Perplexed!

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

I don't agree that it is nonessential, but I can appreciate that your teaching it and people are getting it! So many have avoided the subject all together. That breaks my heart. Someday (if continued in the current trend) we will see major Oneness organizations forbid the rebaptism of those who have been baptized in the titles. I did not believe I HAD to receive the Holy Ghost when i got it....but oooh how i craved the power of God in my life. I did not believe that I HAD to be baptized in Jesus name when I was, but I had fallen absolutely in love with the name of Jesus. It was not till later that i began to understand that this is salvation and there is no other way. I don't wanna be mean, but i believe this truth will all of my heart!

well said, amen

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We don't "require" people to be rebaptized, but we teach why we do it in Jesus' name and they make that choice according to their understanding of Scripture. We don't teach that everyone else is lost. BUT we have had over 100 already this year baptized in Jesus' name. So people do get it!

We also don't teach that you HAVE to speak in tongues to be saved, but that everyone needs to. The vast majority of our people are Spirit filled, speaking in tongues. We present it as something that everyone needs and should want, and they receive it. We don't make it hard.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We don't "require" people to be rebaptized, but we teach why we do it in Jesus' name and they make that choice according to their understanding of Scripture. We don't teach that everyone else is lost. BUT we have had over 100 already this year baptized in Jesus' name. So people do get it!

We also don't teach that you HAVE to speak in tongues to be saved, but that everyone needs to. The vast majority of our people are Spirit filled, speaking in tongues. We present it as something that everyone needs and should want, and they receive it. We don't make it hard.

If it ain't hard it ain't the REAL thang!

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by pelathais

If it ain't hard it ain't the REAL thang!

True Jesus said STRAIT is the way. STRIVE to enter in at the Strait gate.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

If it is not important to be baptized in Jesus name, then what's the big deal. You are saying that someone who was previously baptized in the titles doesnt need to be rebaptized but then they baptize in the titles at your church and your miffed??

I've spoken withe a few leaders in the AoG lately. They are having a problem...they are finding that less and less of their members are receiving the Holy Ghost! Matter of fact they have more in their churches that have never received the Holy Ghost than those that have. Wanna know why? They aren't teaching the importance of receiving the Holy Ghost! Stop teaching that the Holy Ghost is important, people will stop seeking and receiving. Stop teaching baptism in Jesus name, people will stop getting baptized in Jesus name. Stop teaching the combination of the two, souls will be lost with their blood on your hands! You should deffinately find a church that teaches the necessity of Acts 2:38 new birth.

I don't quite follow you here, kclee (bolded above). Do you really think that the Spirit of God can be isolated and bottled up? Do you think the hunger of people for God's Spirit can be completely forgotten?

I think that what your AoG friends are seeing is that certain practices that have been associated with "seeking" and "receiving" have been dropped and so they don't see the snot-slingin' altar sessions that they once did.

The Spirit of God, on the other hand, isn't dependent upon our traditions or expectations. He will move and bless as He sees fit. He is Lord.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I don't quite follow you here, kclee (bolded above). Do you really think that the Spirit of God can be isolated and bottled up? Do you think the hunger of people for God's Spirit can be completely forgotten?

I think that what your AoG friends are seeing is that certain practices that have been associated with "seeking" and "receiving" have been dropped and so they don't see the snot-slingin' altar sessions that they once did.

The Spirit of God, on the other hand, isn't dependent upon our traditions or expectations. He will move and bless as He sees fit. He is Lord.

Right!

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

If it is not important to be baptized in Jesus name, then what's the big deal. You are saying that someone who was previously baptized in the titles doesnt need to be rebaptized but then they baptize in the titles at your church and your miffed??

I've spoken withe a few leaders in the AoG lately. They are having a problem...they are finding that less and less of their members are receiving the Holy Ghost! Matter of fact they have more in their churches that have never received the Holy Ghost than those that have. Wanna know why? They aren't teaching the importance of receiving the Holy Ghost! Stop teaching that the Holy Ghost is important, people will stop seeking and receiving. Stop teaching baptism in Jesus name, people will stop getting baptized in Jesus name. Stop teaching the combination of the two, souls will be lost with their blood on your hands! You should deffinately find a church that teaches the necessity of Acts 2:38 new birth.

In the past few years after leaving the UPC I had some experience with the AOG and COG folks. There are many old time Pentecostals in their group who are still longing for the baptism of the spirit or the revivals of old. I know that a lot of kids are going to "The Ramp" and other revivals where there are manifestations of the spirit.

However, I also run into a lot of young people who have tried Pentecostalism and will accept it among the brethren but don't want to have anything to do with it anymore. The inconsistencies in logic and experience and emotional ups and downs are not something they want in a church service. These are strong christian kids who really want to do right and lead people to Christ who are having less to do with the pentecostal and charismatic movements.

However, on the other hand, I am still friends with many who are constantly searching and pressing and reaching for a promise or blessing or gift that is always out of reach which is a constant in the pentecostal circles.

It just seems to me that we automatically accept that when people stop getting the "baptism" that this is somehow wrong. Is it possible that the church has had so much craziness and fascination with the gifts and manifestations in the last few decades that God is drawing people back to himself and the word. There is a huge movement right now of people being drawn back to orthodoxy and away from the sensational.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

In the past few years after leaving the UPC I had some experience with the AOG and COG folks. There are many old time Pentecostals in their group who are still longing for the baptism of the spirit or the revivals of old. I know that a lot of kids are going to "The Ramp" and other revivals where there are manifestations of the spirit.

However, I also run into a lot of young people who have tried Pentecostalism and will accept it among the brethren but don't want to have anything to do with it anymore. The inconsistencies in logic and experience and emotional ups and downs are not something they want in a church service. These are strong christian kids who really want to do right and lead people to Christ who are having less to do with the pentecostal and charismatic movements.

However, on the other hand, I am still friends with many who are constantly searching and pressing and reaching for a promise or blessing or gift that is always out of reach which is a constant in the pentecostal circles.

It just seems to me that we automatically accept that when people stop getting the "baptism" that this is somehow wrong. Is it possible that the church has had so much craziness and fascination with the gifts and manifestations in the last few decades that God is drawing people back to himself and the word. There is a huge movement right now of people being drawn back to orthodoxy and away from the sensational.

My late father would say, "What good is orthodoxy if its not TRUTH"!

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by Falla39

[/B]

My late father would say, "What good is orthodoxy if its not TRUTH"!

Lets not forget that there are a lot of holes in pentecostal doctrine. For me to stay pentecostal would mean that I have to either ignore truth or lie to myself.

I am just as concerned as anyone about truth.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

If it is not important to be baptized in Jesus name, then what's the big deal. You are saying that someone who was previously baptized in the titles doesnt need to be rebaptized but then they baptize in the titles at your church and your miffed??

I've spoken withe a few leaders in the AoG lately. They are having a problem...they are finding that less and less of their members are receiving the Holy Ghost! Matter of fact they have more in their churches that have never received the Holy Ghost than those that have. Wanna know why? They aren't teaching the importance of receiving the Holy Ghost! Stop teaching that the Holy Ghost is important, people will stop seeking and receiving. Stop teaching baptism in Jesus name, people will stop getting baptized in Jesus name. Stop teaching the combination of the two, souls will be lost with their blood on your hands! You should deffinately find a church that teaches the necessity of Acts 2:38 new birth.

Amen.