Shouts

[MissBrattified]

A sense of humor is a great thing to have--especially in church. I'm glad I was raised in a home where spirituality was met with a large measure of pragmatism. My Dad said (over and over), "Some people are so heavenly minded, they're no earthly good." We shouldn't be so serious about every little thing that happens in church.

Not everything is spiritual and not everything is serious. How people choose to dance is not that serious of a topic. Whether they dance isn't that serious of a topic. Making fun of them because they dance--that would be an entirely different thing.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I thought Paul said that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the power of God (Romans 1:16).

Do we really believe this is how the NT Church worshiped? Or is this a cultural construct?

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

A sense of humor is a great thing to have--especially in church. I'm glad I was raised in a home where spirituality was met with a large measure of pragmatism. My Dad said (over and over), "Some people are so heavenly minded, they're no earthly good." We shouldn't be so serious about every little thing that happens in church.

Not everything is spiritual and not everything is serious. How people choose to dance is not that serious of a topic. Whether they dance isn't that serious of a topic. Making fun of them because they dance--that would be an entirely different thing.

Okay, I see you finally got it.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Okay, I see you finally got it.

PO, I "had it" from the first post. E.g., there's a reason I've been keeping a close eye on this thread. I know people like to make fun of Apostolics, and there's always the potential for that when stuff like this comes up.

As for the "dialogue" on this thread; there are always supporters and dissenters in every conversation. It's fair to assume that threads are posted for the purpose of discussion (although sometimes they ARE just posted for entertainment), but it's not fair to assume that Renda posted the videos for the express purpose of making fun of Pentecostal worship.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

PO, I "had it" from the first post. E.g., there's a reason I've been keeping a close eye on this thread. I know people like to make fun of Apostolics, and there's always the potential for that when stuff like this comes up.

As for the "dialogue" on this thread; there are always supporters and dissenters in every conversation. It's fair to assume that things are presented for discussion, but it's not fair to assume that Renda posted the videos for the express purpose of making fun of Pentecostal worship.

Not necessarily making fun of it, but I'll let these two posts speak for themselves.

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I thought Paul said that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the power of God (Romans 1:16).

Do we really believe this is how the NT Church worshiped? Or is this a cultural construct?

Originally Posted by rgcraig

No.
Yes.

The people in the upper room appeared to be "drunk" and so we don't really know what all they were actually doing, aside from speaking in tongues. I'm simply not going to interfere, in any way, with someone's expression toward God, unless they are harming themselves or the congregation. AND I am not going to post videos or comment in a way that makes it look as though I am judge and jury on it.

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Not necessarily making fun of it, but I'll let these two posts speak for themselves.





The people in the upper room appeared to be "drunk" and so we don't really know what all they were actually doing, aside from speaking in tongues. I'm simply not going to interfere, in any way, with someone's expression toward God, unless they are harming themselves or the congregation. AND I am not going to post videos or comment in a way that makes it look as though I am judge and jury on it.

I think it's perfectly Biblical to care about worship that has order, thats modest, befitting and appropriate. Paul spends three chapters in I Corinthians addressing the inappropriate way the Corinthian Christians were worshiping. It was important to him as a leader of the church to communicate to the Corinthians that frightening unbelievers and causing them to believe they were nuts was not appropriate. God is not the author of confusion.

A good question would be to ask "Are we doing anything at our church that fosters confusion in the minds of unbelievers visiting our church?" I had to spend 1 1/2 hours doing damage control several weeks ago after some unwise members of our church decided to overwhelm a new believer, a former Catholic, with "super spirituality" getting in her face and declaring that there were demons in her house. If I hadn't defused her confusion back at her friends house alongside her yet to convert husband, would've stopped coming to our assembly.

So as a pastor I am very sensitive to these assumptions we make as lifelong Pentecostals that we should do whatever, whenever, however under the guise of "freedom in the Spirit". Spirit-filled, Spirit-led people have liberty, yes, but they're supposed to possess wisdom too.

It's not the first time I have had to help undo the damage done to people because people feel it's okay to get a little crazy at church. Worship doesn't have to be outlandish and a turn off to outsiders to be pleasing to God. If a fruit of the Spirit is self control, why can't some people seem to exercise that when they worship. I don't believe God possesses you and makes you do things you cannot control.

[ApostolicBelle]

I remember watchin a friend of mine one day, He looked like he was doin the robot! I was pretty funny, but once he got goin there wasn't no stoppin that boy till God decided it

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

A sense of humor is a great thing to have--especially in church. I'm glad I was raised in a home where spirituality was met with a large measure of pragmatism. My Dad said (over and over), "Some people are so heavenly minded, they're no earthly good." We shouldn't be so serious about every little thing that happens in church.

Not everything is spiritual and not everything is serious. How people choose to dance is not that serious of a topic. Whether they dance isn't that serious of a topic. Making fun of them because they dance--that would be an entirely different thing.

You mean to say you wouldn't laugh if someone started doing this at the alter?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

You mean to say you wouldn't laugh if someone started doing this at the alter?

That would be a "how"; not a "because." And yes, there have been times when I have been on the organ and had to stare a hole in the wall to keep from busting a gut. Apparently that's because I'm carnal.

PEOPLE are funny, and I refuse to believe that God lacks a sense of humor. In fact, I have a feeling that a lot of stuff that goes on in church makes HIM laugh--probably with sheer enjoyment.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

That would be a "how"; not a "because." And yes, there have been times when I have been on the organ and had to stare a hole in the wall to keep from busting a gut. Apparently that's because I'm carnal.

PEOPLE are funny, and I refuse to believe that God lacks a sense of humor. In fact, I have a feeling that a lot of stuff that goes on in church makes HIM laugh--probably with sheer enjoyment.

In the eighties we were having a service on Sunday night a lot of joy, & jumping around & there was a guy there who, how can say it delicately,
had a few fries short of a happy meal.
His worship was attracting attention, but we let him join in--not hurting anyone.
My Pastor walked over to the Organist who was not married & whispered "He's single."
She just about lost it.

Yup, sense of humour God has for sure.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Ron

In the eighties we were having a service on Sunday night a lot of joy, & jumping around & there was a guy there who, how can say it delicately,
had a few fries short of a happy meal.
His worship was attracting attention, but we let him join in--not hurting anyone.
My Pastor walked over to the Organist who was not married & whispered "He's single."
She just about lost it.

Yup, sense of humour God has for sure.

That's a really delicate situation when you are having to sit them down and talk about it. You can either encourage them or crush them.