A question from a saint... for anyone that would like to give an answer...
 

I haven't been on this site for a very long time.. I was a former Methodist for 12 years.. and now I have been an Apostolic/Pentecostal for 34 years.. so I have been around alot of different things in my life.. and have had family and friends in different faiths/beliefs etc...
When I first was introduced to "Pentecost" at the age of 9.. it was NOTHING like what folks are calling "Pentecost" now..
I have always been taught that in the "end times" there would be a "great falling away"..
I don't understand why women have went from never cutting their hair to cutting it...
Television was TABOO.. now it seems to be the ISSUE at hand in which the UPCI is "concerned about".. but all the while that seems to be the "hot issue"... there are WAY MORE concerns for some of us saints.. than Television..
Pants on women.. when I heard it preached againest as a child.. now it is going on at alot of places... etc...
I guess if I had to ask a generalized question for anyone to answer it would sort of go like this..
"What is Pentecost to you?"
or maybe this question... "How have you personally changed as a Pentecostal over the years"....??
I don't mean this in a judgemental way.. I think there are alot of us that neither want to stray to the left... or the right.. we just honestly want to do what is right by the Lord and win souls for the Lord .. instead of being "confused by all the changes that are going on within Pentecost in general..
I haven't forgotten what it was like as a child to have parents searching for more truth.. and they were very glad when they heard about Acts 2:38..
It concerns some of us that are just tired of all the confusion that seems to be going on...
I have told some of my family and friends.. when rubber meets the road.. wouldn't we be better off leaving off things.. instead of adding more
things" to our lives.. and finding out some day .. that some "things" really did matter to the Lord .. when we come face to face with Him.. it will be too late to change our ways then..
One last comment/or question... Can someone PLEASE explain what is all the deal about "magic hair"???
I have "never" saw that until I was on this particular site... anyone want to answer that for me.. please feel free too..
I do care what happens around me.. simply because things that have already changed in Pentecost has affected my family.. and I want Bible answers if any of you would like to share your thoughts/and or scriptures concerning as to what being "Pentecostal" is to you .. God bless and guide all of us is my prayer!

my eyes! My eyes! Please Please PLEASE break up posts like this into more white space

Some of us Pentecostals have NOT changed we preach and live like we always have.

I believe a lot in the charismatic/denominational world are discovering water baptism.... and a lot in the Apostolic world are discovering grace. It's an exciting time to live!

<sigh>
This is the logical result of unchecked legalism. It comes from a combination of legalism and taking away so much from one class of humanity (in this case, the female gender) that they have to invent something of a mystical nature in order to feel important and have reason in the grand scheme of things. In this case, having their long glorious uncut hair actually provide a physical sort of protection for their family. It is about making their hair into a magical talisman that somehow wards off evil spirits.

Wouldn't it just make more sense to practice witchcraft openly if you're going to anyhow? (and hey..you're posting!?! :yahoo)

nahkoe, what are you doing over here? Welcome to AFF. LOL!:scoregood

Oops..I outed my lurking self. :runhills

Every denomination and movement has some things that are "dated", and were right for that date, but not another. Robes were exchanged for pants at one time or other.

Every group has traditions, also, that are wrong, though held by people who are quite sincere in thinking they are correct. No one is perfect here yet.

People generally adhere tenaciously to what teachings they were first taught, never to consider anything different, be it Mormon doctrine or whatever. That is good if they were taught the truth at first. But what if some error was mixed amongst the truths they were first taught? So few people can allow even GOD to change them if they are in error. Just because something happened by our ears, in the form of teaching, before another message did, does not mean it is correct. What about the person who heard something else preached to them first before what we first heard preached to us? If everyone was to go by whatever they first heard preached, and stuck to it with all their guns, closed to the possibility they may be wrong in perhaps ONE area or ALL of it, SOMEONE IS WRONG and will never be recovered if they happen to have been taught error.

I believe the Holy Ghost came to guide us into all truth. The moment we think we do not have to be led any more, nor corrected about any teaching any more, is the moment the Spirit leaves us. So it is only to be expected that things change as time goes by in the way of beliefs.

But a person can go in one of three ways! One can change from a belief and thereby depart from truth. On the other hand, it may mean change TO truth. Or, it may mean change from what is error to another error.

So it is rather circular, and really only spinning our wheels, when we compare what we believed and were taught in the past with what we believe differently and are taught differently now. What if BOTH teachings are wrong? How do we know? Everyone says the bible says what they believe, from Mormons to us Apostolics. The bible is not the problem. It's OUR INTERPRETATION of the Bible that can be the problem. Yes, there is ONE interpretation that is correct and all others are wrong. We can say that for every single verse of the bible. Which one is correct? It is the one we must pray about in order for God to show us, and towards which we must be open for correction. If we already know the truth about a verse, then we still should pray for correction, because ultimately only God knows if we do have it right, and he will confirm it if we do.

This is why we must seek God with everything sincere in us, and pray "lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil." Pray that God keeps us on, or directs us to, the narrow way which leadeth unto life, where few there be that find it.

That is a great post.

Blessings, Rhoni

Thanks, sister.

This issue reminds me... I have often noticed that some people start "freaking out" when they stop to consider, "How do I know I have the truth?" I have spoken to preachers (!) who felt it is too dangerous a road to travel when one seeks for God to speak to them or direct them concerning truth. They reason, "Many killers have claimed God spoke to them about their mission to kill. What if I end up like that?" I am amazed at ministry who claims to serve God is afraid to even consider to reach out to God for verification or correction in regards to truth using this reasoning.

If there is a God, and WE KNOW there is, and His Word shows us quite clealry that we can hear from Him and be directed by Him, through MANY MANY different means, we must settle it that if we ask for an egg He is not going to give us a serpent.

Whether or not there are a billion and one different doctrines in this world, let alone religions, where truth is like a needle in a haystack, God can hear the prayers of the sincere soul and seek that person out and direct them towards truth.

GOD IS REAL! :D