Why do I feel uncomfortable around the Pentecostal church?

[Lovely_Love]

Here's the deal, I like to think of myself as simply a Christian (although technically I go to a Baptist church). I have a friend who, about a year ago converted too the Pentecostal church. To be exact, a Holiness, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And I've visited twice. The second time (an actual service) had me actually telling myself to NEVER go back. Yet, here I am a year later agreeing to go to a conference at her church with her.
I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable. I mean, I have a few hunches, but it's weird. I've never been off put by a church before. It's that bad feeling in my stomach when I know I shouldn't be somewhere or date that guy.
I would just really appreciate some help.

 

[Amy]

Here's the deal, I like to think of myself as simply a Christian (although technically I go to a Baptist church). I have a friend who, about a year ago converted too the Pentecostal church. To be exact, a Holiness, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And I've visited twice. The second time (an actual service) had me actually telling myself to NEVER go back. Yet, here I am a year later agreeing to go to a conference at her church with her.
I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable. I mean, I have a few hunches, but it's weird. I've never been off put by a church before. It's that bad feeling in my stomach when I know I shouldn't be somewhere or date that guy.
I would just really appreciate some help.

A lot of Pentecostal churches are very charismatic, hand raising, holy Spirit filled churches like my own church and sometimes other denominations are just not used to charismatic churches. I think you should pray as to WHY you felt this way. I felt uneasy when I recently visited a friends church and I too felt like I wanted to leave because I felt like the congregation was being led by a Pastor who had a prideful spirit. The focus seemed to be more on his leadership and the things he claimed to be from the Holy Spirit...which through my discernment did not feel it was from the holy spirit at all. I have learned that not all Pastors are walking in the spirit and not all churches are Holy Spirit Filled. Your experience at your friends church may be different than mine and this may not be the case at all but I will say.. If you are getting an uneasy feeling about something always pray about it and the Lord will reveal the truth to you. God Bless!

ps: I really don't think it has to do with the denomination itself... but maybe the spirit in the church. Just a thought

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Here's the deal, I like to think of myself as simply a Christian (although technically I go to a Baptist church). I have a friend who, about a year ago converted too the Pentecostal church. To be exact, a Holiness, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And I've visited twice. The second time (an actual service) had me actually telling myself to NEVER go back. Yet, here I am a year later agreeing to go to a conference at her church with her.
I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable. I mean, I have a few hunches, but it's weird. I've never been off put by a church before. It's that bad feeling in my stomach when I know I shouldn't be somewhere or date that guy.
I would just really appreciate some help.

Hello Lovely_Love and @Amy,
First of all I wanted to say welcome and I am glad that you are a part of this family at TJ and that the staff is very helpful and tends to see things through. Looking forward to the fellowship over the days that go by.

Amy has given you some sound advice and I believe every one of us have had to deal with the ol gut feeling while at certain churches.
These days you simply have to be quite sure you understand what is nagging at you on the inside. Sometimes things are meant to come across as wrong to us in order to keep us out of a Holy Spirit Powered Church. Just pray and roll that care over on the Lord and trust Him totally with it. He wont let you down and you will know that you know what is going on inside of you.

Again Welcome to the both of YOU !!
Have a very Blessed 2015
Blessings
Jim

 

[Lovely_Love]

Amy; I understand it may not be the denomination itself. More this church perhaps? Something about the pastor? It's part of the hunch I referred too.
And Wired; I don't understand why that would happen. The discomfort. It's the weird because it's the same feeling I've gotten when I'm somewhere I know I shouldn't be. And if I've given it a shot and went to the service, why would God allow me to still be so shaken up (and not in a good way) and as far from him as I'd been in a while! I guess I forgot to add that part. I had been growing rather close to Him, but after that visit, it took so long, months, for me to even begin getting back on the right path with Him.

Edit: Also, thank you for the welcome.

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Amy; I understand it may not be the denomination itself. More this church perhaps? Something about the pastor? It's part of the hunch I referred too.
And Wired; I don't understand why that would happen. The discomfort. It's the weird because it's the same feeling I've gotten when I'm somewhere I know I shouldn't be. And if I've given it a shot and went to the service, why would God allow me to still be so shaken up (and not in a good way) and as far from him as I'd been in a while! I guess I forgot to add that part. I had been growing rather close to Him, but after that visit, it took so long, months, for me to even begin getting back on the right path with Him.

