are countless good things about the Pentecostal churches, also.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Cindy

God is not the author of confusion or division. That is Satan's tool. We MUST be kind and loving to hurting people, or how then will they know that we are His disciples? If we have love, one for another, they will know. Let us rejoice with each other that we are God's beloved. There are countless good things about the Pentecostal churches, also.

Oh my goodness Cindy! The first church I attended was wonderful! It was exciting and I could not wait until services started again. I used to come to services in my work clothes because there was no time to change after working 12 hours. Nobody cared.

Then dissension happened in the upper echelon of the church. It split wide open, most of the church left to start their own. Then the pastor started brow beating the people who were left in the church. Then the final blow was he had an adulterous affair and continued to pastor and lie by omission to what was left of people in the church. A lot of hard feelings happened between the people. Some believed he wouldn't do such a thing, others knew it was so. And then the fights started. I witnessed a perfectly wonderful church get torn apart by dissension caused by greed.

[Dordrecht]

Churches are to much "turned inwards".
We should start to think about what hell really is.
If we really believe in hell we should not be able to rest till we get as many people as possible saved!
Most churches are to much caught up in all kinds of "programs" to keep the flock happy and to keep the tithes and offerings flowing in.

Is hell real? Yes!
How many people on your street will go to hell when they die?

Churches need to turn outward to the lost!
Forget about all the little disagreements!
Get people saved!

There are 1000's in hell right now because Christians were to busy with themselves.

[AreYouReady?]

I cannot disagree with that Dordrecht.