Post by Gerard Mendes on May 25, 2005 12:42:35 GMT -5
LETTERS FROM ROMANIA--PART 3
From: "Corina Teperdel"
To: "gerard mendes"
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:56:17 -0500
Subject: Romania 3
THE "NEW WINESKINS" IN ROMANIA
So, today about the new churches in Romania, born after the anticommunist revolution. I mean the so-called "Charismatic movement", inexistent here before 1989. These churches were started from zero, with new converts basicly, very hungry for God and willing to learn and to grow. I come from such a church, and I was very much involved there for a few years (about 7), so now I will speak even more based on a personal experience.
When I say "new", I think of what it was new for us, the Romainians. It's surely not new for you. I mean, it's not about a wird new doctrine or way of living or whatever. Actually, our Charismatic churches are very much alike with most of YOUR Pentecostal churches (but not with OUR Pentecostal churches).
"Charismatic" here means also non-denominational. So, these churches have their own independancy, and do not function like a denomination (no central leadership and rules). Maybe they could be working together as a network, as "relatives", but still, every church can have its own emphasizes, so every church must be evaluated separately. They are certainly not "twins", and they have different roads and "colours".
The Charismatic movement was certainly an enrichment for the spiritual field in Romania. Because people here are more open-minded than anywhere else. Or, better said, "open-spirited", if I can use this expression. Maybe their first quality (or gift) as Christians is the fact that they know the difference between spirit and soul. They know to discern (as a theology, at least, if not in everyday-life) between the things of the spirit and the things of the soul. And this is to me like discerning between God and man, heaven and earth, eternal and mortal, perfection and corruptible. Maybe it goes without saying for you, in America (I don't know that), but here, in Romania, most of the churches and Christians have no idea that spirit and soul are two different things. And WHAT a difference!!! It's so sad to hear pastors and preachers teaching a whole church (indirectly) that spirit and soul are one and the same thing. Don't you think this is poisoning?... Where is the spiri tual growth then? Where is the POWER to overcome sin? How can you live a life from inside out if you don't know such a basic thing?...
Only the "new wineskin-churches" (let's call them this way) have this theology. And also many other spiritual truths that are, actually, basic truths, but still lack in the other churches.
These new churches are open for changes, for growth, for a real journey with God. People here are willing and ready to go higher and higher on God's "mountain". I believe that they are made from a good "clay" comparing to other churches, made from that material that can be used by God for His purposes. (AFTER some work, of course...)
But... Bad things are sneaking inside these churches, too. They started by being alive. Imature, but alive. Now, they are becoming more and more only a system which is trying to standardize everything, to erase every human's individuality, to produce just soldiers who think the same and act the same, nothing more. The pressure of producing "fruits" and bringing tangible results by all means destroys the real freedom of God's life inside people, the real growth, the genuine fruits of the S(s)pirit. Also, the cult of the leader is expanding more and more. You own him (her) submission, otherwise you are rebellious and must repent. The leader is always right, and YOUR opinion must bow it's knees. Leaders are infallible people, who must preserve a certain image. You can never see inside their hearts. They just listen and advise, but never open their hearts, too, because they would lose something from their "aura". Also, they will eventually controlle people's lives, hiding them selves behind the good intention of making disciples and overwatching them. They COULD be well-intended. Still, they are very wrong. This happened to MY church, for example. It became eventually a prison... (I know this is not an isolated case. It's already a world-wide phenomenon inside the Charismatic movement, unfortunately. If you read the book "The Call" by Rick Joyner, you will probably understand much better what I'm saying here.)
next:
From: "Corina Teperdel"
To: "gerard mendes"
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:56:17 -0500
Subject: Romania 3
THE "NEW WINESKINS" IN ROMANIA
So, today about the new churches in Romania, born after the anticommunist revolution. I mean the so-called "Charismatic movement", inexistent here before 1989. These churches were started from zero, with new converts basicly, very hungry for God and willing to learn and to grow. I come from such a church, and I was very much involved there for a few years (about 7), so now I will speak even more based on a personal experience.
When I say "new", I think of what it was new for us, the Romainians. It's surely not new for you. I mean, it's not about a wird new doctrine or way of living or whatever. Actually, our Charismatic churches are very much alike with most of YOUR Pentecostal churches (but not with OUR Pentecostal churches).
"Charismatic" here means also non-denominational. So, these churches have their own independancy, and do not function like a denomination (no central leadership and rules). Maybe they could be working together as a network, as "relatives", but still, every church can have its own emphasizes, so every church must be evaluated separately. They are certainly not "twins", and they have different roads and "colours".
The Charismatic movement was certainly an enrichment for the spiritual field in Romania. Because people here are more open-minded than anywhere else. Or, better said, "open-spirited", if I can use this expression. Maybe their first quality (or gift) as Christians is the fact that they know the difference between spirit and soul. They know to discern (as a theology, at least, if not in everyday-life) between the things of the spirit and the things of the soul. And this is to me like discerning between God and man, heaven and earth, eternal and mortal, perfection and corruptible. Maybe it goes without saying for you, in America (I don't know that), but here, in Romania, most of the churches and Christians have no idea that spirit and soul are two different things. And WHAT a difference!!! It's so sad to hear pastors and preachers teaching a whole church (indirectly) that spirit and soul are one and the same thing. Don't you think this is poisoning?... Where is the spiri tual growth then? Where is the POWER to overcome sin? How can you live a life from inside out if you don't know such a basic thing?...
Only the "new wineskin-churches" (let's call them this way) have this theology. And also many other spiritual truths that are, actually, basic truths, but still lack in the other churches.
These new churches are open for changes, for growth, for a real journey with God. People here are willing and ready to go higher and higher on God's "mountain". I believe that they are made from a good "clay" comparing to other churches, made from that material that can be used by God for His purposes. (AFTER some work, of course...)
But... Bad things are sneaking inside these churches, too. They started by being alive. Imature, but alive. Now, they are becoming more and more only a system which is trying to standardize everything, to erase every human's individuality, to produce just soldiers who think the same and act the same, nothing more. The pressure of producing "fruits" and bringing tangible results by all means destroys the real freedom of God's life inside people, the real growth, the genuine fruits of the S(s)pirit. Also, the cult of the leader is expanding more and more. You own him (her) submission, otherwise you are rebellious and must repent. The leader is always right, and YOUR opinion must bow it's knees. Leaders are infallible people, who must preserve a certain image. You can never see inside their hearts. They just listen and advise, but never open their hearts, too, because they would lose something from their "aura". Also, they will eventually controlle people's lives, hiding them selves behind the good intention of making disciples and overwatching them. They COULD be well-intended. Still, they are very wrong. This happened to MY church, for example. It became eventually a prison... (I know this is not an isolated case. It's already a world-wide phenomenon inside the Charismatic movement, unfortunately. If you read the book "The Call" by Rick Joyner, you will probably understand much better what I'm saying here.)
next: