What's Your Church Background?

[wgjones3]

In talking with people, both on here and in person, I often find that the terms and ideas I talk about spiritually are things they've never really heard of or don't believe it. Things like prophesy and spiritual warfare, small groups and even praise and worship. In the interest of getting to know each other a little better, I thought it might help if we talked a little bit about the church we go to now as well as our religous background.

Myself, I was raised Baptist. I was taught that God was like a box on a shelf you didn't open unless it was an emergency. Otherwise, you reverenced God and spent your whole life walking on eggshells to keep from angering Him without actually bothering Him. Bible study was highly emphesized and it almost seemed like a person's spiritual condition was judged by the church according to how much of the Bible he/she could quote from memory. For some people, I think this idea of religion works very well, but it never did for me. The people I know who are dedicated Baptists are very deeply devoted to God and live some of the most truly Christian lives I've ever seen.

When I was just out of high-school, I started going to a Charasmatic church. Here, God was real and wanted to be in your life. I can remember getting invovled in some of the grass-roots get-togethers with other Charasmastic believers and sitting in awe at how open people were in discussing God. No more was God in a box on a shelf. That box was open and God was this perfume that had to be inhaled, this wonderful energy that had to be experienced. I remember one morning at a church just outside of town when a guy came and asked the congregation to form a freedom train. Everyone--but me, still clinging to my baptist roots and staring in awe--got up, formed a circle around the sanctuary, and started jumping up and down, making train noises, while the guy sang a song about a train to freedom. As the people hopped around the sanctuary, I remember the guy saying with total sincerity and enthousiasm that God wants us so close to him that we can feel His whiskers brush our cheeks when He holds us. Wow, that idea still gives me goosebumps.

I also got involved in a Charasmatic retriet and met some wonderful people. These people were so hungry for God, so open to any method of expressing their love for Him. I went for a while, until some big-name televangelsit sent some of his praise and worship people to the retriet and totally destroied it in the name of drawing people closer to God. They wrecked the sound equipment, drove off many of the supporters, and by the time they were done, only the founder, myself, and the family of four that I was sitting next to were left in the building. So ended my favorite Charasmatic retiret.

Now, the church I go to is Church of God. Many of the ideas of the Charasmatic movement are carried over, but there's also so much wonderful teaching and emphasis on Bible study. At times in the Charasmatic churches, I think the atmosphere was ripe for chaos, and so many people fell into the trap of worshiping the signs of God instead of God.

I once told some people at the retriet that signs and wonders were great, but the devil can make signs and wonders if that's all we're looking for. The people said I was unlearned of God because of the scripture that Christ's sheep know His voice. They never understood what I was saying.

Anyway, my background is pretty much that. I believe in signs and gifts of the Spirit, but I also believe in discernment and I know not everything that goes on in my church done in the name of God is actually of God. God has given me a fairly accurate gift of discernment. But, I do know that the leadership tries its best to work for the people of the church. I found out yesterday, after sharing with the administrative pastor about my problems that I've been having for the last few years because of some of the things I've gone through and he immediately cleared up an hour of time that he didn't have and got the associate pastor, who is likewise pressed for time, to council me about my experiences and pray over me for freedom and deliverance from the opressive forces I've battled.

Okay, that was long. Sorry. I just can't shut up sometimes. :eek:

[Gumpngreen]

I stick with non-denominational churches that teach all of the Bible, leaving nothing out.

Currently: www.calvarymelbourne.org

[Dr. Daniel]

