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Historically, in southern USA pennycostalism, (certainly not everbody, but many) if a preacher really wanted to authenticate his preachin/decision/actions/etc., hey, he just done a cartwheel, a hucklebuck, a Woop Woop, a belt jerk, a Sha Ba Ba, or some kinda a physical body contortion, an at kinda sealed the deal fer many in the congregation?

Not only the preachers, but the parishioners as well. Much of it is learned behaviors that have been reinforced for years. The irony is that we Pentecostals pride ourselves on the fact that we go against tradition. And yet, we have our very own traditions that we hold even more sacred than the bible at times.

I thought the belt jerk was because his pants was loose from not being able to afford to eat at Shoney's

Can anyone recall there ever being any other poster who, single-handedly, worked so hard to call into question the things that so many Pentecostals hold dear?Healings? Well, maybe SOME of them are real...but most of the time God chooses not to heal.Faith? You can't really take the Word at face value about faith...you have to remember that what it really means is that is you REALLY have faith...God MIGHT do it. But probably not.If a person is on TV, why, they can't possibly be the real thing. After all, they made a mistake here, there, and, oh, over there. Nevermind that God used them--we can't accept anything about them, since they had some incorrect actions or doctrine.God's Generals? HA! It's clear that all or most of them were fakes...because they clearly had issues.Copeland said something to Stephen Lowery that, so far as OTCP can tell, didn't come true. Does he call Stephen Lowery? Nope. Does he call Copeland? Nope, he just slyly asks questions (reminds me of another feller...way back in the first of Genesis) that cast doubt and despite on someone whom God has certainly used. Oh, and upon T.L. Lowery himself for having the audacity, I suppose, to even be a friend of Copeland.OTCP, there are plenty of things that are wrong in the Church. We know that. But I have never seen anyone but the devil seem as intent as you on continuing to throw it in the faces of believers. It's not enough to say, Well, they are on a journey...and God will get them there because they love the Lord.Oh, no! We can't have that. We have to assume WE are the ones that are dead right...and they dead wrong.

No... Sorry Aaron you're wrong.OTCP is trying to hold together the Classic Pentecostalism that has too long put up with ministers who are the equivalent of a bar of granola.Fruit, Flakes and Nuts.

Patrick...

No one grew up more old-school than I. Born in Cleveland. Raised in the home of a full-time evangelist (later full-time pastor). I am as old-school as it gets.What I know is that incessantly and repeatedly pointing out the perceived flaws of others is NOT the way forward. There is not a SINGLE Church of God preacher that is always, always correct on doctrine or what have you. We all likely have missed it a few times. Fortunately, most of us didn't do it in front of millions. So we get to quietly retool, regroup and go on. But unless those whom OTCP dislikes has an I have sinned Jimmy Swaggart moment on public TV, I doubt he would be happy. Sometimes, things were said a long time ago...the person having moved on and grown...but, nope, we must revisit it time and time and time again.Yes, Copeland might have been DEAD WRONG on what he said at Lowery's funeral. He might have just gotten worked up...and missed it. OK, it happens. I doubt there is many preachers who have not felt someone received their healing (or whatever), boldly proclaimed it...only to have it backfire. It happens.

Got to do something to make it look like the Holy Spirit is there to keep people coming.

I like to give folks who are given to dramatic physical demonstrations the benefit of the doubt. I want to believe they mean well, and are sincerely worshipping in spirit and in truth. But generally speaking, it can be hard to say for sure. No doubt some of the best actors in history have been classical Pentecostals.

Aaron, son, I love ya man. Really I do. But no mounts a beratin OTCP will alter his position. I mean, hey, like a tree planted by the waters, OTCP shall not be moved.