Having been raised in the church and in the ministry for 22 years, I have noticed a disturbing trend. It seems Pentecost attracts the emotionally disturbed. Is it possible that the high emotional setting in which our churches function is at fault? Running around the church, jumping in/out of the baptismal tank, jumping pews, making holes in the sheetrock? None of that is normal with regard to respect and worship.
The altar services are so high strung too. People yelling and screaming into eachothers ears, "let go" "hang on", shaking people trying to get the H.G. into them? Is all that really necessary? Is it possible that we want a move of God so much we are willing manufacture it?
With all that going on, our rate of retention is not any different than any other group of churches or may even be less. Baptizing people on a whim, preachers preaching fear into people...crying, scared to death their not going to leave alive! Is all that really necessary?
I know the church is supposed to be a hospital for the sick, but come on...the doctors and nurses are running around clueless. Let's just all shout and ignore the issues and all our problems will be over...whose kidding who?
when i was a kid 30 yrs ago plus, none of your business, we used to ask that question, it is still the same answer, we are different , some people at least then thought we were weird so they fit right in, lol,dt
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A product of a pentecostal raisin, I am a hard man, just ask my children
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"Rules without relationship lead to rebellion." Dr. James Dobson
"You don't need a license to preach, or teach, or win souls." RonB
"In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength." Robert E. Lee (1807-1870)
Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing. ~ John Andrew Holmes
Having been raised in the church and in the ministry for 22 years, I have noticed a disturbing trend. It seems Pentecost attracts the emotionally disturbed. Is it possible that the high emotional setting in which our churches function is at fault? Running around the church, jumping in/out of the baptismal tank, jumping pews, making holes in the sheetrock? None of that is normal with regard to respect and worship.
The altar services are so high strung too. People yelling and screaming into eachothers ears, "let go" "hang on", shaking people trying to get the H.G. into them? Is all that really necessary? Is it possible that we want a move of God so much we are willing manufacture it?
With all that going on, our rate of retention is not any different than any other group of churches or may even be less. Baptizing people on a whim, preachers preaching fear into people...crying, scared to death their not going to leave alive! Is all that really necessary?
I know the church is supposed to be a hospital for the sick, but come on...the doctors and nurses are running around clueless. Let's just all shout and ignore the issues and all our problems will be over...whose kidding who?
What you are taking note off is some of what inspired my "Foolishness of Preaching" thread from the other day.
It's somewhat relative.
What we see in the unBiblical extreme is noteworthy, but that shouldn't distract from the extreme that is Biblical.
To me, an ex OP, the unBiblical extreme is avoided for me and my family's sake, perhaps the lunacy is needful for certain types and I'll pray they make it with what might boil down to be the best therapy in the universe. It seems to keep most of them out of trouble anyways.
To others, I might be extreme and unBiblical in their eyes for the Truth I do hold dear. Where does it all end?
In some dead dull boring lifeless unBiblical situation in its own right. Welcome to greater Christendom.
With the advancement of higher learning and people becoming more educated today,it is becoming increasinly harder to find those crazies that will believe us, when we tell them that ya gotta do these crazy things to be saved.
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God has lavished his love upon me.
You couldn't have "painted" us all with a bigger brush! Patently stereotypical.
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