Q
qazlp10
Guest
Where to start? My Grandfather Guy Shields was an AOG Preacher who founded Southwestern AOG Univesity, my granmother is a United Pentecostal Preacher, my father and mother, my father’s granmother, my Aunt and Uncles and so on. I was born and raised Pentecostal, memorized books of the (our)bible. Left public school at fifteen to go to a pentecostal school so I could graduate at 16, was ordained a minister and misionary at 16, did two year mission in Mexico.
That mission trip changed my life I had a lot of time to do nothing but study(and work like a dog). I came back at 18, a man with a choice to make, what to do with the rest of my life. I remember I felt I needed to join the priesthood(weird a pentcostal boy wanting to be a priest). I talked to my family and pastor about it and they were shocked, none of them condemned the idea but they were shocked. I remember all of them saying that God was going to do great things in my life and that if that’s where he was pointing me then I should go. I knew nothing of being a catholic or a preist but somehow felt God wanted me there. My dad talked to me about it and we reasoned that neither of us had a clue about how to even do that and he had no money to send me to a catholic college to even try.
Long story short after a discussion I ended up joining the Navy instead. I became a horrible hateful drugged up person. But I always remember the chaplin(catholic) was very kind to me and my conflict in faith(being at war as a christain) was always soothed by him. The Protestant Chaplin(I think Baptist) would always tell us we were hell bound, which I believed. After I got out I wanted God back in my life so my wife and I started going to a small Non-Dom church with no Pastor, that was eight years ago. I remember I was so hateful that I would openly mock what they were teaching and prove them wrong from the Bible that was more or less forced down my throat(although I’m very greatful for that forcing now ;P). I meant it in a negative way but they took it in a positive way, my third week there they asked me to preach, within a month I was ordained through with the Bible Way Fellowship(Pentecostal) as a Pastor and took over the church. It changed my life the hate melted away and I lived to preach the gospel. My business was very blessed but the church constantly had money trouble.
A year and a half ago I realized the treasurer was messing with the funds, I confronted him and he shut the church down, the property was in his name. The church split and I fell into a depression, which cost me my business. Then I really feel into a depression I didn’t even leave the house for almost three months, I stayed mostly in my room away from my family and everyone. I almost lost them but thankfully we’re recovering our relationship. I felt I had failed and God had turned His back on me, I wasn’t good enough for my church or God or anyone. I have a job now, delivering pizzas, and its time for me to get back right with God. I’m not going to make the same mistake three times, twice is enough. However, there are some things that bother me about becoming catholic I wanted protestant answers who have converted, especailly pentecostals.
Catholic Churches are very fancy, that seems odd to me, as a Pentecostal we are raised to play down riches and other things and that if God blesses you with things in the world its for you to bless others. Women wear plain dresses men wear button shirts and slacks(sunday best) but that’s about it. Our churchs are usualy simple and don’t have alot of symbols or other things. I suppose this is a rather stupid thing to worry about but it just doesn’t sit right with me.
The crucifix, I don’t like it Christ’s not on the cross anymore. We actually had a cross that said “He’s not there!” on it. I just don’t understand the purpose of the crucifix in representing a risen Lord and Savior.
Praying to Mary and the Saints. I was taught to pray to God, not even to God the Son, Jesus, but to God the Father. Which is what Jesus teaches us, and to ask in His name for things that are only of the highest spiritual importance(such as guidance, faith, and wisdom, never for worldly things). I was taught that the Our Father is the perfect prayer and why, repentence, glorification, faith, and needs. Nothing beyond it needs to be said, God will handle the rest as he sees fit. If you feel the need to ask for something(guidance, wisdom, extra faith) it should be done with fasting, from everything(food, friends, family, sex, anything that could remotely take your mind off God).
These are the things that are biggest to me, I also don’t understand that Bishops aren’t married and that married people cannot be pastors. But these things are not major issues for me. I still feel that I need to go to Saint Charles but I don’t want to. I don’t know why, I’d say old dogs don’t like learning new tricks but I’m only 30 so I’m not that old.
