should i attend an Elim PC Church or an Evangelical or Charismatic Church Of England

[Hazel W]

I am originally a member of The Church Of England-a anglo catholic type,but after reading so many things on the internet about the false doctrines and beliefs/doctrines of both the cofe and Roman Catholic churches I started to attend a Elim Pentecostal church here in the uk believing them to be the nearest kind of church to the New Testiment church of the Bible as well as been a more Bible-Beleiving church than cofe-however I have since came across Ex-Pentecostal websites on the internet that are run by people left damaged by Pentecostalism as they felt they'd be Brainwashed,and found places like Elim,Aog, & other Pentecostal churches to very dictative and controlling,that they take over your lives in many ways.
Theres also warnings against ''Tongues'' as been demonic,and where people shake,shout out loud and act hysterically,and fall down on the floor in the Spirit.It states that these manifestations could be demonic & not from God cause the Holy Spirit would not make a person act in a crazy manner.
This has now confused & worried me.Maybe Some pc churches might be a bit dodgy but the Elim church I attend isn't like what I mentioned above-they are lovely sane people who love the Lord.Only once did I see a woman there who started crying,shouting and getting all worked up,and I did worry me a bit,but I still attend this Elim church-they are lovely people and the pastor isn't in any way dictative or controlling,he's a lovely caring man.Its a family orientated small Elim church and I do like it a lot,but after finding certain websites that warn against getting involved with pc churches cause of all the Emotionalism etc I have been wondering whether I should have remained in the Anglican church after all & yet I've come across Christian websites that tell one not to go to the Anglican or catholic churches are their doctrines and practices are not Biblical-but what about the Anglican churches that are Evangelical or Charismatic-are there differences between the two?
Is it better to attend a Evangelical kind of cofe church rather than a Traditional anglo catholic kind of cofe church as the evangelical branch of cofe does seem better(have visited one recently,before elim)they have contempory modern music and the people do seem to be more Bible believing Born Again Christians who know Jesus as their Saviour-or do you think I should still stick with the Elim church?Just as long as they don't expect me to get all emotional and make a fool of myself during services.

What do you think of the Evangelical branch of the church of England,as well as the Elim and AOG PC churches?Do you think some of the things PC'S do could be a bit dodgy,cause would the Holy Spirit really cause people to shout & cry out,make weird noises and shake and act in a hysterical way?I wouldn't have thought so,therefore I am a bit wary now of getting more involved in Pentecostalism as some of these kind of churches on the Christian tv channels Do do some crazy things on shows with Rodney howard browne etc and I am rather wary of the Toronto Blessing kind of churches.
I couldn't act in the way some do,it just doesn't seem to be from God at all.
I think you have got to be careful as there does seem to be some both Charismatic and PC churches that do do some wild and crazy things which I just don't think is of God,but as I said the elim church I attend is really lovely,its a very family orientated church with people of all ages,including people of my age group(sixties)
In our church as we have a lot of elderly folk as well we don't have all contempory music like Hillsong Australia but a mixture of old hymns and choruses as well as both old and new contempory music.We do have Hillsongs,Chris Tomlin songs etc but also a lot of stuff from ''Songs of Fellowship''.
We have a good music team that can play anything and I personally think its nice to have more of a mixture of kinds of worship music,rather than just Hillsongs,Chris Tomlin kind of music like the Bigger Elim churches tend to have.
The Evangelical Anglican church near me also have a wide mix of music old and new and also two sunday services,one traditional Anglican and then another more lively evangelical service and again on the evening.
Am I best to stick with Elim rather than the Evangelical branch of the Anglican church?Which would you choose out of Elim Pentecostal and the Evangelical Anglican church?

 

[jamadan]

I'd go to the Elim church. Sounds like a great place.

 

[redrose42]

go to a Elim church and see if you are happy there....i loved the Elim church i attended it is a well balanced church

 

[Coton Boy]

I attend an Elim church and it is great. They can differ as any Anglican church can differ one from another. It's teaching is biblical and they often do a lot of outreach.

 

[Snakebite]

Hi Hazel,
I was "saved" in the C of E in their fashion anyway. However my family and I left much for the same reasons as you. I personally believe that establishment as much as many mainstream denoms in the uk have had their day and are on the slip now. I do not know much about the Elim movement except the same stuff that you have found.
I have been since leaving to many versions of church and they all have their faults.

I am a spirit filled bible believing Christian btw.
I would say firstly to be wary of taking advice from faceless keyboard commandos over the net ( no offence to anyone intended ) as people have different experiences.
If you have found a fellowship that you are happy with that teaches the truth stick with them until the Lord tells you to go elsewhere.
So long as you are getting fed the Word and not what someone " feels" the bible says and that they aren't rolling on the floor and barking you should be fine.
Its about who we are worshipping as much as how.
bear in mind the church is made of broken people being made better so they all need a little grace.


May the Lord guide you.
In Christ
SB

 

[ltwin]

I am originally a member of The Church Of England-a anglo catholic type,but after reading so many things on the internet about the false doctrines and beliefs/doctrines of both the cofe and Roman Catholic churches I started to attend a Elim Pentecostal church here in the uk believing them to be the nearest kind of church to the New Testiment church of the Bible as well as been a more Bible-Beleiving church than cofe-however I have since came across Ex-Pentecostal websites on the internet that are run by people left damaged by Pentecostalism as they felt they'd be Brainwashed,and found places like Elim,Aog, & other Pentecostal churches to very dictative and controlling,that they take over your lives in many ways.
Theres also warnings against ''Tongues'' as been demonic,and where people shake,shout out loud and act hysterically,and fall down on the floor in the Spirit.It states that these manifestations could be demonic & not from God cause the Holy Spirit would not make a person act in a crazy manner.
This has now confused & worried me.