Edit: Also, thank you for the welcome.

Why did a visit cost you in your relationship with God ? I mean you said it took you so long to get back close with Him after the visit in the church. I know in these days and times there are a lot of purpose driven spirits if you will and their mission is to either distort the word being spoken or convince those who hear it that it is bad or false and many Christians are falling prey to this and accusing ministries falsely. That is what I was also saying in my reply.

I do not beleive God would keep you shook up to the point it caused division between you. One thing I have learned is that there is a church or a body that we belong to or with. This is where we will bloom and be used and blessed and so on. Once we seek Him and find this place it is where we are to be planted until He moves us. Now by honoring a friend and visiting their church is no alarm or bad choice for you can always then in return have your friend visit your church. Nothing wrong with that for when we travel well we can not take our home church with us.

If it was me in this situation I would seek God on this and have the attitude I am not going to do anything until I hear from you.
Only you will be able to know that you know where you should be. Now then from experience I would simply say you came under attack and the attack was used to pull you away from God and the visit was simply the tool that was used. Sister God loves YOU so very much and He was not ever holding this visit against you so if there is anything with this visit.....well it is simply our enemy the devil playing his games trying to turn you from God and getting close. You think the devil wants to see you drawing closer to God ?

Trust in Him..........He wont let you slip.
Blessings Jim

 

[Lovely_Love]

Thank you for your kind words, and I just want you to know, that it was me who pulled away not Him. I got so scared because of the things happening to me at this church and I just curled up in confusion and didn't know what to do. But I've prayed so long and hard about it over the course of this past year and I still feel not right about going there. I just wanted to get to the root of the problem is all. But thank you so much for your input! It's appreciated.

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Thank you for your kind words, and I just want you to know, that it was me who pulled away not Him. I got so scared because of the things happening to me at this church and I just curled up in confusion and didn't know what to do. But I've prayed so long and hard about it over the course of this past year and I still feel not right about going there. I just wanted to get to the root of the problem is all. But thank you so much for your input! It's appreciated.

Lovely_Love,
It is always us that pulls away and He will be looking for us to return just like in the story of the Prodigal son. God loves us even more.
Now one last thing.........that I got so scared...........it's fear and it was this fear that was meant to pull you down.
Blessings

 

[Travis]

Here's the deal, I like to think of myself as simply a Christian (although technically I go to a Baptist church). I have a friend who, about a year ago converted too the Pentecostal church. To be exact, a Holiness, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And I've visited twice. The second time (an actual service) had me actually telling myself to NEVER go back. Yet, here I am a year later agreeing to go to a conference at her church with her.
I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable. I mean, I have a few hunches, but it's weird. I've never been off put by a church before. It's that bad feeling in my stomach when I know I shouldn't be somewhere or date that guy.
I would just really appreciate some help.

I'm glad you asked Lovely Love,

Many times we get a check in our spirits about things, and we should seek the matter out to find why.

Even lost people, by the grace of God, can get a bad feeling about things and avoid them, not knowing for sure why.

Part of the reason you may have felt so uncomfortable there is because what are called Apostolic Pentecostal Churches are often oneness pentecostal churches. Without knowing exactly what church you speak of I don't know if these guys are or aren't, but it's worth looking into. If they are a part of the UPC/UPCI (United Pentecostal Church International), then they are oneness Pentecostals. Oneness means that they deny the trinity. They believe in a form of modalism.

Basically, if that's the case, they believe in a another Jesus, who is no Jesus at all. Those kind of churches are apostate and don't have the Spirit of God.

I wouldn't just brush the bad feeling you get aside, I would look into it and seek the Lord on the matter. If they are oneness, you shouldn't have anything to do with them, if you love Jesus.

Blessings,

Travis

 

[RJ]

Here's the deal, I like to think of myself as simply a Christian (although technically I go to a Baptist church). I have a friend who, about a year ago converted too the Pentecostal church. To be exact, a Holiness, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And I've visited twice. The second time (an actual service) had me actually telling myself to NEVER go back. Yet, here I am a year later agreeing to go to a conference at her church with her.
I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable. I mean, I have a few hunches, but it's weird. I've never been off put by a church before. It's that bad feeling in my stomach when I know I shouldn't be somewhere or date that guy.
I would just really appreciate some help.

There is really no help to be offered. Not saying anything about that church, but if you feel so strongly, you should leave and never go back! Problem solved!

