tricked me.
They were Apostolic, but they don't advertise themselves as Apostolic. It isn't in their name. Their website lacks the key markers and code words I usually recognize as "Apostolic-speak".
However, they were very cordial. I was greeted by many people. I was not dressed up, but not bummy either. Jeans, short-sleeved button down shirt, skechers. However, at offering time, one of the ushers came up behind me as I stood reaching into my pockets to find my cash. He slipped $5.00 into my hand and told me to put it in the offering. I appreciated his very kind gesture.
If you know me, you know one of my biggest criticisms of the Apostolic Movement is their doctrine that essentially teaches unless you speak in tongues, you're not saved.
So the Pastor's Sermon title was, "Tongues of Fire". I am not making this up.
I sat there and listened. I really listened hard and carefully. The Lord knows the source of my soreness with the Apostolics so for me to walk into that church, that morning, hearing that Pastor preach that message on that subject was..... something.
He made the allusion to a baby's birth in how that we know the baby is alive because we hear the baby's tongue. I understand what he was saying.
But is a baby not a baby until the baby breaks from the womb? Does LIFE begin at conception, birth, somewhere in between?
A literal "Saved By Grace Through Faith" message fits perfectly with the Bible, Christian history and the thought of human life beginning at conception... nvm.
Praise, Prayer, and Prophecy are the purposes of Tongues. The Pastor elaborated on those points yesterday.
He gave an altar call.
It was a very powerful experience.
It had been a long time since I had been in a church service like the one I was in yesterday. The Holy Ghost fell in the sanctuary and people were crying out to the Lord all over the sanctuary. There was dancing in the Spirit. There was people speaking in Tongues. It did not seem driven by music or hyped up.
At least three visitors were filled with the Holy Ghost for the first time, yesterday in that service! They came down front and the Pastor and just a few other people were down at the front praying with the altar call responders.
No one was filled at the altar-- they were led to a prayer and tarrying room and the Holy Ghost fell on three of the people back there. I am not sure how many people were led to the back room-- maybe ten or eleven, maybe more.
I know three were filled because they made the announcement over the pulpit, 15 minutes after the service was ended. 20 minutes after the service was over, people were still praising the Lord!
It was a great place to be!
Predominantly black, with some white folks, an Asian police officer, more women than men, but there were men there, no Hispanics, and this church is in the city, not far from my house.
I want to meet with the Pastor (but probably not possible). I want to make sure I know what they believe before I commit to an environment that I know ultimately will cause more hurt and confusion.
I refuse to bring a person to a church that will lead them to believe that if they don't speak in Tongues, they are not saved and are going to hell.
Still, I don't doubt that the Lord was with those precious and kind people yesterday and I am glad and grateful that I was there to witness and participate in their service.
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