Why I left the Pentecostal Church
I grew up in a small Baptist church that had almost no spirit at all. Knowing God was not a "personal" experience at all. Relationship with God was not the idea there.
After many struggles in high school and going down the path of heavy drug use, I ended up in trouble with the law and found myself bewildered and sitting in jail. I had a lot to think about and I knew I absolutely had to get back to God. Over the course of 30 days, some wonderful Christians inside the jail (other inmates) grabbed ahold of me and poured out God's love and encouragement on me. We had daily bible studies and prayer groups. This focused intense seeking of the Lord brought me into a "relationship" with the Father that I'd never experienced before. It was then that I truly knew God was real to me. He wasn't just something I talked about anymore. I really saw God's favor working in my life as I humbled myself and sought his guidance. I began to see what seemed like little miracles every day. It was obvious. So you could say I became a little pentecostal.
I ended up attending AG churches for the next 15 years or so and just loved it. It felt like the kind of church that was much more in tune with God and a relational experience instead of just going through the actions. They welcomed the Holy Spirit. I loved it.
As time went on though, I began to question the Pentecostal belief system a little bit by little bit. More and more of what were called miracles just started to seem fake. More and more the speaking in tongues seemed fake. It was the same people all the time and I could almost quote their syllables verbatim when they started jibbering. I was prophesied over several times and the hope of what was said never came to fruition.
What seemed to be happening in my mind was a church that was trying to keep alive a spirit of pentecost and all that goes with it. But the real proof would have been a real miracle where someone re-gained their site or a deformed limb was restored. You NEVER saw this happen and to this day I've heard a couple stories of similar miracles but no actual proof.
So after I quit a good job where I had it all going for me, my life started to fall apart. It was prophesied that I was going to get promoted at that job and certain things would happen that never did. In fact, things just kept getting worse there. I could not take it anymore and had to leave. Shortly after, 2 more people left.
So here I was and all that I had believed in was gone. Where was I to go now and how do I re-shape my belief system? To me it seemed obvious. It was time to join a more conservative group of Christians and yet still enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit. Not to downplay God, but to really experience Him for how he's truly working today in different ways. No less miraculous but different. Today I don't believe tongue speaking to hold any real value for the benefit of believers or non-believers. Unfortunately one of the fundamental doctrines of the AG church is that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Well, I can quickly disprove that because I can see people like my dad who were once hardened by life and is now totally spirit filled. He has never spoken in tongues, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is working in him and through him.
I hope this encourages anyone that has been disillusioned by the Pentecostal Churches of today and that you will not lose your faith but seek out a place of believers where you are more comfortable and once again enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit of Truth. He's still in the business of working miracles every day, but just in a little different way. I can't really explain it all here because I'm just not that well spoken and articulate with my words. So that is why I'm going to recommend some reading that will surely help you in your quest to find your faith again.
This book written by John MacArthur called Charismatic Chaos. Get it and READ IT!
Here is the description of the book:
The charismatic movement of the past quarter-century has made an impact on the church unparalleled in history. But one legacy of the movement is confusion and mushy thinking. In Charismatic Chaos, John F. MacArthur calls for biblical evaluation and analyzes the doctrinal differences between charismatics and non-charismatics in the light of Scripture. 'My principal concern,' writes John MacArthur, 'is to call the church to a firm commitment to the purity and authority of the Scriptures, and thereby to strengthen the unity of the true church.' To tough questions that seem to divide, Charismatic Chaos provides tougher answers that strive to unite. This book tackles such questions as - Is experience a valid test of truth? - Does God still give revelation? - Prophets, fanatics, or heretics? - Does God still heal? - What should we think of the Signs and Wonders movement? - Does the Bible promise health and wealth?