I’d like to hear from Pentecostals of the older style as I was brought up in but I’m open to anyone. How did you reconcile these types of things to your faith?
That mission trip changed my life I had a lot of time to do nothing but study(and work like a dog). I came back at 18, a man with a choice to make, what to do with the rest of my life. I remember I felt I needed to join the priesthood(weird a pentcostal boy wanting to be a priest). I talked to my family and pastor about it and they were shocked, none of them condemned the idea but they were shocked. I remember all of them saying that God was going to do great things in my life and that if that’s where he was pointing me then I should go. I knew nothing of being a catholic or a preist but somehow felt God wanted me there. My dad talked to me about it and we reasoned that neither of us had a clue about how to even do that and he had no money to send me to a catholic college to even try.
Long story short after a discussion I ended up joining the Navy instead. I became a horrible hateful drugged up person. But I always remember the chaplin(catholic) was very kind to me and my conflict in faith(being at war as a christain) was always soothed by him. The Protestant Chaplin(I think Baptist) would always tell us we were hell bound, which I believed. After I got out I wanted God back in my life so my wife and I started going to a small Non-Dom church with no Pastor, that was eight years ago. I remember I was so hateful that I would openly mock what they were teaching and prove them wrong from the Bible that was more or less forced down my throat(although I’m very greatful for that forcing now ;P). I meant it in a negative way but they took it in a positive way, my third week there they asked me to preach, within a month I was ordained through with the Bible Way Fellowship(Pentecostal) as a Pastor and took over the church. It changed my life the hate melted away and I lived to preach the gospel. My business was very blessed but the church constantly had money trouble.
A year and a half ago I realized the treasurer was messing with the funds, I confronted him and he shut the church down, the property was in his name. The church split and I fell into a depression, which cost me my business. Then I really feel into a depression I didn’t even leave the house for almost three months, I stayed mostly in my room away from my family and everyone. I almost lost them but thankfully we’re recovering our relationship. I felt I had failed and God had turned His back on me, I wasn’t good enough for my church or God or anyone. I have a job now, delivering pizzas, and its time for me to get back right with God. I’m not going to make the same mistake three times, twice is enough. However, there are some things that bother me about becoming catholic I wanted protestant answers who have converted, especailly pentecostals.
Catholic Churches are very fancy, that seems odd to me, as a Pentecostal we are raised to play down riches and other things and that if God blesses you with things in the world its for you to bless others. Women wear plain dresses men wear button shirts and slacks(sunday best) but that’s about it. Our churchs are usualy simple and don’t have alot of symbols or other things. I suppose this is a rather stupid thing to worry about but it just doesn’t sit right with me.
The crucifix, I don’t like it Christ’s not on the cross anymore. We actually had a cross that said “He’s not there!” on it. I just don’t understand the purpose of the crucifix in representing a risen Lord and Savior.
Praying to Mary and the Saints. I was taught to pray to God, not even to God the Son, Jesus, but to God the Father. Which is what Jesus teaches us, and to ask in His name for things that are only of the highest spiritual importance(such as guidance, faith, and wisdom, never for worldly things). I was taught that the Our Father is the perfect prayer and why, repentence, glorification, faith, and needs. Nothing beyond it needs to be said, God will handle the rest as he sees fit. If you feel the need to ask for something(guidance, wisdom, extra faith) it should be done with fasting, from everything(food, friends, family, sex, anything that could remotely take your mind off God).
These are the things that are biggest to me, I also don’t understand that Bishops aren’t married and that married people cannot be pastors. But these things are not major issues for me. I still feel that I need to go to Saint Charles but I don’t want to. I don’t know why, I’d say old dogs don’t like learning new tricks but I’m only 30 so I’m not that old.
I’d like to hear from Pentecostals of the older style as I was brought up in but I’m open to anyone. How did you reconcile these types of things to your faith?
No, no Holy Spirit, surely Thou art mistaken!? Nope. Kept happening. Deo Gratias.
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