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Subject: [Melungeon] Re: Melungeon-D Digest V00 #1136
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 00:23:30 EDT
I was raised in The Pentecostal church of the old type. My grandmother was a
deaconess and an evangelist. There were no stimulants or spirits consumed.
This included coffee. She drank a coffee like drink called Postum,but it had
not caffeine. There were no face cards allowed, no make up, only longer
dresses with sleeves,(they did not have to be long sleeves, but had to cover
the top of the arms). They wore no make up and women did not cut the hair.
T.V.'s and movies of any type were forbidden. They had many services on week
nights and the preaching went on all day on Sunday, with breaks for lunch and
supper. Sometimes those services would last until midnight, if the folks
started testfieing,speaking in tongues or they had an unusual burden for
someone and alter call lasted along time. They sang the old time hymns
(which I still prefer) and sometimes had more instruments than just a piano
(Grannie called it a pieany.)and organ. They had drums,tamborines,horns and
guitars. Smoking,gambling,and drinking were absolutely forbidden, and doing
worldly things that were of the devil.
They did NOT handle snakes. They believed in Baptism by submersion and being
born again by being saved, getting the Holy Spirit. Getting the Holy spirit
was talking in tongues. The Pentecostal church is a charismatic church, that
is the usage of speaking in tongues. Many times a member would "get under the
spirit" and would start dancing in the spirit. They prayed out
loud,everyone,not just the minister. They had alter calls, had faith
healings,used anointed clothes and the laying on of hands. Everyone was
called Brother and Sister, such as Brother Jones and Sister Smith. There were
rivivals,in the summer they were held in tents. They were really something.
I joined the Baptist church later on. The difference in Pentecostalism and
the Baptist church is a big one. The Baptist Church believes that once that
one has been saved, although he must ask God's forgiveness for any future
sins that might occur, and should strive to not sin, even if one should sin
and should pass away before he can ask for redemption again, he will still go
to Heaven. They believe that once one is saved, one remains saved. Whereas
the Pentecostal church believes that one can "backslide"(sin)and unless one
asks God's forgiveness and receives redemption again, he is hell bound when
he dies.
The Baptist church is also not charasmatic. They do not believe in the
speaking of tongues.
They both have alter calls, pray for healing and the laying on of hands.
Depending on the type of Baptist church there may be a lot of loud" Hell fire
and brimstone "preaching as in the Pentecostal faith. Baptist women may cut
their hair, wear slacks and makeup, which in the real Pentecostal church was
forbidden.
In many other ways they are similar, but neither one, handles snakes in their
services. I do think that it is an off shoot of the Pentecostal church that
do this, as I think that they too, are charismatic.
There are many members of all of the different denominations that have
charismatic groups, but that is not to say that it is a part of their
denomination's creed. Some of the Catholic faith are even a part of the
movement toward the Charismatic.
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