Slain in the Spirit

[Pilgrim]

(01-25-2009 09:45 PM)Vic Wrote:  I've always found it within the charis/pentecostal circles when people are getting wound up to get "slain" or pray ...in tongues... except they tend to fall backwards...which is really weird.[/color]

(above quote stolen from the Obama / Messiah thread)

Thought I would mention my own experiences and observations in this, particularly the "falling over backwards" thing. Am not mocking anyone who has felt they were being slain in the spirit.

The first thing to realize is that the falling is culturally accepted within those circles. People have seen it, they expect it, and when it happens to them, they feel they are part of the whole.

So, in some cases, particularly when there is a mass of people around an alter, someone in front can fall backwards, and be assurred that someone is behind them and can catch them, and lower them gently to the ground. So, one can raise their hands, close their eyes, sway, pray, and fall back and be safely caught.

As a member of one of these churches for 15 years, I have seen this 98% of the time. The other 2%...well, someone fell backward, and crashed on the floor. Usually when that happened, they immediately snapped out of their trance to take care of themselves.

Often with a visiting minister, healer, evangelist, etc., the end of the service (actually, the mid-point of the service, but that is another posting sometime...) is a prayer line of people with needs of all types.

The pastor and visiting preacher would often start at one end and proceed one person at a time, standing in front of them. Behind the person in the prayer line was a rotating group of ushers and women.

When a person was "touched" by the evangelist, often they fell backwards. The ushers caught them, and lowered them to the floor gently. In the case of women in dresses going down, the ladies would provide modesty cloths over the bottom of the dress, so the women on the floor could be assured no one was looking at their calves.

So...why fall backwards? Several reasons. One is that the preacher is in front of you, so you wouldn't want to fall on them. Falling backwards was a safe choice. Plus, the "touching" was often a sharp short-stroke push on the forehead. That often was all it took.

I have personally seen a nationally recognized evangelist in a prayer line, with a great technique. They would place their left hand behind the small of the back of the prayer person. Their right hand would go on the forehead, and they would push. This combination causes someone to bend backward quite sharply, affecting balance, and in an environment where the person next to you fell down, you usually fall backwards yourself.

Now, if someone is starting to resist certain church practices (such as myself), one is in a prayer line, and the preacher attempts the same technique. You physically feel their pressure on your head, and your back, and while you may be sincerely praying, but not falling over as the preacher expects. The pressure increases, and yet you still don't fall over. He then announces (over his microphone) in a deep booming voice, "This person is resisting the Spirit of God..." You are pretty well marked at that point, all eyes on you condeming your lack of faith, and the next person in line usually falls backwards pretty quick!


Nope, no emotional scars in my background.

[heb13-13]

I just never went up for "prayer".

Maybe because I'm 6'4 and the bigger you are the harder you fall.

Actually, I just never could take it seriously.

I never could take Catholic church seriously either, growing up. I think I drove a couple of Priests and Nuns to the funny farm. Once when I was an altar boy, the Priest cussed me out after church because I poured the water before the wine or vice-versa, I don't remember. But I do remember that he called me a really vulgar name.

It was also my job to pick up the offering and after he said those vulgar words to me, I started splitting the offering with the church. I guess I felt I should get paid for my trouble.

[Strefanash]

I was "slain in the Spirit" many times. And often enough I was not so much as touched by any person there. There as no trance. or ecstatic state, I simply fell over. I was never hurt or suffered anything. I simply fell over, and most of the time I stayed on the ground as I thought it was expected of me. There was, I knew, nothing to stsop me from getting up almost immediately. I think the poor fools thought i was overwhelmed by the presence of God. It was nothing of the sort

Now, some 25 yeares later I regard it all as mere psychological hysteria, no not demonic, only mere carnality. The verse they cite to justify this ocurrence, namely when John the Revelator saw the risen christ and fell to the ground as one dead simply does not cut it, for no risen christ was revealed there.

I was, the psychologists told me, highly sugggestible.

No more such nonsense. It was not even a sign or wonder, simply a cheap trick

[heb13-13]

"If there were less catchers, there would be less fallers." Bert Clendenon

When Jesus blew on the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit, were there "catchers".

If anyone is going down under the power of the Spirit, it will be when Jesus blows on you, that's for sure, and I don't believe that is recorded in the Gospel of John.

Anyway, all of this just puts the emphasis on the Minister and then the person being "slain".

