Do you have a church you go to regularly?

[PrisonerOfHope]

I admit I don't. I went to some pretty bad ones in NY, where they were into all kinds of weird stuff - one "pastor" would hold "auctions" for money, like, "We need another $10,000 this week. Who will give $1,000? Anyone? OK, you, you, you....so who will give $500?"...etc., down to $50. He'd tell people, "God doesn't want you to have a house; He wants you to have a one bedroom apartment so you don't have to clean so much...and you'll have more money to give to the church!" (Of course, he had a large, lovely home....)

Same guy would do things like say, "Brother David, you need humbling. Lay down on the platform." So the poor sap would, and the "pastor" would then pour ice water from a pitcher under the podium over him! When people laughed, the "pastor" would say, "Oh, you think that's funny, brother Eric?" Lay down in the aisle! He would then drag the guy through the church by his feet!

One "pastor," after my husband died, said, "Well, your husband is dead and you don't know how to drive, so why don't you let me have his car?" (I guess it never occurred to him to offer to teach me how to drive!)

I've been rebuked from the pulpit because - when I had NO cash to give but wanted to do something for the Lord - gave a very expensive bracelet.

When I moved to Hawaii I found a wonderful church, and a humble, loving pastor who is truly a man of God...I really miss him, and still consider him my pastor.

When I first came to Tennessee I started going to a Calvary Chapel, and let me tell you, although the teaching was good, they were the most unfriendly bunch of people I ever met! Extremely cliquish; the "inner circle" (i.e., "big tithers") ran the show. I didn't have a car, so I walked the mile or so from my apartment...carrying baked goods which I made for the fellowship table. Not once did anyone ever offer to pick me up, and when they had the annual church picnic, I wasn't offered a ride. Finally, one broad from the "inner circle" (whose FIL is a surgeon and authored a book about hell, so she thinks she's better than anyone else) called and accused me of breaking up someone's marriage, and pretty much let me know I wasn't welcome at their church. Excuse me? Hardly anyone there even talked to me, except some of the men who would compliment my baking, while their wives glared at them! I told her off, slammed the phone in her ear (I still had a land line - too bad you can't do that with cell phones!), and never went back.

A neighbor suggested a well-known Presbyterian church with lovely people....but, they don't want to hear that Jesus is coming soon, and are into replacement theology. In fact, when one of the pastors wanted to start a Sunday School group about Bible prophecy, he left very suddenly because he "wanted to pursue another path." Uh huh... I went there for a couple of years, mostly because I needed fellowship and they had a great group for middle-aged singles, but when the group eventually broke up, I left.

My pastor in Hawaii told me about a new E Free church that started in my area, so I went there. As soon as the pastor (who, I later found, had no theological training whatsoever) found out that I was pretty knowledgeable about the Bible and asked questions during Bible study (which he couldn't answer), he decided he didn't like me. When I applied for membership, he "forgot" to include me in the induction ceremony. If I'd share an insight (my own, or from a respected Bible teacher), he'd put it down. One day he called me into his office and reamed me out for a laundry list of "faults"...including "You sit in the same place every Sunday," and - my personal favorite - "I don't like the expression on your face while I'm preaching!" ;D Of course, he did manage to blow his own horn and praise himself to no end, even claiming he has an IQ of 176! ;D He said he wasn't asking me to leave...yet...as he thought I could change. I never went back...especially since he did some other nasty things to me...but can you believe this creep had the nerve to call and ask when I was coming back to church? Thankfully, he left the ministry abruptly (and the church building was foreclosed on shortly thereafter) and is now claiming to be one of the country's upcoming new photographers.

That pretty much did it for me, although I visited a church near the house I moved to before I bought this one, and thought it might be OK until I went to the ladies room and saw a poster advertising a prayer meeting: "Bring a head covering and a bath towel to use as a prayer rug." I called the church the next day, saying I was new to the area, and when I asked why they were doing that was simply told, "That's how the pastor's daughter wants to do it." No one got back to me, welcomed me to the area, or invited me to visit again.

Ever the sucker for punishment, I tried a church someone I got into a conversation with attended and invited me to. Friendliest people you'd ever want to meet, and it seemed pretty nice - in fact, some people got into an argument about who was going to treat me to the Wednesday night dinner! They gave me a package of welcome gifts, and I thought I might go back again...until I saw the gifts included a booklet called "Welcome to the Family" by Kenneth Copeland and a Jesse Duplantis magazine.

