I was put off by something in the literature they gave me about them believing in speaking in tongues and in the laying on of hands for healing. I grew up Baptist and have attended a Methodist church for a while, and to me this is just WEIRD. Crazy weird. But I liked everything else about the church ( a "community christian church"). The minister preached the word of God, spoke of his personal relationship with Christ, etc. but I just can't get past this weirdness. By the way, nobody did anything extremely weird while I was there (but maybe they were on good behavior since they had a visitor?).
Anyway, my question is: Would you go to a church that essentially held the same beliefs as you, the important stuff anyway, even if they had the potential to shimmy in the aisles and speak in tongues??
2007-02-04 12:20:32 · 23 answers · asked by bibliophile31 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My advice to you would be "Do not despise speaking in tongues". The issue in the church today is more about regulating the use of tongues (see 1 Cor 14 on how tongues should be exercised) than whether tongues still exist or not. People are more worried about the excessiveness of tongues and the unbridled use of it in charismatic circles. Paul also commented on such usage in the epistles and frowned on it. Whatever the nature of tongues I do not read anywhere in Scriptures that they have died off or that all those who can speak in tongues (I can't) are either faking it or are being deceived by the devil (it just doesn't explain away the many godly and devout believers). Best is to let God be God and remain humble in our understanding. And do not judge another believer over the things of the heart because our judgements are not infallible and because God is judge.
2007-02-04 12:28:54 · answer #1 · answered by Seraph 4 · 8⤊ 5⤋
I am very Leary of preachers who press the issue of speaking in tongues. For one thing, Paul said that when it is done there should be an interpreter. Also it isn't the best gift of all anyway and to impress upon people that it is so important makes me want to find another church. And that is what I did when I experienced this at a church. They need to read their Bible more closely. I finally found a good church called Calvary Chapel. They are nation wide for the most part and don't do phony garbage like the fake speaking of tongues. And it is fake in what they do. Check out Calvary. I don't know where you live, but I do have a web site that has all of the addresses in the U.S.
By the way, don't just go by feeling. More important is to examine and compare and test with the Word of God. If what they do is not right with God's Word, then it is time for a different pastor and church. As far as the Catholic church being the first, it actually wasn't. It was created by Constitine in the 3rd century. Anyway, email me if you want the Calvary web site.
Take care and God bless.
2007-02-04 20:28:45 · answer #2 · answered by celticwarrior7758 4 · 5⤊ 2⤋
When I was in college, I found a church like the one you are talking about. I loved it and went for several weeks. I even became saved in that church and went to the front to be prayed for. Then the person next to me started talking in tongues, rolling on the floor, and looking like she was either possessed by a demon or having a seizure. I was terrified and never went back again. So if you want to stay, just be prepared.
2007-02-04 21:31:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't give up the on the church. If you really liked everything else about it, then don't sweat the small stuff. I know speakin in tongues and laying hands on people may seem very odd to someone who has never experienced it. But that's just it!! You haven't experienced it! Give it a chance. Perhaps you can join a bible study group with the church and they can explain to you why and how these things happen. When you begin to learn about them, you will see that they really are biblical and who knows, maybe you will even begin to enjoy it.
In answer to your question, yes, I would go to a church that held some differences in beliefs, so long as they stayed within the confines of the bible. I would read the bible and find out what it says about the things that I disagreed with in order to know the truth. This was actually my experience when I first started going to church. I had never even heard of speaking in tongues and laying on of hands. The church I got saved in was filled with the holy spirit, but they didn't practice those things because the pastor knew it freaked a lot of people out. When I moved, I found another church that did it frequently. I thought it was fake and made up, until someone laid hands on me and I was healed of clinical depression completely.
2007-02-04 20:33:55 · answer #4 · answered by shybusch 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I believe that there should be speaking whit the tongues in church ONLY if there is someone to translate it. I believe in the laying on the hands. I know it has healed too. Find yourself a church that you feel comfortable and you are spiritually fed.
Look around. Church is not a building, the church is the community.
2007-02-04 20:24:55 · answer #5 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I only go to church where the full Truth is shown. Partial truths aren't good enough for me.
Anyway, the name of the Catholic Church dates back to the very beginning of the second century AD in a quote by a disciple of the Apostle John. The Catholic Church istelf can be traced all the way back to St. Peter.
2007-02-04 21:05:37 · answer #6 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you do not feel comfortable with it, just keep searching. There are many, many different forms of Christianity out there. Eventually you will find a Church where they act in ways that are comfortable to you
and also have a similar way of believing about the Bible and about Jesus Christ as you do. In the meantime, keep reading the Bible and KEEP PRAYING! The open communication with God is what will help you the most.
2007-02-04 20:30:06 · answer #7 · answered by Brigid O' Somebody 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I was raised up in the southern Baptist church and I visited a church like the one you speak of and really enjoyed it.To me at first it was really freaky.I did have fun so I kept on going.Church should be a happy place and not dead like a funeral.One thing I can say is that I did`nt get bored and sleepy.The music there was great,drums,guitars,and modern Christan songs.The Holy Spirit is for real,you can feel him enter into your body,that`s when it gets wild I love it.The speaking in toungs comes from the day of pentecost and from the laying on of hands by the Apostles.
2007-02-04 20:36:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The truth is, most churc hes are endearing in the beginning. Don't base your decision on a feeling. spend some time with the Lord in prayer, read your bible and follow your heart. The truth is, eventually y ou will find something you don't like about all churches...and thats exactly what the enemy wants...to divide. God Bless.
2007-02-04 20:41:54 · answer #9 · answered by Sweetserenity 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
and rightly so. any church that professes to encourage "speaking in tongues" should be aware of two things. 1) there must be an interpreter of tongues present and 2) speaking "in tongues" is meant as a means of spreading God's message to other lands by speaking in a foriegn language even though the person speaking it doesn't know what he is saying.
Otherwise, it does not edify anyone, for no one knows what it is the person praying in tongues is saying.
Laying on of hand is also a tricky one, for if the person who is doing the laying on of hands is not spiritually washed clean beforehand, then whatever unclean influence he/she has will be troublesome to the person receiving the healing, so your caution is well-founded.
2007-02-04 20:33:51 · answer #10 · answered by Shinigami 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