Dear fellow hunters,
I have learned so much from you folks about excepting others . I was a die hard Pentecostal. I know my experiences were not demonic. They were very real and edified me. My experiences were to build my faith in which it did. I was taught in college that if one did not speak in tongues that he didn't have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit thus lacked any power.Also , they would throw out this verse in Roman 8Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. I saw many shaking people and trying to get them to speak in syllables and then saying,"that's it,that's the Holy Spirit.Folks I have a rough time with that.I did not recieve mine like that.I wasn't even looking for a manifestation when I recieved my experience. Because of all the inconsistancies with God's Word I quit going to any pentecostal church. However; my experiences were very real and I have met some who have had similiar experiences. I don't judge a man by what denonmination he/she is from .I simply look for the love of God in their lives. Two weeks ago I was fasting and praying for this forum.It seemed like getting along was an impossible task. Tongues,music, baptism ,and interpretation of scriptures have put up concrete block walls between many of us. In my fasting I believe the Lord led me to this portion of scripture,,, 1 Cor.13
LOVE
believeth all things
I need to believe that I am no better than any of you . I don't know why we have all seen verses differently or had different experiences. But I do believe as long as you have excepted Christ Jesus in your heart ,been baptized and are serving Him you are fine in my book. The rest is between you and Him. I don't believe pentecostals have an edge on you folks who don;t speak in tongues. I do believe you folks who don't speak in tongues might want to be kind to us who do. Same with the music. Love believes that you are saved.If I believe you are saved the walls disapear. Walls come about by doubt. Do you have to speak in tongues to be Spirit Filled. I don't think so.1 Corinthians
12:30
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
12:31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Here are a few mighty men of God and WOMEN who have not spoke in tongues.
Charles Finney , Lawyer ,converted to Christ in late 1800s .Started holiness movement.700,000 souls saved in the New York area
Billy Graham
John Bunyon
Blind Fanny Crosby ..Wrote lots of awesome hymns such as Blessed Assurance.
Heres a few more wonderful men .Some speak in tongues and some don't I believe they are all saved.I have no walls with any of these wonderful folks.
Jim,Taz, Moose75,Goose , Snooky, Mac, Rebel , Motor, Strut,Paul,Knife maker,Ifferd,Double Creek,Clint,Johndeer4, Chad,JimmyS, Gman69,Gobbling Buck,Mr.Pirk, Grasshopper13,Dave ,Alpha1,Biscuit eatter,and the many more . I have no walls .I feel free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love ya ,
Chuck
Amen....and the rest is between that man and the Lord. I am only commanded to love my neighbor as myself.
And with the Spirit of God in my heart ,I actually find that very easy.It's not hard for me to love any of you. You are all very kind gentlemen. Thanks for the friendship that I have gotta from all of you .This forum has been such a blessing to me.It's taught me how to get along with others with various opinions.Thus I believe I can stay in a church now without storming out with a holier than thou attitude.Thanks guys.You were all responsible for that one.
Chuck
The Church here on this forum has done me good.
chuck--can you e-mail me at wjuckett@tds.net ? been trying to send you an e-mail thru huntingnet and it keeps getting delayed, then not delivered. i would appreciate it-bill
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Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work ~Isaiah 54:16
Brother Chuck, the most important thing that Christ taught besides the path to Salvation was love, love for all, not a pick and choose love of certain individuals or groups, but love for all!
You are so right Brother Chuck the walls need to come down, if one is truly a brother in Christ the walls will be down, a difference in opinion should not result in one excluding others from thier love. Love is compassion and understanding, it is also respect for others, if one is lacking in any of those areas they are lacking in love also. Love is what Christ taught and if one is lacking in love they are lacking in Christ.
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The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog
In general conversation with folks I don't even ask where they go to church. I look for the fruit. If that is there I listen intently to everything that brother/sister has to say.If the love isn't there I don't care what is being said.It goes in one ear and out the other.
John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
You're a decent man(I'd say good, but Jesus said there was none good)Chuck, and I can personally relate to what you faced. Your response was heart-felt. I've seen in my life that Christians were MY enemy, not the "lost souls", causing me the most grief in life.I'm positive others here have dealt with that issue as well. AS for the Denom/belief differences,we'll not know the "Whole" story, until the end.
Knock down the walls.
