Is "Slain in the spirit" doctrine?

[Julian Pyke]

I think the question here is 'what is the Biblical evidence?'

Here is your Biblical evidence..........0.

Not true...

[quote="Kwag_Myers":24f4e]The term "slain in the Spirit" is generally associated with Revelation 1:7 where John falls at the feet of Jesus as though he were slain. Some also believe that Peter, in Acts 10:10, was slain in the Spirit.

As for which direction people fall, I've seen them go in several directions. And it's not hypnosis, or passing out, it's surrendering yourself to the Holy Spirit to do the work that many of you try to do yourself.

As for order vs. confusion, I've seen churches organize the Holy Spirit right out the back door. If the Spirit didn't move when the worship leader said to, HS had to wait 'til next week for another chance.

Doesn't submitting yourself to the Holy Spirit take a greater faith than not submitting? Yet, so many put their faith in their own abilities to walk a more Godly life. And why, because submitting to the Holy Spirit requires the fleshly desires to die. You have to desire God's will over your own to experience the true gifts and manifestations of the Spirit.

Again, yes there are counterfeits, but there are also counterfeit gospels. Show me where Satan has ever "created" anything. He can't. He can only counterfeit what God creates. So if there is a counterfeit to being slain in the spirit, it stands to reason that there is a true manifestation of the Spirit.

As I've said repeatedly, the test of a false teaching is how it affects our relationship to God. His desire is for us to be closer to Him, to submit to His will. You're teaching says not to submit. Why? Because you don't see it in scripture? Did you look in scripture before you accepted Jesus as your Saviour? Did you demand proof? Or did you submit to the Holy Spirit touch on your heart?[/quote:24f4e]

Took the words out of my mouth!

I also want to add, God said to people wash yourself in the river seven times, or do something unsual to be ehaled. Well many times its a amtter of stepping out in Faith. Look like a fool, fall down, you will be healed. MANY times, well no ALL times, to submit to the Holy Spirit you have to step OUT of your comfort zone, and take a step of faith. It could be whatever.

 

[Free]

Here is your Biblical evidence..........0.

I have done a study where I read through the entire Bible looking for instances where someone fell 'backwards' when in contact with God or Christ. You know how many times? NOT ONE. Every instance in the Bible where someone 'fell' in the presence of God THEY FELL FORWARD. And not in some clumsy sporadic gesture, but they prostrated themselves before the Lord with THEIR FACE TO THE GROUND.

Whether or not their is evidence of this in the Bible is irrelevant; you are asking the wrong question. The real question is if being "slain in the Spirit" goes against anything in the Bible. The answer of course is no. There is nothing inconsistent between the Bible and being slain in the Spirit.

Group or self induced hypnotism is quite likely the mechanism' of this kind of behavior.

While this may be the case on occasion, it certainly is fallacious to conclude that it is that way in every case. Of course, it is error to even assume hypnotism to be likley when no evidence has been presented based on personal observation.

The source, however, is NOT LIKELY from God. For God is NOT the author of confusion.

And what is confusing about it? This is the typical response of people who have an incorrect or inadequate understanding of pneumatology.

We are to believe and live by 'faith' folks. Not because of 'outward' signs.

Again, an error in reasoning and understanding of Scripture. This has nothing to do with living by faith or by sight. Yes, some people do seek the experience as a sort of spiritual high, incorrectly thinking that that is the ultimate in the Christian life.

If God truly manifested such events as 'slain in the spirit' wouldn't this take us beyond 'faith alone' and be offering something contrary to what we would be taught by scripture?

How would it be contrary to Scripture? It would take us beyond faith alone in the sense that it would take us beyond blind faith. The whole of Scripture is geared towards God living in relation to his Creation, which will be finalized at the end of time. Living in relation includes having intimate experience with God in whichever manner God so chooses.

Many in centuries past have been converted due to amazing personal experiences of God that won't be found in Scripture and many more have had their faith strengthened by experiences. But this does not mean that their faith rests solely in these experiences or that they "walk by sight" and not faith.

