Yesterday I had a private meeting with the pastor of the pentecostal church, and it was a very nice, deep conversation. We basically agreed on everything surrounding socially conservative issues, and he most often took words right out of my mouth, such as hedonism and moral relativism. A very sensible, reasonable man. He told me that they had a huge regional meet-up with a guest from the states the evening after and that I should come, that it would be intense. I decided to go ahead.
I guess it would be stereotypical of what we expect of pentecostal assemblies: very exuberant people who have an immense zeal and joy for the Lord, loud singing, hands being lifted up in the air, invitations to hug other people, etc. It was beautiful at times, though that was intense and strange. There were nearly 400 people in the room in worship. I left before the end of the 4 hours-long ceremony as I was just too tired.
At some point in it though something special happened, we were compelled to lay our hands on other people so as to infuse them with the Holy Spirit, and one after another, two men from the staff started to embrace me, lay hands on me and recite prayers for me. I guess they might have noticed that I was feeling a bit awkward, and perhaps sad as I did lately. I know the second man in his prayers said the Lord hadn't forgotten about me and that He had great plans for me and would never give me up. All the while it was happening I literally felt the Holy Spirit oozing all over me and being imbued in pure joy and serenity and adoration toward the Lord, it was so intense that after the first man left I lay my eyes closed while there was loud singing in the center stage for 30 minutes.
So yes, a very nice, warm, compassionate gesture.
In all, I feel Pentecostals are a bit too much for me. I simply need more sobriety and maturity, I do not feel at ease in their environment since they're constantly trying to build themselves up into a state of trance. Still I can only see that their desire to incite people to put their guard down and welcome the Lord is very admirable. So perhaps I can visit once in a while when I begin to feel too arrogant, and need to have a faith that is more child-like, as Pentecostals aspire to.
It led to an awkward conversation when I came back home when I told my wife that two men had profusely embraced me. She asked me if she should start getting worried.