What would you do if you were me?

I would just politely say, "Thank you for your interest in my spiritual well being but tonight is _______'s birthday and I came to honor him. If you'd like to debate religion, we can do that another time."

How does your husband feel about the way you're treated there?

As your husband, it's his responsibility to stand up for you.

Mike

[ August 21, 2002, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: Smoke_Eater ]

 

My husband and I are different religions, too. I
find that the more I go with him, the more the
people know me, and the friendlier they are. I go
with him a little more than I used to, making sure
I get to at least one service every couple weeks.

There was one time when, in his Sunday
school class, the subject was wisdom.
Several people came up to me the next time
they saw me and asked me all about my pastor
and beliefs. One of them finally told me that my
husband had said, in class, that the wisest man
he knew was one of my pastors. This, of course,
opened a lot of dialog during which the people
got to know a little more about me and my be-
liefs.

I would go and just let them see the light of
the Lord in me, and if they harass you, don't
hand it back.

I am not sure what you mean by "apostolic,"
because I have run across many who call
themselves by this name--Catholics, holiness-
pentecostals, and Jesus Onlies. I do know
that the Jesus Onlies like to tease people of
other beliefs a lot, and the teasing can be in
good humor or quite vicious. As far as the
holiness-pentecostals, they usually are very
sweet to your face but they don't have much
to say as they walk away in great pity, because
they believe that anyone not attending their
church is almost surely hell-bound; minimally,
they have a "lesser gospel."

Whomever they are, just be yourself and go,
then be glad that you have taken care of your
obligation for a while. It is difficult for both
when we are of different religions, I know. The
two of us have pretty well worked it out, but
I feel bad for not being more supportive of my
husband and his choices.

[ August 21, 2002, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: Abiyah ]

 

Suggestion:

Maybe you can get your husband interested in talking to someone who has come out of the Apostolics. There are plenty out there including myself who left Baptist churches and went into that then came out.

 

My situation is a little different in that I am the husband but my wife used to attend a Church of God. When we married, she submitted to follow me to church. Granted they aren't as far askew as the Oneness folks. However, she did believe in tongues, prophecies, and that you could lose salvation.

I didn't argue with her about it. I just tried to fulfill my role as a biblical husband and showed her why I believed as I did from the Bible. But most importantly, I prayed that God would reveal the truth to one of us. Over the past several years God has answered that prayer. One of the answers was that he put us into a particular Baptist church with such unity and godliness that my wife ceased to view pentacostals as holier people.

My wife had grown up in a dead SBC church. She had seen their loose behaviour, their lack of a stand, and their infighting. She was easily swayed by the Church of God because she had never seen Baptists that behaved like a Christian should.

Within the past year, I over heard her tell one of our kids that "you can only be saved once." The issue of sign gifts does not come up often but she has been critical of a friend who went to see Benny Hinn. She is definitely more skeptical of experential religion than she was before.

My only suggestions are to be a strong biblical wife and pray...pray...pray that God will open your husbands eyes, mind, and heart.

 

I guess I went a little further than your original question. My suggestion is that you arm yourself with scripture and go. Find "assurance" verses to memorize.

You might need the scripture to defend your claim to salvation or you might just use it to comfort yourself when they attack. Either way, if you demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-25), you may win your husband by your godly behaviour.

 

If I remember correctly, they believe one is not
saved until they speak in tongues and are
baptized in "Jesus' name." They also believe
that the Holy Spirit is an "it" and they have been
known to teach people how to "speak in
tongues" by talking faster and faster until they
and their tongues get confused. I have been
in their services a few times (my best friend in
high school was UPC), and I remember her
sister spinning on the platform until she went
into a trance. Their music is pretty raucus,
heavy on the beat, and fast.

In other words, it is a very emotional doctrine,
one that probably makes them feel good like
going to the disco and dancing like crazy to
loud bomping music used to make people feel
good. It is hard to tell someone who is used to
so much emotionalism that it is not our God
who is in control of that but it is something
worked up. It will, indeed, take our God to get
them out of it.

 

Susan, normal human animal reaction: "fight or flee." In situations where we innately know we're not supposed to be, we look for a way out. Feeling trapped is not a good feeling.

Pray a lot this week, but show your Godly example by submitting to your husband and going. If they challenge you, don't rise to the challenge. If they're hateful, smile and tell them God loves them. If they're kind, be kind back. As someone mentioned above, you're not there to debate theology; you're there to celebrate your husband.

And we'll all pray for you in the meantime.

 

The short answer is you should go with your husband.

What is the history of your situation? Were you a baptist and he a oneness before you were married? If so this is just the consequences of a violation of the Scriptural injuction against becoming unequally yoked.

Did you become saved after your marriage? If so, you should still honor your husband and submit to him in all things,

Either way, when you're unequally yoked you can't plow a straight line no matter how hard you try.

 

well, you and your husband are in the situation you are in, and you both know have to deal with it the best you can now. If I were you, I would think the best thing you could do is ask your husband to make sure people don't harrass you. Tell him that it has been a problem in the past and if he wants you to attend SPECIAL functions in the future he will have to stand up for you and your belief system whether they like it or not because you are his wife and no one has the right to belittle you over it. Discussions are fine, arguements are not. try that.

 

Go, and have a good time. It takes two to argue, so determine not to.

 

I would talk to your husband about how you feel AND how you are treated there. As your husband, he should defend you as to NOT being in their realm of religion and are very satisified where you attend. If you get caught as a one on one, change the subject or, change the topic by asking a question. Maybe they will get the hint. Try to stay close to your husband IF he agrees to help you but don't let this become an arguement with him. Hopefully, if he is a good husband, he will help you. Good luck and have fun. As you said, it's a party, not a preaching convention. Oneness can become very "abrasive"!!!

God Bless............Alex

 

Oh, it's you! I almost forgot about the "re-baptized" thread.

You already know my thoughts. Wouldn't have posted had I remembered.

Yes, they absolutely will. That's just the way it is.

As to the event in question:
I've been around Pentecostals all my life. My parents are both Pentecostal, for a brief time my father was an RLDS proselyte. They're harmless. If you are secure in your belief all they say should not matter one whit. It may grate on your nerves a little, but thank God for the opportunity to develop the discipline of longsuffering.

 

You are probably not like I am, but I sometimes rather enjoy a good chance to blast a bunch of freaks in their own little fort. You seem to know some of their beliefs, and perhaps even more their attacks. Be ready to quote the verses which disprove their little gradations with the gospel. But be sure you are putting the authority where it matters, and use rhetoric... ex.: "Was Jesus lying when He said whoever believes in Him is not condemned? {John 3:18}"; "Was Paul lying when he said that one who believes and confesses is saved? {Romans 10:9}. If they give you a runaround, ask the same question again. You can't expect to change people from their pet issues-- method and purpose of baptism, 'KJVO,' style of music, and the rest of them-- but you can push as hard as they can, if you will.