Prayers would be appreciated

[Anna Mae]

I've gotten involved in a charismatic group that meets every Sunday night. My mom and I have already been having some disharmony, and this isn't helping. She doesn't really like some of it for various reasons I won't go into at the moment. This is making it really hard for me. This group has helped me grow A LOT in my faith, and I don't want to leave it. I still attend my home church normally... Anyway, this has put me under a lot of stress. I'd appreciate your prayers.

[shooraijin]

I wish there were an easy answer. What sorts of things did your mom object to?

I'll keep you both in prayer.

[Swordguy]

i will pray too

[Rogie]

I'll pray.

[Mr. Rogers]

will pray

[Staci]

I will most definitely pray. Please keep us posted on the issue!

If you wish to discuss this privately I am open to PMs. I have been known to give out good advice when a muse descends. *winks*

Idea: By the way... The group itself may not be bothering your Mom. A deeper issue could be taking place. Perhaps ask her if something -- besides said group -- is possibly making her question you, making her feel uncomfortable, et cetera.

When I joined my high school theatre group in the eleventh grade, my Mom was upset. She said it was the long hours and that I wouldn't have time to finish my homework but when we got down to the real issue she was just scared I would "mix" with the "wrong crowd". Then we hugged and made-up... It was all good from then-on.

[Anna Mae]

Well, some of the reasons my mom doesn't like it bother me. Some of it seems like simply personal prejudice. She says she doesn't like some of the people there's personalities. She can't really give me a good reason why. Also, she says that she feels vulnerable there. When I ask her why, she says that (1) she doesn't want GOD revealing things about her to them (like them getting words of knowledge about her or prophesying over her) and (2) she doesn't want to prophesy.

I ask her about that one verse (I think it's in I Corinthians...) that says "desire all the gifts of the Spirit, but especially that you may prophesy" and she says that she doesn't think that she's gifted with that. I then point out that the verse doesn't say "desire all the gifts of the Spirit (unless you don't like them), but especially that you may prophesy (unless you don't want to go out of your comfort zone)" and she doesn't really say anything.

Also, my parents don't want me to go there without one of them. That's fine, but, it really wears my dad out to go because he puts a lot of energy into discerning when he goes (and he often is busy on Sunday nights anyway), and my mom just hates it there. I don't want to stop going, but I don't want to cause my parents anger and sorrow, and I want to stay balanced in other church activities, my viewpoint, and attitude.

I'm completely torn. I don't know what to do.

[termyt]

This is a stumbling block between different denominations. I'm not going to step into this with any kind of theological opinion, but I will say this. Seek out all verses that deal with this or any subject. Then you will have a better grasp of the whole picture. Taking only a single verse can lead to misinterpretation of the scripture. Bear in mind, I am not trying to support either side's argument, just that the Bible is only confusing and contradictory when we try to find verses that only support our beliefs instead of shaping our beliefs to the entirety of scripture. Note that the Bible says both, " "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," (Romans 10:13) and "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven.â€

[Genma]

Termyt's words are very wise and worth paying close attention to. I, like Termyt will not go into what I believe about these issues, but I will remind you that we all need to obey our parents as repeated frequently throughout the Bible. The Bible also equates obedience to parents with righteousness and godliness. The only exception I can see here is in the case that the parent is asking you to do something that jeopardizes your salvation. Sometimes in order for our parents to understand our need to grow spiritually we need to allow our growth level to match theirs for a time, even if it seems to slow us down.

This is not to say that you are wrong and they are right, or you are right and they are wrong, but simply that you must place obedience to parents as a high priority. I have in some situations told a youth that they must wait until they have a parent's permission to be baptized because it comes down to that person obeying their parent.

My prayers are with you in this.

God please grant Anna Mae your wisdom and vision to know how to handle this situation. Work in her and her parents to know your truth and will in this situation. In Jesus' name.

[Anna Mae]

Thanks for your prayers guys. And yes, if my parents told me not to go, I wouldn't. In fact, not to long ago I was getting discouraged about all the tension I was causing and told them that I didn't have to go anymore. They said that it was OK to continue, though.

Also, as I said, whenever my dad goes, he spends the entire time discerning in the Spirit, and he's OK with what they do. So, yeah. Thanks again. Your prayers and input are appreciated!

[Anna Mae]

Well, something odd happened just yesterday when I was at the meeting again. My mom was talking to a lady who hadn't been there before (she had been to ones in different towns, but not this one). I was a ways away, but I could still hear what they were saying. Anyway, I hear my mom telling her that really good role models were here, and that she liked them (though she didn't name anyone specific). I was very surprised, because there's only one person there that my mom [has said she] likes at all. She doesn't like some of them because they preach too much, or because they yell when they preach, or because they like to give friends hugs. Last I heard (which was maybe an hour earlier), she still felt that way, so I was wondering why she was saying what she did. I didn't confront her about it, but I'm really wondering.

[Anna Mae]

Well, I know no one has posted in this thread for forever, but I just thought that I would tell all you guys that might still be praying that my parents decided they didn't want me to to there anymore. So, yeah. I stopped.

[termyt]

How do you feel about that?

Do you think your parents reasons are justified or are they just over reacting to something they are not comfortable with?

[Anna Mae]

Well, I'm OK with it. I trust my father's wisdom.

I'm not sure whether my mom's reasons are reasonable or not, but I definately trust my dad. He is quite wise. If he would rather I not go there, I completely trust him.