Assembly of God: what do they believe?

[greggy53]

That is very unfortunate that you have had that experience and I think that is just terrible. I think we all need a reminder that we will be held accountable for every idol word we speak (how much more when we communicate things about God). On the other hand I don’t think you can apply that experience as a blanket statement of the AG. Many of the first participants among the early Pentecostal movement (including the AG) were poor Americans. God’s love and concern for the poor has always been apart of the AG’s love an concern. Unfortuenatly propserity teaching (hersay) has crept in and what happened in your case seems like something affected by the prosperity teaching. By and large, though, most AG people I know care for the poor and know the church (as a whole) should and must do more for their cause and care.
God’s peace.

sorry if you are offended by my statements. I did not intend them to be blanket statements, just my own experience. I don’t think my words were idle, if that is what you meant.

 

[Periannath]

sorry if you are offended by my statements. I did not intend them to be blanket statements, just my own experience. I don’t think my words were idle, if that is what you meant.

No worries, I was not offended. About idol words I meant the minister who told you those things. (sorry for the confusion)

 

[PJM]

=tomjoans -I happen to attend an Assembly of God Church and I can only tell you that I Do Not belong to any Religion. Salvation is not about a Religion…it’s about a relationship with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can be sure of Salvation when He shed His Precious Blood on that Cross that day, which washes away all our sins. In Acts 4:31 God’s Word says, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved and your house.

Friend and I do mean friend in Christ,

***I am continually amazed at the gullibility and naiveté of Protestants who post on CAF in regards to what the Bible says and actually means. There seems to be a powerful resistance to using “the entire Word of God,” and not simply a few verses that seem to, out of context support this or that belief that they put forth. This is so common and so powerful as to verge on obstinacy.

Admitting this I know exposes my own gullibility.***

Here is acts 4:31 from the Catholic RSV Bible: “31 “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. “

SAME KJV: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. “

SAME “Young’s Literal Translation”: “31And they having prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with freedom,”

So it seems that your bible has been greatly modified to say and give the message one desires it give. This seems a sure never to have to meet the TRUTH?

***The verse most often quoted that seems to support your claim is of course ***John 3:16, which has “bookends” between verse 5 and verse 36.

“5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”

16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

36: “ He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him. “

***And to insure that you understand the message I add ***]Mt. 19:17 “And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” and verse 16: “19 [Jesus speaking to Peter when He founded the CC] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

I can of course provide a multitude of bible verses to support the Biblical truth, that is opposite of what you claim.

Of course we do have to repent and turn from our wicked ways But in 1 John 1:9 it says, If we confess our sins He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us of all of our sins, and cleanse us for all unrighteousness.

---

Indeed we do. But again you are using a conveniently modified verse.*** This is 1 John 1:9 from the RSV.

“8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10* If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

KJV “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “

Young’s: “if we may confess our sins, steadfast He is and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from every unrighteousness”

*** However this is ONLY PART of the message.***

John 20:21 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” [Mt. 16:19…”I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."[/COLOR]

So friend if you want to actually save your soul the way God tells you to, not the folks that wrote their own version of the bible, think and pray about this.

1 Jn. 5: 16 “If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God * will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal. ***[Which has to mean that some sins are “Mortal Sins, so severe as to KILL our relationship with God!] ***

1 Peter 4: 17” For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

2 Cor. 4: 2 “We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.”

1 Thess 1: 8 “inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

Love and prayers from a Catholic Brother,

 

[NotTooSmart]

Hi:
I have been in Assemblies of God churches most of my life.

It appears that the most accurate posters on this topic are Contarini and romeishome. It would be redundant of me to repeat their points here.

On the issue of whether Assemblies is “Anti-Catholic”…

I am sure that if we were to talk theology on a number of issues we would find several points of disagreement. That having been said, I have been in 3 Assemblies of God churches for extended time periods and never have I heard anti Catholic diatribes as I have heard from say some Baptist fundamentalist types. In my current church, to the extent that Catholics and the Catholic church are mentioned from the pulpit (which is rarely) the references have been positive.

FWIW I am fairly sure that Assemblies was involved in Evangelicals and Catholics together and probably got some heat because of this.

In fact that is one of the reasons why I am here. I live in a Catholic community but yet I know little of the Catholic church except 3rd-4th hand. My opinions of Catholicism are not well formed…having read everything from Jack Chick and fundamentalist literature to Billy Graham and Charles Colson. If you have to pin me down, I say I would be closer to Billy Graham, but as I said my opinions on Catholicism are not well formed.