Well, I the first church I ever remember belonging to was the Church of England, Anglicans over in here in America. Which I really only recall being impressed by the Cathedrals and watching the ceremonies, but that's about it. My mother used to try and get us to go to church, but we also moved a lot so nothing ever became a pattern. Between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one I was witnessed to constantly by, oh I don't know, about a zillion people. However, I had come to the conclusion that church and God were both a load of rubbish and could always argue these t-shirt Christians into a stand still just by pointing to Genesis and firing questions.
And then one day this guy walks into the store where I worked, briefly witnessed to me and ended by saying, "God has great things in store for you." And I was fairly amazed because from everything I knew, God had nothing in store for me whatsoever. So I ended up going to a couple of the meetings this guy invited me to, and I became quite involved. However, my luck being what it is, it turned out to be a cult. The good news was, with this particular bunch, I learned more of the Bible than I ever knew before, and in the end they actually taught it so well, I was able use their own study principles to explain what was wrong with the more cult-like aspects they taught. This was not appreciated. Left in a hurry. Kept a low profile for a real long time. Didn't have anything to do with God for a number of years, started going to a Pentacostal church after my divorce; didn't work (even though I agreed and enjoyed the praise-worship and idea's about spiritual manifestations.) I have ended up in a non-denominational church, which teaches the Bible and no one has ever once mentioned shooting me. Who could ask for more? :)

Dr. Daniel

[wgjones3]

I'm just curious, Dr. D. Was the Pentecostal church you went to a UPC church? Where I'm from, all the churches referred to as Pentecostal are UPC. Where Annie is from, they're called Apostolic and, to them, Pentecostal churches mean an entirley different set of beliefs. I just wondered whether that was a north/south thing or what.

[FireFeet]

WGJones, I love the way you write! I felt like you were sitting right here telling that story while we sipped cappuccinos. :)

Here's the chronicle of my church history...

I grew up in church, specifically, one which was under the name of United Church of Christ. This church is very much about "good works." If anyone needs anything, someone will take care of that something. (Need a ride, need $100, need a casserole, need a babysitter...you've got it!) In retrospect, I realize that that feeling of "family and fellowship" is unusual and special.

What they lack, however, is a true prestentation of the Gospel. I never once read about the idea of "being saved." I was never encouraged to pursue God and a personal relationship with Him. I was never told of the importance of Bible study.

There was always something in me that hungered for something MORE. I didn't know what it was that I was looking for....but I wanted it! When I was twelve, the church hired a new minister, and even though he continued with the "good works" program, he recognized the hunger that was within me. He began to mentor me and encourage me to seek God, but, unfortunately, he also exploited our relationship and abused me.

When I was 15, I encountered the Holy Spirit for the first time, though at that time I didn't know that was what had happened. The Youth Group had gone to Creation (a week-long music fest), and one night as I sat at one of the concerts (Leslie Phillips), I began to cry and shake. I had this overwhelming sensation of "God is RIGHT HERE." I wanted to run into His arms, but I also wanted to cower in terror. Later, when I tried to explain and understand this incident, everyone insisted that it was just emotion, not God.

Approximately six months later, the Youth Group went to a conference at another church for a weekend. On the last night, we had a church service, and they invited people to come up front for prayer. (This was not an "altar call," but just an encouragement to step out and ask for prayer.) As I stood there waiting my turn, I again began to cry and shake, and before anyone even came to me to pray, I fell to the ground and was completely unaware for a lengthy amount of time. This idea of "being slain in the spirit" was totally foreign both to my Youth Group and the church we were at. Everyone was completely freaked out and no one had any explanation for what had happened.

I was fully convinced that both of those incidents were of God...but I was unbearably frustrated about why no one else understood or believed. And in the midst of all that confusion, I was also being regularly (and increasingly violently) abused by the minister of the church. I finally just decided if God was this complicated and difficult to know and uncaring about my hurts and fears, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with Him.

For the next twelve years, I called myself an atheist and refused to enter a church. I even joined a witches coven and was very into paganism and magic. And I was desperately unbearably indescribably miserable. Something in me knew that I would never find fulfillment in this lifestyle and that I was slowly dying.

One night I was nearly ready to give up and I sat with a bottle of vodka, a pile of pills, and the stereo. Just as I was about to swallow the first handful of pills, the song "Angel" by Sarah McLaughlin begin to play. Memories of my teenage encounters with the Holy Spirit filled my mind and I was flooded with a peace that I had never before felt. I began to cry and I prayed, "God, if You're real, You've got to show me, because I can't live like this anymore."