Last try...I met a lovely elderly gentleman who invited me to his church, where he's an elder. The pastor got up and said, "I'm not going to talk about money, because I know you don't want to hear it." He then proceeded to give a sermon....all about money, and even "volunteered" someone who did woodworking to make some offering boxes so people could give without having to wait for the plate to be passed around.

Between all this garbage, cliquish congregations, emergent theology, seeker-sensitive churches, "purpose driven" churches, etc., I've given up. I can listen to good sermons on-line, but long for good fellowship - which is part of the reason I created this site.

How about the rest of you? Do you have a good home church? Any weird experiences?

[jesuslover]

Wow. I consider myself fortunate. Haven't experienced any of those things. I do attend a calvary, but it is very small. Didn't attend church for a long time though after moving from a wonderful fellowship in another little town I lived in. But my old pastor recommended this one as the pastor and him are friends. He truly loves Jesus and we take the scripture one verse at a time. Doesn't mind hard questions and loves to have input during our mid week study. The Lord shows lots of things to others that he didn't catch in many instances.

. I pray you find the fellowship that you long for. Soon we will all be able to fellowship with our King in His Kingdom.

Come soon Lord Jesus. Savior, Father, Friend.

[ELKTOOTH]

GOD dwells in you POH..you are HIS dwelling place..
i thank HIM for you..YOU are HIS prized possession.
thank you for this forum..for the work you have put into making it a place for fellowship.
love you my sister..in JESUS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS..
elktooth
www.gracewalk.org/
www.livinggodministries.net/

[emortimer]

My family is BLESSED to have the church we do...The Bridge No perfect people allowed... they are sort of Baptist but you would not know it since it is run like non-denominational...if it is not in the Bible then it is not in the church...I was baptized there 2 years ago there...God got my family there since we had no church and every time I would think about finding a church this always came up...it is growing and everyone is nice there...

plus an AWESOME band

[sasha2u]

Well, I'm in NY also.....not NYC, but in Woodstock NY area. Not much in the way of bible believing churches here either.....all are incredibly apostate in one way or another. Buddhists temples are proliferating though, Lord protect us.

I did get involved with the Word of Faith crowd for a short time few years back .....UGHHHhh!!! I was totally confused at the time, thanks to the Holy Spirit for getting me out of that insanity quickly. I'm a more mature Christian now, and understnad more. Emortimer, your church sounds great....I recently got involved in a very tiny Baptist church here, but I left soon after. Love the people, had some issues with the pastor's ignoring what is transpiring around us these days'....had some issues with his doctrine (as in Jesus never drank wine)....and there was a big legalistic bent I'm afraid.

I crave the company of other DISCERNING Christians......rare as hen's teeth around here.

[PrisonerOfHope]

I crave the company of other DISCERNING Christians......rare as hen's teeth around here.

That's exactly why I started the forum - I figured I couldn't be the only one in this position.

And thank you for the kind words, Elktooth.

You know what really surprises me? How so many people - even Christians - are so caught up in this world. For instance, I was just talking to a friend who wants to go on vacation first, attend her high school reunion, and visit the graves of loved ones before the rapture. My gosh, we're not going to miss out on anything - why, I'd rather travel through the galaxies than be concerned about a vacation to another state (or even somewhere I've always wanted to go, like Alaska or Australia). Seeing loved ones again is far preferable to visiting their graves, and the ultimate reunion awaits us! Sure, I'm planning on renewing my pilot's certification if we're still here...but even more I'm looking forward to learning how to fly a helicopter, learn to fly a jet as well as take off and land from a carrier, and learn how to pilot a starship...and more...in the Kingdom! Every hope and dream and desire will be fulfilled; it'll be far better than we can ever imagine.

I just don't get it. And you know when that prideful pastor really turned against me? When the Holy Spirit led me to send an email to everyone in the church, telling them that Jesus is coming back soon, and listing the large number of prophecies fulfilled that particular week. People don't want to hear it...and many get offended.

[emortimer]

Well it is hard to look at it and say everything you thought of and what you planed your whole life for is wrong...first Love Jesus then the rest falls in...then rapture LETS GO instead of well I want to do this or that and so on...or not want to believe in it and want to learn about it

[PrisonerOfHope]

Well, look at the quote in my signature.....

[emortimer]

Jul 13, 2011 18:12:49 GMT -5 PrisonerOfHope said:

Well, look at the quote in my signature.....

???That cats are more intelligent than humans?

