Allowing children to seek the Holy Ghost?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

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.

Where is the false doctrine? The definition of "seeking" that you gave is the correct one but that doesn't change the fact the definition of it that most use is completely different. Why are people pleading and begging God for His "gift" night after night after night often with pastors and others saying "you almost got it!". How can a person "kinda" speak in tongues or "almost but not quite" receive the "gift" of the Holy Ghost?

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Where is the false doctrine? The definition of "seeking" that you gave is the correct one but that doesn't change the fact the definition of it that most use is completely different. Why are people pleading and begging God for His "gift" night after night after night often with pastors and others saying "you almost got it!". How can a person "kinda" speak in tongues or "almost but not quite" receive the "gift" of the Holy Ghost?

I've learned a lot here about Pentecostalism. Granted I don't condone EVERYTHING that goes on the Pentecostal Movement. I have seen people struggle to get the Holy Ghost, mostly because of sin or disbelief (and believe me the times I've seen them struggle I knew exactly why... maybe the mothers didn't but all the younger ones in the church knew exactly what they were doing). I haven't seen anybody "half-way" speak in tongues, so I wouldn't be able to answer your question.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

I've learned a lot here about Pentecostalism. Granted I don't condone EVERYTHING that goes on the Pentecostal Movement. I have seen people struggle to get the Holy Ghost, mostly because of sin or disbelief (and believe me the times I've seen them struggle I knew exactly why... maybe the mothers didn't but all the younger ones in the church knew exactly what they were doing). I haven't seen anybody "half-way" speak in tongues, so I wouldn't be able to answer your question.

Interesting. I have seen lesbians and people who had just had multiple sexual encounters and threesomes speak in tongues and get on facebook and go on and on about how there is nothing better than the presence of God. I have seen a pastor get angry and speak in tongues in a way that would send chills up and down your spin. I have seen two girls speak in tongues, shout out of the choir loft and ten minutes later writhing on the floor with the preachers trying to cast out of them (talk about messing with my logic).

On the other hand, I have seen good moral people really seek God and ask for the spirit and never speak in tongues.

I know that I didn't have sin in my life other than just being a normal kid.

That is what I could never understand, why would God bless my friends who were horrible and smoke dope and cuss and watch rated R moves and have sex and they always spoke in tongues and were the first to backslide.

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

Interesting. I have seen lesbians and people who had just had multiple sexual encounters and threesomes speak in tongues and get on facebook and go on and on about how there is nothing better than the presence of God. I have seen a pastor get angry and speak in tongues in a way that would send chills up and down your spin. I have seen two girls speak in tongues, shout out of the choir loft and ten minutes later writhing on the floor with the preachers trying to cast out of them (talk about messing with my logic).

On the other hand, I have seen good moral people really seek God and ask for the spirit and never speak in tongues.

I know that I didn't have sin in my life other than just being a normal kid.

That is what I could never understand, why would God bless my friends who were horrible and smoke dope and cuss and watch rated R moves and have sex and they always spoke in tongues and were the first to backslide.

Believe me you are not the only one who has encountered "tongues" from unholy people. That's why I don't judge much off the tongues. Yes tongues were preached from pulpits that I've been under, however it was also preached heavily that the tongues only serve as the INITIAL evidence, but that the truth is holy living and the fruits of the spirit were the REAL DEAL. Yes I believe the initial evidence doctrine, I also believe that the Holy Ghost will produce fruits. I can say that from my own personal testimony. Yes I have seen people shout run around speak in tongues and fall on the floor and hit the clubs, party, sex it up, and have a ball outside of church. The church I go to now has a whole lot less of that, thank God, but you are going to have fakes and hypocrites, in EVERY church you go to, period.

[shag]

" however it was also preached heavily that the tongues only serve as the INITIAL evidence, but that the truth is holy living and the fruits of the spirit were the REAL DEAL."



So....what exactly is the purpose of " tongues" in these situations? And is it the "real deal"? How does one know the "tongues" was the "real deal" when folks immediately and (without stopping even over time) do stuff like that(obviously lacking fruit)?

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

Believe me you are not the only one who has encountered "tongues" from unholy people. That's why I don't judge much off the tongues. Yes tongues were preached from pulpits that I've been under, however it was also preached heavily that the tongues only serve as the INITIAL evidence, but that the truth is holy living and the fruits of the spirit were the REAL DEAL. Yes I believe the initial evidence doctrine, I also believe that the Holy Ghost will produce fruits. I can say that from my own personal testimony. Yes I have seen people shout run around speak in tongues and fall on the floor and hit the clubs, party, sex it up, and have a ball outside of church. The church I go to now has a whole lot less of that, thank God, but you are going to have fakes and hypocrites, in EVERY church you go to, period.

The only reason I mentioned what I did was because you stated that you saw people who couldn't receive the Holy Ghost because you knew if sin in their life. Just pointing out that from experience that doesn't line up.

[Orthodoxy]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

I still remember as an eight year old child my mother praying with me for hours at youth camp and all I wanted to do was make her happy and get the Holy Ghost. I felt comfortable with her but there were tons of other people around screaming and hollering in my ear.

I never went to UPC church camp, mainly because my friend told me that the kids without the Holy Ghost had to wear a different colored armband so the altar workers would know who to pray for. (I can't verify whether or not this is true, but it wouldn't surprise me.)

Since I didn't speak in tongues until my late teens, I was always petrified of the altar calls. I would do everything in my power to stay away from children's Holy Ghost rallies and puppet shows, though I was not always successful.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by Orthodoxy

I never went to UPC church camp, mainly because my friend told me that the kids without the Holy Ghost had to wear a different colored armband so the altar workers would know who to pray for. (I can't verify whether or not this is true, but it wouldn't surprise me.)

Since I didn't speak in tongues until my late teens, I was always petrified of the altar calls. I would do everything in my power to stay away from children's Holy Ghost rallies and puppet shows, though I was not always successful.

Yep. And see how you turned out!

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Orthodoxy

I never went to UPC church camp, mainly because my friend told me that the kids without the Holy Ghost had to wear a different colored armband so the altar workers would know who to pray for. (I can't verify whether or not this is true, but it wouldn't surprise me.)Since I didn't speak in tongues until my late teens, I was always petrified of the altar calls. I would do everything in my power to stay away from children's Holy Ghost rallies and puppet shows, though I was not always successful.

I can vouch for that - - except at our camp it was buttons - - red if you had the HG and blue if you didn't.

Ridiculous!

[houston]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

I can vouch for that - - except at our camp it was buttons - - red if you had the HG and blue if you didn't.

Ridiculous!

This is sad. Rather than allow the children to respond to the tug on their hearts... ...brand them like cattle. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink... I guess we drown a few in the process, that's OK if one or two drink on their own.