 

[Waggles]

Pentecost and Pentecostal are terms or labels much abused and maligned.
What often passes for Pentecost is not. Charismatic is definitely not Pentecost.
Charismatic churches are the creations of charismatic preachers whose ministries come forth from their own persona
and their own doctrines and styles.

Pentecost has always been fundamentally based upon the truth of Acts 2:38-39; and these signs shall follow those who believe Mark 16:15-20.
Water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism with the Bible evidence that all converts shall speak in new tongues (the God given ability to pray in the Spirit)
is fundamental and obligatory to Pentecost.
Divine healing and miracles has also always been central to Pentecost.A Pentecostal church needs to be able to emulate the Book of Acts.
True Pentecost is strongly Biblically based and upholds all the scriptures as true and valid in the Gospels, Acts and all the Epistles.
The New Testament is wholly about the Spirit-filled Church as the one and only gospel.
If a church cannot nor does not conduct itself decently and in accordance [agreement] with 1Corinthians 14 - then it is not Pentecost.

 

[Vincent]

Pentecost and Pentecostal are terms or labels much abused and maligned.
What often passes for Pentecost is not. Charismatic is definitely not Pentecost.
Charismatic churches are the creations of charismatic preachers whose ministries come forth from their own persona
and their own doctrines and styles.

Pentecost has always been fundamentally based upon the truth of Acts 2:38-39; and these signs shall follow those who believe Mark 16:15-20.
Water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism with the Bible evidence that all converts shall speak in new tongues (the God given ability to pray in the Spirit)
is fundamental and obligatory to Pentecost.
Divine healing and miracles has also always been central to Pentecost.A Pentecostal church needs to be able to emulate the Book of Acts.
True Pentecost is strongly Biblically based and upholds all the scriptures as true and valid in the Gospels, Acts and all the Epistles.
The New Testament is wholly about the Spirit-filled Church as the one and only gospel.
If a church cannot nor does not conduct itself decently and in accordance [agreement] with 1Corinthians 14 - then it is not Pentecost.

I have a real question for you regarding the sign of tongues.

Mark 16:15-20 says:

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

(Mark 16:15-20 ESV)

If speaking in tongues is a required sign of all converts a you say then why isn't drinking poison and surviving something that a true convert must do?

 

[Waggles]

why isn't drinking poison and surviving something that a true convert must do?

Forever the smarty pants pharisee with a tricky question trying to trip up and catch out Jesus and what he himself spoke to us...

Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mathew 4:5-7
Thus we do not deliberately drink poison nor deliberately handle snakes - but rather as all good Pentecostal saints know we have a confidence in divine protection
for those who are walking in the Spirit, and should some unforeseen danger come upon us or our children.

Mark 16:18
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Thus the last part of the verse is true and applies to the first part...

:shades:

 

[Vincent]

Forever the smarty pants pharisee with a tricky question trying to trip up and catch out Jesus and what he himself spoke to us...

Wow, the Pharisee card right off the bat. It is a legitimate question. I have not understood how speaking in tongues is required for a Christian. I have never done this would you say I am a Christian?

Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mathew 4:5-7
Thus we do not deliberately drink poison nor deliberately handle snakes - but rather as all good Pentecostal saints know we have a confidence in divine protection
for those who are walking in the Spirit, and should some unforeseen danger come upon us or our children.

Mark 16:18
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Thus the last part of the verse is true and applies to the first part...

So are you saying here that god must heal someone that is sick of poison if other Christians lay hands on them? Is it possible for some unforeseen danger to kill a Christian?

 

[Brad Huber]

I had to attend one of those ghastly pentecostal places as child. The constant get 'saved' or go to hell sermons were abusive and WRONG, especially as there is no evidence any god exists let alone what it is like. The Bible is NOT evidence in my opinion.

There is more evidence that God exists, than your great grandfather existed.

 

[Curtis]

Here's the deal, I like to think of myself as simply a Christian (although technically I go to a Baptist church). I have a friend who, about a year ago converted too the Pentecostal church. To be exact, a Holiness, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And I've visited twice. The second time (an actual service) had me actually telling myself to NEVER go back. Yet, here I am a year later agreeing to go to a conference at her church with her.
I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable. I mean, I have a few hunches, but it's weird. I've never been off put by a church before. It's that bad feeling in my stomach when I know I shouldn't be somewhere or date that guy.
I would just really appreciate some help.