[jesuslover]

Jul 13, 2011 21:24:56 GMT -5 emortimer said:

Jul 13, 2011 18:12:49 GMT -5 PrisonerOfHope said:

Well, look at the quote in my signature.....

???That cats are more intelligent than humans?

Lol. That gave me a chuckle . Especially while looking at my cat looking at me with kind of a doofy cross eyed gaze. ;D Maybe the aliens contacted liberals first.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Jul 13, 2011 21:24:56 GMT -5 emortimer said:

Jul 13, 2011 18:12:49 GMT -5 PrisonerOfHope said:

Well, look at the quote in my signature.....

???That cats are more intelligent than humans?

If the shoe fits..... Or....the proof is in the pudding. ;D

[mitchrg]

To dwell above with Saints we love, oh what the height of Glory.
But, to dwell below with Saint we know, well, that's another story.

Keith Green once said, "Christians are either polishing their armor or fighting one another."

It's too bad that pride is the churches greatest sin and that too often the real hurting are being ignored.

[shann0]

Amen.

[ELKTOOTH]

What a blessing it is to dwell with one another here and now each in his own weaknesses where THE GLORY OF HIS LOVE IS SHOWN.
in HIS TRUTH.THE TRUTH OF HIS FORGIVENESS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER..HIS PATIENCE,KINDNESS,GENTLENESS,FAITHFULNESS,SELF CONTROL,JOY,PEACE AND GOODNESS..JESUS HIMSELF
love in JESUS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

[aiw]

This topic is especially painful for me, as well. Several years ago I had been VERY involved with the Children's Ministry in my mega-church. I had been quite faithful to my church and considered it a lifeline, even as I was going through a divorce. As I had four young children, many well-meaning church members would ask me incessantly if my ex and I were going to go through counseling and get "everything patched up again". Although I am ALL for the restoration of marriage and families, no one there really concerned themselves with the fact that he was a dangerous man and has subsequently been committed for crimes against children. >:(They were more concerned with their agenda, not healing).

I stayed with the church - fast forward several years later. As the church is located in an affluent area of the community it physically grew and grew - then WHAM - the recession hit. I had been leery of some of the sermons (prosperity doctrine) and statements made by the senior staff (they had made several trips out to Saddleback Church and fell in love with Rick Warren, need I say more?) and went through the requirement of the (very large) congregation to purchase Purpose Driven Life books so we could follow along with the multi-week intensive book study.

The Children's Ministry had become ENORMOUS and had outgrown me - I had moved on as well in order to pursue a Masters Degree. I continued to attend services, attempting to quell the spiritual unease that I felt each time I walked in the doors of any of the 3, (yes, 3) opulent "campuses". I finally made the final decision to GET OUT when two separate events occurred both from the pulpit and both by the same man, (the senior pastor's son - a man in his early 40s who has since taken over the church). Using their sophisticated A/V technology, they showcased their new state-of-the-art Children's Building. It is made to look like a quaint village right out of Disney (I kid you not) and the pastor was giddy with excitement as he regaled us with stories of awe from this place, even how they had been able to MAKE IT SNOW INSIDE the building! This church is located in the tropics, so you can imagine what an undertaking this must have been! In the meantime, listening tom this I was shocked to silence knowing that I was included in the many around me who had been laid off and were flat broke, did not have food for that day, or gas for the car, or anyone to help. As if that weren't enough, the pastor then (after the offering baskets had gone around once already to collect "for the new building it's for the children!!) He said he felt the Lord tell him that we just did not give enough and told the deacons to send the baskets around AGAIN!! All I could think of was what kind of a wonderful meal this man was going to sit down to after church - and what a nice car he had to drive, and his lovely home - and how my children would go hungry that day. And that was just the first incident.

The last straw was when this same man stood next to an offering plate placed upon a perch on the altar - with the Lamb's Supper set up next to him. The congregation was told that you were able to come up and take Communion as you placed your offering in the plate.....in front of everyone to see!!! So if you had nothing to put in the plate - all would be able to see. I sat frozen to my spot and my heart broke for this man, this "church" and all the lost, thinking they could "buy" Communion like shopping for groceries.

I recently have relocated and tried another church that had been recommended by a co-worker. After a Youth Event where my daughter and a friend from school had wandered off after the event, (granted, they should not have done that and as her mother I pointed this out to her and her friend), the Youth Director said to my young daughter right in front of me that if she ever did that again, he would "kick her right in her face" then proceeded to step back and kick up towards her throat. I was NOT amused, and we are NOT going back.