For the next six weeks, I waited for an answer. Then one night I received a phone call from a woman whom I had known while we were growing up, but that I hadn't seen or spoken to since high school graduation. The first thing she said to me was, "God told me to call you." And she invited me to church.

The minute I walked in the door of the church that Sunday, I began to cry uncontrollably. The "something" I had felt....at that concert and at that altar...was RIGHT HERE. I didn't understand it, but I knew that I had come home. I had found the God of my heart's longing.

Three weeks later, I moved to the town where this church was. I had no place to live, no car, no money, no job. I didn't care. I just wanted to be where my God was.

Within a month's time, God had provided all of those needs. And I was in church everytime the doors were open...seeking God and answers. Every question I had ever had about God was answered.

And then one night the pastor preached a message called "Amazing Grace," and he spoke about how the Good Samaritan is a "type" of Jesus, and that He is looking for those who are wounded and abandoned and lying at that side of the road. Every word he spoke went straight into my heart like an arrow shot from heaven. I couldn't stop crying as I finally began to understand the vital missing piece...Jesus and salvation. After the message, the pastor did something I've only seen him do once since then. He looked directly at me and said, "God has been ministering to you all night," and he invited me to the altar. I went to altar and I could barely stand. I was totally undone. The pastor and several other people just held me and let me cry.

Five nights later, March 29, 1999, at 2AM, I felt God lead me to the beach and I sat there contemplating salvation and grace and surrender. I began to cry and I offered my life to God. I asked Him for forgiveness and for the gift of grace. I promised to serve Him forever. It was such an intense moment where there was only God and I and the moonlight and the sounds of the water. I worshiped Him and poured my heart out to Him. I thanked Jesus for the price He has paid for me and I expressed my awe that God has a plan and a purpose for my life. I began to cry and shake uncontrollably as the Holy Spirit poured into me. My mouth and throat were filled with fire and suddenly my praise was being expressed in a beautiful heavenly language.

In the time since then, God has done an incredible work in my life. I've been delivered and transformed and directed with unerring accuarcy towards my divine destiny. God has become my entire world and my only reason for living. All that I am and all that I do is only for the purpose of glorifying and magnifying and exalting Him.

I still attend the church where I finallly met God, and I can't imagine being happy or fulfilled elsewhere. It's a charismatic church with a very strong emphasis on being led by the Holy Spirit and operating in His gifts. But it balances any potential "charismania" with very solid Bible-based teaching. They operate in a beautiful blend of good works and faith. Perhaps most importantly, they emphasize that everyone is to have a personal relationship with God. (Northcoast Community Church) (http://www.northcoastcommunity.org/index.html?)

In my church, I have found a home and a family. In my God, I have found a father and a best friend. And I have never been happier in my entire life.

(Well, there it is, WG. Is your cappuccino cold? :) )

[Dr. Daniel]

Well, I suppose I don't know all of the denominational names very well, and perhaps it wasn't even clear to call it Pentacostal. The name of it was First Assembly of God, if that helps at all.

Dr. D

[wgjones3]

Dr. D, that's the kind of church Annie calls Pentecostal. I guess the nominclature is just a regional thing. No wonder people think I'm wierd when I talk about stuff, eh? I went to a Church of God here for about two weeks, until the pastor kindly handed me a booklet that said, as a new attendee, I had six months to demonstrate to them the gift of tongues or they couldn't accept my salvation as genuine or grant me membership there. I told him I wanted to sit down and talk to him about this because I simply don't believe Paul would encourage beleivers not to seek something that was an essential element of salvation. Needless to say, the preacher didn't want to talk to me, I never went back, and none of them ever heard me utter a single sylable in an unknown tongue (though I recieved that gift long before I ever stepped foot into that place).

FireFeet, thanks for the words about my writing. Maybe that's what I'm lacking in my "professional" writing. I try to dress it up too much, I guess.

