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Jim Price | PentecostalTheology.com
Several churches are renaming themselves, FREEDOM CHURCH. Why is that? Are they asserting that they want more freedom and if so from where? Do they feel that their denomination is restricting their liberty in some way? Perhaps they think the government is in some way fencing them in. Maybe it’s a sense of spiritual deadness and by their new name they are declaring a new inner freedom? Could it be that TV and other media conveys a wildness that threatens their sense of acceptance and permanence ?
Anyone with a good grasp of our history should conclude that we the church have as much freedom now or even more than at any time in our country’s history.
Varnel Watson
Think it was Jim Price who brought this question to the group originally. Still dont know the answer to it! http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/why-are-churches-renaming-themselves/
Joseph Kidwell
There has been a trend in the last 30 years toward non-denominational churches. Many churches who are denominational are renaming themselves to accommodate this trend.
David Smith
Non-denominational churches are in many ways are forming denominations themselves by default.
Varnel Watson
Street Preacherz The observation of the process / results is clear but what is the real reason behind it?
Street Preacherz
are they ashamed of tongues???
Or excesses?
Or Offended?
Or inaccurate teaching on Holiness?
Or lack of loyalty?
Ask the pastor?
I’m thinking the first answer is pretty common. Teaching it’s majesty. Groaning to God all the hurts and hopes that the natural man can never know. Praying as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance. Awesome simplicity of power. Communion with God. On his terms.
Varnel Watson
When the church turns to a child care…
Street Preacherz
Your kids must be grown. lol
Joseph Kidwell
The name of the church that I pastor is ‘Greater Grace & Deliverance Ministries’. That sounds pretty Pentecostal to me.
Street Preacherz
Ok I’ll bite, Bishop Kidwell what’s greater grace? Would that be like “with afflictions?” lol don’t hate me…
Ok I found it. Sorry I didn’t recognize it. KJV is, “more grace.”
“But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”
– James 4:6 (HCSB) also NAS.
Do you have day care? Oh now I get it. That’s why it’s called greater grace!!!
Varnel Watson
Isnt Greater Grace = Deliverance? I am lost…
Street Preacherz
I think deliverance may be used instead of sanctified wholly.
Varnel Watson
Street Preacherz wholly or holy /
Street Preacherz
If it wasn’t wholly it wouldn’t be holy. Would it?
Ben Wilson
I think it’s because a lot of the more traditional names are, quite frankly, sort of strange sounding.
Consider. . . Assembly of God. . . how many people use the word “Assembly” for anything? How much different is that than “Assemblies of Gods” ??
Or “Foursquare Church” — what does “Foursquare” mean? To most people it’s a game they played on the playground as a child. It means as much sense to the average observer as a Church named something like “Fresno First Hexagonal Church”.
And something like. . “Pentecostal Holiness Church”. To those growing up in Pentecost, the name makes sense. If you’re not fluent in Christianese, how does “Pentecostal Holiness” differ from “Orthodox Holiness” or “Methodist Holiness”?
Varnel Watson
Street Preacherz When we worked in the “Assembly” line factory everyone there used the word “Assembly” 🙂
Ben Wilson
FWIW, 60 years ago the A/G had a four page leaflet they handed out every Sunday, titled “Live”, if IIRC. On the back page there was a short comment section entitled “Assembly Lines”. . . .
Street Preacherz
In the army, assembly​, was never good.
I love Assemblies and Church of God and Pentecostal Holiness. It’s nice to know where people stand on things. I think you can count Victory Outreach as a non denomination, denomination. The little church I attend is officially non denominational.
Jim Price
Last week the AoG in Hixson, Tn changed it’s name to Grace Pointe,AoG
Varnel Watson
What’s the difference between Point and Pointe?
Ben Wilson
An “e”. . . . .