 

[wavy]

Actually, I've seen people fall pretty hard and get up like nothing happened. Wavy, you really shouldn't talk against the Holy Spirit. Obviously, you've never experienced it, and you offer no scripture on the subject.

Where is the scripture to back it in the first place? Everything that is offered is horribly weak.

Why is it that you feel you can speculate on something you know nothing about? Because "...it just seems wrong"? Is that how you judge? In the flesh, with no input from the Spirit?

Whatever, kwag... I thought you weren't going to say anything else to me?

 

[SputnikBoy]

I don't normally waste my time on this kind of nonsense. At least 'tongues' can be debated and refuted with an understanding of appropriate scriptures. We can't even get our teeth into 'slaying in the Spirit' since it just ain't there. As mentioned, this is another example of Pentecostal gimmickry, nothing more nothing less. I doubt that even Satan would mess with it to be honest. People can behave foolishly all by themselves without his help.

To put it simply, the Pentecostals (some) require 'signs' (like the Pharisees) before they'll believe. Faith alone is not enough for this animated bunch of Christians. They desire miracles. And, they'll invent some form of a 'sign' of their own if they have to. All it takes is one person to do something outlandish and it will spread throughout the church like wildfire. The Bible? ...who cares about the Bible when they have SIGNS? And everyone, please note the fact that these types of phenomena only occur in a church of a specific denomination. What does this tell you?

 

[Imagican]

Well, let's see....

No scripture to back it's 'being from God'. I challenge anyone to offer scripture that describes someone falling 'backward' after being 'filled' with the Spirit.

And let me ask you guys this. If it were God's will that someone 'fall down', why would someone stand behind them in order to catch them. What I have witnessed is nothing more than a 'stage show' designed to bring 'warm fuzzies' to those that participate.

And there is much written by those that have participated in these kinds of churches that have confessed that their participation was to 'fit in'. And others that have written that when the pastor involved 'touched' them on their foreheads, if they didn't fall down, the pastor would push them down.

Yes guys, God CAN DO ANYTHING. But we are commanded to 'try the spirits' of EVERYTHING. My experience in witnessing such events is that 'each week' it's the 'same' people that 'fall down'. It resembles 'spirit posession' more than 'someone filled with the Spirit'. And if this 'ritual' were of ANY value and important to Christianity, wouldn't ALL Christians participate and be subjected to this phenomenon? Seems kind of unfair that there are 'only certain Christians' that get to be 'slain in the Spirit'.

And YES, people are certainly capable of 'self hypnosis'. And those that 'seek' outward 'signs' of God are most open to such a state. If you desire something bad enough, you can certainly have an influence on your body and your mind.

Scripturally 'slain in the spirit' doesn't exist. As far as history is concerned, I have been able to find NO reference to this EVEN existing in Christianity until a little over a hundred years ago. Seems strange huh, something that was NEVER witnessed until 1900 years 'after' Christs' death and resurrection.

I offer that much of the Pentecostal teachings are simply that: teachings. These churches 'teach' tongues, slain in the spirit, healings and such and those that are introduced into this sort of religion are compelled to participate or they 'begin to feel' as if they are 'not saved'. Thus the perpetuation of these teachings.

The important thing people is NOT how God makes you 'feel', If that's what you focus on all you are interested in is 'self', the important thing is how you 'feel' towards God and your neighbor. Self edification is of NO 'true' spiritual value if it is not 'for a Spiritual purpose' and we are instructed by Paul that 'in the Church' we are to do ONLY that which edifies the Body. Patting yourself on the back is nothing but pride and can only benefit the spirit of man. And what's most dangerous is the possibility that it is 'untrue' Spiritually and therefore a really really bad thing to teach others that what is taking place is Spirit lead.

Folks, most of our lives are spent doing 'nothing more' than acting like we are somebody that we are NOT. We were warned against this, yet it's in our natures. We are commanded to love. This is probably the MOST difficult part of being a Christian. Understanding love is difficult enough if NOT IMPOSSIBLE for man in the flesh, but administering it is even harder. We tend to be 'self-lovers' instead of 'other lovers' and this makes it very very difficult for us to follow the 'truth'. True love is sacrifice. Giving up yourself so that others may benefit. So in essence, love is giving, NOT taking.