A couple of more points. Assemblies is not into the whole prosperity gospel thing that you might see on Christian TV by famous TV evangelists. And yes, we believe in the rapture which simply is the name we apply to Paul’s teaching in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. From my experience the majority of AOG believe in what is called “pre-trib” rapture, but I don’t think AOG prescribes this belief (fwiw I am not sure I believe in this version myself).

Anyway, thanks for letting me contribute my two cents here.

 

[greggy53]

No worries, I was not offended. About idol words I meant the minister who told you those things. (sorry for the confusion)

It wasn’t the minister, he was a good man who I had a great respect for.What can I say? Catholics look at things differently.

 

[tomjoans]

Hello NightRider,

I had an AOG “born again” steal some of my sales accounts from me one time. I happened to bump into his preacher. I was concerned for the theif. He seemed to be very Christian yet he was stealling from me. I started to tell the minister about the situation. The minister asked, “Did he steal the accounts from a “saved” person or an “unsaved” person”. I said, “What is the difference?”. The minister said, “Well, if he stole from and “unsaved” person the money was better off with the ‘saved’ person because he would give a portion of it to God.” Say What!

Turns out the minister had convinced a woman that she was “unevenly yoked”. He advised her to leave her husband. He felt sorry for the woman with four children (also attractive and fifteen years younger than him) now on her own so he married her. Though his boss the head minister said it would be ok the congragation kicked him out. He was mad about it.

The other AOG who I worked with, as I saw it, was really self righteous about being one of the “chosen few” going to heaven. I went to an AOG service and had chills go up my spine of something evil there. They really like to steal Catholics. I heard comments of how many “souls they had saved”. Meaning primarily how many people they had converted from Catholocism.

My aunt is a Catholic nun who has served the people, the Church and God humbly all her life. A person I know, who proclaims to be “born again” made the statement, “Sister is so nice and done all those things for God, it is just to bad she is not saved”. These “born again” people just seem to breed this self righteousness over others not in their group.

I am just telling you some of the things I have seen, heard and the feelings I have encountered with these AOG people.

And, by the way, Jim Jones, the cult leader who poisoned or shot his followers in Giana in the 1970s. He started out as an AOG minister.

Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com

Dear Steven,
I am so sorry to hear about the terrible things that was done to you and your aunt by so-called Christians in an AOG church, but the goats do creep into churches all over the world. A lot of people are calling themselves Christians today, who really aren’t.
I happen to attend an Assembly of God Church, and I can truly say that the Pastor and his wife truly love and serve the Lord with all their hearts.
I happen to be a Born Again Christian, but I happen to know that in Isaiah 64:6 it says,
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Also in Romans 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. In Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. v25 Whom God hath set forth (Jesus) to be a propitiation through faith in His Blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins. So I know that the only righteousness I have is when I’m covered by the Blood of Jesus, then I’m covered by His Righteousness. In John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. In Revelation 21-27, it seems like we better have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
I hope all Assembly of God Churches are not judged by what some people do. We are not all guilty of this kind of behavior.
Love in Christ Jesus,
Tomjoans (Joan)

 

[greggy53]

Just a thought, but there are two things I think that AOG and other evangelicals have problems communicating with Catholics. One is “being born again”, and the other is the “personal savior” thing. AOG’s that I have known have no problem with Catholics being Christians as long as they “are born again” as adults, and receive Christ as their personal savior as adults. They emphasize (in my humble opinion) what they call a deep personal relationship with Christ. Catholics believe that we are born again when we are baptized, and Jesus becomes our savior at that point in time, and each time we receive the most Blessed Sacrament, (his body and blood) we renew our personal relationship with him . So when an AOG says “Do you have a personal relationship with Christ?” The Catholic can say “Yes of course, it’s just not the same way as you.” Catholic teaching tends to emphasize the body of Christ in community, and Church.

 

[tundramom]

Check out Jeff Cavins… a Rebel Returns To The Catholic Faith.

