A little correction for shygrneyzs... the United Pentecostal Church as a body does NOT say no to celebrating Christmas. There are people (in just about any denomination) who do celebrate, and those who don't celebrate. I have been a UPCI minister's wife for almost 37 years, and we do celebrate Christmas. We have a Christmas tree, lights, gifts, songs, Christmas play at church, etc, etc. I consider it a joyful and wonderful time of year, and even though I have heard all the objections against it (pagan origins, etc) I believe it is what it means to us that counts, since the Bible does not tell us to celebrate it, and it doesn't forbid it either. I enjoy Christmas, and most of the United Pentecostal people I know also celebrate it. :)

One more thing... some Pentecostals do the Santa thing, although we have always felt it was not right to actually tell our children that there truly is a Santa Claus, one that flies all over the world on Christmas Eve and visits only good little girls and boys... this is a lie, and when they find out that it is not true, it may make them wonder what other lies their parents are telling them... that is my opinion... my kids always heard of Santa, and always knew it was a make-believe thing. They knew their gifts were bought for them by us. :)

I have a very hard time believing that the evidence of the baptism of the holy spirit is ,speaking in tounges. I know I have been born again & have the power of the Holy spirit in my life.

I have a very hard believing that the evidence of the baptism of the Holy spirit ,is speaking in tonges. I have been born again from above, & have the power of the Holy spirit in my life. I believe that allot of people are pretending .

Well I am United Pentecostal and I believe that children should be taught the real reason for celebraating Christmas.. I thik they should be taught that the parents give the presents... and we exchange presents with each other.to commemorate the 3 wisemen bringing presents to the Christchild.. As for the Christmas tree I believe it is fine because the whole family can decorate it together and makes for togetherness... I don't believe parents should lie to the children and tell them that there IS a Santa Claus and a Tooth Fairy and an Easter Bunny. And then expect tttthe children to believe that you would never lie to them.. The real meaning of Christmas is Jesus s birth and many kids nowadays don't even know that.. all they think is that Christmas is presents

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Originally Posted by grinoalda4

I have a very hard believing that the evidence of the baptism of the Holy spirit ,is speaking in tonges. I have been born again from above, & have the power of the Holy spirit in my life. I believe that allot of people are pretending .

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That is an offensive statement, I did not speak in tongues until I was baptised in the Holy Spirit. The Baptism in The Holy Spirit is separate from being born again although the infilling may happen at the same time. Scripture tells us to seek the gifts, that speaking in tongues edifies the speaker and I have found this to be true. I have seen people try to pretend they have been touched by God, they are a pathetic sight and the gifts find them out. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not just speaking in tongues but about exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit in ministry

Pentecostal is not a religion it is a way of life when Jesus Christ was alive there was 50 days of feasts and celebration. They were touched by the Holy Spirit this is just a small short summary of what the word Pentecostal is about. About the dilemma of santa and valentines day. It depends if you want to be a true believer or just say you are, there are many people out there who say they are Pentecostal but just do what they feel like doing and leave out other parts they do not want to follow. In revelations we find the warning of adding and taking away from the bible.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18-19
Also in Deuteronomy 4:2 you find
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2
The bible says in Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me Exodus 20:3 by this we do not praise anyone or anything who is not God including saints if you know the story of valentines day you know he was known as st. valentine. So we do not celebrate valentines because we would be praising him. In concerns to celebrating santa, he has blinded the world of what Christmas is really about, the birth of JESUS CHRIST this is just a part of a very in depth topic.

What is the point of this. Pentacostals are basically fundamentalist Christians, they have read the Word and believed the promises of God. If you want to find people who have added to the Word look among the traditional denominations. Pentacostals may celebrate christmas, not because they necessarily believe that date can be verified but because they want to celebrate Christ with the rest of the community. We know Jesus did not tell us too celebrate his birth and the only celebration he wanted of his death was that we should remember him whenever we broke bread

. Everything else is not for him but for us, just blind religion

Paul gave us a warning about celebrating special days. We should not be too interested in such matters. We should not keep Valentines or any other "saint's" day but we surely can recognise commercialism when we see it.

My sister in law is hardcore into her religion follows everything to the dot but yet when it come to Christmas she is decorating buying gifts and having her kids believe in Santa to me that's great, but her kids are being raised to follow Pentecostalism just like they are. Is there anything wrong with that?

Here in South Africa we as Penticostals do celebrate Christmas fullout.With Santa on the roof tree in the house lights allover.We love to see our Kids happy.Everything is okay as long as you don't loose sight of the birthday boy