I used to wonder how it was possible for so many to be left behind....why so many would not understand....and now I know. I am proud of the "Tin Hat" I wear in Jesus' Name.

Isn't it awful when you are asked if you are a Christian these days and you feel the need to explain that you are the "right" kind?

I think there are way too many churches that have been infiltrated with filth and delusion.

Lord Jesus, PLEASE take us Home, SOON!

(thank you for allowing me the opportunity to rant - and sorry for such a long posting!)

[shann0]

ELKTOOTH, What a refreshing spirit you add to this forum! Thank you for your beautiful words.

Aiw! My heart breaks for you, Sister. We know that there are hypocrites everywhere within the body of Christ. We're only human after all. It's a travesty, you shouldn't have been made to feel that way. Those people are not being true representatives of Jesus Christ and His Love.
Praise be to Him that you didn't allow that mistreatment by so called 'christians' to disuade you from following the Lord. Some people do.

I think many of us have been wounded by churches and people in them. The best thing to do is to forgive them, for they know not what they do. They believe they are doing the Lords work. Thank goodness it's not our job to sort out all that. Jesus knows our hearts. The Holy Spirit convicts those who are His.

At least here we can find some of that godly fellowship we long for. There are some beautiful souls here, even if it's in a virtual world, it's still a gathering together of like minded believers!

[PrisonerOfHope]

Aw, Alice...I'm sorry that happened to you.

As I was reading what you wrote I was thinking of all the families and poor elderly and disabled people who could have been helped with the huge amounts of money spent on that "Children's Building."

I'm so sick and tired of hearing, "Oh, it's for the children!" I can understand wanting to do things for your kids, but children these days are treated like little gods - they can't be expected to endure the slightest want or even discomfort. They've been trained to expect a new toy in every meal, TV ads are aimed at them so that they're taught they must have all kinds of new things or they're just not cool, and they get angry when their parents can't afford them. Heck, even their band-aids have to have cartoon characters on them...you can't expect a kid to have a plain flesh-toned one, now could you? We're raising a nation of spoiled brats who think it's all about them, and the world owes them simply because they exist. Kids need love, affection....and DISCIPLINE!
Instead, the parents are afraid that if they reprimand their little darlings for doing something wrong the kids won't like them anymore, so they give the little monsters whatever they want and let them do anything they want to do. It's like Isaiah 3:4 says, "Babes shall rule over them."

That "paying for communion" is disgusting too. The "ice water" guy used to stand at the edge of the platform with a large box at his feet and watch who put what in the offering. Before he took his position he'd announce that everyone was expected to give generously, and "I don't want to see any pictures of George Washington!"

I went to see Perry Stone at a local megachurch. Some dude (not the pastor - I don't know who he was) got up and said (in those "pastoral" tones) - "And the Loooooord has told meeeeee....there are one hundred - I say, ONE HUNDRED people here todayyyy....who are to give one thousand - that's right - one thouuuusand - dollars to the church today. Yes, that's one hundred thouuuusand dollars, and you might think it's a lot - but to God, it's nothing! And if you don't have one thouuuusand dollars in your checking account, it's OK....we take....CREDIT CARDS!!!! It's a GOOD THING to use credit cards; why, I get free air miles on mine every time I use it!" He then went on to say that there would be a period of silence so people could focus on writing out their checks, adding, "If you need a credit card slip, just raise your hand and an usher will get one to you." I had just a couple of dollars to my name at that time but was going to give it to them but didn't....I wouldn't want to insult them with my paltry offering!

It's gotten so that when someone tells me they're a Christian, I'm three times as wary around them until I get to know them better.

So much garbage passing for "church" these days. If you're not familiar with this site, check it out:

www.alittleleaven.com/

[sasha2u]

I'm proud of my tin hat too AIW.....I've earned it.

I beleive that God allows us to experience these things (BAD churches, etc) for our own growth, and so that we can help other Christians who are still "inexpereinced" or in the "Baby" stage. It's quite comforting to know that the Holy Spirit certainly works OT in us during these times....it takes DISCERNMENT to "see" the sheer lunacy of what passes for Christianity these days, and that is a GIFT from Almighty God, Amen?

Take heart....for He has overcome the world.

[aiw]

;D Thank you for your kind words...I am SO grateful to have found others who do not have blinders on!

Each day that goes by I grow more and more weary of the insanity and lawlessness that runs rampant in this world.....I wanna go HOOOOOME!

