I am the former President of the Association of Former Pentecostals. I was a Oneness Pentecostal for about 20 years and am now a Lutheran. It usually takes from 7-10 years to recover from the bad effects of extremely emotional religion. Hopefully this blog can help out with a few ideas. Furthermore, it appears that there are similar problems with the Charismatic movement as there are with the Pentecostals. So, Charismatics might find similar problems and hopefully a helpful discussion here.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
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16 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I am currently attending a Oneness Apostolic-faith church (since Nov 2010). I have no formal upbringing other than one year at the age of 14 with the LDS church. My pastor is a truly great man. At age 22 he discovered the bible (he was born/raised a Roman Catholic). Eventually he turned to believing in the Apostles Creed and took over this small Apostolic church. Yes, the members adhere to the long hair and long skirts for woman; all their children are home schooled. My pastor does not do Xmas, Easter, or any other civil holidays except for Thanksgiving. He teaches the whole baptism in water in Jesus' name only with baptism of the holy spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues. All this is required to be saved otherwise you burn FOREVER in the Lake of Fire. I recently attended a Ladies Retreat. The first night during prayer I left the room to pray alone in my bedroom. What I heard was like a group of wounded animals. It scared me to death! All I could think was OH MY GOD! With the exception of the whole tongues thing, I had a wonderful time. But some still view me as being influenced by the Adversary and not giving up my carnal self to receive the holy spirit and speak in tongues.
You know what really blows my mind? How is that my pastor who is clearly an intelligent man (he's an engineer by profession) can believe what he teaches? I read the same bible and come up with a different understanding. I have spoken with him about it and he assured me he would never tell me I could not continue in the church BUT I was never to try to sway others as to my beliefs regarding anything against what he teaches. So my dilemma is do I just walk away from these people who certainly seem to care or am I being blinded with false love and sincerity? I would feel so bad if I left them but is staying right for me?
I hope I can get some constructive advise without bashing these people. My pastor does not take up a collection. He NEVER discusses money. We given as we can when we want but it is never preached. Our pastor is extremely generous and always there with a helping hand in what ever way he is needed.
Praise the Lord for your change from Pentecostal religion ( A christian cult which will spread like cancer) It is the most dangerous and harmful denomination . Because of this religion Christ's name becoming shame among the world. http://gcim2000.blogspot.com Visit this blog page . Read make your comments on our articles and news. You can publish our blog id in your blog page. With prayer and love, Shajahan V Hassan, Evangelist.
Hi i really think you all are steriotypes, exect those who protected pentecostals, but seriously i really feel like spiting on all of you, lutheras is not that high and mighty, if u really are with the lord then you wouldn't make pentecostals out, leave us alone, i promise i am making a website to insult the lutherist, how dare you all make pentecostals out and seriously lutheras are sturvey and gross...Mind you own businesses
Sometimes, there are those that do find the hypnotic instructions or more accurately stated, the mind-control programming.
What I am really talking about here is the violation of First Amendment freedoms of the Constitution of the United States of America to "freedom of religion." What about the freedom of speech? You have the right to act like a damn fool at the bequest of the hypnotic anchor. What about your vote? They are like-minded.
However first amendment freedoms concerning religion had been interpreted from a one-sided perspective. Plainly stated, persecution of the religious organization is not allowed, persecution of and denial of individual first amendment rights is allowed within the context of a religious organization.
How does one prove that these hypnotic instructions exist? You have schizophrenia. Plainly stated anyone recovering hypnotic instructions gets taken to court to prove sanity while family or friends involved in the church get to tell lies about you to courts and psychologists who are there to protect the religion.
Best of luck.
When looking into these practices, one might find Pentecostals occupying jobs within the court system, the same justice system that is to protect all. What is justice?
Sometimes, there are those that do find the hypnotic instructions or more accurately stated, the mind-control programming.
What I am really talking about here is the violation of First Amendment freedoms of the Constitution of the United States of America to "freedom of religion." What about the freedom of speech? You have the right to act like a damn fool at the bequest of the hypnotic anchor. What about your vote? They are like-minded.
However first amendment freedoms concerning religion had been interpreted from a one-sided perspective. Plainly stated, persecution of the religious organization is not allowed, persecution of and denial of individual first amendment rights is allowed within the context of a religious organization.
How does one prove that these hypnotic instructions exist? You have schizophrenia. Plainly stated anyone recovering hypnotic instructions gets taken to court to prove sanity while family or friends involved in the church get to tell lies about you to courts and psychologists who are there to protect the religion.
Best of luck.
