How to let down my Pentecostal friend

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VintageRachel said:
Nope, they are very non-Trinitarian there. She explained it to me once by saying, “I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, an aunt, and a cousin. Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit. There is no father, son, holy spirit…They are all just different names for Jesus.” I asked her if that meant that Jesus prayed to himself in the garden and never received a reply. So yeah, definitely against the Trinity. I know several of the people on here suggested that they would go just to be a good friend but I am unable to participate in something I see as farcical. Perhaps I am being a religion snob but I see the RCC as the ONE true church and anything else is just…not!
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This is an ancient heresy called modalism, I’m saddend that it still exists. I had forgotten that this was a tennant of that faith group… If I rememeber correctly me, they get baptism “in the name of Jesus” from pulling baptisms in the Acts out of context and with out any consideration for Christ’s direct instruction (to baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Yeah I’d presonally be way too at risk of challenging the church, that’s a bad bad bad thing to do when you’re a guest of your friend.
 
VintageRachel said:
Nope, they are very non-Trinitarian there. She explained it to me once by saying, “I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, an aunt, and a cousin. Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit. There is no father, son, holy spirit…They are all just different names for Jesus.” I asked her if that meant that Jesus prayed to himself in the garden and never received a reply. So yeah, definitely against the Trinity. I know several of the people on here suggested that they would go just to be a good friend but I am unable to participate in something I see as farcical. Perhaps I am being a religion snob but I see the RCC as the ONE true church and anything else is just…not!
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No, definatly not a religion snob. There are very serious problems with a church that rejects the trinity. This would fall into my category of “I am not going EVER” and I think of a way out of it. However, it sounds like your friend is riding you pretty hard. There comes a time when you gotta give an ultimatum for them to either accept you as you are, or find other friends.

But yes, again, NOT a religion snob. I am the same way, I go to some protestant services, but I refuse to walk into a mormon church if I can help it. I have been to TWO mormon services and they were both funerals. (most of my family is mormon)
 
Really glad to read that you will not be attending. I was a oneness pentecostal years ago. I know from my personal experience that your faith would be attacked. They openly preach against the Catholic Church and can be very coercive. When coercion does not work they can and often do result to “rebuking” Catholics who are unswayed at these revivals. Not going will save you from a very unpleasant experience.

I agree with others who have posted already. It would be best if your friend would agree to disagree…but having been in this group it is near impossible to get them to stop proselytizing. Be patient and pray for your friend. Don’t give up on her. Be prepared for her to keep asking. With the UPC it goes on until they cut you off as a friend or until they are ready to come out of the church. I will offer up a prayer for both you and your friend today. I really know how hard your situation can be.

Yours in Christ,

Scott Irey
 
Okay, the email is sent. I prefaced my comments to her by telling her that I wanted to be completely honest with her because she’s a very good friend. I then explained to her that the Pentecostal way of worship makes me uncomfortable. I also talked about the direction of which I am being led by the Holy Spirit (thanks ya’ll for that suggestion) and that I felt that my focus and direction required me to be exclusive to my own church in my spiritual formation. I told her that I hope we can continue our friendship based on our mutual love of Jesus and respect for each other’s religious choices and our desire to worship in our own way. And then I switched topics to our dinner plans for Friday night. I am sure things will be okay because she is one of the sweetest people on the planet. I think she just really wants me to experience the power she feels at her church…but I want her to feel the power of Eucharistic Adoration so I guess we’re even? 😛
 
Whitacre_Girl said:
Wow…that takes me back…LOL

I wonder if they realize that screaming louder doesn’t make them better preachers of more full of the Holy Spirit…
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I’m with you - I kept thinking - “he’s not actually saying anything…just screaming really loud and telling people to prophesy.” Whoooo doggies I woulda been uncomfortable there…
 
VintageRachel said:
I’m with you - I kept thinking - “he’s not actually saying anything…just screaming really loud and telling people to prophesy.” Whoooo doggies I woulda been uncomfortable there…
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Yeah, these kind of preachers really work on hype. While I went to a “lite” version of this kind of church, I did have exposure to these kind of churches and preachers. I immediately thought of: the scripture verse that states that God is a God of order and not Chaos. I believe that’s somewhere in conrinthians. Stay away from these guys, the danger here isn’t being “coverted” but having to try to get through a service without being accosted. I know several people who have been held against their will at the altar while they were prayed for, or even getting trampled.
 