I can't wait to meet y'all in person! ;D

[wateredseeds]

Wow. Great stories...some very sad though. My mom's side of the family is lutheran, and my dad's side of the family is baptist. I was baptised as a baby(AGAINST MY WILL I SWEAR, LOL). And we attended the lutheran church in the small town(120 people) we lived in until we moved. Then we found a nice "baptist" church. I grew up in that church very thankful for the fellowship(my family was very involved, and it was common for us to go to church at least 3 times a week). The pastor at the church for most of my time there was a righteous man that taught the truth. We learned about the pre-trib rapture, some of the tribulation(sunday nights were for the hard stuff)...and i was re-baptized when i was 8(got saved at 4). I loved that church, and went there until right after i graduated high school. Well just as i was in high school we got a new pastor. This pastor wasn't vetted about his beliefs at all. No pre-trib rapture, no tribulation...and definitely a lot of stuff that i didn't think lined up with the word of God. Well i was co-teaching jr. high youth group, and was trying to teach what i had been taught(pre-trib rapture etc.) Anyways, so he called me up one day and told me NOT to teach from the book of revelation anymore. I had had enough of that...and i quit teaching immediately. Now i look back at it, and realize that some of what i was teaching was beyond these children...but he didn't go about it the right way...and also just wasn't baptist.

So then i was without a church for awhile. We(my parents and I) settled into a small baptist church. Of course it only had about 20 people in it at the time we were going there...and the pastor didn't really know much. I was constantly correcting him(in private) on some things and trying to stear him towards a more biblical line. Well that didn't last long. I moved shortly after that...and then the church closed its doors(there was only 5 people in attendance at that point, and they couldn't pay the bills).

I moved to wyoming for my job(first time on my own at 21). I found a nice baptist church to settle into. It had decent teaching...but didn't get into prophecy or theology much. The pastors were both great though...and the people were decent(some friendly, others not so much). I stayed there until i moved again.

So then i moved back to nebraska and went to an E-free church. I formed a strong bond with the pastor(we would get together on wednesdays and pray, just the 2 of us waiting on God and praying). I began helping with the youth groups, which went okay. At that point i had figured out that i was more suited towards teaching adults although that hasn't happened yet. I loved the kids, but it's always too stressful for me to deal with in a particular way. Then i married my wife and we moved to Colorado.

Now here is where everything changed. I'd been experiencing a lack of "joy" in the churches that i attended. I liked them(at least those last 2), but they weren't helping my walk any...and were also very dull. My wife grew up charismatic, and i grew up baptist. We had to find something we could both agree with. Luckily my wife was taught very scriptural things. I have always believed in the gifts of the spirit(even though i wasn't taught them), so we went to a very large assembly of God church in fort Collins. It's called Timberline Church. And you probably would never know it was an AG church unless you read their statement of faith. About 8 thousand in attendance, but the teaching team was always very careful about being scriptural and using the bible to teach the truth. I always felt like i got something out of it. I loved it there...but it wasn't to last because we moved to wyoming.

Which brings me to my current church which is also an AG church(though this one you would know it after attending for a month or so). I do love my church, as the people are all very friendly...and our church is very mission oriented. Though i would love it if the pastor would preach more about prophecy(though he has been talking to me about teaching adults). I was teaching children's sunday school, but am now on a break for the summer(can't do that for too long without breaks or i burn out).

Which brings me to my thought process on how to pick a church:

1. Before attending a church, find out what their statement of faith is...and their core doctrines. If it's an Assembly of God church that's easy...because they are all the same(the statement of faith that is). If you can line up with most of that...and with at least the most important parts, consider visiting.
2. When attending, notice how the people respond to you as a new comer. Are they friendly? Are they friendly towards others in the congregation?
3. Pay attention to the worship. To me this is one of the most important parts(though if you ask a pastor he's likely to tell you it doesn't matter that much). If you enjoy the worship style then great. If not, then you'll probably be distracted during the preaching because the worship just wasn't what you prefer. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING PICKY ABOUT WORSHIP, AS LONG AS YOU ARE REASONABLE.
4. Are the pastor's teaching biblical things? Are they connecting the word to your heart?
5. What kind of programs do they have that you can be involved in? If they don't have any, are they open to starting them(if you volunteer your time)? As an example, my church usually sends a missions team 1 time a year to the philippines. We also do a community outreach for the junior high acrossed from our church by providing snacks for the teachers meetings.
6. Finally, does it get your juices flowing? Are you connecting with God through the fellowship? Are you making friends in your new church?

