boblloyd91 Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 Hello all, I have been studying alot lately about Pentecostal?Charismatic Churches and how big they are growing. I recall reading that one of the reasons Church Growth has slowed is because of competition from these types of churches. They claim faith healing, exorcism, and all kinds of other stuff. They are also quite antagonistic towards LDS. I was wondering if anyone has encountered these churches/people and what your opinions are of them. I know of some who believe that there is alot of deception in these churches, either by stage magic or Evil influence. I know they are becoming particularly prevalent in Africa, South America, and Asia (some even think that most of Christianity will be like these Churches in about 20-30 years). What are your opinions/experiences?
bluebell Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 My only experience with such a church has been the negative type (ie. you're going to hell because you're mormon). I would hope that's not representative of the whole but my experience is so limited that in judging that, it's practically worthless.
thesometimesaint Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 If I'm damned to hell for being a Mormon at least I'll be among friends. 1
Damien the Leper Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 I'll opt out of heaven if Mormons don't get in. It'll be nice to carry on these discussions we have here on the board in the afterlife.
cinepro Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 (edited) They claim faith healing, exorcism, and all kinds of other stuff. You say that like it's a bad thing.17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;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.Mark 16 Edited February 7, 2013 by cinepro
Tacenda Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 (edited) Hello all, I have been studying alot lately about Pentecostal?Charismatic Churches and how big they are growing. I recall reading that one of the reasons Church Growth has slowed is because of competition from these types of churches. They claim faith healing, exorcism, and all kinds of other stuff. They are also quite antagonistic towards LDS. I was wondering if anyone has encountered these churches/people and what your opinions are of them. I know of some who believe that there is alot of deception in these churches, either by stage magic or Evil influence. I know they are becoming particularly prevalent in Africa, South America, and Asia (some even think that most of Christianity will be like these Churches in about 20-30 years). What are your opinions/experiences?I think the LDS draws people away from them more then them doing the drawing. Two different environments say alot. But glad that all non-LDS churches are not like the ones you've described. I just think they are the ones that people think about first and this probably helps our mission to attract people to our way. We have faith healings, not sure about exorcism and all kinds of other stuff, but it's the manner that they are performed that make the big difference. For me, the LDS do things more on the reverant side and this is to my liking but maybe not to some, maybe it's how we are all conditioned from birth. Edited February 7, 2013 by Tacenda
thesometimesaint Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 I think the LDS draws people away from them more then them doing the drawing. Two different environments say alot. But glad that all non-LDS churches are not like the ones you've described. I just think they are the ones that people think about first and this probably helps our mission to attract people to our way. We have faith healings, not sure about exorcism and all kinds of other stuff, but it's the manner that they are performed that make the big difference. For me, the LDS do things more on the reverant side and this is to my liking but maybe not to some, maybe it's how we are all conditioned from birth.We have exorcisms, but as any Priesthood holder has the authority to perform them it certainly doesn't get much press.
Mola Ram Suda Ram Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 Ran in to tons of them in West Virigina. Nice people. In fact there is nothing really that stands out. They are sincere and they love God. And yes most are critical of the LDS. BUt I met quite a few that would give me a drink. In fact most of them would let us in to teach them.
Cold Steel Posted February 10, 2013 Posted February 10, 2013 Most of the Pentecostals engage in wishful thinking. To speak in tongues, you don't actually have to speak a language. It's okay to just babble. If you go to YouTube, you can see how it works. As for their eschatology, it's narrow. Many think everyone else but them are going to a never-ending hell where people will burn forever, but not be consumed. They're also, many of them, are completely incapable of communicating logically. The ones I know make the most outrageous and indefensible statements and then act as though something's wrong with you when you attempt to engage them! The preterists are the worst because they believe all prophecy in both the Old and New Testaments have been fulfilled. Naturally there are many prophecies that have not been fulfilled, and no matter how many I produced, the answer was always a statement of insistence...nothing more.I believe other faiths can have the Holy Spirit and the gifts thereof; however, when they leave the basics of their own beliefs and attack the Latter-day Saints, I think they lose a little of that. Still, I believe in healings and other gifts of the Spirit, but I don't put a lot of stock in their gifts of tongues..
Saints Alive Posted February 10, 2013 Posted February 10, 2013 I'll opt out of heaven if Mormons don't get in. It'll be nice to carry on these discussions we have here on the board in the afterlife.Hopefully we will have some more concrete facts to go by then.
ERayR Posted February 10, 2013 Posted February 10, 2013 Hello all, I have been studying alot lately about Pentecostal?Charismatic Churches and how big they are growing. I recall reading that one of the reasons Church Growth has slowed is because of competition from these types of churches. They claim faith healing, exorcism, and all kinds of other stuff. They are also quite antagonistic towards LDS. I was wondering if anyone has encountered these churches/people and what your opinions are of them. I know of some who believe that there is alot of deception in these churches, either by stage magic or Evil influence. I know they are becoming particularly prevalent in Africa, South America, and Asia (some even think that most of Christianity will be like these Churches in about 20-30 years). What are your opinions/experiences?You might check this out.http://news.yahoo.com/non-denominational-churches-grow-mainline-congregations-decline-20110217-104800-224.htmlPentecostal?Charismatic Churches are the mainline churches.
Questing Beast Posted February 10, 2013 Posted February 10, 2013 I don't doubt that proportionally "charismatic" denominations are becoming more dominant. But in the world at large, I don't think that dogmatic religious approaches are gaining ascendancy. I think that individual religion is gaining over dogmatic religions. So all the dogmatic approaches, including the LDS one, are losing ground to individual religion. That's my wishful thinking paradigm talking, of course, but I do think it is what is happening, again, in the world at large....
