Thinking aloud..

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Thinking aloud..

Forum: Theological Expressions
Date: 2001, Aug 18
From: Wahshing Wahshing

thinking aloud ...
Recently I hosted a christian missionary from India, and through him I understood why churches there are not so open to charismatics/pentecostals practices.
The people there have been seeing all kinds of signs and miracles from different hindu gurus who amaze them with their powers. I have to admit that he is probably the more conservative type coming from his background (his father is also a church pastor who retired recently ; and I was told an incident when his father heard some worship with tongues. I was told that in Hindu religious circles , the tongues used in the temples are similar to what they hear in some of this churches. So he is hesitant to accept this.
I am a little puzzled as to the confusion here. How are we as christians to discern ?
again..
Our God is a God of truth, and I believe there are people gifted with prophecy. Is it possible that this gift can be misused? And again there are people who think they have the gift of prophecy, I mean that they in all sincerity think they do have. Could emotion have taken place ?
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 ; warns about quenching the Holy Spirit, do not spurn the gifts, ... but it also says to test and prove all things... I think when deception is in the church, it will not be clear to many, ( wolves in sheep clothing ; literally mean that ? ) so many will be misled? see acts 20:29-31, - Paul's statement.
Is a prophecy that does not come to past false ? Is this misusing the name of the Lord?
Jeremiah 23:10b The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.
This seems to be real prophets but who choose to follow evil ; they still have power ( so real prophetic power can mislead?)
Jeremiah 23:11 - Both prophets and priest are Godless; even in my temple ( so is this happening in some churches today?)
For myself, like I say I am worshipping in a church with the works (everything imaginable :-) , tongues , manifestation, dancing , ... and I have been a part of this for many years. Yet everytime I attend wakes/funerals (at my age, you get to attend many of this) some christians , some not. I see myself someday in a box pushed into the oven with its fiery flames leaking the shell I left behind (this feeling I have each time I witness the scene at cremation) Oven close, friends and relatives part ways as your last earthly belongings turn to ash..
Now, this decision you have made while alive, had better be a good one. I often wonder how serious church goers are, the jumping and dancing in church can be misleading, because as I see it, among my peers, they have some doctrinal disagreement, they whisper among people they are safe with. They find disagreement with what is said on the pulpit, they avoid church when that particular pastor speaks or just sit in the pews and follow the motion. Yet when you share your disagreements with them, they nod in agreement, and most of the time will just nod. Church business isn't so important as the work on their desk come Monday and the boss who signs the paycheck. We are living in the Now, and at the same time buying into the Eternity as all of us know, you don't live forever. So religion does play a part. My buddhist friends cling onto their beliefs dearly, thats their afterlife.
In christian circle , most every denomination/church has a piece to say. A conviction or a correction. Finally, its me whose going into that oven, I know salvation is secured yet the scene around us tells a different story.
God Bless all of us..