Orderly worship

I was watching something that Michael Lofton from Reason and Theology had as a video about Charismatic/Pentecostal worship. 

I want to say that I have met many people who belong to these churches and are good Christians. 

And, before we get started, I want you to check out my Locals (Catholicism News and Whatever community)

I mean no disrespect to these people, but this is terrifying to an autistic adult (I can’t find the video, but, I am in fact, an autistic adult,Life as an autistic Catholicl)

It’s loud, it’s obnoxious, and it’s not worship.  Of course, I think there’s the other extreme of saying tongues are “demonic” (So…St Paul was demonic now)?  But it’s disordered. 
One thing I like about being Catholic is how things are ordered and predictable.  There’s variation (for the record, to all the TLM people that inexplicably think the TLM goes back to the first century, I prefer the Byzantine liturgy), but, there’s largely the same basic outline. 

I mean no disrespect to people who go to these churches, but when I see that Central America and Brazil are rapidly becoming Pentecostal, I have to ask myself “Why”?  “Why would you leave the most precious, spotless, and life giving Body and Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ”?  “What do you find appealing about this”? 

It’s not biblical, so I don’t ever want to hear that argument.  So, what does the Bible say? 

Good question!  And I’ll even use a Protestant version (because I still haven’t found my Douay Rheims, I have other Catholic Bibles, but still)

“How is it then, brethren?  when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.  Let all things be done unto edifying.  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted.  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 

And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 

What?  came the word out of God out of you?  or it came unto you only? 

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.  Let all things be done decently and in order”.

(1 Corinthians 14:26-40, King James Version).

So, in these charismatic circles, if God isn’t the God of confusion, why is there so much confusion?  Why is it so disorderly?  Also, why do many Pentecostals have female pastors if women aren’t permitted to speak in church?

I think the gift of tongues is a very real thing, but I am not sure these people have it. 

Adam Charles Hovey is the founder of the Catholicism, News, and Whatever community on Locals; Catholicismnewsandwhatever.locals.com

And the host of the weekly Bible Study “Coffee and Christianity”, Coffee and Christianity