Annoyed at protestan preaching

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Darynthe

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Hi I just found this forum, I need some advise.
My best friend is protestan, I think pentecostal. We often meet and I listen to her tirades ok, but this last time it annoyed me so much that I am considering avoiding her from now on.

I want to understand why am I so turned off by the protestanism? I have gone like four times to her “church”. It is a huge place where they present like variety show, power point presentations, funny jokes, and preachings full of something that in words sounds cristian but in essence turns me off so much that is upsetting. It is like I feel I am being manipulated and everything is just a falsehood.

All the emotional and passionate showing of love of God, it should make me admire and want to be one with it but it only makes me feel sick.

Is something wrong with me?

In the last outing with my friend, I told her I was depressed and sick, she didn’t let me speak and we almost didn’t talk normal people stuff. She just went on preachiing a lot of nonsense like if she has transformed in Jimmy Swaggert.

I am afraid for her. I feel she is hypnotized.

I believe in God, I am a Catholic but it is a tranquil and perfectly sane decision that does not require theatrics, and allows for everybody else to say something. I like to talk to atheists and learn science as I want to understand their point of view and I want to be instructed. I feel they just put their hands in their ears and go lalalalalalala. Don’t want to listen.

And you know what really makes me mad? The way she alwasy speaks of the “curses and blessings” and blames everythign that is wrong with the world or a person to the fact that their parents must have made a horrible sin and now the children should suffer.

This is their way to wash their hands on feeling anythign about it.

I am just very mad. If this is what athesist feel when people want to convert them I understand them and they have my full symphaty. If I would not have real faith, she would have turned me into one this last time.
 
You have Jesus in the Eucharist. Anything less would naturally feel… lacking.
 
Darynthe said:
Hi I just found this forum, I need some advise.
My best friend is protestan, I think pentecostal. We often meet and I listen to her tirades ok, but this last time it annoyed me so much that I am considering avoiding her from now on.

I want to understand why am I so turned off by the protestanism? I have gone like four times to her “church”. It is a huge place where they present like variety show, power point presentations, funny jokes, and preachings full of something that in words sounds cristian but in essence turns me off so much that is upsetting. It is like I feel I am being manipulated and everything is just a falsehood.

All the emotional and passionate showing of love of God, it should make me admire and want to be one with it but it only makes me feel sick.

Is something wrong with me?

In the last outing with my friend, I told her I was depressed and sick, she didn’t let me speak and we almost didn’t talk normal people stuff. She just went on preachiing a lot of nonsense like if she has transformed in Jimmy Swaggert.

I am afraid for her. I feel she is hypnotized.

I believe in God, I am a Catholic but it is a tranquil and perfectly sane decision that does not require theatrics, and allows for everybody else to say something. I like to talk to atheists and learn science as I want to understand their point of view and I want to be instructed. I feel they just put their hands in their ears and go lalalalalalala. Don’t want to listen.

And you know what really makes me mad? The way she alwasy speaks of the “curses and blessings” and blames everythign that is wrong with the world or a person to the fact that their parents must have made a horrible sin and now the children should suffer.

This is their way to wash their hands on feeling anythign about it.

I am just very mad. If this is what athesist feel when people want to convert them I understand them and they have my full symphaty. If I would not have real faith, she would have turned me into one this last time.
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First, welcome.

I remember when I was about 21, I visited a Church of the Nazarene church on the invitation of some friends. The hollering and waving of arms, the style of worship made me quite uncomfortable, as it was so very different than the liturgical Lutheran mass.
OTOH, I have been to Anglican and Catholic services and felt very much at home and comfortable.

Now, I’m not judging their style of worship, but it certainly was foreign to me, as I’m sure the pentecostal approach was disturbing to you. I don’t think there is anything wrong with you. I wouldn’t recommend you view “Protestantism” through the single lens of your friend’s church, and I definitely would not take her world view and theology, as you described it, as anything worth considering. Other than that, you seem like a typical Catholic, comfortable and safe in the Catholic mass, as you should be.

