Alive in Christ said:
Dr Bob,
You seem to be intelligent and educated, so I assume you fully understand that the vast VAST majority (probably 98%) of pentecostal churches have nothing to do with handling snakes and they dont "roll in the aisles".
Which makes me wonder why you would choose to slander the pentecostals by implying that they all handle snakes and roll around on the floor.
Which of course they dont.
That charge (those "snake handlers" and "holy rollers") against the pentecostals is very similar to using the [racial epithet snipped] word toward blacks, or the charge that all Mexicans are lazy thieves
I am saddened that you would choose to do that, rather than be charitable regarding our pentecostal brothers and sisters.
:godisgood:
My inlaws that go to this church are in fact charismatic, but I didnt mention that in the op on purpose because I wanted to know if any other denominations were doing things like this, and i didnt want to limit the options to just pentecostals/charismatics, ect.
They are "word of faith believers", my father in law is a Rhema graduate, and my wife and I have watched them over the years as they have went from focusing on the gospel of Jesus, and being servants towards Him, to what they are now.....which is hard to explain, but I will try.
Now their only focus is on God serving their wants instead of them serving God. I have seen them hold hands in a prayer circle and "command" God to perform a miracle, or to heal them, or to reap untold riches and money on them. They speak jibberish out loud thoughout the day, and tell me that I am not really saved because tongue speaking is the evidence of salvation.
They have begun to treat God like a geenie, as if God is only here to grant their every wish and command. Their worship services have become a spectacle of "experience" instead of reverence. In fact, the Sunday morning worship service in this new church they found is not called worship....it is called "Sunday Morning Experience". And their wednesday night service is called a "Block Party"
Oh, and they dont consider titheing as a obligation for christians.....they consider it "planting a seed" and insist that God will eventually return every dollar to them many times over. In other words, they give because they expect more in return.
They seem to avoid talking about any biblical responsibilities that God asks of beleivers, and focus instead on the "supernatural". Back when they were Baptists, they used to be involved in many outreach ministries and volunteer work, now they just command God to produce miracles for folks in need instead actually physically helping with that need.
They have adopted a very liberal view on salvation also. They say it doesnt matter what church a person goes to, or even what religion they are (jewish, christian, muslim, buddist), that God will meet with that person on thier terms, and that we are all going to heaven as long as we seek God. They also have adopted the belief that practicing homosexuals can be servants, even ministers for God.
They have gone to Benny Hinn healing services before, and claim he is a powerful, annoited man of God.
With all of this liberal, accept everyone attitude they have, they still cant stand Baptists, and are upset with me because i wont let my son attend church with them. They claim that us Baptists just dont get it, and for some reason hold a degree of contempt for Baptists...???????? I dont know why.
Even with all of these changes in them, this thing of signs and banners came as quite a shock to me and my wife. To us, it makes worship sound more like Marti Gras.
The biggest question that comes to my mind is how many folks are coming to the altars of these churches and seeking salvation for the wrong reasons? If they seek health and wealth instead of forgiveness, then how will they recieve salvation?
This is all just too weird for me.
AJ
