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Slain in the Spirit?

X Factor

X Factor

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I've been to a number of different types of churches; Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, Charismatic and Pentecostal. Personally, Baptist churches seem to use be closest to my beliefs though I did attend a Charismatic church for awhile. Anyway, in the Pentecostal service (I can only remember one I went to), we had our eyes closed in prayer but I heard people (and chairs) crashing all around me. When the prayer was over, there were a number of people laying on the ground having been "slain in the spirit". The problem is, I cannot find any Biblical basis for it.

My question is basically (and very broadly) what do my fellow believers think of the practice/concept (I can already imagine what non believers think of it :D)?
 
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X Factor said:
Anyway, in the Pentecostal service (I can only remember one I went to), we had our eyes closed in prayer but I heard people (and chairs) crashing all around me. When the prayer was over, there were a number of people laying on the ground having been "slain in the spirit". The problem is, I cannot find any Biblical basis for it.

My question is basically (and very broadly) what do my fellow believers think of the practice/concept (I can already imaging what non believers think of it :D)?
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My personal opinion is that it is most likely hyperventilation and hysteria reactions in the VAST majority of cases.

What we are seeing springing up in this area, with regular frequency, is what are called "cowboy churches", which are essentially non-denominational churches, where the atmosphere is casual and friendly, and the people are very nice to be around. They truly do seem to draw a large number of cowboy types, as you can look over the congregation on any given Sunday morning, and see lots of cowboy hats and western cut shirts. My dad would have loved it, and would have fit right in.
 
When I was a kid I had a sleep over with a friend. These were very country people, in Alabama, slayed their own chickens, grandma spitting tobacco. We attended I believe was the Church of God?, and the same thing happened. People were rolling on the ground, barking, speaking jibberish. I didn't know to laugh or be scared. If that spirit came from God, I wouldn't want to have nothing to do with him.
 
lizzie said:
My personal opinion is that it is most likely hyperventilation and hysteria reactions in the VAST majority of cases.
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Y'know what it kinda reminds me of? I've seen those hypnotists on TV that supposedly hypnotize a dozen people on the stage. When I watch it, they do this little test, like "3-2-1 you're a asleep" and those who slump over have been hypnotized those who haven't aren't "susceptible" or whatever. What it looks like to me is more like they're trying to decide who's willing to play along.

I think a number of people who fall over do so because they don't want to be seen as not having the spirit or not being spiritual enough. Like I say, that's just an opinion. I've never experienced myself. Maybe I'd think otherwise if I had.
 
I've actually seen this happen as well; my dad and stepmother used to go to a Pentecostal church (I think it was Church of God but I don't remember). It weirded me out, to say the least.
 
laska said:
When I was a kid I had a sleep over with a friend. These were very country people, in Alabama, slayed their own chickens, grandma spitting tobacco. We attended I believe was the Church of God?, and the same thing happened. People were rolling on the ground, barking, speaking jibberish. I didn't know to laugh or be scared. If that spirit came from God, I wouldn't want to have nothing to do with him.
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I lol'd at the barking, but hey who said speaking in tongues had to mean speaking in human tongues?
 
X Factor said:
I think a number of people who fall over do so because they don't want to be seen as not having the spirit or not being spiritual enough. Like I say, that's just an opinion. I've never experienced myself. Maybe I'd think otherwise if I had.
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Imo, if you're worried about other people not thinking you're spiritual enough, you're on the wrong track. It isn't about a show. It's about your own spirituality, and it's your business. If you're trying to impress other people, you've gotten way off course.
 
X Factor said:
I lol'd at the barking, but hey who said speaking in tongues had to mean speaking in human tongues?
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I've always thought of the gift of tongues in relation to LDS missionaries receiving the gift to be able to learn a foreign language quickly in order to teach the gospel in the people's native tongue.
 
laska said:
I've always thought of the gift of tongues in relation to LDS missionaries receiving the gift to be able to learn a foreign language quickly in order to teach the gospel in the people's native tongue.
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I believe that all genuine miracles—all genuine manifestations of the influence of the Holy Ghost—will take forms that are positive and useful. The gifts of tongues—speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues—will serve to help people communicate with one another who otherwise would not be able to.

I also believe that Satan offers counterfeit miracles to deceive people. Babbling incoherent nonsense that communicates nothing to any person is Satan's counterfeit version of “speaking in tongues”. If there is any supernatural basis to this “slain in the spirit” thing, then I have no doubt that this also comes, not from God, but from Satan.
 
lizzie said:
Imo, if you're worried about other people not thinking you're spiritual enough, you're on the wrong track. It isn't about a show. It's about your own spirituality, and it's your business. If you're trying to impress other people, you've gotten way off course.
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Totally agree. I don't want to say that nobody's ever had an authentic experience, but a lot of it does seem awfully showy.
 
laska said:
I've always thought of the gift of tongues in relation to LDS missionaries receiving the gift to be able to learn a foreign language quickly in order to teach the gospel in the people's native tongue.
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In all honesty, those I've been around that spoke in tongues sounded a lot, to me, like "la la la la". At the same time, I remember these folks as being good genuine people so I believe the experience was authentic to them.