Jon
 
I understand what you are saying. However, I am a non-Catholic, so I have a different view on the situation. I know exactly what you are saying though with the powerpoint, big technology, and the jokes. It’s almost like a “feel-good” atmosphere where people are invited to come and laugh with their buddies and justify to themselves their superiority over those who don’t come to church. I am a Protestant, but essentially I have the same issue with most Protestant churches. It doesn’t seem right to just have some big emotional “reach out to God with your feelings” kind of time, and then call it worship and reverent. I actually don’t go to church right now, and this is one of the main reasons. I know it’s not ever going to be just what I think a church should be, but I know what it shouldn’t be. (I hope you’re following me here) I have been to Catholic mass a few times with a friend, and the first thing I noticed was the very solemn respect that was evident in the crowd. I really appreciate that and I think that’s much closer to what God desires in us for church. It becomes very frustrating to try to find a Protestant church that is really geared towards worshiping and respecting God. Most are more like a Bible study than a Sunday morning service. Although there is so much that can be learned from these types of services, I agree that it just isn’t right. Don’t get too discouraged when talking to your friend. You know what you believe, and you’re going to stick with it, so you have no reason to be afraid of what she says. Stand up for what you believe in… and this is coming from someone who personally dissagrees with some of the Catholic beliefs. Remember, the small details, that people tend to get all wrapped up in, are not what matters. What matters are the fundamental truths that we all agree on. Hold fast to your beliefs, and never back down. But don’t be a freight train and run over your friend either. Find the happy medium there. I know it can be difficult, but you can do it. There is a way. There’s always a victory to be had with truth on your side. Keep it up!!
 
As a Friend, I tend to be “at odds” with most who call themselves “Christian”. Since Friends do not practice the outward rites and ceremonies most Christians practice, I am often told I’m “not really a Christian”. I’m ok with that. I don’t have to agree with other Christians and they don’t have to agree with me for us to treat one another in gentleness, kindess and charity, as we are called.

I have attended other faith traditions and while they have been enjoyable, they do not answer my spiritual needs. When I attend a liturgical service, I find myself concentrating on making sure I stand and kneel at the right times instead of on the Presence in our midst. When I attend an “evangelical” service, I find myself perhaps being a bit critical of the music or the preaching style, instead of “centering down” in quiet prayer and worship.

Differing faith traditions often make it clear to us why we worship in the settings we do…in those familiar settings we are most comfortable…in those familiar settings we are able to offer worship to the Eternal without the “distractions” of music, sermons and gestures we are not familiar with.
 
Darynthe said:
Hi I just found this forum, I need some advise.
My best friend is protestan, I think pentecostal. We often meet and I listen to her tirades ok, but this last time it annoyed me so much that I am considering avoiding her from now on.

I want to understand why am I so turned off by the protestanism? I have gone like four times to her “church”. It is a huge place where they present like variety show, power point presentations, funny jokes, and preachings full of something that in words sounds cristian but in essence turns me off so much that is upsetting. It is like I feel I am being manipulated and everything is just a falsehood.

All the emotional and passionate showing of love of God, it should make me admire and want to be one with it but it only makes me feel sick.

Is something wrong with me?

In the last outing with my friend, I told her I was depressed and sick, she didn’t let me speak and we almost didn’t talk normal people stuff. She just went on preachiing a lot of nonsense like if she has transformed in Jimmy Swaggert.

I am afraid for her. I feel she is hypnotized.

I believe in God, I am a Catholic but it is a tranquil and perfectly sane decision that does not require theatrics, and allows for everybody else to say something. I like to talk to atheists and learn science as I want to understand their point of view and I want to be instructed. I feel they just put their hands in their ears and go lalalalalalala. Don’t want to listen.

And you know what really makes me mad? The way she alwasy speaks of the “curses and blessings” and blames everythign that is wrong with the world or a person to the fact that their parents must have made a horrible sin and now the children should suffer.

This is their way to wash their hands on feeling anythign about it.

I am just very mad. If this is what athesist feel when people want to convert them I understand them and they have my full symphaty. If I would not have real faith, she would have turned me into one this last time.
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Darynthe,

hugs I understand the frustration. I can also understand your friend to a degree. See I used to be a non denominational, evangelical Protestant, and I went to a church very similar to hers. But then I became a Catholic, and I’m soo glad I did, I’ve found so much more grace and beauty and reverence here. I also like that it’s…calmer, in a way, and there’s not so much “hype”, - you can just quietly go to Mass and worship God… I guess that’s the benefit of having tradition, and liturgy. 🙂 I’ve visited my old church a few times, and like you, I was struck by all the multimedia and talking and I missed the Eucharist, it just felt empty without it. So I don’t think it’s wrong that this sort of thing doesn’t appeal to you, - you’re just used to the Catholic form of worship and that’s fine. Don’t feel like you have to love the Protestant style of worship. Also, since the teachings there are different from Catholic teachings, the sermon would also be difficult to listen to.

However, if you’re having really negative feelings towards it, that might be a distraction for you. Try to see it like …they’re Christians who love God too, and so you have some unity in that. I agree it’s not perfect unity, in many ways. But they’re definitely sincere, in what they believe.

