Why I'm Not Pentecostal
This blog is in response to the blog post Why I am Pentecostal by Allyson Cain.This may come as a shock to most of you, but I'm not Pentecostal.
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The horror! |
I used to be Pentecostal. Behold, photographic evidence!
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Long denim skirt? Check. Overwhelmingly long hair? Check. Elbows covered for extra measure? Check. |
But, friendships can only take you so far.
In the end, I based most of my friendships and the majority of my religious beliefs on outward appearance because it was (and is) a stressed belief in the Pentecostal movement. I became entirely too engrossed in the rules.
You know what rules got me? Hurt. Disappointment. Bitterness. I'm 99% sure I gained all of my hurtful judging abilities I now possess from that timeframe. I would judge other girls' holiness based on how much they covered up with clothing. I'm truly surprised there wasn't more hair length competitiveness.
Once M and I were together, I felt I could truly be myself, and once I was 17/18, I started having my hair cut short, and wearing the occasional pair of jeans.
This is the first Facebook photo of me post Pentecostal (in jeans). I left M's witty comment up for your entertainment. Also, I don't know why my dad is making that face. I considered cropping him out, but ya know.
So, why am I not a Pentecostal?
Pentecostals are mean. No one can pull of a holier-than-thou attitude like Pentecostals. *1
Rules must be adhered to, but only certain rules. I find it entertaining how many hours are wasted by people debating skirts and long hair. You know what's a real problem? Obesity. How many Pentecostal preachers have you heard preach against gluttony? That's what I thought. *2
Denominations divide. You know a really good way to not get people to church? Exclude them. Denominations are so ridiculous, I could devote an entire blog (series!) to them. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. No one was ever won to the Lord by mean words. #truestory
So yeah, my hair will more than likely never be down-to-my-butt long again (with the exception of when I grow my hair out for Locks of Love). And I recently got a friendship piercing.
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Cat earrings. =^..^= |
And while I reserve the right to wear pants, I usually don't because my hips thighs don't lie. 30 pounds ago, I still didn't look good in pants (see above picture). I'm coming to terms with it.
As far as skirts, and belted cardigans (the official outfit of young Pentecostal women) go, I want to dress in a certain way that people DON'T think I'm Pentecostal. When people look at me, I want them to see I'm different, Christian different. Not Pentecostal different.
I'm not a Pentecostal.
I'm a Christian.
Stay classy,
Jessie
*1 OBVIOUSLY, not all Pentecostals are mean. My in-laws are pretty nice people. After my recent go with sickness, my church family (consisting of mainly Pentecostals) really stepped in and took care of me, and I would say they're a pretty nice bunch. :D
*2 My pastor is the only minister I have ever heard speak on gluttony.
2 Thoughts:
*Like*
Seriously encouraging since sometimes I feel so in-between stuff! I don't know why but I feel like I'm always the person nit-picking myself which, in return, I end up nit-picking others when I really honestly don't want to. Then I just feel like the worst and most awful person ever for (sub-consiously?) nit picking others when I don't know their stories. (By sub-consciously I mean, I do it without realizing it at first then scold myself for doing it immediately after.)
Your comments are refreshing. It is so easy to get all caught up in the skirts, head coverings and extremely long hair to the exclusion of Jesus. I don't want to loose sight of Jesus ever, especially during worship!
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