AOG & Pentecostal (What's the Difference)?

[TGBTG]

I am a member of a spirit filled AOG church, but wondered what is the diffence in the Pentecostal church. The reason I ask, the church I grew up in changed from AOG to Pentecostal, same preacher. I have been to a few AOG church here local, but mine is the only church that preaches the word of God front to back, nothing left out, when the Holy Spirit falls over the church, we praise God and worship. The other churches are what I call "dry" they seem to preach very mild, weak sermins, knowone raises there hands to praise God, not a tear is shed, no alter calls. I do not mean to offend, but I would like to know if a lot of AOG churches are performing a service like this. I thank God that I was lead to the church I am a member of, if God wants us to do it, we do it.

Few other questions, I might be misinformed.

Why do the Pentecostal women (might be the United Pentecostal) wear the long skirts and plain shoes all the time?

Why do the women grow there hair so long?

Why do the men always seem to have a beard (full and not trimed neatly)?

Why do the women not wear any makeup?
I do not see a problem with light and simple makeup, nothing trashy.


The reason I ask these questions is, I had a man I worked with that claimed to be Pencostal, and if you did not live the same as him, you would not make heaven. This man was crazy, he would not bath, said soap was unholy, would not keep his hair or beard trimed neatly. If a woman wears pants, she was trashy, and would burn in hell. I might be wrong, but I do not agree. I wash with soap, do not have a beard, my wife wears blue jeans when not at church, she also wears simple makeup. I love Jesus with my whole heart, I live for him everyday, pray, read my bible, I know when Jesus comes back, I going up there with him no beard and smelling good the whole way.

 

[~RENEE~]

I was raised AOG there is no real difference AOG is pentecostal. And about that guy that won't bathe that ain't even christian he's just being lazy and making an excuse. About the makeup in the bible the only people that wore makeup and earrings were enemies of God. Yes a little paint can improve the looks of things but to quote my pastor if your barn catches on fire the paint is the first thing to go. God not say you have to have a beard. Don't you know that you are the temple of the Holy Ghost. I do not wear earrings or makeup for I am not ashamed of the house that gave me. But I do bathe and take care of myself. Those that claim soap is not of God are just making excuses for being lazy. The reason for the long hair long skirts and plain shoes is some people believe if they look holy then they are. My pastor used to believe that way he calls it being so narrowminded you can see down the eye of a straw with both eyes. Holiness starts on the inside not on the outside. Thank God he's not that way anymore. We do have platform standards if you are going to be on the platform no earrings no shorts no women in pants. Thats fine with me if you do not have somekind of rules in the house then the house is out of control.

 

[TGBTG]

Thanks for the reply, I had wondered this for some time now. My wife went to a church once where the people acted in the same way of the man I spoke of, it was a Holiness church. My wife would not attend a AOG church for quit some time after going to this church, they really hurt her feelings and made her very bitter over the Protestant religions. The pastor told her that here skirt was not long enough and she was being disrespectful in the house of God, not to come back again. I have to wonder "what if"

(What if) she was not saved and did not know God, that might have been the only chance she would have had to hear the word of God.

I thank God my wife trusted me enough to go to an AOG church with me, and see that that bunch of people were crazy.

 

[~RENEE~]

The pastor told her that here skirt was not long enough and she was being disrespectful in the house of God, not to come back again. I have to wonder "what if"

(What if) she was not saved and did not know God, that might have been the only chance she would have had to hear the word of God.

I thank God my wife trusted me enough to go to an AOG church with me, and see that that bunch of people were crazy.

That's the sad thing about it people become so religious that they are so hooked on what you wear they don't think about your soul that when you wash your hands and say I ain't goin to hell with them and leave.

 

[`Raine]

The rules/cutsoms on dress, makeup, hair etc. isn't just in pentecostal churches, but is practiced by a lot of denominations (most Holiness churches, some Baptists, Anabaptists [Conservative Mennonites, Amish, some Quakers], some Orthodox, Apostolics, Messianics, and others) .

The reason for wearing skirts and dresses is because of scriptures saying that a woman should not wear that which pertains to a man (men's clothing, in other words). A lot of people interpret this to mean pants.