Now, with this in mind, what is one 'giving' when they fall over backwards and flop around? A good performance? But of what edification could this possibly offer the Body? Remember what Paul said about 'senseless babble'? If there be those that witness this, will they not think them that practice it barbarians? Now, what would someone that didn't know God or Christ think when witnessing this event? I don't believe that 'acting nuts' is honoring God in ANY way. And I think that those that perform this kind of 'ritual' do NOT edify ANYTHING but SELF. This is 'my' opinion of course.

 

[living4onlyJC]

I have been slain in the Spirit. Our speaker called people up to the front of the church to be prayed over. SO I went up and as he was going down the line I was praying to God. Then I looked up and saw people shaking and falling backward. I said to myself "No way am I doing that, that's insane!"
But when he started to get closer to where I was standing I started not to pay attention to what was going around me. By the time he got to me I was shaking. It felt like teh Spirit had come over me like a blanket. My knees started to buckle, and I tried not to fall down... but it didn't work. I fell forward on my kness and all I could do was shake and cry. It was a wonderful experience!

At least 'tongues' can be debated and refuted with an understanding of appropriate scriptures.

No way, no how can tongues be refuted.

One verse of scripture says "HOw can you thirst if you have not tasted?"
What I mean is you have not experienced it, you don't now what's it's like.
So therefore you would refute it as being nonexsistent. But for those of us who have experienced it.. how can we refute soemthing in which we have experienced?

 

[wavy]

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

[LoveMe]

Slain in the spirit

Yes,I have been slain in the spirit several times.The last time was Sunday.It is not the work of the pastor but the Holy Spirit.When you come out of it you are drunk in the Spirit.You can pray yourself into the Spirit.
God Bless :D

 

[SputnikBoy]

One verse of scripture says "How can you thirst if you have not tasted?"

Could you point out this scripture to us?

What I mean is you have not experienced it, you don't now what's it's like.
So therefore you would refute it as being nonexsistent. But for those of us who have experienced it.. how can we refute soemthing in which we have experienced?

I'm sure that many people have also experienced being under the influence of the show-biz hypnotist when he comes to town. Having had an experience proves nothing other than the fact that the individual has 'had an experience'. Those so-called "Spirit-filled' individuals who cackle like hens, bark like dogs, roll on the floor in uncontrollable laughter while 'in the Spirit' also enjoy 'the experience'. It implies nothing HOLY!

 

[SputnikBoy]

Re: Slain in the spirit

Yes,I have been slain in the spirit several times.The last time was Sunday.It is not the work of the pastor but the Holy Spirit.When you come out of it you are drunk in the Spirit.You can pray yourself into the Spirit.

Holy nonsense. Sorry. We really DO have to tell this like it is!

 

[wavy]

That made me lol, Sput. I wouldn't have had the guts to say it in the way you said it, but nevertheless, it's the truth.

I back that 100%.

 

[kwag_myers]

Imagican, did you not see my post, or did you choose to ignore it?

Matthew 10:14, "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

Matthew 7:6, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

Matthew 13:58, "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

I have to say that I have never encountered a group such as this that is completely against the work of the Holy Spirit. Apparently, your Bibles do not contain Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

This forum is fruitless, and a waste of my time. Farewell.

 

[living4onlyJC]

Luke 11:36
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."

2 Corinthians 6:14
".....For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"


So if we are praising God with all of our heart, how could something demonic come over us?

 

[Imagican]

Neither I nor any man can judge the heart of another. We may 'see' the outward signs of one's 'fruit', but there is NO way to determine the inner workings of anothers heart.

I promise though that there are 'two' spirits that govern the behavior of man. 'THE Spirit' and other 'spirits'. Other spirits being those of satan rather than God. Were we not warned that there would be many that would follow 'seducing spirits'? Spirits that would resemble The Spirit but be of another source? Were we not also warned that there would be those that would choose to follow lies and that God Himself would offer strong delusion so that those that so choose would believe these lies? So there is a little insight into 'how one could be 'fooled' into following something 'false' or not of God' yet believe in their fleshly hearts that what they followed was 'of God'.