It removes all focus from Jesus Christ and centers attention on man.

[Emjesown]

"If there were less catchers, there would be less fallers." Bert Clendenon

This is a good one......really!

"Where did all the catchers go"?

EMJE

[sheep wrecked]

(07-23-2009 01:54 AM)Strefanash Wrote:  I was "slain in the Spirit" many times. And often enough I was not so much as touched by any person there. There as no trance. or ecstatic state, I simply fell over. I was never hurt or suffered anything. I simply fell over, and most of the time I stayed on the ground as I thought it was expected of me. There was, I knew, nothing to stsop me from getting up almost immediately. I think the poor fools thought i was overwhelmed by the presence of God. It was nothing of the sort

Now, some 25 yeares later I regard it all as mere psychological hysteria, no not demonic, only mere carnality. The verse they cite to justify this ocurrence, namely when John the Revelator saw the risen christ and fell to the ground as one dead simply does not cut it, for no risen christ was revealed there.

I was, the psychologists told me, highly sugggestible.

No more such nonsense. It was not even a sign or wonder, simply a cheap trick

It may be a form of brainwashing as well. I saw a special on Benny Hinn that showed suggestive thoughts in the brain, the hype of the preservice - lots of long lasting "praise" music, then a teaching full of more suggestion and hype rouses people's expectancy level. When Hinn comes on out onstage, they play "How Great Thou Art" as he raises his hands as the crowd claps and sings in adulation. They are being pumped up to "receive".

However, I also believe there is a demonic presence for some things are unexplainable. Paul stated that satan would come with signs and wonders to deceive and I have no doubt that Mr Hinn is a perfect vehicle for this. I have spent many hrs watching his stuff, both before and after my trip through charis mania and I am convinced he is a wolf who has sold his soul to the devil.

Mr Hinn is definitely the extreme, but most of the up-front charismatic/pentecostal/word of faith types all practice this same form of hyped up manifestations. After being part of that and experiencing it first hand, it's not just psychological - it is also demonic and physically real. I had actual physical manifestations in which I had no control over my own body

[heb13-13]

(07-23-2009 08:23 AM)Emjesown Wrote:  "If there were less catchers, there would be less fallers." Bert Clendenon

This is a good one......really!

"Where did all the catchers go"?

EMJE

EMJE,

I love that quote when I came across it. Just once, I would love to see Benny Hinn or Rodney Howard Browne tell all the "Catchers" to take the night off. <---- I've been wanting to use this one.

[sheep wrecked]

(07-23-2009 11:48 AM)heb13-13 Wrote:  

(07-23-2009 08:23 AM)Emjesown Wrote:  "If there were less catchers, there would be less fallers." Bert Clendenon

This is a good one......really!

"Where did all the catchers go"?

EMJE

EMJE,

I love that quote when I came across it. Just once, I would love to see Benny Hinn or Rodney Howard Browne tell all the "Catchers" to take the night off. <---- I've been wanting to use this one.

If they did that - this is the song they would sing:

Where has all the money gone
Where has all the money gone?
Wallets are home
Where has all the money gone?
Left at the house
Where has all the money gone?
Pick pockets hands are tied
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the pick pockets gone
Money is long gone
Where have all the pick pockets gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the pick pockets gone?
Taken the catchers with them
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the catchers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the catchers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the catchers gone?
Training up to be pick pockets
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

[Emjesown]

HeHeHeHeHe

To funny

[heb13-13]

(07-23-2009 12:04 PM)sheep wrecked Wrote:  

(07-23-2009 11:48 AM)heb13-13 Wrote:  

(07-23-2009 08:23 AM)Emjesown Wrote:  "If there were less catchers, there would be less fallers." Bert Clendenon

This is a good one......really!

"Where did all the catchers go"?

EMJE

EMJE,

I love that quote when I came across it. Just once, I would love to see Benny Hinn or Rodney Howard Browne tell all the "Catchers" to take the night off. <---- I've been wanting to use this one.

If they did that - this is the song they would sing:

Where has all the money gone
Where has all the money gone?
Wallets are home
Where has all the money gone?
Left at the house
Where has all the money gone?
Pick pockets hands are tied
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the pick pockets gone
Money is long gone
Where have all the pick pockets gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the pick pockets gone?
Taken the catchers with them
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the catchers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the catchers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the catchers gone?
Training up to be pick pockets
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Sheep, that tune was going around in my head all day.