You testimony really touches me because, like you, I walked away from church for a while. My abuse was very spiritual, very mental, but also very real. In fact, as I was sharing with Dr. Daniel, yesterday was the first time in years I've sat down and talked with anybody in person about what I went through. The administrative pastor and the associate pastor of my new church sat there and listened to everything I told them and, unlike all the people I told before, they didn't tell me I was crazy or lying or anything of the sort. Pastor Johnny, the associate pastor, even told me that he'd been through nearly the same thing as I had and that my story sounded very familiar to him. You know, I cried then, I'm crying now thinking about it. For seven years, I've believed I was crazy because what had happened, because of lies and deciet. Because the people I trusted didn't have enough understanding to believe me or even try to help me. You hit the nail on the head when you talked about your church, at least for me, because Covenant Community Church has been my home now for over a year. Before that, not only was I homeless, but I wasn't even functioning as a person.

I remember the first time I was slan in the spirit. It was a "Paul and Silas" prayer meeting at that hateful old cult (of course, I didn't think the place was hateful or a cult at the time). It was 11:30 pm, there were a line of about thirty of us standing at the altar. The youth leader spends about 5 minutes praying for the guy to my left. I'm second in line, he spends about a minute praying for me, I fall out backward, and what I thought was immediately afterward, opened my eyes to a nearly empty room. I'd been out for over 40 minutes and it felt like an instant. I've never had that experience since, but it convinced me that God's power is not only real but unfathomable at time. I also had the blessing of "dancing in the Spirit" at a sister church the youth was visiting. Again, I have not experienced that since.

So many people, even within the church I go to now, don't believe in the gifts of the Spirit or the operations of the Spirit. I just don't understand how anyone could limit God's power or presense like that. The Bible is so full of mysteries, how could one presume to understand all there is and dismiss the things they don't believe in?

Anyway, I'm sitting here at the computer, trying to get my heart ready for the last night of VBS. I had class last night and, wouldn't you know it, Annie said over 100 kids got saved. Tonight's message is about Christ's ressurection.

I've got Switchfoot's song "On Fire" looping through Winamp right now. It's on its third or fourth swing. Right now, that feels like the theme song for my life. If you've got the Beautiful Letdown CD, I suggest you crank it up and give track #9 a listen. For some reason, it's just grabbing me right now.

Peace be with you all, in Christ's name.

[FireFeet]

LOVE that song!!!!!

"And I'm on fire
When You're near
I'm on fire
When You speak
(Yea) I'm on fire
Burning at these mysteries..."

[Mr. Otis]

My parents took my sister and I to a United Church of Christ when we were kids. In high school, we moved and wound up at an Evangelical Lutheran Church. Both of them were verrrry reserved. No talking! No clapping! No shouting "Amen!"

Then I married a Roman Catholic, and for the sake of family unity, I converted. (Talk about reserved--it seemed that half the people at any given mass didn't even bother to take off their coats.)

Finally, after the divorce, I actually opened the Bible. Boy, was my face red!

My wife likes to say I'm walking, talking proof of predestination. We're members of a non-denominational church now.

[justonevoice]

I was raised by an alcoholic mother, who was seldom at home. Aunts and uncles took turns watching us and the uncles took turns trying to molest me. They talked about God but I doubt they ever met him.

When I met my husband, we talked about God and he seemed to know a lot about Him and the Bible. They were from the Church of God. A full gospel church. The pentecostal church, Charasmatic, and full gospel churches are very much the same. They all believe in the infilling of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

I recieved the gift of the Holy Spirit, and it was the greatest moment of my life. This unlearned, wrong side of the tracks kid, found a power greater than anything I'd ever known. I have not drank since that day, and never wanted to. Someone accepted me, for me, knowing all my faults.

Today, I call my self a believer, as I go into many diffrent kinds of churches to sing, and we do not want to bring anything with us but peace.


I have a question for wgjones3 though. Was the Church of God you refer to, out of Cleveland Tenn? I have never heard of them demanding a person speak in tongues!

Shirley

[wgjones3]

No, it wasn't in Tennessee. In fact, I think it might have been something this particular church had come up with all on its own.