It is very important to examine a church's core doctrine FIRST. I'm very fortunate that I agree 100% with the core doctrine of the assembly of God. And any AG church that follows the guidelines of the statement of faith won't fall into apostacy. If you aren't an AG person like me, then the same rules apply. Don't try to become a part of a church simply for the sake of going to church either. It doesn't profit you to go to a church that you can't agree with the more of the core doctrines at least. For example, you probably don't want to go to an AG church if your theology is more baptist. You probably don't want to go to a denominational presbyterian or lutheran church if you are dispensationalist. Personal theology should play a big role in the church you pick. All you can do is hurt a church's core if you go in seeking to change it. If you have doubts about a church even after all of those things...talk to the pastor and ask him what his theological views are. If you are going to a baptist church, you might agree with the core doctrines, but the pastor might believe in reformist theology. Which would be in conflict with a lot of what the people on this board believe.

Above all, be kind and civil. Know that these people you are interacting with are part of the family of God. If you find yourself in conflict with those above guidelines...and you can't be at peace about it...move on. If you can't find a church...stay in the word...worship daily, and have your own church at home. Is God calling you into a ministry?

[PrisonerOfHope]

My church in Hawaii is E Free. A couple of times a year the pastor would remind us of something he learned in seminary called "The Five Minute Rule" - basically, if someone new comes to the church and aren't made to feel welcome in the first five minutes they're there, they probably won't come back.

I don't agree with all your points; for example, that prideful pastor who didn't like the expression on my face when he preached was E Free; the church's statement of faith was identical to that of my church in Hawaii, but the two pastors couldn't be more different. Just because a church publishes a statement of faith doesn't mean the pastor will adhere to it.

I only remember two of his sermons; one because it was based on an email that I had seen several times (the "dash" between the years of birth and death that you see on a tombstone) - that one was worth two weeks' "preaching"; and another about the London subway system, because it reminded me of a particular subway station in NYC. The rest were totally forgettable - I went there because I needed fellowship and the people were nice...and they had an awesome praise band.

Also, I find that the people at WOF churches are exceptionally friendly as well.

[wateredseeds]

I agree with that. I tried to make that point(although rather poorly) that if a pastor doesn't preach the truth of the word of God, that is also a point to not go there. In fact i think that was #4. But i completely get your point.

AG churches are just as different between them. For instance we have 2 in this town. And the pastor at the one i DON'T go to...preaches the 7 mountain mandate. The hidden agenda of the 7 mountain mandate is a re-packaging of amillenialism. So of course i don't buy that...and i would even say it violates the AG core doctrine and statement of faith.

I liked the E-free church i went to, but a lot of e-free churches are becoming reformist. Though official EFCA doctrine is pre-trib, pre-millenial...non replacement. And even very good on the works/reward scenario(1 corinthians 3). I had to become a member to teach youth group...and i was able to get into line with pretty much everything...but mostly just because they are more open ended. EFCA churches are more about fellowship in the first place.

I had a lady talk to me about the gifts of the spirit while i was going their. Of course we were forbidden to speak in tongues during the service, and it made her upset. I asked her why? She said because she thought if she had that gift, she should be able to use it. I said..you can use it. But not at this church because the core doctrines and statement of faith are in conflict with your belief and with the organization of the church(though some EFCA churches WERE charismatic, but i think that they've updated their doctrinal statement since then to exclude that). I told her to check out different churches if it was that much of an issue for her. But she was bent on staying in that church...so i told her she needed to be quiet about it. God doesn't send us into a church to divide it.

[wateredseeds]

Oh and EFCA are not anti-gifts of the spirit. Just neutral on tongues...and that's why it was an issue there.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Sounds like she - as many others do - forgot Cor. 14:40 - "Let all things be done decently and in order."

At my Hawaii church we studied the gifts of the Spirit and were encouraged to use them, but we didn't have the atmosphere you find in many Charismatic churches.

As for me, what it comes down to is, I don't belong to any denomination - I belong to Jesus.

[wateredseeds]

Yep. Just a personal experience regarding my church. When someone speaks in togues, it is always followed by an interpretation...and it is only done in pause during worship(after a song is over and we are just feeling the spirit's presence). It never happens during a sermon, or spontaneously out of order. But in most churches, even that would be out of order...because it isn't recognized. Even though i don't agree that it should be forbidden(that's for another debate), you have to respect the order of the church you are in....or else it will only bring division.

I belong to Jesus too. Most people find my views very extreme anyhow.