When looking into these practices, one might find Pentecostals occupying jobs within the court system, the same justice system that is to protect all. What is justice?
Sometimes, there are those that do find the hypnotic instructions or more accurately stated, the mind-control programming.
What I am really talking about here is the violation of First Amendment freedoms of the Constitution of the United States of America to "freedom of religion." What about the freedom of speech? You have the right to act like a damn fool at the bequest of the hypnotic anchor. What about your vote? They are like-minded.
However first amendment freedoms concerning religion had been interpreted from a one-sided perspective. Plainly stated, persecution of the religious organization is not allowed, persecution of and denial of individual first amendment rights is allowed within the context of a religious organization.
How does one prove that these hypnotic instructions exist? You have schizophrenia. Plainly stated anyone recovering hypnotic instructions gets taken to court to prove sanity while family or friends involved in the church get to tell lies about you to courts and psychologists who are there to protect the religion.
Best of luck.
When looking into these practices, one might find Pentecostals occupying jobs within the court system, the same justice system that is to protect all. What is justice?
Hello! In regards to your January, 2011 post on gluttony in the Pentecostal denominations:
i am not in a Pentacostal or in a Lutheran denomination. I suspect that if one did a scientific study and controlled for age, gender, income, education, location and other variables, the problem of gluttony would be statistically the same in both denominations. Bill Field
I just want to say how much of a blessing and a relief it is to hear fellow Christians express the dismay and reservations they have about Pentecostalism/Charismata. I'm a Catholic that is dating a former Catholic. We attend an Assemblies of God in our city. What you have mentioned in your posts about Pentecostalism is correct. It is a religion that upholds the ignorant and the uneducated. Knowledge of the Bible is limited at best and when the Bible is quoted it is usually used to peddle a 'what's God have for me' gospel. I've been going a year and after this Sunday's sermon where a sorry excuse for a pastor spoke about how the fear of the lord should be terrifying and not reverential, I am at the point of despair. I can't take the stupidity anymore. I can't take the mythologizing of the scriptures, the questioning of the scriptures and the obvious lack of ability to distinguish what is from God and what is from the devil. There's an obsession with the devil; like he's responsible for every little thing. They attribute too much to satan and in my opinion, this further empowers him. The devil has them scared and harassed without lifting a finger.
As a catholic, we all know there are theological differences between us, but I'd rather be at a Lutheran, Anglican or any other church than be where I'm at. There worst thing is that my gf just sits there, nods her head and is in agreement. No matter how unbiblical and anti-christ like the comments are made (by this I mean that the comment blatantly contradicts the exact words of Christ), she sits there and swallows it. Emotion is the only form or manner to discern the truth. i think that i'm going to church with adolescents and not adults.
Follow Christ and Him alone. If you are attending a group that does not uphold the Bible as the Word to be followed, then it is time to leave and find another group who wants to obey the Word of God.
I am a member of a UPC church, and have been all my life. I was brought up to believe Acts 2:38-9 as the only way to salvation - that is repentance, water baptism, receiving the holy ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, oneness, long hair, no beard, long skirts, no shorts, read the bible, no movies, go to a Christian college, no liberal education, etc, etc...
I however am not writing because I have had a sudden revelation. I have had gradual moments of clarity throughout my entire pentecostal upbringing by a) living as a pentecostal but identifying through a multicultural perspective; b) going to a state university and majoring in the liberal arts; c) never fully accepting the statements of the church as facts albeit I am young (in my mid 20s).
I am struggling with the religion because I am simply finding a hard time believing in it anymore...I am weary of the socialization of pentecostals, the hierarchy, chain of command, service as a requirement of holy living, pressure to marry. I sit in church unhappily and offended at times because of what is being preached or not preached. To make matters worse I am working through all these feelings while being used by God (or at least I hope) on the platform - I help with music. So I find myself contending with conservative ideology in the guise of religious freedom when I cannot find it my heart or mind to comply. So I become antisocial... And believe me, I have heard rumors to explain my behavior.
Basically, I have undergone a transformation while in church and it is an unusual one. So what is the problem??? The problem is finding a way to make a clean break. I'll be honest there are some people that I care deeply for in the church. And my family still attends, so I find myself going not for my sake but as some sort of representation. I don't know how to stop... It's like I'm going to do a job and then leave, and most service I don't get anything out of.
