Pentecostal Churches

Asry

Hi

I was wondering if people could tell me about these churches? I know I could look it up on wikipedia but I'd prefer to talk about them with people because it's more fun.

Also, about those incessant requests for a Catholic forum...it's pretty much Catholic already in here, isn't it? Or else they're (we're) the loudest posters.

However. Pentecostal. As in the Pentecost, I assume. Which is a scene I love to imagine and read about over and over.

Anyway, yes, tell me all. :cool:

Fanny Cradock

PDN would be the man for that! Him being a Pentecostal minister and all.

My experience of Pentecostal worship is that it is much more free-form than a traditional RC, Brethren, Anglican etc. service. You see lots of hand waving, hear shots of "Praise Jesus!" and people may use unfamiliar language - that is to say, they might talk about being "spirit lead" and what not. If you have only ever experience the rigid structure of a formal service steeped in tradition then it can come as quite a shock (vise-versa, of course).

Asry

oh wow, really? I can imagine I would be shocked, being used to silence and bells I'd like to see what it's like

noah45

I am part of a pentacostal church and it is fantastic. You participate at your ow level. The Holy Spirit plays a major role. We follow the Bible as it is written, sing songs of worship and pray to Jesus.

Asry

Hey Where would there be a Pentecostal church? I'm in North Co Dublin....is there any etiquette I should know about before I go, if I do go?

Fanny Cradock

Just turn up.

Also, bring the deeds to any property you have.

Asry

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Just turn up.

Also, bring the deeds to any property you have.

why? mildly confused but smiling. Unfortunately there's no emoticon for that.

Bob Cratchet

Pentecostal - would speaking in tongues be part of the service ?

How does speaking in tongues work in practice ?

PDN

Asry wrote: »

Hey Where would there be a Pentecostal church? I'm in North Co Dublin....is there any etiquette I should know about before I go, if I do go?

Then there's dozens of them within 30 minutes drive. North County Dublin can be anything from Swords to Balbriggan. Is Dublin, Navan or Drogheda handier for you?

No etiquette. Turn up just as you are and wear whatever you feel like.

prinz

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

My experience of Pentecostal worship is that it is much more free-form than a traditional RC, Brethren, Anglican etc. service. You see lots of hand waving, hear shots of "Praise Jesus!" and people may use unfamiliar language - that is to say, they might talk about being "spirit lead" and what not. If you have only ever experience the rigid structure of a formal service steeped in tradition then it can come as quite a shock (vise-versa, of course).

Sounds like the Charismatic movement. I was at a Cathlic Charismatic service a couple of years ago and yes, it was a bit of a shock.

wolfsbane

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Just turn up.

Also, bring the deeds to any property you have.

Naughty boy!

prinz

wolfsbane wrote: »

Naughty boy!

That rules out being the messiah then

wolfsbane

Asry wrote: »

Hi

I was wondering if people could tell me about these churches? I know I could look it up on wikipedia but I'd prefer to talk about them with people because it's more fun.

Also, about those incessant requests for a Catholic forum...it's pretty much Catholic already in here, isn't it? Or else they're (we're) the loudest posters.

However. Pentecostal. As in the Pentecost, I assume. Which is a scene I love to imagine and read about over and over.

Anyway, yes, tell me all. :cool:

As with the rest of Evangelicalism, there is a broad spectrum. Essentially Evangelical, but embracing many churches that are regarded as heretical by most Evangelicals (the Oneness Pentecostals), and wolf-led churches (Benny Hinn, for example) and other crazies. Just like the Baptists.

Big difference from traditional evangelicals is the practice of pentecostal gifts (hence 'Pentecostal') - alien tongues, prophecies, healings, etc. Traditionally Evangelicals have held that these were 'sign' gifts applicable only to the apostolic age. They went with the demise of the Apostles.

If you want to find out in detail, they have produced an invaluable guide:
Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements
http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Pentecostal-Charismatic-Movements-Stanley/dp/0310441005

It seems a fair representation of their understanding of themselves, comparing it to the various Pentecostals I have known.

**************************************************************************
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Bob Cratchet

Is speaking in tongues an integral part of a Pentecostal service ?
Would anyone here have experience of same, and be able to explain more about it ?

PDN

Bob Cratchet wrote: »

Is speaking in tongues an integral part of a Pentecostal service ?
Would anyone here have experience of same, and be able to explain more about it ?

You might occasionally hear someone speaking in tongues in a Pentecostal service, but in my experience it doesn't happen in most services.

Many Pentecostals would pray in tongues privately at home, believing that the Holy Spirit is praying through them in an unknown language.

prinz

Bob Cratchet wrote: »

Is speaking in tongues an integral part of a Pentecostal service ?
Would anyone here have experience of same, and be able to explain more about it ?

Experienced it at a Charismatic Catholic mass. Just a bit of garbled utterances, some people were praying in away in actual language, others were just making noises. Not scary or anything, but I wouldn't be interested in it, not my bag at all. Found it off-putting more than anything.

Seaneh

Bob Cratchet wrote: »

Is speaking in tongues an integral part of a Pentecostal service ?
Would anyone here have experience of same, and be able to explain more about it ?

It wouldn't and shouldn't be an integral part of any sermon,
Speaking in tongues should be the spirit praying through you to God, if someone is standing on a stage shouting intangible nonsense and acting like it's meant to mean something to you, they are off their rocker.

One of the main points of Pauls letter to the church in Corinth was that at their services people would stand up and shout things in tongues, and this would go on for hours.
While them praying to God is all well and good, if nobody there can understand what they are saying, it benefits nobody and it a total waste of time. Paul encouraged them to edify each other and said that although he wished for them all to have and practice the gift of tongues, that it should be a personal thing and only used in groups when there is someone there with a gift of interpretation to relay the words to the crowd.

In pentecostal churches, people may at times pray out loud during worship and even over the music, and proclaim something to the people in attendance but if they do this while just speaking in tongues, they are wasting their breath.

in short, if you go to a church and all they do is shout random stuff in tongues, I'd be very dubious of the place.