Why did you leave?

[Brenda]

My question is.. has anyone left the CoGoP..CoG..AoG any church that is of pentecostal belief and went to one that is not of pentecostal belief and "been happy"?

Where they believe in a saved experience and holiness living only.

[dolfan]

Not sure about what you mean by the last sentence, Brenda, but yes to the question itself.

I went from nothing, to COGOP, AOG, Wesleyan, then to a non-denominational church (Southern Baptist though, for all intents and purposes, although we're working on that ) I do not miss the "pentecostal-ness" at all, but I do miss the close fellowship of pentecostal people I've known. That isn't about their belief or practice, just that they are good folks and it was nice to know 'em.

[Pastor Bill]

...I voted "other" because I haven't left, but wanted to see the results, because if we are ever going to get things right, it's good to know the biggest problems.

There is a link at the bottom of the poll to view the results, without skewing them.

Didn't see that, sorry

[Brenda]

dolfan

Not sure about what you mean by the last sentence, Brenda,

Brenda

Where they believe in a saved experience and holiness living only.

They don't believe the baptism of the Holy Ghost as it was on the day of Pentecost, with the evidance of speaking in tongues, is for today.

It was for only those that it happened to on that day.

[panhandler]

...God spoke to me saying "This is where i want you"...

the very reason I am now IN the COGOP!

In my experience, the only voice we should hear on this important of a matter is God's. Others may voice opinions but I did not make a move until I heard from God!

[James]

I had to chose "Other". I did not leave voluntarily. I was asked by my pastor to leave. I may have still been a member of COGOP, otherwise. As a result I did not go to church at all for a number of years. I have been at my current church 10 years. I will soon be leaving because I am moving into the city of Dallas and prefer a church close to home.

[dolfan]

I will soon be leaving because I am moving into the city of Dallas and prefer a church close to home.

Dallas .... Dallas ... Dallas. Let's see....

Is that close to Arlen?

[Tracy]

My question is.. has anyone left the CoGoP..CoG..AoG any church that is of pentecostal belief and went to one that is not of pentecostal belief and "been happy"?

Yes. I have been both COGOP and AOG, and I could never go back to Pentecostalism.

Tracy

[Pastor Gary]

My question is.. has anyone left the CoGoP..CoG..AoG any church that is of pentecostal belief and went to one that is not of pentecostal belief and "been happy"?

Where they believe in a saved experience and holiness living only.

\

I have not left COGOP,and I still believe in the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, the present, active ministry of the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge that tongues, prophecy, etc. are Biblical.

HOWEVER, my local church has been described as "semi-costal" because there is none of the loud screaming, running the aisles and traditionally-normative manifestations of Pentecostal church worship.

We are growing, we are blessed, and we believe we are close to Biblical balance. No, as much as my FLESH enjoyed some of the more physical and emotional displays of my past, I have concluded that we enjoyed it more than God did, and I have no desire to return to that style of doing church.

That doesn't mean God is absent or that the Holy Spirit is not at work among us.

[Joey]

First off, that word 'Pentecostal' sure does a number on me. If our local church was a true old fashioned pentecostal whooping-hollering-run the top-of-the-pews in a crazed loss of control,... I'd have been gone a long time ago. We teach the "gift" of tongues as God wills, but we don't have to have that to "feel" like a service was a success.
Get this: When one says they are "pentecostal," does that church emphasize some type of pentecost day experience more than a faith experience with Christ? Homey don't play dat.
Our church has been moving forward toward real progress by getting past the emotionalism of the past.

That being said, ...I am still a member, ..but our local church is not like all COGOP's. I think we are a church of the real & present and one that will be here tomorrow because we don't ride on emotional penta-coasters that can go up or down, depending on who knows what.

[Brenda]

I couldn't agree more, P.G. its not always in the hoop de lou.

I still believe in the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, the present, active ministry of the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge that tongues, prophecy, etc. are Biblical.

Amen.

My question is.. can a person who believes in this, leave a church where it is believed, experienced and be happy where its not believed on?

Hope I'm making my self clear.

[Joey]

Let me say one more thing. I hope that by sticking it out (because I have at least one major doctrinal difference from what the cogop teaches) that maybe we can see the change take place toward a more merciful.
I've been around long enough to see change, and maybe we can keep progressing. I don't know.
I am strong enough to stand for now, but sometimes they knock the wind out of me and the legs out from under me. Time will tell.

[stevenson]

I didn't answer the poll because nothing fit my situation. I actually left the COGOP as a teenager and backslid. I got saved as a young man and because of my past experiences with COGOP decided to go to the COG. But I found out that the COG is a lot of politics and I heard of a lot of positive changes coming about in the COGOP. So I left COG and came back to the COGOP about 6 years ago and I'm happy I did. Things are looking better with each Assembly.

[amydawn]

I had to chose "Other". I did not leave voluntarily. I was asked by my pastor to leave.

OH YEAH!!! I almost forgot... but you reminded me.


Kenya, can we vote twice if we've left twice?? lol

The first time I left it was because I was given the boot. The second time (after I was older and had learned to read) I left voluntarily.

[amydawn]

Let me say one more thing. I hope that by sticking it out (because I have at least one major doctrinal difference from what the cogop teaches) that maybe we can see the change take place toward a more merciful.
I've been around long enough to see change, and maybe we can keep progressing. I don't know.
I am strong enough to stand for now, but sometimes they knock the wind out of me and the legs out from under me. Time will tell.

That's exactly how I felt during my last year. I believe I can say --- I know EXACTLY how you feel.