I do not know if I question the existence of God, and some might direct me to read the bible or consult with my pastor. But I find these options fruitless. I live it home having gone to college while living at home and going to church at the same time. As a result, my parents nag my about my attendance. I am beginning to feel hopeless there. Because I do not lead an acceptable "pentecostal" life, I cannot engage in a normal life whatsoever... I find it hard to socialize outside my church culture... I find it hard to engage in the most basic of relationships. I am not willing to live life as a pentecostal negligent of all that I know to be true. Sometimes I wish I could be ignorant, but my conscious awakens and I feel in me some form of dissent. What am I supposed to do? I know that I must leave, yet something binds me here and I cannot explain its hold... Do I still care? Do I feel some sort of responsibility?
Finally, if there is anyone out there that can identify with what I am going through, I would greatly appreciate it. Help, is all I can say.
It is good to question. It is bad to assume that God can't provide the answers. The reality is that all denominations are imperfect. Pentecostalism can be one of the worst, because they can often neglect honest and objective biblical exegesis. Yet there are solid answers to your very real questions, if you're willing to put in some work and search them out. One of the worst things you can do is be a victim and wait for someone to spoon feed you the truth. You need to be responsible for your faith, and find those answers.
When we divert our attention from the Word of God to an organization and what they have chosen for their pet beliefs, then we are in disobedience placing the organization above God. 1 Thes. 5:21 "Test all things; hold fast what is good."
God's Word is the authority, no man or organization will be the authority.
Pentecostal religion is a narrow minded group that use scare tactics to convert you. Well the majority of the people are. May you burn in hell. Of course if you don't believe in hell that is not offensive. See you in another life Brother.
I don't know what is coming from the Apostolic and Pentecostal nations but it will be much much worse than Jim Jones case. I know this for fact. The Anointing Oil was used in times past for only priest and higher up in church authority. These groups are using it with a means to give help of getting the holy ghost, and now i have proof that some of the anointing oils made by just any man who says he is a priest and Apostolic, can cause people to become crazy hallucinating and with this having a believe that they are skitzo for years before they realize what happen was the anointing oil can be tainted, all Anointing Oils should be banned forever from use of the church to the public. This Oil in mostly all of there churches is tainted it is not real Annointing Oil, and there for they are giving thousands of people who are rational most likely they idea that they have the Holy Ghost and but rather are under the influence of a tainted Oil that can be considered a drug, and this I believe whole heatedly, because it ruined my life for 10 years. I was misdiagnosed as skitzo, and my family did not believe i was, no one who knew me my entire life believed i was. And now i kno i wasn't but at the time i went to the alter and had my head prayed upon by the elders of the church weekly.
16 comments:
I am currently attending a Oneness Apostolic-faith church (since Nov 2010). I have no formal upbringing other than one year at the age of 14 with the LDS church. My pastor is a truly great man. At age 22 he discovered the bible (he was born/raised a Roman Catholic). Eventually he turned to believing in the Apostles Creed and took over this small Apostolic church. Yes, the members adhere to the long hair and long skirts for woman; all their children are home schooled. My pastor does not do Xmas, Easter, or any other civil holidays except for Thanksgiving. He teaches the whole baptism in water in Jesus' name only with baptism of the holy spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues. All this is required to be saved otherwise you burn FOREVER in the Lake of Fire. I recently attended a Ladies Retreat. The first night during prayer I left the room to pray alone in my bedroom. What I heard was like a group of wounded animals. It scared me to death! All I could think was OH MY GOD! With the exception of the whole tongues thing, I had a wonderful time. But some still view me as being influenced by the Adversary and not giving up my carnal self to receive the holy spirit and speak in tongues.
You know what really blows my mind? How is that my pastor who is clearly an intelligent man (he's an engineer by profession) can believe what he teaches? I read the same bible and come up with a different understanding. I have spoken with him about it and he assured me he would never tell me I could not continue in the church BUT I was never to try to sway others as to my beliefs regarding anything against what he teaches. So my dilemma is do I just walk away from these people who certainly seem to care or am I being blinded with false love and sincerity? I would feel so bad if I left them but is staying right for me?
I hope I can get some constructive advise without bashing these people. My pastor does not take up a collection. He NEVER discusses money. We given as we can when we want but it is never preached. Our pastor is extremely generous and always there with a helping hand in what ever way he is needed.
Thank you.
LadyInMaine
Praise the Lord for your change from Pentecostal religion ( A christian cult which will spread like cancer)
It is the most dangerous and harmful denomination . Because of this religion Christ's name becoming shame among the world.
http://gcim2000.blogspot.com
Visit this blog page . Read make your comments on our articles and news. You can publish our blog id in your blog page.
With prayer and love,
Shajahan V Hassan, Evangelist.
