Why did you leave?

[dalebert]

There was DEFINITELY a move of the Holy Spirit present to cause hundreds or even thousands to respond to the invitation (since conviction is a work of the Spirit) but did you cry out, scream, wail, run the bleachers, jerk and shout? NO.

Well no i have never been to one of these, not sure what it has to do with what i was talking about.....i may not have the background as you PG but it makes me no less knowing the move of Gods spirit! Yup when the Lord convected me, i could'nt wait to get to the alter to pray! As a matter of fact i pushed my brother in law away as he was in the seat next to the aisle, so i could get to the alter! Did i know what i was doing...didnt have a clue, all i knew was i needed to get up there and meet Jesus! Did i cry...u bet! Did i get saved ..u bet! Even now what the Lord convicts me, there are usually tears. If u dont cry...well thats u.....i cry cause i feel God and thats the way i am....do i make a sceen...no i dont think so...i have my moment with me and God....i dont like center of attention so i dont try to make it happen....

but did you cry out, scream, wail, run the bleachers, jerk and shout? NO.

Well since i have never been to one u r right NO i didnt, but how could answer my for me?

And the reason? You KNEW it was out of place and inappropriate. It would have HINDERED the real move of God going on at that moment and drawn attention TO YOU and OFF of HIM.

Well again i think u r answering for me but anyway, i have had a relationship with God that I know when He is present and how He is moving! Goodness, I cant think of anytime that I was told that I was out of order with a move of God. That is one thing that was tought to me as a young beleiver, and i have made it a point to pray and ask God to make me sensitive to Him!

I have been in this thing all my life, and my mother and grandmother before me, and I have seen it all.

Well i'm happy for you, sorry i cant sit in the same pew with u!

If our goal, our aim, is to bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ, and cause people to be drawn unto Him by lifting Him up, we need to take a good hard look at a video tape of our services and see how much of what happens there is "WE" focus and how much is "HE" focus.

Well if you are going to draw a line int the sand PG dont stop with this issue!

Is that time and place every time the doors open? I have come to believe "NO."


I agree!

I guess then PG the next time u go to a ball game or whatever u do to express emotions....please dont do it if it hinders the person next u or the whole place....dont get me wrong, i dont run the ailses, whoop , hollier, im saying this....how can we tell God how to act through us?

[Pastor Gary]

If u dont cry...well thats u.....i cry cause i feel God and thats the way i am....do i make a sceen...no i dont think so...i have my moment with me and God....i dont like center of attention so i dont try to make it happen....

Buddy, I can't take up an offering or make announcements without crying! I am a huge blubber-ball. Can't remember a sermon with no tears in a long time. I am not talking about emotion-- I am talking about fleshly excess… screaming out, whooping, yelling… the kind of stuff that scares visitors and makes teenagers embarrassed to invite their friends to church.

Goodness, I cant think of anytime that I was told that I was out of order with a move of God. That is one thing that was tought to me as a young beleiver, and i have made it a point to pray and ask God to make me sensitive to Him!

GREAT! I wish all were as sensitive, but, alas…
Years ago -- 1974? -- I was in a Columbus Georgia auditorium listening to David Wilkerson preach and give an invitation; a no-doubt sincere woman in the upper balcony started speaking out in tongues very loudly, breaking the silence. Wilkerson rebuked her and told her she was out of order and was distracting from what the Spirit was speaking to the hearts of those under conviction. I was young, and was SHOCKED that he had the audacity to "tell the Holy Ghost to be quiet." But he wasn't -- he was telling that woman that she should pray silently, in tongues if she felt so led, but not disrupt by allowing her emotions and flesh to bring attention to herself. As a Pastor, I have had occasion to shut down fleshly junk that was out of order, and would do so again.

Well if you are going to draw a line in the sand PG dont stop with this issue!

I don't. I have also had to jerk the chain of worship leaders and others who enjoyed the spotlight and the attention way too much and lost sight of their purpose. I have more than once prayed for people before going on stage "Father, do not allow any show-biz today!"

I guess then PG the next time u go to a ball game or whatever u do to express emotions....please dont do it if it hinders the person next u or the whole place....

No. I scream my head off. That is an apples and oranges comparison that reduces the Holy God and Father of us all, creator of heaven and earth, to a halfback carrying an inflated animal skin down a field. I worship with all my heart, passionately and loudly, when it is the proper time and place --- I don't (as I know of people who have) stand in line at Burger King speaking out in tongues arms extended, eyes closed.

...dont get me wrong, i dont run the ailses, whoop , hollier, im saying this....how can we tell God how to act through us?

My point is, Dale, that an awful lot of what passes for Pentecost has NOTHING at all to do with God acting through us; much of it is learned behavior, fostered by peer intimidation and tradition over scripture.

[Pastor Bill]

I agree PG, When God leads, it'll be in order, when it's not in order we don't need to be so slow to set things in order as pastors as you saw Brother Wilkerson do. Pastors have been too afraid to be pastors, now I believe it needs to be done with compassion with the purpose of teaching them to be more sensitive to the spirit, as I am sure you would agree, but It MUST be done if not for the rest of the church that is being interupted, then for that person who is being disobedient to God and doesn't understand it.

[Sunflowertabi]

Me My husband and three children left because COGOP is not following biblical teachings.And yes I beleive the leadership has caused the church to be disqualified as The Bride of Christ.

[Shellie]

Sunflowertabi wrote

Me My husband and three children left because COGOP is not following biblical teachings.

No, CoGoP is not following Tomlinson's teachings. Just wanted to clarify for those that are reading and don't know the difference.

And yes I beleive the leadership has caused the church to be disqualified as The Bride of Christ.

And could you please list for us the scriptures that determine one's place in the Bride of Christ and that the Bride of Christ is a physical entity made up of TCoG members only?

