Ever seen this kind of church?

[swathdiver]

There is more than one understood meaning of that term, though, swath. Years ago, the Southern Baptist church had youth meetings after the regular service on Sunday nights. They called them after glow, referring to basking in the glow of the Lord.

A couple of months ago I saw the term flash across the screen at my church in reference to a youth meeting too. I immediately told the associate pastor about the term it and was quickly pulled and renamed. Yes, there's more than one definition of the term but consider that a prospect may giggle at our innocence, ignorance or think we're perverts.

[JerryNumbers]

John, it happens so fast.

We went to a baptist church in France some years ago. We stopped goingbthere when a new pastor who said he was charismatic got every one to stand in a circle, holding hands while they prayed.

Recently a visiting preacher tried that at our church. My wife and I did not join in on either ocassion as we considererd it similar to a seance or a spiritualist service. (not that we have been to either.)

What is wrong with holding hands & praying? And I am speaking about just holding hands in a circle, & praying. I've done that several times.
The times I've done it has been special prayers for a few different reasons.

[Invicta]

What is wrong with holding hands & praying? And I am speaking about just holding hands in a circle, & praying. I've done that several times.
The times I've done it has been special prayers for a few different reasons.

I have always associated it with a seance or a coven.

At Greenham Common, the women's peace camp, described as the biggest coven in the world, linked holding hands all aroung the US air base.

What benefit is it to christians? Where is it in the scripture?

[JerryNumbers]

What is wrong with it? Can you name one thing wrong with people joining hands while praying for someone or some situation?

I remember once about 25 or more of us stood in a circle joining hands while praying for a young girl that we knew had leukemia & a report had come back that all hope was gone. She survived, and if not mistaken now has a family.

One thing I would be careful about is judging where, when, & or what postition someone prays in.

Sometime when we get out of our comfort zone, that which we are used to doing, we may get uncomfortable, yet it may not mean what is being done is wrong.

[John81]

As far as I know, the joining of hands by any group (inside or outside of Christianity) is simply a means of showing support and unity.

[JerryNumbers]

Surely most people that have attended church services very much have stood in a prayer circle at one time or other.

I've been in churches where everyone stood during a prayer, everyone setting down except for the one saying the prayer. I've seen people on their knees at the alter praying, & or the front pew. I've seen everyone gathered up around the alter & praying.

[Wilchbla]

I see nothing wrong with believers holding hands while they pray. Like John says it's just a expression of unity.

[Invicta]

As far as I know, the joining of hands by any group (inside or outside of Christianity) is simply a means of showing support and unity.

Hmm. perhaps, but it is a thing charismatics have introduced so I am wary of it.

The greatest danger to the church today is charismaticism, or neo paganism.

[John81]

Hmm. perhaps, but it is a thing charismatics have introduced so I am wary of it.

The greatest danger to the church today is charismaticism, or neo paganism.

No doubt Charismatics tend to be more "touchy" than Baptists but holding hands during prayer is done in some Baptist churches but not in others. We don't hold hands during prayer in our church but I have attended some that do.

[JerryNumbers]

No, its not a charismatic thing, its a Christina thing. Have you ever seen a family at their dinner table hold hands while praying? Or husband & wife setting at a booth in a restaurant holding hands over the table praying?

[Invicta]

Surely most people that have attended church services very much have stood in a prayer circle at one time or other.

I've been in churches where everyone stood during a prayer, everyone setting down except for the one saying the prayer. I've seen people on their knees at the alter praying, & or the front pew. I've seen everyone gathered up around the alter & praying.

I don't see an alter as part of a chistian church. An altar is where a sacrifice is offered as in the RC church.