AGs will debate Tongues at the next GC

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

We always called them prayer rooms. But still, how do you stop the Holy Ghost from an outpouring in the sanctuary during a service? To me the gist of it is if someone starts speaking in tongues during service with visitors, we want them to go to another room to speak in tongues. Can we say quench the Spirit.

No. It's not quenching the Spirit. It is in fact the leading of God's Spirit to prohibit it.

As evidenced by Pauls teaching everyone might speak in tongues at the same time - but PAUL WOULD PUT A STOP TO IT.

[bkstokes]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I am in favor of so-called "seeker rooms".

I am not talking about seeker rooms. Of course everything must be done in order. What I am talking about is a friend of mine has a cousin who is one of staff at a big AG church in St Louis. He said that if someone wants to receive the Holy Ghost even during the altar call. Well then they take them to the seeker room or the prayer room.

[Sherri]

At the risk of sounding like "AG", I do believe that you have to be wise with visitors on Sunday mornings. When we started this church in Jackson, God really spoke to us about Sun. morning being a "bridge" service, to bring denominational people or just heathens into the presence of God slowly. Our Sunday morning services are geared way back - we still have a move of the Spirit, but it is nothing like our Wednesday nights. If our visitors came on Wed. nights first, many of them would be scared and wouldn't return. But by having the "bridge" service, they learn to trust us and by the time they come to the power packed Wed. nights, they are hooked and they already trust us.

We have seen so many Church of Christ, Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Mennonites, etc. receive the Holy Ghost. Once in a while it's on Sunday mornings, but usually it's Wednesday nights.

God showed Eddie a long time ago an analogy of the tabernacle. Sunday mornings are a time of repentance and baptism (altar of sacrifice and laver). We don't bring the people into the inner courts or Holy Place until they have had the blood applied, or they will not survive. In the Holiest of Holies (Wed. nights), they are baptized with the Holy Ghost. We have lived by this analogy for many years, and it has worked well.

[bkstokes]

In my opinion, all of the division that we see in all of the movements is a product of our post-modern society.

[SDG]

Interestingly enough in their last GC they, the AG, approved request from the floor to create a special committee to examine the possible use of online voting for the 2009 General Council, to encourage greater participation from the Fellowship.

Something the UPCI needs to seriously consider ... now they allow missionaries to do so.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by bkstokes

I am not talking about seeker rooms. Of course everything must be done in order. What I am talking about is a friend of mine has a cousin who is one of staff at a big AG church in St Louis. He said that if someone wants to receive the Holy Ghost even during the altar call. Well then they take them to the seeker room or the prayer room.

I attended a church in Oregon that did a similar thing. It is not as whacky as it sounds. When people would come to the altar seeking salvation they were taken into a room adjoining the auditorium where there was a prayer team and counselors. They were given the information that they needed, like repentance and the need for it. This also kept whacko’s from interfering. We had issues a few times before that when whack-a-dos from the “local church” movement showed up and started praying for people at the altar.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by bkstokes

In my opinion, all of the division that we see in all of the movements is a product of our post-modern society.

Been divisions since the beginning ... read Acts 15 and epistles ...

Divisions since the Protestant Reformation ...

I don't know if we can peg this on post-modern society.

[SDG]

I'll leave the baptizing of fire ... to the BAPTIZER.

[bkstokes]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

I attended a church in Oregon that did a similar thing. It is not as whacky as it sounds. When people would come to the altar and seeking salvation they were taken into a room adjoining the auditorium where there was a prayer team and counselors. They were given the information that they needed, like repentance and the need for it. This also kept whacko’s from interfering. We had issues a few times before that when whack-a-dos from the “local church” movement showed up and started praying for people at the altar.

I understand what you are saying. Nevertheless, when people are there in the altar receiving the Holy Spirit there is normally a spill over to those who are around them. In other words, the action of doing it in the altar gives more place to a renewing to be given to the whole church body.

[bkstokes]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Been divisions since the beginning ... read Acts 15 and epistles ...

Divisions since the Protestant Reformation ...

I don't know if we can peg this on post-modern society.

Good point