[Sunflowertabi]

I say again COGOP is not following Bible teachings.Scripture plainly says Divorce and remarriage is wrong and COGOP is teaching it's ok now. That is not bible.And my family does not follow man we follow the Holy Ghost as did The Thomlinson's.

[Shellie]

Sunflowertabi wrote:

I say again COGOP is not following Bible teachings.Scripture plainly says Divorce and remarriage is wrong and COGOP is teaching it's ok now. That is not bible.And my family does not follow man we follow the Holy Ghost as did The Thomlinson's

And could you please list for us the scriptures that determine one's place in the Bride of Christ and that the Bride of Christ is a physical entity made up of TCoG members only?

[EagerBeaver]

And my family does not follow man we follow the Holy Ghost as did The Thomlinson's

Or maybe you're following Tomlinson's Ghost?

[dolfan]

Sunflowertabi wrote:

I say again COGOP is not following Bible teachings.Scripture plainly says Divorce and remarriage is wrong and COGOP is teaching it's ok now. That is not bible.And my family does not follow man we follow the Holy Ghost as did The Thomlinson's

And could you please list for us the scriptures that determine one's place in the Bride of Christ and that the Bride of Christ is a physical entity made up of TCoG members only?

How dare you?!? She might have to say it yet AGAIN! THEN you'll see she's right.

[ImaPK]

I was enjoying this thread up until the last 5 posts...I'm not trying to defend or take sides with anyone BUT the opening post was "Why did you leave COGOP" and when sunflower gave their reasons they were attacked...I guess you can "leave" COGOP for any reason but joining TCOG ...and one of the "choices" was that "I felt that COGOP was no longer the BRIDE OF CHRIST"...this from a COGOPer


sitting here waiting for the attack

[Pastor Gary]

...I guess you can "leave" COGOP for any reason but joining TCOG

Your point is well taken. She was just answering the question as asked.

[Methusala]

Amy Dawn said

It's easier for me to see God, and the purpose of a church-body established by Christ, in settings of believers who actually, and literally bless one another with their God-given gifts, and not just when the piano is playing softly. Know what I mean?

For the first year after we left COGOP we ran around to every geographically close pentecostal church...trying to find a good fit for us. Nothing seemed "right" to us.

Finally my hubby said "find somewhere and plant yourselves, or I'm gonna quit going". So that Sunday we went to a non-denominational church that believes in your requirements but that the Holy Ghost indwells the believer upon conversion.

We spent the next year sayng things like "Well the sermon was sure good - but I wish they worshipped more" and "Wow, it was a good song service - but I wished they worshipped more" and "Nice Bible study - I sure learned some new things - but I wished they prayed more in the Spirit" etc. you get the point.

Meanwhile the church went from 120 or so when we started to now (3 years later) to two Sunday services and average total of 490.

Somewhere in this last year, we started counting the number of active ministries in the church, watched four successful mission trips of 15 people going to Peru and to Mexico; watched the church take over two Bible Release programs, and begin over 25 in home bible studies. This in addition to weekly morning Bible study for mothers, mid week (with child care provided) etc.

Our minds begin to turn from the idea that outward show does not always signify worship - doing what God want's is worship.

Do I miss the emotion- sometimes - It just "Feels" like you've done something more - but I do love to see all the ministries that are moving in this church. I love seeing more and more added to the kingdom.

a few weeks ago the pastor said "I'm not trying to build the church - I'm trying to add to the Kingdom - That's what God told me to do and that's what I feel the mission of our congregation it".

Works for me

Wendi

[Shellie]

ImaPk wrote:

BUT the opening post was "Why did you leave COGOP" and when sunflower gave their reasons they were attacked...I guess you can "leave" COGOP for any reason but joining TCOG

No, Sunflower was not "attacked". She was addressed on her statements. If you truly feel that what I said is an "attack" then I don't know how else to converse without being viewed as a bully.

I did not call Sunflower on the carpet for leaving the CoGoP. I called her on the carpet for her "attack" of the CoGoP. She could have left it off at "I felt the church was no longer the Bride." Instead she stated that CoGoP was no longer biblical and then she proceeded to slam the leadership. It was that "attack" that I addressed.

[Sherry]

One of our new people brought her mother to church a couple of Sundays ago. When they pulled up at the church, her mother said "Amy, you didn't tell me this was a COGOP church!" And she didn't want to come in. Amy convinced her that there wouldn't be people running the aisles and acting crazy. She was pleasantly surprised after she finally came in ....and said she would be back. And she is even bringing HER parents now.

Do you know that my kids would not invite friends to a certain church with them because it was pretty certain that a individual would do a "holy dance" or a "shouting" or give it a good run around the building....never knew for sure what to expect. They were embarrassed. It makes me sick to think of all the wasted opportunities.

I'm sitting here reading these posts and thinking thank heaven!! I'm not the only one!!!!!

[ImaPK]

ImaPk wrote:

BUT the opening post was "Why did you leave COGOP" and when sunflower gave their reasons they were attacked...I guess you can "leave" COGOP for any reason but joining TCOG

No, Sunflower was not "attacked". She was addressed on her statements. If you truly feel that what I said is an "attack" then I don't know how else to converse without being viewed as a bully.

I did not call Sunflower on the carpet for leaving the CoGoP. I called her on the carpet for her "attack" of the CoGoP. She could have left it off at "I felt the church was no longer the Bride." Instead she stated that CoGoP was no longer biblical and then she proceeded to slam the leadership. It was that "attack" that I addressed.

"addressed"..."attacked"...all semantics...Kenya used the "Bride of Christ" and she wasn't "addressed" ...Hey Kenya can you show us all where the Bible says "Bride of Christ"..Book, chapter and verse?