Allowing children to seek the Holy Ghost?

[deltaguitar]

OK, well, I didn't mean to make it sound like I was being forced to get the Holy Ghost. I could see how that would be misunderstood.

But there was a lot of preaching about hell and heaven and as a child I wanted to go to heaven and not burn in hell. Also, every other child around me had received it. No one ever forced me or even asked me for that matter.

But I wanted what everyone else had. They looked like they were full of joy and so happy. From my perspective, my mom and dad both spoke in tongues, I wanted God's spirit. That was the only way I knew to get it.

So, I went to the altar and cried and pleaded. I was instructed that once I had completely turned my life over to God and given him complete control I would speak in tongues. Imagine the difficulty, as a young child, wanting to give God all of myself and then feeling rejected and turned down. I didn't know how to give him anymore. So I cried, and pleaded, and begged.

All the while those around me said, "Look at the power of God on him" or "look at the joy on his face". I didn't have joy. I had confusion and anxiety and fear. I was talking to a person who has known me for many years and he mentioned that I was turning my back on the Holy Ghost. I asked him how he could say that and he said because he had seen me speak in tongues and knew that I got the Holy Ghost. Now, if I fooled myself and everyone around me into thinking that I wonder how many others are out there who would attest to never speaking in tongues.

I know that there is one guy who used to be on this forum that has had an experience very close to mine and his dad was a professor at one of the largest UPC colleges. He claims that he never spoke in tongues either.

Am I really the only person who will admit this? I had talked to some of my close friends and they will confirm that they felt the same thing. I asked if they would allow their kids to participate in a pentecostal alter service and I have been met with agreement that they don't view it as healthy.

I am not sure how I am broadbrushing the movement. I am not just talking about the UPC but I know the same thing happens in the AOG and Church of God. Most of my bad experiences didn't happen in my home church. It happened at the Mississippi District UPC youth camp where there were big time evangelist and many churches represented. I know I was not the only one there who went through these things.