Hi i really think you all are steriotypes, exect those who protected pentecostals, but seriously i really feel like spiting on all of you, lutheras is not that high and mighty, if u really are with the lord then you wouldn't make pentecostals out, leave us alone, i promise i am making a website to insult the lutherist, how dare you all make pentecostals out and seriously lutheras are sturvey and gross...Mind you own businesses
Sometimes, there are those that do find the hypnotic instructions or more accurately stated, the mind-control programming.
What I am really talking about here is the violation of First Amendment freedoms of the Constitution of the United States of America to "freedom of religion." What about the freedom of speech? You have the right to act like a damn fool at the bequest of the hypnotic anchor. What about your vote? They are like-minded.
However first amendment freedoms concerning religion had been interpreted from a one-sided perspective. Plainly stated, persecution of the religious organization is not allowed, persecution of and denial of individual first amendment rights is allowed within the context of a religious organization.
How does one prove that these hypnotic instructions exist? You have schizophrenia. Plainly stated anyone recovering hypnotic instructions gets taken to court to prove sanity while family or friends involved in the church get to tell lies about you to courts and psychologists who are there to protect the religion.
Best of luck.
When looking into these practices, one might find Pentecostals occupying jobs within the court system, the same justice system that is to protect all. What is justice?
Sometimes, there are those that do find the hypnotic instructions or more accurately stated, the mind-control programming.
What I am really talking about here is the violation of First Amendment freedoms of the Constitution of the United States of America to "freedom of religion." What about the freedom of speech? You have the right to act like a damn fool at the bequest of the hypnotic anchor. What about your vote? They are like-minded.
However first amendment freedoms concerning religion had been interpreted from a one-sided perspective. Plainly stated, persecution of the religious organization is not allowed, persecution of and denial of individual first amendment rights is allowed within the context of a religious organization.
How does one prove that these hypnotic instructions exist? You have schizophrenia. Plainly stated anyone recovering hypnotic instructions gets taken to court to prove sanity while family or friends involved in the church get to tell lies about you to courts and psychologists who are there to protect the religion.
Best of luck.
When looking into these practices, one might find Pentecostals occupying jobs within the court system, the same justice system that is to protect all. What is justice?
Sometimes, there are those that do find the hypnotic instructions or more accurately stated, the mind-control programming.
What I am really talking about here is the violation of First Amendment freedoms of the Constitution of the United States of America to "freedom of religion." What about the freedom of speech? You have the right to act like a damn fool at the bequest of the hypnotic anchor. What about your vote? They are like-minded.
However first amendment freedoms concerning religion had been interpreted from a one-sided perspective. Plainly stated, persecution of the religious organization is not allowed, persecution of and denial of individual first amendment rights is allowed within the context of a religious organization.
How does one prove that these hypnotic instructions exist? You have schizophrenia. Plainly stated anyone recovering hypnotic instructions gets taken to court to prove sanity while family or friends involved in the church get to tell lies about you to courts and psychologists who are there to protect the religion.
Best of luck.
When looking into these practices, one might find Pentecostals occupying jobs within the court system, the same justice system that is to protect all. What is justice?
Hello!
In regards to your January, 2011 post on gluttony in the Pentecostal denominations:
i am not in a Pentacostal or in a Lutheran denomination. I suspect that if one did a scientific study and controlled for age, gender, income, education, location and other variables, the problem of gluttony would be statistically the same in both denominations. Bill Field
I just want to say how much of a blessing and a relief it is to hear fellow Christians express the dismay and reservations they have about Pentecostalism/Charismata. I'm a Catholic that is dating a former Catholic. We attend an Assemblies of God in our city. What you have mentioned in your posts about Pentecostalism is correct. It is a religion that upholds the ignorant and the uneducated. Knowledge of the Bible is limited at best and when the Bible is quoted it is usually used to peddle a 'what's God have for me' gospel. I've been going a year and after this Sunday's sermon where a sorry excuse for a pastor spoke about how the fear of the lord should be terrifying and not reverential, I am at the point of despair. I can't take the stupidity anymore. I can't take the mythologizing of the scriptures, the questioning of the scriptures and the obvious lack of ability to distinguish what is from God and what is from the devil. There's an obsession with the devil; like he's responsible for every little thing. They attribute too much to satan and in my opinion, this further empowers him. The devil has them scared and harassed without lifting a finger.
As a catholic, we all know there are theological differences between us, but I'd rather be at a Lutheran, Anglican or any other church than be where I'm at. There worst thing is that my gf just sits there, nods her head and is in agreement. No matter how unbiblical and anti-christ like the comments are made (by this I mean that the comment blatantly contradicts the exact words of Christ), she sits there and swallows it. Emotion is the only form or manner to discern the truth. i think that i'm going to church with adolescents and not adults.
