Apostoic worship??

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Here's a thought, stop calling it contemplative prayer. You're praying or studying. That's it. You're not doing what is commonly known as "contemplative prayer." So stop with the stupidity.

What Keating practiced and taught is NOT something Pentecostals have been doing for over a century. We do not believe we are divine. We do not "center" ourselves in order to contact the divine nature within ourselves. That is mysticism. That is occultism.

I do perceive that you're all caught up in words. lol If Keating can show me that he owns the rights to the words "contemplative" and "prayer", I'll stop using the terms. But... he doesn't own those words.

What I found interesting is that I used those words and people began barking like wild dogs again. But here's what I found entertaining... no one really paid close attention to what I was saying about my understanding of contemplative prayer until now. Instead, I was instantly classified as a "witch" before anyone really began to realize, what I'm talking about is not entirely like what Keating teaches. LOL

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I do perceive that you're all caught up in words. lol If Keating can show me that he owns the rights to the words "contemplative" and "prayer", I'll stop using the terms. But... he doesn't own those words.

What I found interesting is that I used those words and people began barking like wild dogs again. But here's what I found entertaining... no one really paid close attention to what I was saying about my understanding of contemplative prayer until now. Instead, I was instantly classified as a "witch" before anyone really began to realize, what I'm talking about is not entirely like what Keating teaches. LOL

Perhaps it's because you claimed you practiced contemplative prayer, which to the overwhelming majority of people means something completely different than what you described.

smh

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Perhaps it's because you claimed you practiced contemplative prayer, which to the overwhelming majority of people means something completely different than what you described.

smh

Exactly!

And you'll notice that a great deal of you went into instant attack mode. No one paused and said, "Wait. What do you mean by that?" I even tried to explain what I meant by it voluntarily. And, instead of actually letting what I was actually saying sink in... I was accused of mysticism, being a witch, blah, blah, blah. At one point, I was even told that what I was saying wasn't true, I was really a witch, and what I really believe is the new age garbage! LOL Only in the past few posts has someone actually stopped and realized... what I'm saying isn't exactly what I'm being accused of.

There's a very combative spirt in this forum. A spirit that has given the gift of criticism, sarcasm, and insult instead of the gift of discernment.

Having said all that... I feel that folks were pretty hard on what Michael was really trying to say. Instead of investing the energy in trying to understand Bro. Michael (A BROTHER), a lot of energy was invested in trying to tie him to IHOP and throw him overboard. A great deal of effort was made to try to tie me to Keating and Vineyard to justify throwing me overboard.

When I say that one must be careful around here (this forum) because it seems like a lot of guys are like barking attack dogs ready to rip people to pieces... this is kinda what I'm talking about.

And trust me. It's not easy trying to bear this out. Most of the time... it's the entire thread against me. LOL

Oh well, I like to have a lot of fun while illustrating a point. I've enjoyed it. I pray you have walked away with something too.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

No one paused and said, "Wait. What do you mean by that?"

Esaias nailed it.

Originally Posted by Esaias

Words matter. When everyone and their mother understands a term to mean "X", and you use that term, don't be surprised if everyone understands you to mean "X".

And if you don't mean "X" you probably should use another term to avoid confusion.

Unless you just like to create strife...

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Esaias nailed it.

Only if one assumes they know what they are talking about all the time. Questions are good. If you go back and read the posts, at one point I asked if Esaias could clarify what he thinks constitutes worship. I asked this because on my end it sounded like he supported dry, emotionless, OT style, worship with no, or very little, musical accompaniment, unless they were shofars.. Now, I knew that being a Spirit filled brother, the odds were I was mistaken. So, I asked for clarification. And truth be told, I saw little issue with his actual point, once clarified.

Of course, if I mention, meditation, contemplation, soaking, etc., I'm just called a witch. Lol

It was assumed what I meant, and where I stood. So it took multiple posts of me trying to defensively explain where my perspective of those things might differ from popular definition. In fact, my definition is more biblical. Eastern meditation and contemplation stills the mind to empty thought, to "blank" the mind. Christian meditation and contemplation stills the mind's reeling about bills, obligations, work, etc. to be filled with contemplative thoughts on the Word, God, Christ, salvation, the works of the Holy Ghost, or just the reality of the presence of God that can facilitate peace and healing.

I even offered the example of oldtime prayer meetings where this was actively experienced.

I'm just saying, ask questions. If Michael thinks some church offers the best worship this side of Heaven. Just ask him why he thinks that. Berating him is unnecessary.

[houston]

Originally Posted by n david

Perhaps it's because you claimed you practiced contemplative prayer, which to the overwhelming majority of people means something completely different than what you described.

smh

Don’t forget, the doll readings.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by houston

Don’t forget, the doll readings.

Right! Great example. Everyone assumed what was meant by that too. Man, from the sounds of it, I'm a broom flying, psychic, occult, yogi master. Lol

But the truth is, God can give a word of knowledge out of the blue, while laying hands on a person, in a dream, in a vision, in a circumstance, regarding an object, regarding a place, or whatever else He wills. God once gave me a word of knowledge about where I could find my car keys! Lol! Now, people might criticize why God would do the supernatural in something so mundane. But if considered, it wasn't so mundane. He miraculously opened doors for my job. It sustains me and my family. Anything that imperils my job imperils my family. When people laugh, mock, and judge, I only shake my head. Because the Lord knows, regardless as to what any mocker might think or say.

That entire drama was a misunderstanding leading to the rush to cast a mischaracterization.

I'm willing to wager that some still assume that the mischaracterization is true, though they've not asked questions nor have even tried to understand.

After being Pentecostal for over 25 years, I have come to realize that even people who should be used to the endless ways God can work, still fear, condemn, and seek to attack what is unfamiliar to their own limited experience or understanding.