The long skirts are an issue of modesty - showing a lot of leg or cleavage is not considered modest or proper for a Christian, because it invites lust, same thing with no makeup and plain shoes. Lots of makeup and fancy, flashy, or revealing clothes that draw attention to a person, especially sexual attention, are not considered appropriate for a Christain to wear. We shouldn't be trying to draw attention to ourselves, but should seek to focus it on God. Also, certain kinds of attention from clothes and makeup are usually used to make us more attractive to the opposite sex and can create problems with lust and sexual temptations.

The long hair mainly comes from I Corinthians 11, which talkes about a woman's (long) hair being a glory to her, and given to her as a covering. In this verse, Paul demands that a woman who prophesys or prays (as in church) should be covered, or else it is like she is shorn (had her head shaved or cut like a mans). In those days, shaved or short hair was often a sign of a temple prostitute, and would have been a great shame. This same verse also says that a man should not have his head covered (or have long hair). While most Pentecostal chruches teach that long hair is the only "covering" needed, some other churhces and denominations interpret this verse as requiring a headship veiling or material head covering, as well (like the Mennonite or Amish caps, or the veils worn by Messianics, Charity sisters, etc). Long hair is also in keeping with gender distinctions, and "wearing" what is proper for a woman, rather than a man.

As for beards, there are many passages in the Old Testament which talk about men having beards, and command them not to shave them or "mar the corners" of them, which is why many men don't trim them, because that would be marring them.


(I don't necessarily agree with all of these interpretations, but I've studied the history and scripture that several groups use to back these rules, and hope I explained them a little - a websearch on "Holiness" & "hair", "makeup", or "dress" should provide the verses and more info for anyone who's interested.)

 

[Screamin'Eagle]

hmmmm well i guess i go to a very liberal AoG church because we dont really have any dressing standards like that at all.

 

[theywhosowintears]

Some USA AOG churches are very backward... hard pews, altar rails, hymn books...these things arn't evil bad or wrong, but there are new ways to do things that can be more effective.

It isnt the churches responisbility to tell yo uto shave or not to wear make up... if you don't feeel God wants you to do it... DONT. If He doesn't convict you then it is ok to do.

Some things are passing, non moral/spiritual choices which don't matter to salvations.

Peace.

 

[onelamb]

Assembly of God churches are Pentecostal-but not all Pentecostal churches are Assembly of God. The AoG is just one denomination under the bigger umbrella of Pentecostal-The main thing Pentecostal churches have in common is the belief in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues-Acts 2:4. Also Assembly of God churches are atonomis-hey I know I spelled that one wrong-but it means that they are self governing-this is why you will find a great difference from church to church concerning the "gray" areas of Christianity-such as the clothes we wear or the songs we sing.
The United Pentecostal church is the one that teaches outward holiness-long hair for women, no pants or makeup ect....They also believe that those who are not filled with the Spirit are not saved. They also, deny the trinity-and believe that one must be baptized by the formula "in the Name of Jesus" for salvation.
As far as I'm concerned-if you can hang your religion on a clothes line-then it isn't worth hanging on to, but I can see the point of modesty for the church.
There are other Pentecostal churches also-Church of God-Cleveland Tennesee-and 4 Square (Jack Hayford). Hope that helps. Blessings!-

 

[rumbagirl]

Wow. The AOG church I attended with my boyfriend was nothing like that. Girls wore short skirts and high heels. They were dressed to the nines. I felt out of place because I was dressed more conservatively.

 

[Silent*Tears]

It is not the same.

 

[green_panther_87]

Everyone's right on everything. I do find the freedom my church allows to the members bite back at some point. I have a sort of backwards respect for the people who can accept something a minister says and not question it. I really wish women, young girls in general would truly feel convicted and out of place in our churces when they walk in in skirts above their knees and beyond. As I young single christian man I can say it is very tempting and it downright angers me when they help my mind go places it shouldn't.
The purity these churches desire is amirable, but their touch with reality is slightly off.

 

[talitha]

I recently read a statement from the AOG denominational leadership that made me glad I don't go to one (though I used to go to one) -- in this statement (sorry, I lost the link since my computer crashed and I replaced the hard drive) the validity of present-day apostles and prophets was denied, and from what I understand prophetic ministry as a part of regular services was discouraged. Does anyone know more about this?

In the AOG church I used to attend, there were also some people -- notably some in leadership -- who held to the KJV-only point of view. Is that an official AOG doctrine? I don't agree with that, for sure.

Sorry to be so negative

blessings
tal