I have been in Pentecostal churches since the day that Jesus saved me in 1973. I grew up in nominal Christian church but I have been a part of a tongue talking hand clapping vocal praising church all of my adult life. The Prescott church is a Pentecostal church. The Tempe church is a Pentecostal church. Every church that I have attended all of these years, including my current one, have been Pentecostal churches.
I have seen people from the Fellowship criticize the Prescott church as not being alive enough or enthusiastic enough. They said that we were dead. These same people came to our conferences and attended churches that we had planted years ago. And they had the arrogant pride to criticize us in Prescott. These are the folks who attend a regular service in Prescott and who stand up to sing even though none of us are standing.
In our new building if I say amen at an appropriate time no one hears me. I respond to the preaching when he asks if we can say amen. He can't hear me but I say it. I appreciate good preaching.
I have noticed that there are some people who evidently think that they are more spiritual than us or that they are closer to God than us and they demonstrate their superiority by putting on a show. The way they clap to a song is not just clapping like everyone else in the audience. The way they shout during the sermon like they get it even if us common slobs don't. I find their antics childish and very distracting. I'm surprised they do not leap to their feet and dance around the building since they are so full of the Spirit. It is a spirit all right, but not the Holy Spirit.
These people are a tiny minority in our church. They make no difference in the long run. But they are a distraction and we just recently had a pastor tell us to beware of distractions. I have been in this Fellowship longer than they have been alive. I will not leave. I pray that they will shut up.
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