Whitacre_Girl said:
Yeah, these kind of preachers really work on hype. While I went to a “lite” version of this kind of church, I did have exposure to these kind of churches and preachers. I immediately thought of: the scripture verse that states that God is a God of order and not Chaos. I believe that’s somewhere in conrinthians. Stay away from these guys, the danger here isn’t being “coverted” but having to try to get through a service without being accosted. I know several people who have been held against their will at the altar while they were prayed for, or even getting trampled.
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WOW!!!
I must say, I thought I saw it all…running up/down the aisles, slain in the Spirit, speaking in tongues…don’t think I’ve ever seen someone be held at the altar against their will. Or get trampled!!! That’s a first for sure!
I agree with you all about this guy and all the yelling. :rolleyes:

Edited to add: LOVE your artwork! Great stuff:thumbsup:
 
SC_Peach said:
WOW!!!
I must say, I thought I saw it all…running up/down the aisles, slain in the Spirit, speaking in tongues…don’t think I’ve ever seen someone be held at the altar against their will. Or get trampled!!! That’s a first for sure!
I agree with you all about this guy and all the yelling. :rolleyes:

Edited to add: LOVE your artwork! Great stuff:thumbsup:
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Yeah actually it was a non-christian friend of my husband. He was hooked into going to a “rock concert” that turned out to be a pentecostal evangelism event. They grabbed him from his seat and hauled him up on stage to be prayed for, he kept struggling and resisting, but they basically held him down and prayed for the demons to leave him. He has never step foot in a church since then except for our wedding because he knew catholics were somewhat sane, even if he didn’t trust them.
 
VintageRachel, I think you handled this rather delicate situation with true Christian charity. I agree with others here–I don’t see how attending that service could benefit you spiritually. It might also have given your friend a false hope that you were beginning to show an interest in her religion. It would have undoubtedly encouraged her to begin pressing you to attend more of their services.

I will be praying for your friend–I hope that she will one day be received into the One True Faith!
 
Miss_Linda said:
VintageRachel, I think you handled this rather delicate situation with true Christian charity. I agree with others here–I don’t see how attending that service could benefit you spiritually. It might also have given your friend a false hope that you were beginning to show an interest in her religion. It would have undoubtedly encouraged her to begin pressing you to attend more of their services.

I will be praying for your friend–I hope that she will one day be received into the One True Faith!
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My friend has not yet replied to the email I sent last night, which isn’t like her. If she does what she has done in the past, she will just ignore that it was ever sent. I’m beginning to wonder if our dinner plans for Friday are cancelled… I guess the week will tell.
 
Whitacre_Girl said:
Wow…that takes me back…LOL

I wonder if they realize that screaming louder doesn’t make them better preachers of more full of the Holy Spirit…
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I’m a cradel catholic, so I guess for me all I can say is thats frightening. Is this what your former protestant masses were like? I think you said you were in the assembly of God right? idk… I don’t know that I could call this worship, I’m also not too sure about all this feel good prophisying this dude is doing. Anyway, moving on…
 
Whitacre_Girl said:
I wonder if they realize that screaming louder doesn’t make them better preachers of more full of the Holy Spirit…
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I’ve always wondered that, too. Shouting certainly doesn’t make the sermon any better. Personally, I find it very annoying, and sometimes just plain irreverent.
 
When I was an undergrad in psychology, one of the grad students that I knew did some research on the ways non-Catholic televangelists spoke/acted. If taken out of context, most people would see them as aggressive and confrontational. They also tend to have a unique cadence when they are preaching that is foreign to most American speakers outside of that environment.
 
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