Also, - I think your friend is really trying to help you, in the way she knows how. I remember when I was a Protestant, I was taught that talking to people about God was the best way to do this. (now I think that words might not be enough, that prayer and “preaching through actions” probably does more…). When you told your friend that you feel sick and depressed, she tried to help you in her way. Try to see it like she has good intentions, and that God knows and sees her heart, and your heart, too. Even if you disagree on points.

I know what you mean by “curses and blessings”, this is pretty popular in some Pentecostal like Protestant churches, especially “word of faith”. …I’m pretty sure it’s not true though. I think the Catholic teaching on suffering is really helpful.

God bless
 
Darynthe said:
Hi I just found this forum, I need some advise.
My best friend is protestan, I think pentecostal. We often meet and I listen to her tirades ok, but this last time it annoyed me so much that I am considering avoiding her from now on.

I want to understand why am I so turned off by the protestanism? I have gone like four times to her “church”. It is a huge place where they present like variety show, power point presentations, funny jokes, and preachings full of something that in words sounds cristian but in essence turns me off so much that is upsetting. It is like I feel I am being manipulated and everything is just a falsehood.

All the emotional and passionate showing of love of God, it should make me admire and want to be one with it but it only makes me feel sick.

Is something wrong with me?

In the last outing with my friend, I told her I was depressed and sick, she didn’t let me speak and we almost didn’t talk normal people stuff. She just went on preachiing a lot of nonsense like if she has transformed in Jimmy Swaggert.

I am afraid for her. I feel she is hypnotized.

I believe in God, I am a Catholic but it is a tranquil and perfectly sane decision that does not require theatrics, and allows for everybody else to say something. I like to talk to atheists and learn science as I want to understand their point of view and I want to be instructed. I feel they just put their hands in their ears and go lalalalalalala. Don’t want to listen.

And you know what really makes me mad? The way she alwasy speaks of the “curses and blessings” and blames everythign that is wrong with the world or a person to the fact that their parents must have made a horrible sin and now the children should suffer.

This is their way to wash their hands on feeling anythign about it.

I am just very mad. If this is what athesist feel when people want to convert them I understand them and they have my full symphaty. If I would not have real faith, she would have turned me into one this last time.
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It sounds as though she’s a part of the WoF movement, which is not a part of orthodox Christianity, but an abberant movement within the church.

If you want to hear some really good Protestant preaching that’s nothing like what you’re describing, go here:

heartcrymissionary.com/resources/sermons
 
I see what you’re saying about some Protestants being over emotional. However, my church isn’t like that, even though sometimes it gets borderline.
 
I feel exactly the way you do whenever I get the chance to visit a more non-denominational church. It feels very… I dunno, fluffy, I guess. A lot of theatrics and “warm-fuzzy feelings” to make up for the lack of substance that comes with the lack of the Eucharist.

If your friend keeps preaching to you every single time she sees you while refusing to let you speak… well, I know she probably has the best of intentions, but maybe you ought to separate yourself from her, at least for awhile. Not because you’re afraid of her “protestantism” making you uncomfortable, but because she’s just honestly being a bad friend.

On an aside, has she ever come to a Mass with you? One thing I’ve noticed is that for all their jumping and singing and yelling, those silly types of services are seriously lacking in Scripture. The pastors tend to focus on a single verse or chapter and preach on that for an hour. As well all know, Catholic Mass is just… well, it’s ALL Scripture, it’s the Word of God come to life. If she actually reads the Bible, that may appeal to her.
 
I understand what you are saying. I grew up around such an atmosphere. I would advise you to stay away from her church. I advise that because, I know all about the teachings and beliefs of this particular denomination, and I find it often to be contrary to the teachings the Catholic Church. It could be possible (only she could say, of course), that you weren’t being allowed to speak, so as to not open your mouth. I noticed this particular denomination seems to believe that demons are often expelled through the mouth, and that an internal abhorrence/struggle against their teaching is characterized as an internal demonic bondage. I hope you didn’t tell her how it made you feel sick, because unfortunately some people of this particular denomination might believe that plays into the whole demonic bondage thing. I’m truly afraid that soon they may want to lay hands on you so as to “deliver” you. Such as to ‘deliver you from Catholicism’. Of course, all of that is just unacceptable. If I were you I’d stay away, distance myself from that friend.
 
Stolle said:
One thing I’ve noticed is that for all their jumping and singing and yelling, those silly types of services are seriously lacking in Scripture.
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How much expository preaching is there in a Catholic mass?
 
