yesturday was sunday and I went to church.
after all the pomp and circumstance, one of the assisstant pastors gets up to the pulpit and tells everyone " not to move around or leave while the pastor is preaching ". Then he goes on to tell us a story about a woman who left the chruch and years later suffered a heart attack and about two boys who made fun of a balding pastor and where eaten by bears. It worked, no one even moved to go to the bathroom. ONe man had to go to work as the preacher was talking and they called him out. He just laughed and stood by the door as they basically intimidated him. Then an usher asked nicely that he stayed and he said "I have to work" the usher said that to the pastor accross the room, as the man left.
It was ashame and I spoke up, but my friend sitting next to me touched my thigh , basically signaling me to "stop being rude".
This happens so oftern, I go to a pentecostal chruch and hate the intimidation!
What would you have done?
2007-11-19 06:31:57 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
and dont tell me this isnt all chruchs, I've talked to many diffrent pentecostals and they say the same or worse happens. I could not stand up and was afraid to even go to the bathroom. This is a room full of adults *( about 40) and kids ( about 20).
2007-11-19 06:33:10 · update #1
Diffrent but realted Q:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=An8VMDfF5A8MkINMcaUlNzvsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071119111319AAtOPSJ
2007-11-19 06:38:51 · update #2
Im a 20 yrs old, and live w/parents who are a part of the church. I dont belive in any of the BS they push but I dont have jurisdiction to leave. IF I could I would attend a UCC church or Catholic ( for christians, I rather like them). And ppl have said it before, if someone needs to pee, would they rather ppl pee on the floor? But they dont care .
2007-11-19 06:46:49 · update #3
wow, unbelievable.
It does NOT feel right. It sounds like communism.
2007-11-19 06:42:19 · answer #1 · answered by dougfr007 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
oh my goodness. That doesn't sound fun at all. That isn't right for the pastor to say those kind of things just so nobody will move! That's ridiculous! If you guys need to go you need to go. There are some other Churches I think you'd much rather enjoy. If I were you I would go to another Church because that sounds like torture. You should look forward to hearing the message of God, and not to be preached about how you can't move during service. I think it was right for you to speak up. Someone has to do it, because what you have to go through there is ridiculous!
2007-11-19 14:41:34 · answer #2 · answered by pup 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry to say that it isn't all churches. I don't attend a penecostal church though. In my church, cell phones go off during the service. Everyone laughs, and the preacher just says something funny like "It's for me, everybody knows I'm here". Churches aren't supposed to intimidate and scare people. A church is supposed to be a place of love and encouragement. I would have walked out and not went back. I suggest you find another church.
2007-11-19 14:41:27 · answer #3 · answered by Christine M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This has never happened in my church (Catholic). I would have gone to the bathroom just to annoy them. If they said anything I would ask if they would rather I pee on the floor.
2007-11-19 14:43:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't go to a church where they try to intimidate you into staying. I would find another church. My husband grew up Pentecostal and I grew up catholic. We don't go to church much, but when we do it's teh Catholic church.
2007-11-19 14:41:22 · answer #5 · answered by Barbara T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Churches are full of spiritual abuse. If they need you use guilt and coercion as motivators then you should leave and find a church that teaches grace and freedom and liberty in Jesus Christ.
If a Pastor can't hold you with the content of his sermon then you need to find one that does.
2007-11-19 14:39:57 · answer #6 · answered by Who's got my back? 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wow, what if someone needed to use the bathroom really bad? That's ridiculous and inappropriate.
2007-11-19 14:37:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't go to a Pentecostal church.
2007-11-19 14:36:18 · answer #8 · answered by jimmeisnerjr 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would switch to a congregation that was more amenable to my comfort.
And, perhaps, which would not try to rule by fear... that's generally a sign of a group of idiots.
2007-11-19 14:37:00 · answer #9 · answered by Blackacre 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It DOESN"T happen in all churches. Your pastor IS arrogant.
2007-11-19 14:37:18 · answer #10 · answered by AJM 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