charasmatic churches

[botticelli]

i think its ok as long as you dont get prideful

Edited July 21, 2006 by botticelli

[LightofJesus]

Alrighty...this is something I kind of get. I was raised in the Catholic faith. Since I left home I've adopted a non-denominational christian faith. I go to a non-denominational church where we sing popular christian music, the sermons are amazing and deffinitly useful...and yes, many people wave their arms and fall and speak in tongue. now, I dont know, maybe its because I was raised in the catholic church, but I do feel slightly uncomfortable around this. I try to be open minded, but I can't help it. I feel that my faith is fairly devout, but I never feel the need to throw up my arms or cry. I guess I just think my faith is more of a personal and private one. If others feel so full of the spirit that they do these things, its okay by me. I can't help that i feel a little uncomfortable though. I guess everyone's faith is different, for some people they feel comfortable making it public. I, on the other hand, do not. I'm not sure if that answers your question or not...lol I can't even remember what the question exactly was anymore! Oh well! :-)

sierra

Sierra, praising God isn't something done because it is comfortable it is the leading of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit is something that is needed to be taught by Him and to be led by Him. I'm not saying that we suddenly will have an understanding about EVERYTHING but when studying the word He reveals the truth about what you are reading. He quickens your spirit when you hear truth or hear and see the miraculous works of God!! Jesus said that when He left that He was

going to send a comforter and that was the Holy Spirit. We are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit to recieve from Him. This is when your eyes are truly opened!! I pray the Lord give you this desire to be baptized in the Holy Ghost!!

Your Sister in Christ,

LightofJesus

Your Sister in Christ

Edited July 21, 2006 by LightofJesus

[Guest Tams]

Hi There

There is nothing wrong with raising your hands dancing like a fool for Jesus, i believe in letting the Holy Spirit leading in what he wants to do any time.

If the Holy Spirit tells you to stand on your Head then do it. Where is this rubbish coming from Hypnotism, this is rubish. Don't listen to them.

I believe in Holy Spirit Freedom. As a church we must alow Him to do what needs to be done. FREEDOM, we must be free!

So continue to shout , scream, have quiet times, where all you do is just listen. Holy Spirit works in different ways with different people. But most catholic, Prostitant- are stuck in Religion. They sing out of a hym book, only where black, must wear long dresses, a hat to cover their hair, etc etc etc.

This is not God's ideal. We should be free, to worship how david did. Look at the acts church! this should be our model of how a church should be run. let this be your guide, I would suggest you read acts, and ask Holy spirit to minister to you!

Lots of blessings, you are in the right direction GO FOR IT

[Guest H.O.P.M]

I was brought up a pentecostal born again christian I'm used to the falling down in Gods prescense..putting your arms up in the air...speaking in tongues...unpredictable sermons..emotional worship you get the deal?

I have a few friends who arn't into that whole "movement" and their churches warn against "us"

I'm pretty open/alternative I'm not into "churchy-anity" I keep to myself and I'm not one to judge..but can someone shine some light onto this topic please?

why do people think emotional heartwarming annointed songs are "wrong" and that singing hymns is the only way to go

I naturally put on worship music when I'm having quiet time with God..but why do i do it? i dont know!

putting your arms in the air? i didnt realise other (im not going to say religions) "styles" dont do this...

am i just a happy clappy weirdo? i love God without restraints i dont care if i go to a conservitive or a happy clappy church

why is letting the holy spirit do his thing in a church service 'wrong?" whats wrong with worship that "stirs the emotions/holyspirit"

(they say it apparently stirs up dopamines in the brain) the "feel good" chemicals that could be the scientific answer when we claim to "feel the holyspirit"

and as for hypnotism? I dont want to defend anyone or my church I'm honestly intrested in all views from all sides

Most fear and put down what they do not understand my friend the bibles says raise your hands and shout sing praises to the lord. go with what God puts in your heart not what people puts in you ears lol

[billie]

I agree, HOPM. I belong to a charismatic church. At first, the speaking in tongues and raising hands kind of freaked me out just because I'd never seen that before. After listening to my pastor and getting to know some people there, I could see the fruit in everyone's lives and God eventually did put it in my heart to praise Him like that.