Sister, there are two enemies we fight against. One are principalities, and powers in the heavenly places, and then we war against the "carnal" un renewed mind which the Bible says is the "enemy" of God. The reason the un renewed mind is the enemy of God is because it does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, and calls them "foolishness!! If you are feeling uncomfortable in this Church it could be a part of your un renewed mind, that does see the things of the Spirit of God as you understand them to be. Being "double minded" is your mind believing one thing while your heart believes something else will cause an uneasiness in yourself.

 

[Vincent]

Sister, there are two enemies we fight against. One are principalities, and powers in the heavenly places, and then we war against the "carnal" un renewed mind which the Bible says is the "enemy" of God. The reason the un renewed mind is the enemy of God is because it does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, and calls them "foolishness!! If you are feeling uncomfortable in this Church it could be a part of your un renewed mind, that does see the things of the Spirit of God as you understand them to be. Being "double minded" is your mind believing one thing while your heart believes something else will cause an uneasiness in yourself.

How do you know the difference between "feelings" of being double minded verses "feelings" of false doctrine. The spirit will warn us against false doctrine by studying his word.

 

[Curtis]

How do you know the difference between "feelings" of being double minded verses "feelings" of false doctrine. The spirit will warn us against false doctrine by studying his word.

Feelings of "false" doctrine, and feelings of being "double minded" are the same thing. A double minded man is unstable in all that he does, do not "let" that man think he shall receive anything from the Lord. (James 1:7-8) If the human mind (the Flesh) is not renewed to the Word of God, that person will not know what is true or false.

Gal 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. (AMP)

 

[Bendito]

Here's the deal, I like to think of myself as simply a Christian (although technically I go to a Baptist church). I have a friend who, about a year ago converted too the Pentecostal church. To be exact, a Holiness, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. And I've visited twice. The second time (an actual service) had me actually telling myself to NEVER go back. Yet, here I am a year later agreeing to go to a conference at her church with her.
I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable. I mean, I have a few hunches, but it's weird. I've never been off put by a church before. It's that bad feeling in my stomach when I know I shouldn't be somewhere or date that guy.
I would just really appreciate some help.

So do you do all of your spiritual dealings by feel? What do feelings have to do with the spirit?

 

[Sue J Love]

So do you do all of your spiritual dealings by feel? What do feelings have to do with the spirit?

Sometimes, when something doesn't "feel" right, it could be just our flesh responding to our circumstances, but it can also be the prompting and urging of the Holy Spirit within us nudging us that something isn't right. Every denomination and every church congregation has its issues, I am sure, since they are made up of humans. The Bible tells us to test everything, so if we feel a nudge that something is wrong, it is wise to check it out against the Word of God and in prayer. I don't believe we should ignore our feelings. I do believe we need to take them to the Lord in prayer, seeking his face, and study the Word in order to test the spirits to see if they are of God or of the flesh of humans. We should, as well, examine our own hearts to see if our "feelings" are based on our own prejudices, history, backgrounds, or sin in our lives, etc. Also, such nudgings could be of the devil who is trying to put doubts and fear in our minds, so this is why we need to take these to the Lord in prayer, seeking his counsel.

There are extremes in every church denomination, I am most certain, because, as I already stated, they are made up of humans. Now, I will note here that denominational churches are not the true church of Jesus Christ. They are man-made organizations. The body of Christ is not denominational nor is it a business or a corporation. We, the people of God, are the church - period! But, we do meet in various locations and when we gather together, collectively we are called congregations. And, some of these congregations do fall under the authority and leadership of denominations, though I don't believe that is of God. But, that is another subject for another time.

My point here is that there are charismatic churches which rely purely on human emotion and pumping up the volume in order to get people all emotionally charged up, and they call that Spirit-filled, but it may not be at all, especially if what they are doing is contrary to the teachings of scripture on the subject of the Spirit and how he works, etc. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. God's grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ's return (See: Tit. 2:11-14). So, if someone says he is Spirit-filled just because he or she has an emotional experience, but as soon as that experience is over he or she goes out and lives just like the world, and he or she does not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, but the exact opposite, then I would seriously question if that person is, indeed, Spirit-filled, or if he or she just had a high (an exhilarating emotional experience).

So, if we want to know if something we see in an institutional church service (of any denomination) is of the Spirit, we need to test what we see and hear against the Word of God and in prayer. Not everything that is called of God is truly of God. So be wise, and be discerning.