He’s a Catholic, turned Pentecostal (a/g) minister and then back to Catholic. Awesome story and wonderful testimony!

in Christ
Steph

 

[severus68]

Dear Steven,
I am so sorry to hear about the terrible things that was done to you and your aunt by so-called Christians in an AOG church, but the goats do creep into churches all over the world. A lot of people are calling themselves Christians today, who really aren’t.
I happen to attend an Assembly of God Church, and I can truly say that the Pastor and his wife truly love and serve the Lord with all their hearts.
I happen to be a Born Again Christian, but I happen to know that in Isaiah 64:6 it says,
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Also in Romans 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. In Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. v25 Whom God hath set forth (Jesus) to be a propitiation through faith in His Blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins. So I know that the only righteousness I have is when I’m covered by the Blood of Jesus, then I’m covered by His Righteousness. In John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. In Revelation 21-27, it seems like we better have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
I hope all Assembly of God Churches are not judged by what some people do. We are not all guilty of this kind of behavior.
Love in Christ Jesus,
Tomjoans (Joan)

Joan, thank you for the decency you have shown.

Greggy, sorry but I don’t understand. Yes we Catholics believe in transubstantiation ( my apologies if that was wrongly spelt) but a personal relationship with Christ is a personal relationship with Christ.

 

[greggy53]

Greggy, sorry but I don’t understand. Yes we Catholics believe in transubstantiation ( my apologies if that was wrongly spelt) but a personal relationship with Christ is a personal relationship with Christ.

I don’t believe you can have a closer relationship with Christ than when you take him in you at Communion…1 Corinthians 10:16 “The chalice of benediction, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? And the bread, which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord?”
Certainly the Holy Spirit blesses the individuals in the AOG and other Protestant folk, but as a Catholic I believe that (Communion) is the best way we can have a “personal relationship” with our Lord. And my point in all this is that a lot of AOG, and other folk of the same bend don’t understand that because they don’t believe we have that personal relationship because they don’t accept what ST Paul in his Epistle to the Corinthians, and Jesus himself said in the Gospel of St John

 

[Periannath]

It wasn’t the minister, he was a good man who I had a great respect for.What can I say? Catholics look at things differently.

I had understood from what you wrote that the minister told you that you were suffering finacially because you were disobeying God. How would the minister know that? It could be, but we don’t know. Since he spoke something that seems like he would be unable to know (without some kind of personal revelation from God) it seems to me he was not correct in what he was saying and should be more thoughtful about what he said (i.e. not to speak idle words).
Does that clarify at all?

 

[wisdomseeker]

I just finished reading the full article by Mr Stenhouse and I’m not sure how I feel about it just yet. Much of what he writes is not backed up very well and seems to be merely based on personal observations or what he has heard second-hand. Nonetheless, he provides some interesting commentary and I thank the poster who provided the link.

Any more info anyone? I am also interested in reading about why Catholics may be so drawn to the AOG and what they find there. Thanks again in advance!

My experience with AOG is that they are very emotional and they boast about receiving the HS. they dance and they have many weird things going on during their services, including falling all over the place. it is most music and prayers. when i went to visit with my friends i heard the pastor praying and telling God he was not praying the rosary or to Mary. i took as if he was saying that they were doing a better thing than Catholics. they believe horrible things about the CC. and Catholics do not go to Heaven. this church have many prophets and evangelist that visits almost weekly to attract people. i saw somethings that was very scaring that made me stay away.

 

[greggy53]

I had understood from what you wrote that the minister told you that you were suffering finacially because you were disobeying God. How would the minister know that? It could be, but we don’t know. Since he spoke something that seems like he would be unable to know (without some kind of personal revelation from God) it seems to me he was not correct in what he was saying and should be more thoughtful about what he said (i.e. not to speak idle words).
Does that clarify at all?

I believe I said that some folks from the congregation made remarks to that effect not the minister. They knew I was laid off from my job and we were obviously poor.
This is what I said in that thread:
"I was told by several members that God was disciplining me perhaps because of some sin in my life. I sure didn’t need that guilt at that time. I had a wife and 3 small children to take care of and it made me feel inadequate, and unworthy of God’s love. The Catholic sense of social justice is much different. Some of my Protestant friends still believe that God walks around with a hammer waiting to whack us on the head if we step out of line. "

 

[wisdomseeker]

I have been to Assemblies of God churches many times and have not found the negative comments that I have read here to be correct. To find out what the Assemblies of God believe, why not go to the website General Council of the Assemblies of God. Thanks for allowing me to comment, and God bless you.

it is true. i was there and saw it. please! i have many friends from this community. and i know what they have been taught.

how many AOG are there? are they one church? or are they all independents as the pastor as a leader of each building?