I have found nothing Biblical that would indicate anything 'positive' about 'slain in the spirit'. It seems to me to be a sort of 'act of desperation'. An overwhelming desire of 'outward signs' of the Spirit. If this is the case, satan is ALWAYS there to offer whatever we diligently seek that will turn us in his direction. We were commanded that there would be NO OTHER Gods that we should worship other than THE GOD. Where man falls short so often is not understanding 'what' other gods are.

What we worship is what becomes our god/gods. Anything made by the hand of man and is worshiped by man would be a god of sorts. This is not only the material but the spiritual also. Traditions, ritual, what we 'love' can become our gods. A church could be one's god. A pastor etc...... So it should be of no surprise that ritual could be placed 'above' God and therefore, even though it was created to 'worship' God, when the ritual itself becomes more important than the Creator, it becomes a 'different god'.

You know folks, when it comes to faith there is NOTHING impossible to us. Which only goes to show that we are capable of replacing God with whatever we choose. That doesn't eliminate God by any means, it simply removes Him from our lives temporarily.

I point these things out to those that offer 'slain in the spirit' MUST be from God through the Spirit. I contend that it would be very easy for one to 'fool oneself' into believing this about ANYTHING. And, it's very easy for a group to 'pass on' behavior that is conducive to the 'acceptance' of others in the group. I believe that this concept is EXACTLY what Paul was rebuking the Corinthians for. They became 'so caught up in the manifestation of signs' that they began creating them for themselves. In order to 'prove' that they were 'in touch' with Christ and the Father, they began to 'create' their own miracles. And once this practice began, it only escalated to the point that it became their main focus instead of 'loving God and their neighbors'. In essence, they stoped growing in Christ and became stagnant in their 'self-created' miracles that they used for their own 'self-edification. That was wrong then, and it's wrong now.

I know this, if one were to be led to believe that 'slain in the spirit' is 'something to be desired', there is NO DOUBT that one could then be sub-consciously compelled to emulate this behavior. And if those in attendance of such a spectacle were to offer encouragement and imply that it was the 'working of God', then in the minds and hearts of those so affected, it would be so. The question is 'whether it is 'truly' a manifestation of the Spirit'? Since there is NO Biblical or historical 'proof' of this ritual, I offer that it is man-made, (or what's even more scary, satan created), and from my understanding, to be avoided at all costs.

If it's 'of God' then I am wrong. But, if as I offer, it is something from another 'spirit', then all one is doing is opening themselves up to 'entertaining demons'. Spiritual possession does indeed exist and I offer that 'anyone' that would deny this is probably possessed themselves. The Bible states that Christ Himself cast 'seven' demons from Mary. SEVEN folks, and there's no indication that it happened seven 'different' times. The indication is that she was possessed by seven at ONE TIME. Do you honestly think that demons just 'went away' and there are none among us at this present time? Come on folks. As satans time shortens, you KNOW that his demons are working OVER TIME. And, as far as we know, demons multiply as time goes on. This making it possible that there are many MORE demons now than at the time of Christ.

There will be those that become so dependant upon 'their demons' that they even become aware of them themselves. But a demon would be remiss in his duties to reveal himself to his host until the host had no defenses left to defend themselves. There is no indication that anyone ever 'cast out their OWN demons'.

My offering in conclusion: Beware that what you choose as your ritual doesn't indeed, 'entertain demons'. If you willingly invite them into your life, you will find it very difficult to 'make them leave'. The MORE you entertain them, the more at home they will become. The more inviting you make a home for them, the more will find their way to a 'better home'. Beware constantly what you choose to worship always placing God first and your brothers and sisters second. And never, NEVER let your feeling dictate what is or is not of God, but instead 'try' the Spirits of that which you choose to believe according to the Word.

 

[SputnikBoy]

Good post, Imagican. Sorry I don't have much more to contribute since you pretty well said it all.