Why should it worry you? It is not their responsibility to decide what church you go to or whether the church you go to is of God or not. You and you alone can decide for yourself in the light of God's Holy Word and the Holy Spirit's leading whether a church is teaching biblical and sound doctrine and whether God is planting you in that church. Study the word of God, make sure you know what any church you consider joining believes and why they believe it, and then pray hard for God to show you direction.

Remember, those websites don't speak for the church you attend. Find out what the Elim church believes and make your decision on that basis.

Maybe Some pc churches might be a bit dodgy but the Elim church I attend isn't like what I mentioned above-they are lovely sane people who love the Lord.Only once did I see a woman there who started crying,shouting and getting all worked up,and I did worry me a bit,but I still attend this Elim church-they are lovely people and the pastor isn't in any way dictative or controlling,he's a lovely caring man.Its a family orientated small Elim church and I do like it a lot,

Sounds like a great church. Doesn't seem cultish or controlling to me at all, from what you've written.

but after finding certain websites that warn against getting involved with pc churches cause of all the Emotionalism etc I have been wondering whether I should have remained in the Anglican church after all & yet I've come across Christian websites that tell one not to go to the Anglican or catholic churches are their doctrines and practices are not Biblical-but what about the Anglican churches that are Evangelical or Charismatic-are there differences between the two?

What are these websites and who is behind them? Who made them the authority on what churches are correct or not? Every church has its detractors and its critics. We don't have to listen to anyone but Jesus Christ. He has given us his word as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path so that we should not stumble. Ask Jesus what church he wants you in. If you really want to know what he thinks, you'll get an answer.

Is it better to attend a Evangelical kind of cofe church rather than a Traditional anglo catholic kind of cofe church as the evangelical branch of cofe does seem better(have visited one recently,before elim)they have contempory modern music and the people do seem to be more Bible believing Born Again Christians who know Jesus as their Saviour-or do you think I should still stick with the Elim church?Just as long as they don't expect me to get all emotional and make a fool of myself during services.

What exactly is wrong with getting emotional in church? Christ seeks to transform our mind, will, and emotions. Christianity is not simply about doing works of compassion and charity and rejecting sin. Christianity is not simply about accepting intellectual propositions about who Jesus is and what he came to do. Christianity is an amazing emotional experience. Shouldn't our worship be emotional? If we offer our will and our mind to God as acts of worship, should we not offer our emotions to him as well?

What do you think of the Evangelical branch of the church of England,as well as the Elim and AOG PC churches?Do you think some of the things PC'S do could be a bit dodgy,cause would the Holy Spirit really cause people to shout & cry out,make weird noises and shake and act in a hysterical way?I wouldn't have thought so,therefore I am a bit wary now of getting more involved in Pentecostalism as some of these kind of churches on the Christian tv channels Do do some crazy things on shows with Rodney howard browne etc and I am rather wary of the Toronto Blessing kind of churches.

Is the Elim church you've been attending like Rodney Howard Browne's church? Is it like the Toronto Blessing? If not, then its not a problem.

I couldn't act in the way some do,it just doesn't seem to be from God at all.
I think you have got to be careful as there does seem to be some both Charismatic and PC churches that do do some wild and crazy things which I just don't think is of God,but as I said the elim church I attend is really lovely,its a very family orientated church with people of all ages,including people of my age group(sixties)

You've seem to not be comfortable with what is often termed "physical manifestations" of the Holy Spirit's presence or what is often simply enthusiastic joy and worship in the Lord's presence.

Certainly, there are people who go over board and do excessive and unedifying behavior. However, on the other hand, there are churches that do not allow any enthusiasm whatsoever. That too should be avoided.

Yet, enthusiasm and expectation for the tangible presence of God in addition to an acceptance of the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit's presence is at the core of Pentecostal spirituality. If you read the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the upper room like a mighty rushing wind and flames of fire. Language like "falling" is used to note the sudden move of the Spirit of God and his overwhelming presence. If you are not open to feeling the tangible presence of God and allowing your senses, your body (which God made for you to worship him with) to respond to that felt presence then you are not open to truly Pentecostal worship.

True Pentecostal worship involves not just the mind and the will but our emotions. And more than that it involves every part of us, and that includes our bodies. Sometimes Pentecostals who are worshiping do things that may look foolish, but they have a reason for it (even if you don't know what that reason is, which is ok because they are not doing it for you but for God). God has done something for them that no one else could do. That person that you see who looks foolish or weird may have seen God miraculously touch their sick and dying child. Or maybe God has delivered them from a drug addiction. Or maybe God just saved them from sin and death, and they just want to thank him by crying or dancing or raising their hands, or kneeling down, or running, or jumping or whatever. If they do not bother other people or disrupt the service, is it so bad that they need to thank God and worship him in their own way? You don't know what God saved them from or what he has done for them. You weren't there when he pulled them out of the miry clay or saved them from their enemies who were ready to stone them. You don't know why they praise him the way they do, so sometimes its better to just thank God with them.

I'll end with some scriptural wisdom from 2 Samuel chapter 6:

16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. . . . . 20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

 

[MichaelJohn316]

I would personally try to find an independent conservative evangelical church with an emphasis on expository preaching.

Wherever you go, just make sure that what they tell you is in the bible. And pray that God will lead you to somewhere that honours Him and where you will grow.

If you like I can help you find somewhere in Birmingham?