The AoG in the UK has a new website. Those of you familiar with its history, (more than I, who am new to it), might take a look at the Statement of Faith, and answer whether it is possible to hold to it, while reading the books they recommend, and doing what the writers on the site appear to be advocating to their leaders?[url=http://www.aog.org.uk/]http://www.aog.org.uk/[/url]
Ah, yes the Assemblies of God. I've been attending an AG church in Texas for a few years now, and went to an AG elementary, junior high and high school. If you are new I think, unfortunately, you will find that they, mostly, say the right things. Then you will notice that where the rubber meets the road they are a bit lacking. On the Young Adult section of the US website they were recommending the other day the movie The Book of Eli, which is rated R. You will hear them preach holiness and then do this. You will hear them preach on having faith in paying your tithes and then tell you how much the church needs your money and therefore show no faith. They will preach on old time Pentecostalism and then buy 15 flatscreen TV's for the hallways of a medium to large church. They will reminisce about the old days and the miracles they once saw and then talk about how great it is now that watching TV and going to see R rated movies isn't a sin anymore. But... You will also tend to find ministers who do love the Lord and long to see people changed in ways that only Jesus and the Holy Spirit can do. You will find that they will allow the Holy Spirit to move in ways and for a longer duration than most churches will allow. I don't agree with all their statements of faith, but I think they try very hard and are very open to living out a New Testament church. I too get tired of being told to live by faith and then see them promote books that teach people how THEY can build their ministry. Though I don't agree with everything I still think they have a lot to offer. No church or denomination is perfect, especially denominations. My thought is that if God placed me in the AG world, I'm to bloom in the AG world.
_________________Matt Smith
Hello hoohoou,You've described very well, what the older members are experiencing. I myself am frustrated, because I've seen this in another setting, thirty years ago with a veneer of spiritual language and merely carnal interpretation of scripture.
You will find that they will allow the Holy Spirit to move in ways and for a longer duration than most churches will allow.
I saw your thread about the youth work you've been given by God, and will reply in that thread also. But I want to say this. One of the ways of getting rid of people like you and your wife, is for the leadership to go along with your leading - give you a venue and invite your target participants - but then, when it doesn't become a roaring success, and you're feeling embarrassed by that (or, just warming up to fight the enemy), they allow another 'work' to start, which is much more appealing to the flesh, and they put in charge someone less qualified, less spiritual, less mature, not called by God but maybe perceived as part of the 'in' crowd and therefore someone to hang out with, and let the chips fall. Eventually, unless the kids are already sick of superficiality (as the discerning ones now are, at the church I was attending), your work will be sidelined, or the hall will be needed for something urgent (even a one off) on the night you have it, and the cycle is broken. You have to decide whether to find a temporary venue or cancel, and then you have kids who didn't hear where you're meeting. It's all very subtle, and works like a dream - which is, of course, exactly what's at the back of this 'method'.
Eventually, unless the kids are already sick of superficiality (as the discerning ones now are, at the church I was attending), your work will be sidelined, or the hall will be needed for something urgent (even a one off) on the night you have it, and the cycle is broken
I voiced none of those fears, or experiences, above and yet you spoke to them all.
I won't say it's the church leadership doing it on purpose
but we don't get any support
God called me to pastor and preach. He did not call me to maintain the status quo. I have every assurance that my struggles will not be in vain. I does get tiresome at times though. May we be led by the HOLY SPIRIT and not of ourselves so that WHEN the triumph comes we will not boast of ourselves but of Christ.
Most of the kids who attend are hungry for truth. They've been coddled and worked into frenzies long enough and just want to know what God has to say. What's funny is that half the people who attend are from outside the church and Baptist churches at that. That is a source of inspiration to me
I hope to pray for you and your wife in the coming months.
I am actually a Youth Pastor for AoG in Kansas. I can't attest for all of the AoG in Kansas but feel that sometimes sincerity isn't enough, I can have good intention but it doesn't make it right. I have a friend in seminary for the AoG and his instructor took him to see the Book of Eli which to me I saw contradiction. The theory of "since I know its bad its okay" seems to inflitrate the church of America because its not about God but about what we would prefer to do. As far as the "16 Fundamental Truths" I honestly don't have them memorized. Something that the Lord has shown me and put in my heart is that I can pledge no allegance to an organization, Church, Denomination, Group, Country, etc My alledgance is to Christ Alone. I have starting to see the inconsistancy of Have Faith, yet the focus is how many people you have. God is the only thing that can effectively grow a church and this is a truth that I hold to as well Quality Christian Over Quanity "Christians." I know that I didn't touch on the 16 Fundamental Truth as far as biblical I see nothing wrong with them practice of them seem shady but that is most people including myself that is why repentance is a daily thing.God Bless,Matthew
_________________Matthew Guldner