 

[4Squarebaby]

it is true. i was there and saw it. please! i have many friends from this community. and i know what they have been taught.

how many AOG are there? are they one church? or are they all independents as the pastor as a leader of each building?

There are about 60 million in 300,000 churches worldwide making it by far the largest pentecostal denomination and perhaps the forth largest Christian church. The leadership serves more like a cooperative to multiple efforts while the local body is not subordinate to it.

 

[tomjoans]

I don’t believe you can have a closer relationship with Christ than when you take him in you at Communion…1 Corinthians 10:16 “The chalice of benediction, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? And the bread, which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord?”
Certainly the Holy Spirit blesses the individuals in the AOG and other Protestant folk, but as a Catholic I believe that (Communion) is the best way we can have a “personal relationship” with our Lord. And my point in all this is that a lot of AOG, and other folk of the same bend don’t understand that because they don’t believe we have that personal relationship because they don’t accept what ST Paul in his Epistle to the Corinthians, and Jesus himself said in the Gospel of St John

Hi, greggy, i can tell you have such a sweet spirit…and my personal opinion of a personal relationship with with Christ", is that Jesus is the Word of God, that’s why in Matt 4:4 it says that man cannot live by bread alone, but by every Word out of the mouth of God. There are so many other Scriptures that point to Jesus being the Word of God, so the more Word we take in the more like Jesus we become. You know we are all brothers and sisters in
Christ and even though I go to a different Church, the Lord loves us all the same and we all should have love, one for another, which I do or I wouldn’t be writing to you. The differences should be put aside and we should all ask God to lift the scales from our eyes and lead us into total truth. That’s my prayer and for God to bless us all.
Love in Christ Jesus,
tomjoans(Joan)

 

[greggy53]

Hi, greggy, i can tell you have such a sweet spirit…and my personal opinion of a personal relationship with with Christ", is that Jesus is the Word of God, that’s why in Matt 4:4 it says that man cannot live by bread alone, but by every Word out of the mouth of God. There are so many other Scriptures that point to Jesus being the Word of God, so the more Word we take in the more like Jesus we become. You know we are all brothers and sisters in
Christ and even though I go to a different Church, the Lord loves us all the same and we all should have love, one for another, which I do or I wouldn’t be writing to you. The differences should be put aside and we should all ask God to lift the scales from our eyes and lead us into total truth. That’s my prayer and for God to bless us all.
Love in Christ Jesus,
tomjoans(Joan)

Amen!

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

1 Corinthians 13 :2 “And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Shoulf not Christians if nothing else love another?

 

[Periannath]

I believe I said that some folks from the congregation made remarks to that effect not the minister. They knew I was laid off from my job and we were obviously poor.
This is what I said in that thread:
"I was told by several members that God was disciplining me perhaps because of some sin in my life. I sure didn’t need that guilt at that time. I had a wife and 3 small children to take care of and it made me feel inadequate, and unworthy of God’s love. The Catholic sense of social justice is much different. Some of my Protestant friends still believe that God walks around with a hammer waiting to whack us on the head if we step out of line. "

That was my misunderstanding and I apologize. In the actual case, then, it is the members of that church that I would be refering to.

 

[greggy53]

That was my misunderstanding and I apologize. In the actual case, then, it is the members of that church that I would be refering to.

The minister was a kind and gentle man, God love and keep him where ever he is!

 

[tomjoans]

Just a thought, but there are two things I think that AOG and other evangelicals have problems communicating with Catholics. One is “being born again”, and the other is the “personal savior” thing. AOG’s that I have known have no problem with Catholics being Christians as long as they “are born again” as adults, and receive Christ as their personal savior as adults. They emphasize (in my humble opinion) what they call a deep personal relationship with Christ. Catholics believe that we are born again when we are baptized, and Jesus becomes our savior at that point in time, and each time we receive the most Blessed Sacrament, (his body and blood) we renew our personal relationship with him . So when an AOG says “Do you have a personal relationship with Christ?” The Catholic can say “Yes of course, it’s just not the same way as you.” Catholic teaching tends to emphasize the body of Christ in community, and Church.

If you read John Chapter 3, the whole chapter, God’s Word explains about being born again. You will clearly see that we must believe in Jesus. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. I don’t see how a baby can believe anything. Please read the whole Chapter, John 3 and I think you will understand it.
Love in Christ Jesus,
Tomjoans (Joan)