Stolle said:
I feel exactly the way you do whenever I get the chance to visit a more non-denominational church. It feels very… I dunno, fluffy, I guess. A lot of theatrics and “warm-fuzzy feelings” to make up for the lack of substance that comes with the lack of the Eucharist.
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About the lack of the Eucharist: I’ll give you that. I don’t hold the Catholic view about it, but I still feel we should do it more often.
 
I think it’s interesting that you say, “I am afraid for her. I feel she is hypnotized.”

You are not the only one to feel this way about Pentecostal worship. If you read Little Town on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder–stay with me here!–there is a chapter in which Laura and her family attend a series of revival meetings presented by the new preacher. She describes a feeling of fear, and a lot of noise and confusion. I wish I had the book near me so that I could quote the passage exactly, but my daughter has my set of Little House books.

Your post sounds so simliar to Ms. Wilder’s writing, and she wrote this back in the 1930 about meetings that took place in the 1880s.

My husband attended an Assemblies of God church growing up, and through much of his teen years (until he started dating me!). During the times that I visited, I felt exactly the way you did–the people seemed hypnotized.

Of course, they would vehemently deny this.

At any rate, what to do?

I personally would recommend that you stay away. Way back then, I found that it was too stressful to attend such a noisy, hyper place where the preaching is often very fluffy and devoid of logic. If you continue to attend, you may become bitter towards Protestants and hyper-critical and sour in your soul. It would be better to stay away–pray for this church.

Tell your friend that you are very happy attending Mass and don’t wish to attend her church anymore. Tell her that you find it too noisy–that will intrigue her!,

Make it clear that you would love to continue to see her once in a while for coffee or a walk. You don’t want to lose her as a friend. You just prefer to attend your own church. She is always welcome to attend with you.

Ask her if she would like to be a prayer partner with you. You can set this up any way that is convenient for both of you. Perhaps you can agree to just say a prayer for each other once a day. Or perhaps you will actually meet once a week and spend a half hour praying together. It’s up to you both. Obviously she will probably dominate the prayer time with extemporaneous prayers, but you know that the Holy Spirit will pray for her. You just keep praying in your heart!

Keep this in mind–my husband says that it is much easier for a Pentecostal to accept Catholicism and convert than for any other kind of Protestant because Pentecostals have no trouble accepting the True Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament–Pentecostals EXPECT miracles, and the idea of bread becoming Jesus is very believable to them. So remain hopeful about your friend and try very hard to stay in touch with her.

Bless you for reaching out to her.
 
JohnDeereFan said:
How much expository preaching is there in a Catholic mass?
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I’ll concede that we don’t have hour long sermons that delve deeply into the theology behind a verse, but notice that I didn’t say they are lacking in preaching and explanation, but simply Scripture. In context of what I said next(oh you crazy Protestants, always taking things out of context*), it makes sense. Nearly every word spoken during the liturgy of the mass is ripped straight from scripture.

*Obviously, this is just a joke:D However, I wouldn’t really mind if the homily was fifteen minutes longer. Depends on the Priest giving it though, really.
 
Stolle said:
I’ll concede that we don’t have hour long sermons that delve deeply into the theology behind a verse, but notice that I didn’t say they are lacking in preaching and explanation, but simply Scripture.
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In other words, there is NO expository preaching.
 
Of course there is. Just not for an hour straight. And during it, people aren’t usually jumping up and screaming “AMEN BROTHER”, or convulsing to the floor, or speaking gibberi… I mean, “tongues”.

Oh, and “Jesus” is a two syllable name, not three or four 😛

The mass isn’t centralized around the homily the way a lot of Protestant services(not all, I am specifically referring to the service the OP was talking about) are centralized around the sermon. The primary point of the mass is the liturgy and the Eucharist.
 
Stolle said:
Of course there is.
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Can you give an example?
The mass isn’t centralized around the homily the way a lot of Protestant services(not all, I am specifically referring to the service the OP was talking about) are centralized around the sermon. The primary point of the mass is the liturgy and the Eucharist.
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The preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish.
 
Stolle said:
Of course there is. Just not for an hour straight. And during it, people aren’t usually jumping up and screaming “AMEN BROTHER”, or convulsing to the floor, or speaking gibberi… I mean, “tongues”.

Oh, and “Jesus” is a two syllable name, not three or four 😛

The mass isn’t centralized around the homily the way a lot of Protestant services(not all, I am specifically referring to the service the OP was talking about) are centralized around the sermon. The primary point of the mass is the liturgy and the Eucharist.
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👍👍 Good response to a snarky comment!
 
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