I grew up in similar spaces, and your list is spot-on. Our church wasn't Pentacostal, but it was "Spirit-filled" and the swaying, hand-raising, speaking in tongues was normal there too. I always got the idea that protestant denominations were ok, but not as good as our non-denom church. Catholics and any non-Christians were definitely still in need of saving.
I remember watching a typical service at some point in my tween/early teen years and thinking, "if an outsider walked in here, they would think we were nuts. This looks just bonkers." But I had only ever known that world, so I told myself it didn't matter what the world thought, we knew we were right. Right???
Ah "spirit filled!" Haven't heard that term in a while. Yes, I think someone might have called our church that as well. It's always so interesting to hear that other non-denominational churches were similar, and how much overlap of experience other people have had. I felt led to believe were deeply unique, special. And I suppose we were...just not the way "they" meant.
Oh definitely! I absolutely got the idea that "other churches aren't like us" which of course made us superior. My childhood church had a big split over the new pastor search and a large group of our friends all moved to another church together. That's when I figured out there wasn't so much difference. As long as they called themselves a "Bible Church" they were interchangeable. But those other denominations..... They didn't *really* get it. 🙄
I grew up in similar spaces, and your list is spot-on. Our church wasn't Pentacostal, but it was "Spirit-filled" and the swaying, hand-raising, speaking in tongues was normal there too. I always got the idea that protestant denominations were ok, but not as good as our non-denom church. Catholics and any non-Christians were definitely still in need of saving.
I remember watching a typical service at some point in my tween/early teen years and thinking, "if an outsider walked in here, they would think we were nuts. This looks just bonkers." But I had only ever known that world, so I told myself it didn't matter what the world thought, we knew we were right. Right???
Ah "spirit filled!" Haven't heard that term in a while. Yes, I think someone might have called our church that as well. It's always so interesting to hear that other non-denominational churches were similar, and how much overlap of experience other people have had. I felt led to believe were deeply unique, special. And I suppose we were...just not the way "they" meant.
Oh definitely! I absolutely got the idea that "other churches aren't like us" which of course made us superior. My childhood church had a big split over the new pastor search and a large group of our friends all moved to another church together. That's when I figured out there wasn't so much difference. As long as they called themselves a "Bible Church" they were interchangeable. But those other denominations..... They didn't *really* get it. 🙄