Vineyard Churches

[naomi24]

I’ve received an invitation to attend one of their events specially designed for children and young families. Founded in the US, Wiki describes this organisation as a ‘neo-charismatic evangelical Christian denomination with over 1,500 affiliated churches worldwide’. Does anyone here belong to this church - or has anyone ever attended one of their services, or events - and if so, what are/were your impressions?

[jomifl]

I know what a 'brewery church' is Naomi, are these similar?

[mikey4444]

I have never heard of a vineyard church but I can hazard a guess what they are all about. The clue is "founded in the US" naomi.

So they will believe in the literal truth of everything that is in Bible ...ie the planet was created a few thousand years ago, dinosaurs were hunted by early man for food, fossils were planted by either God or the devil to confuse David Attenborough and the rest of us, Noah managed to get every single creature into a small wooden boat, Jesus fed thousands of people without using caterers, and Jonah came out alive and kicking despite being swallowed by a whale.

The list is endless. Unless you want to be subjected to a load of silly drivel, do yourself a favour and stay away.

[mikey4444]

This might help :::

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Vineyard_Churches#Beliefs_and_practices

[jomifl]

Thanks Mikey, more of the same it seems.

[cupid04]

I went to one once. Our church regularly has what we call an 'exchange of pulpit' so we can meet other Christians from different denominations. They were very friendly. I found the sermon very uplifting but the music very loud and aimed at attracting the young [not a bad thing] as there is little to do to keep the young interested in some churches.

[jomifl]

cupid, you said
/ the music very loud and aimed at attracting the young [not a bad thing] as there is little to do to keep the young interested in some churches. /
Astonishing...

[naomi24]

Thanks for your answers.

Wiki describes the practices of neo-charismatic churches thus:

//Neocharismatics, like Apostolics, Pentecostals and charismatics, believe in and stress the post-Biblical availability of gifts of the Holy Spirit, including glossolalia (speaking in tongues), healing, and prophecy. They practice laying on of hands and seek the "infilling" of the Holy Spirit. //

To my mind, any church that promotes this stuff is not only nutty – it’s downright dangerous!

[jomifl]

Just another christian sect to add to the list... how many thousands to date?

[naomi24]

God(?) knows - but the CofE doesn't promote what these people, with their healing and prophesies and speaking in tongues, promote - and these have 1500 churches! Frightening!

[Cetti]

Hello naomi!

How kind of you to say 'Hi!' i didn't think anyone would remember me after so long. Well, it's been 4 years now and although I still miss my gorgeous man I'm doing things I never thought I could - or would ever do! I do hope you and your family are well and doing exciting things. Oh, by the way Vineyard Church is brilliant, they do wonderful things there - not at all weird. I admit it's not the church I go to but I know folks who do and they are quite run of the mill normal - honestly!Love, Cetti XX

[naomi24]

Hello Cetti. Lovely to see you back. I haven’t forgotten your dark days, and I posted a couple of times to ask if anyone knew how you were, but no one did. I'm delighted to know you're doing well. x

I think most people appear 'normal' – until their religion enters the conversation, when they seem to abandon all sense of rationality. I can’t think that healing and prophesies and speaking in tongues is anything but weird. Certainly not 'normal'.