EllenMaksoud Posted February 11, 2013 Posted February 11, 2013 Hello all, I have been studying alot lately about Pentecostal?Charismatic Churches and how big they are growing. I recall reading that one of the reasons Church Growth has slowed is because of competition from these types of churches. They claim faith healing, exorcism, and all kinds of other stuff. They are also quite antagonistic towards LDS. I was wondering if anyone has encountered these churches/people and what your opinions are of them. I know of some who believe that there is alot of deception in these churches, either by stage magic or Evil influence. I know they are becoming particularly prevalent in Africa, South America, and Asia (some even think that most of Christianity will be like these Churches in about 20-30 years). What are your opinions/experiences?Are you LDS? I am not sure it is permissible to say what I think of some of these churches because the Sisters have strongly admonsished me to be sweet and loving. So within the boundaries of those constraints, I will tell you what I know. I started out my Christian life in a RLDS church for about 6 months. Frankly, I wanted anointed leaders, powerful sermons, and NOT a seminary educated clerical staff. My neighbors quickly convinced us to begin attending a "baptist church". We were niaeve, painfully so, so we went to a community church with a Baptist educated Pastor. Through them, I did begin to learn the Bible very well. I was devout. However, over time I felt they dispensed guilt liberally. We were trying to please God, so we finally left to escape the constant downers.Our next Church was a huge mega church with prosperity based theology. I could not reconcile their teaching with the book of Job. Some of us have lived the book of Job. Feeling the emptyness, we left. So, for a few years, we attended the church of the 5th wheel trailer, and the huge sail boat; traveling as often as we could.So, after about 5 years of that we joined an "International church of the Four Square". It was a pretty good church but the use of the gift of tongues the way they interpret it just gave me the creeps. It was during that time we went to see Benny Hinn, and after dealing with that charletton, we went back to the Sail Boat for a while. During that time we attended a few Assembly of God churches and what a show!During that time listening to people like Charles Standley, John Hagee, and a few others I nearly lost my religion entirely. The yelling and hate speech felt like it was satan speaking.My time as a Muslim has nothing to do with christianty.So, since I have joined the LDS church I just have to say that Mormons are all the things that the EV are not, and that is good.
Alan Posted February 11, 2013 Posted February 11, 2013 (edited) I have a fair bit of experience with this kind of church. I have attended many of their meetings over the years.While there is sincerity from a lot of the believers, it appears to me that the highlight of their worship is the dancing around and shouting etc.I have witnessed some pretty unsavoury scenes in my time.People jumping around, dancing and moving uncontrolably, people literally screaming, supposed speaking in tongues - which was obviously just jabba jabba, people rolling around on the floor, people laughing uncontrolably, some even barking like a dog. It is actially quite frightening and I have seen young children become very upset by all this.I have also noticed, certainly in my town, that these congregations don't tend to grow very large because there is a constant turnover of people. I think some find it all impressive to begin with, but what they experience initially is all there is. They get fed up with it and look elsewhere. Edited February 11, 2013 by Alan
Helen47 Posted February 11, 2013 Posted February 11, 2013 Books like Tongues of Fire which describe the growth of Pentcostal churches in South America show they do a lot of good, especially in getting husbands off the alcohol and womanising and in church. The next generation according the author is becoming middle class. I see some Pentecostals quite fundamentalist in their beleifs and yet from reading the journal such as The Journal of Pentecostal Studies they are growing in that area to. The most famous is Gordon Fee, a New Testament scholar. Another is Amos Young whas been making a name for himself. My daughter attends a Pentecostal church. Tongues is not mention or practiced much. I come accross a number of Australia LDS chinese missionaries who are from Sydney. I ask them about Hillsong and they invariabliy say they have relatives or friends who attend that church.I have never heard in Pentecostal churches spend any time attacking the LDS church. However troublesome is the prosperity movement. 1
Antoni Posted February 11, 2013 Posted February 11, 2013 I have a wide experience of this type of church, going to a pentecostal bible college and almost becoming a minister within this branch of Christianity.They would regard LDS as a cult and are very antagonistic to any form of Christianity that isn't their own (usually anti catholic too). There is an arrogance in them I've not found in other churches - I think the congregations are usually made up of sincere people looking for a spirtuality ( I certainly was) but it does tend to become a church of entertainment/signs for signs sake. - Look up Sign Seekers in the LDS topical guide - very interesting.The leaderships of these churches are what irks me the most. My personal view is I've yet to meet an honest one. Harsh yes, but honestly true, they build up their empires and will do all they can to maintain them. A large charismatic group of churches in the UK I recently found out has now been handed down to the son of the founding leader that to me is poison and not heathy.I find reading the early LDS years and the early leaders wisdom in stopping the excesses of what happens in charismatic churches a definite sign that they were truly led of God. The chaos and destruction some of the charistmatic churches have done is a testament to their apostasy.One other thing I remember discovering at bible college - the membership stats of these mega-churches is interesting, some of the largest ones have a turnover rate of about 30% per annum.My dissastifaction which led to my abandoning my faith and a "Dark night of the Soul" was due in no small part to the excesses, corruption and stupidity I saw within these movements. I'm thankful that the hand of the Lord cared enough to still reach out and guide me back.To all: We do not want this board used to denigrate other religions.
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