Bob Blaylock said:
I believe that all genuine miracles—all genuine manifestations of the influence of the Holy Ghost—will take forms that are positive and useful. The gifts of tongues—speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues—will serve to help people communicate with one another who otherwise would not be able to.

I also believe that Satan offers counterfeit miracles to deceive people. Babbling incoherent nonsense that communicates nothing to any person is Satan's counterfeit version of “speaking in tongues”. If there is any supernatural basis to this “slain in the spirit” thing, then I have no doubt that this also comes, not from God, but from Satan.
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I was told that it was their "prayer language".
 
Kobie said:
I've actually seen this happen as well; my dad and stepmother used to go to a Pentecostal church (I think it was Church of God but I don't remember). It weirded me out, to say the least.
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I got pretty accustomed to some stuff, but yeah, that was a bit more drama than I wanted in church.
 
X Factor said:
In all honesty, those I've been around that spoke in tongues sounded a lot, to me, like "la la la la". At the same time, I remember these folks as being good genuine people so I believe the experience was authentic to them.



I was told that it was their "prayer language".
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If they say it's a "prayer language" which tells me its gibberish, and not an an actual language it's not from the sprite. To speak in tongues is to speak in a actual language your not familiar with. Alot of the Pentecostal denominations require this as "proof" of ones salvation which is also problematic because this can make people feel obligated to do it. I personally have a problem with churches that play to people's emotions, because they can be easily manipulated, although I think many of these folks are sincere. It has been an ongoing debate in reformed Christianity as to whether " tongues" stopped after Pentecost, I tend to believe it did in all but the rarest occasions. Also I forget exactly where in the writings of Paul, but he actually speaks to this. He says believers should be real careful when doing this. Like when a stranger shows up you should refrain from such things as not to scare them off! Or if someone is "moved by the sprite" there should be someone their to interpret whats being said, if not? He says don't do it.
 
X Factor said:
Y'know what it kinda reminds me of? I've seen those hypnotists on TV that supposedly hypnotize a dozen people on the stage. When I watch it, they do this little test, like "3-2-1 you're a asleep" and those who slump over have been hypnotized those who haven't aren't "susceptible" or whatever. What it looks like to me is more like they're trying to decide who's willing to play along.

I think a number of people who fall over do so because they don't want to be seen as not having the spirit or not being spiritual enough. Like I say, that's just an opinion. I've never experienced myself. Maybe I'd think otherwise if I had.
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I agree, mass hypnosis. It's no accident that some of those praise choruses they do are repeated over and over again.
 
I was always fascinated by the speaking in tongues thing. My mother was a member of an evangelical church that split in two when a part of the congregation took a distinctly charismatic turn and started the speaking in tongues thing very seriously. Being very focused on the word of Christ, I heard people quoting Mark 16 a lot:
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
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So, it seemed to me then, and still does, that if someone were to speak in tongues, given that Jesus had just said that these gifts were in order for them to "go into the world and preach the gospel", that the gift of tongues would be in human languages that would allow that very evangelisation. Mouthing gibberish would not appear to be what Jesus had in mind at all.

It also struck me that these zealous charismatics rarely drank poison in order for people to realise that their belief in Christ was genuine. I wonder why not.
 
Gringo allstar said:
If they say it's a "prayer language" which tells me its gibberish, and not an an actual language it's not from the sprite. To speak in tongues is to speak in a actual language your not familiar with. Alot of the Pentecostal denominations require this as "proof" of ones salvation which is also problematic because this can make people feel obligated to do it. I personally have a problem with churches that play to people's emotions, because they can be easily manipulated, although I think many of these folks are sincere. It has been an ongoing debate in reformed Christianity as to whether " tongues" stopped after Pentecost, I tend to believe it did in all but the rarest occasions. Also I forget exactly where in the writings of Paul, but he actually speaks to this. He says believers should be real careful when doing this. Like when a stranger shows up you should refrain from such things as not to scare them off! Or if someone is "moved by the sprite" there should be someone their to interpret whats being said, if not? He says don't do it.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this wholeheartedly. The entire theme of miracles throughout the the scriptures, Old and New, is to prove that the message being spoken is from God, and to facilitate the spreading of that message.

There isn't really precedent for miraculous intervention in an individual's life to, for instance, save them from certain death.

Most instances today where people claim miracles do not fall under the God-sent-message theme.

EDIT: I'm also of the opinion that miraculous gifts where passed on directly through the Apostles and that, when they died, so did the ability to bestow these gifts. The exception here would be Cornelius and his family.
 
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