Bait and Switch: Pentecostal Deception?

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by CC1

Kind of like a man on his first, second, or even third date. He doesn't want the girl to hear him fart or belch or anything else unattractive that might keep the relationship from developing further?

...and then she marries him.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by CC1

Kind of like a man on his first, second, or even third date. He doesn't want the girl to hear him fart or belch or anything else unattractive that might keep the relationship from developing further?

No. Look Peter said this

2Pe 3:15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
2Pe 3:16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

You don't need to teach them every little doctrinal issue before they can convert. It's not necessary. It can or will just distract them from the real goal of converting to Christ. They are babes still and need to get what they need spiritually.

[EA]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

No. Look Peter said this

2Pe 3:15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
2Pe 3:16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

You don't need to teach them every little doctrinal issue before they can convert. It's not necessary. It can or will just distract them from the real goal of converting to Christ. They are babes still and need to get what they need spiritually.

Prax, you've missed the whole point.

Many folks feel like conformance to "holiness" standards is salvational.

Knowing this, why do they wait months before they teach them to new folks?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

Prax, you've missed the whole point.

Many folks feel like conformance to "holiness" standards is salvational.

Knowing this, why do they wait months before they teach them to new folks?

BUT I DON'T...

Here is what I think could be it. Those that teach it's salvific necessity don't teach it is a pre-requisite to being saved. Rather they teach it is a part of maturing. I think if you ask them if that new convert will go to hell if they die before learning of standards they would say no.

[mizpeh]

Holiness should be universal across all cultural lines, IMHO.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Holiness should be universal across all cultural lines, IMHO.

Real holiness is.

[EA]

This is what we should be teaching.


1. Genuine Faith.

2. Repentance.

3. Baptism.

4. Holy Ghost infilling.

5. No britches.

6. No TV.

7. No jewelry.

8. No cosmetics.

9. No movies.

10. No mixed bathing.

11. No hair coloring.

and on and on and on.



Perhaps it would be good to have visitors read leaflets with this info as they enter the building?

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

This is what we should be teaching.


1. Genuine Faith.

2. Repentance.

3. Baptism.

4. Holy Ghost infilling.

5. No britches.

6. No TV.

7. No jewelry.

8. No cosmetics.

9. No movies.

10. No mixed bathing.

11. No hair coloring.

and on and on and on.



Perhaps it would be good to have visitors read leaflets with this info as they enter the building?

You lost me after four.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

This is what we should be teaching.


1. Genuine Faith.

2. Repentance.

3. Baptism

4. Holy Ghost infilling.

5. No britches.

6. No TV.

7. No jewelry.

8. No cosmetics.

9. No movies.

10. No mixed bathing.

11. No hair coloring.

and on and on and on.


Perhaps it would be good to have visitors read leaflets with this info as they enter the building?

Salvation is not a list of do's and don't's, it is a relationship with a person, Jesus Christ. You won't find him dealing with a laundry list. So get over it and preach the Good News, and trust the Holy Spirit to teach. Many Pentecostals do not need the HS because the church will tell them what they must and mustn't do.

[EA]

I suppose I am most concerned about an incorrect view of Pentecostalism being fed to newcomers. I believe this is why we have so many folks experiencing the New Birth that leave after a short time. They were told to "come as you are" only to later find that statement changed to "come as we are."

Why do we tell folks to "come as you are?"