[RustyAngeL]

I too am a pentecostal. I love worshiping the Lord in song, and tongues. But scripture has guidelines if that is what you want to call it, that if unbelievers are present that all tongues should be interrupted, and just because a service is emotional does not mean it's spiritual. I have in worship danced before the Lord and there were times I have wept quietly at His presence, but all must be in order as scripture says. I can see how some people would be turned off. I have been in some churches that made me want to run to the nearest exit. As I said ORDER is the key. don't let go of this experience. Just revel in the almighty presence of God and His Holy Spirit.

[KeilanS]

I do not think that kind of stuff is wrong, although I do not know much about it. I find that some people in my church are wary of the speaking in tongues part for example. A lady at my church was baptized at a church similar to yours, and they tried to force her to speak in tongues, seeing as she didn't have the gift (or whatever it is, I haven't spoken in tongues) she had to fake it.

As for raising your arms, bowing, etc... no problems there, thats good stuff

[LadyRaven]

because not all that is called Christian, is.

not all things called the Holy Spirit are God's, but satan.

This is true. However, to judge this sort of thing righteously instead of pointing the fingers across denominations and going Nyah nyah, it's best to actually do a cross testament study on worship. It is one thing that God commands us to do, and we are to do it to please Him and He has specific things he wants done.

OT worship does have references to things which have similar terminology to Charismatic practices such as clapping and raising of the hands and dancing. The question comes as to under what context that was done, how was it done and more importantly, is that something that Jesus wants in NT worship.

I think it's alot harder to determine than most denominations want to admit. My particular theology has a position that one is to not engage in any practice of worship which is not specifically commanded by God either by direct command or by scriptural example. It's based on a few verses, but in my own study I have come to the conclusion that this is a good principle, but the application of this is still not as clear as one wants. David danced when the ark came into the temple. Does one only dance when arks come in? Does one dance during festivals only? Or does one dance all the time? If we are trying to please God, it's worth asking.

When we lift our hands in the air, as commanded (yes commanded) by scripture, do we do so with arms waving around emotionally as done by our charismatic bretheren, or is it more stoic, like the Hebrews do during sabbath prayer?

We read about ppl that fall down in scripture in the presence of God,and we have ppl that fall down in worship today, but why do the bible examples fall forward if they are believers and backwards if they are enemies of God and all fall backward (to the point that some churches have "catchers" and little peices of cloth to keep people from being hurt or being immodest while they have fallen) today?

We're supposed to sing Pslams hymns and spiritual songs, but nobody ever said what format those musical things were to take. There were instruments in OT worship, but nothing is mentioned in the NT. Does this mean we're supposed to sing accapella? (there are churches that teach this...which is funny when they sing psalms about playing tamborines without any instruments)

I guess what I'm saying is that it's a good question, it's an important question and I honestly dont think that the answer is as easy as it seems. And I also dont think it can be answered if we seek to justify our own preferences, whatever they may be. I prefer light liturgy with the periodic upbeat deviation, with instrumental accompanyment. However, I should be willing to go to complete accapella high liturgy with chanting, or completely random dancing and shouting (neither of which are comfy for me) if I find through study that this is what God wants. Because we are presenting worship to HIM not doing something for us.

[LightofJesus]

Lady Raven,

I started to read your entry here and I'm a little puzzled as to why you think that just because it is not what you think is comfortable to you that there should be a question as to how to worship our Lord. He said to praise in spirit and in truth, well your spirit may not want to praise a certain way or worship at His feet eating some carpet while you are at it. Paul and Silas were praising and singing at midnight and I guess God kind of liked it cause He unlocked the jail doors and set them free. We are free from the law but He deserves all the praise and all our worship at all times. He set us free from the law and now we live under His wonderful grace!! We are free to praise Him. Praise Him with your whole heart and your hands will go up in surrender to Him. This is exactly what He wants from us.

With Love

[LightofJesus]

Lady Raven,

One more thing the main thing that pleases God is FAITH. If we do not faith then we cannot pleases God. Our works can do nothing to move God only faith does but resides in our praises!!

With Love