Somebody please help me. I don't know what to do.
Follow Christ and Him alone. If you are attending a group that does not uphold the Bible as the Word to be followed, then it is time to leave and find another group who wants to obey the Word of God.
Hello Samual, do you post to this site anymore?
Hello All,
I am a member of a UPC church, and have been all my life. I was brought up to believe Acts 2:38-9 as the only way to salvation - that is repentance, water baptism, receiving the holy ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, oneness, long hair, no beard, long skirts, no shorts, read the bible, no movies, go to a Christian college, no liberal education, etc, etc...
I however am not writing because I have had a sudden revelation. I have had gradual moments of clarity throughout my entire pentecostal upbringing by a) living as a pentecostal but identifying through a multicultural perspective; b) going to a state university and majoring in the liberal arts; c) never fully accepting the statements of the church as facts albeit I am young (in my mid 20s).
I am struggling with the religion because I am simply finding a hard time believing in it anymore...I am weary of the socialization of pentecostals, the hierarchy, chain of command, service as a requirement of holy living, pressure to marry. I sit in church unhappily and offended at times because of what is being preached or not preached. To make matters worse I am working through all these feelings while being used by God (or at least I hope) on the platform - I help with music. So I find myself contending with conservative ideology in the guise of religious freedom when I cannot find it my heart or mind to comply. So I become antisocial... And believe me, I have heard rumors to explain my behavior.
Basically, I have undergone a transformation while in church and it is an unusual one. So what is the problem??? The problem is finding a way to make a clean break. I'll be honest there are some people that I care deeply for in the church. And my family still attends, so I find myself going not for my sake but as some sort of representation. I don't know how to stop... It's like I'm going to do a job and then leave, and most service I don't get anything out of.
I do not know if I question the existence of God, and some might direct me to read the bible or consult with my pastor. But I find these options fruitless. I live it home having gone to college while living at home and going to church at the same time. As a result, my parents nag my about my attendance. I am beginning to feel hopeless there. Because I do not lead an acceptable "pentecostal" life, I cannot engage in a normal life whatsoever... I find it hard to socialize outside my church culture... I find it hard to engage in the most basic of relationships. I am not willing to live life as a pentecostal negligent of all that I know to be true. Sometimes I wish I could be ignorant, but my conscious awakens and I feel in me some form of dissent. What am I supposed to do? I know that I must leave, yet something binds me here and I cannot explain its hold... Do I still care? Do I feel some sort of responsibility?
Finally, if there is anyone out there that can identify with what I am going through, I would greatly appreciate it. Help, is all I can say.
Thank you.
Ben
Hey Ben.
It is good to question. It is bad to assume that God can't provide the answers. The reality is that all denominations are imperfect. Pentecostalism can be one of the worst, because they can often neglect honest and objective biblical exegesis. Yet there are solid answers to your very real questions, if you're willing to put in some work and search them out. One of the worst things you can do is be a victim and wait for someone to spoon feed you the truth. You need to be responsible for your faith, and find those answers.
When we divert our attention from the Word of God to an organization and what they have chosen for their pet beliefs, then we are in disobedience placing the organization above God. 1 Thes. 5:21 "Test all things; hold fast what is good."
God's Word is the authority, no man or organization will be the authority.
Pentecostal religion is a narrow minded group that use scare tactics to convert you. Well the majority of the people are. May you burn in hell. Of course if you don't believe in hell that is not offensive. See you in another life Brother.
I don't know what is coming from the Apostolic and Pentecostal nations but it will be much much worse than Jim Jones case. I know this for fact. The Anointing Oil was used in times past for only priest and higher up in church authority. These groups are using it with a means to give help of getting the holy ghost, and now i have proof that some of the anointing oils made by just any man who says he is a priest and Apostolic, can cause people to become crazy hallucinating and with this having a believe that they are skitzo for years before they realize what happen was the anointing oil can be tainted, all Anointing Oils should be banned forever from use of the church to the public. This Oil in mostly all of there churches is tainted it is not real Annointing Oil, and there for they are giving thousands of people who are rational most likely they idea that they have the Holy Ghost and but rather are under the influence of a tainted Oil that can be considered a drug, and this I believe whole heatedly, because it ruined my life for 10 years. I was misdiagnosed as skitzo, and my family did not believe i was, no one who knew me my entire life believed i was. And now i kno i wasn't but at the time i went to the alter and had my head prayed upon by the elders of the church weekly.
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