Need Help with Pentecostals

[St_Gabriel]

I am going to a christian (pentecostal) camp in a week with my family. I feel like its going to be a lions den. Any advice would be appreciated as well as your prayers!

 

[b_justb]

I am going to a christian (pentecostal) camp in a week with my family. I feel like its going to be a lions den. Any advice would be appreciated as well as your prayers!

Yes, jump in! Pray and praise God. Go ahead and try praying with your arms up instead of folded, just to see what happens. Sing with all your heart to God, act as if no one is there except you and Him. Have a blast! When asked doctrinal questions of differences simply say you’re there to pray, meditate and praise God and all that can wait for another time.

p.s. Don’t forget to bring your copy of the Douay-Rheims and your rosary.

 

[puzzleannie]

use this time to pray with others, go with the attitude of being receptive to the actions of the Holy Spirit in your life, but take no action without discernment, guided by a trusted Catholic spiritual director or your confessor. In other words, if you enjoy the praise and worship sessions, and you probably will, mentally direct your praise to the Holy Spirit, but do not allow the emotional impact to affect your decision making ability. If you should happen to experience something like being slain in the spirit, or even speaking in tongues, simply keep the experience in mind, but do not make any life-changing decisions on the basis of such expereinces. Go back after the event, share with your confessor or spiritual director, and discern. Usually these are passing emotional experiences, but if you are open to the Holy Spirit they can also be signs that you are ready and willing to accept His direction in your life.

 

[kage_ar]

It will be VERY emotional. One of the purposes of camp for Pentecostals is to have an “experience” - when I was a kid, friends would go to Pentecostal camps and get re-baptized every year because they were hyped into it by the group emotional dynamic.

I’d suggest smiling and praying silently when things get a bit rowdy (and they will, believe me, they will), take along lots to read - of course your Bible, maybe the “Imitation of Christ” or the Pope’s new book - Jesus of Nazereth.

Be sure you know Biblical answers for why you believe what you believe - the Scripture Tabs available from Catholic.com are very useful.

 

[St_Gabriel]

All great answers so far. more ideas are welcome.

I know that they are not allowed to dance or drink alcohol. I get these awful visions of everyone speaking in tongues and trying to pray over me exorising demons.

 

[kage_ar]

Depending on the “kind” of Pentecostals, there is a chance you will not be allowed to wear pants/jeans/shorts/slacks/sweats or short skirts. The most strict will also not wear makeup or jewelry aside from a watch and wedding ring.

You most likely won’t be going swimming at this camp, especially if it is “mixed” with men and women together.

Evenings will be “services” and they will be long and go very late. There will be lots of music and preaching.

The food will be good and there will be some loving sweet people there who love God.

 

[kage_ar]

One more thing - be sure you are ready to answer these questions:

Are you saved?

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?

If you died tonight, where would you go?

Are you filled with the Holy Ghost?

 

[St_Gabriel]

One more thing - be sure you are ready to answer these questions:

Are you saved?

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?

If you died tonight, where would you go?

Are you filled with the Holy Ghost?

How about these answers.

Are you saved? Yes

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Yes

If you died tonight, where would you go? You’ll know when you’re dead.

Are you filled with the Holy Ghost. Yes

 

[kage_ar]

How about these answers.

Are you saved? Yes

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Yes

If you died tonight, where would you go? You’ll know when you’re dead.

Are you filled with the Holy Ghost. Yes

Of course, if you are feeling snarky - there is my favorite answer to “Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?” Yes - and do you have a personal relationship with His Mother?

 

[Bennie_P]

How about these answers.

Are you saved? Yes

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Yes

If you died tonight, where would you go? You’ll know when you’re dead.

Are you filled with the Holy Ghost. Yes

My I suggest this answer to this question?

If you died tonight, where would you go? I’m secured in my hope of Christ promises to go to Heaven.

Hope is open ended enough so you are not being over presumptuous as most bible Christans tend to be and you should feel secure in that promise because you trust in Christ.

 

[Pax]

Let all those you come in contact with know the joy and peace you have because of your relationship with Jesus through His Church. Let the light of Christ shine through you. Above all be humble and charitable in all things. They will know that you are a Christian by your love.

 

[danonwaveland]

FWIW, if I were going to a pentecostal weekend camp, besides praying beforehand, I would be prepared to have my Catholic beliefs questioned. Since I’m not a good debater – especially when confronted by “scripture-slinging” evangelicals – I would run into times when I’d say something like, “I’m not really good at debates, but if you are sincerely interested in what the Catholic Church really believes, go to catholic.com and watch ‘The Journey Home’ on Monday evenings. And ask the Holy Spirit to lead you. Those two sources – plus the Holy Spirit – will do more justice to the truths of the Church than I can right now.” And then I’d write down the URL and the name of the tv show and hand that to them. Besides that, praise the Lord and enjoy!

God bless!

 

[Mimi]

St. Gabriel,

Be sure to let us know how this turned out!

Did you have fun? Did you get asked any questions, or were you able to fade into the background?

Michael Cumbie is a convert from Pentecostalism; was a preacher, too. He has a web site and DVD; I saw it on EWTN. It is v good. At the end he shows how Catholic worship is so much like the Jews did it long ago; sacred vessels, the tabernacle, vestments, the sacrificial element, priests, candles, etc.

God bless,
Mimi

 

[JohnnyReb]

I used to be Pentecostal. Feel free to PM me with any question you might be afraid to ask in person.

You have received some good advice so far. Pentecostal camps try to get the kids/youth/whoever all up in an emotional frenzy and get them to make very serious committments to God under the influence of powerfully emotional influences. You probably will see some weird stuff, loud speaking in tongues, slain in the spirit, people running around, and other ecstatic expressions.

 

[St_Gabriel]

St. Gabriel,

Be sure to let us know how this turned out!

I will definately let you all know how it turns out. The posts above have definately reassured me and given some good tips.

 

[St_Gabriel]

… Pentecostal camps try to get the kids/youth/whoever all up in an emotional frenzy and get them to make very serious committments to God under the influence of powerfully emotional influences. You probably will see some weird stuff, loud speaking in tongues, slain in the spirit, people running around, and other ecstatic expressions.

Sounds like hysteria to me. I hope it is not like this at all. It kind of freaks me out!

 

[1ke]

I am going to a christian (pentecostal) camp in a week with my family. I feel like its going to be a lions den. Any advice would be appreciated as well as your prayers!

Why does your family choose to go to such a camp in the first place? Seems a rather odd choice for a Catholic family vacation. There are Catholic camps and retreats available across the country.

 

[St_Gabriel]

We’re visiting non catholic relatives who go there every summer and who have a trailer. We’ve been told it’s a nice place to relax, but we have been reminded several times that it is a “christian camp”. I really don’t know what that is supposed to mean. Maybe, it means nothing at except no drinking on the property.

 

[Scottgun]

We’re visiting non catholic relatives who go there every summer and who have a trailer. We’ve been told it’s a nice place to relax, but we have been reminded several times that it is a “christian camp”. I really don’t know what that is supposed to mean. Maybe, it means nothing at except no drinking on the property.

There is a good chance that you will skate clear without encountering the goofiness. Be not afraid, but be prepared.

 

[1ke]

We’re visiting non catholic relatives who go there every summer and who have a trailer. We’ve been told it’s a nice place to relax, but we have been reminded several times that it is a “christian camp”. I really don’t know what that is supposed to mean. Maybe, it means nothing at except no drinking on the property.

Is it a Christian “camp” or a Christian “campground”. There is a difference, a big one.