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The author is a nephew of Benny Hinn, which gives him gravitas among the cessationist crowd. However, I suspect his turn against Benny Hinn is less to do with the biblical teachings and more to do with the jadedness one can experience when associated with someone like Benny Hinn.
I don't know much about the author or Benny Hinn. And I have no dog in the fight regarding being slain in the spirit. What we will deal with is the author's presentation below.
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It had been over three hours since the service started, and I was really starting to feel God’s presence in the building. As I stood next to my friend, the music was deep and intense. The lighting made everything feel so intimate, and a slight fog danced through the air. The lead singer’s voice was so beautiful – Jesus Culture’s music is so anointed. The voices all around me sang in unison, and I felt myself slipping into a deep, rhythmic trance as I swayed to the song. The pastor had been continuously telling us to expect an encounter with God and that God was going to touch us all in some special way. Could this be the solution to my problems in life? I’d been through so much heart-ache and insecurity. I was tired of being told that God’s word and prayer was enough. Maybe this was the real deal – maybe this was the encounter I needed. Just then, the pastor interrupted the singing and shouted, “Jesus is here! The anointing is yours! If you want a fresh touch from God get down here to the front of the stage!” I looked at my friend quickly and said, “Are you coming?! This is it!” He shrugged nervously and stayed put. I think he was skeptical of this sort of thing – he’s a Baptist. Oh well, I thought – his loss. Bodies poured out into the aisles as people just like me hurried desperately down to the stage. As I got closer to the front I felt adrenaline pump through my veins and soon found a spot just a few feet away from the pastor. Looking up at him I felt like God was telling him who to lay hands on. His eyes scanned the sea of young people below his platform. Then, my moment came. He told one of his assistants, “Get that girl right there! The power of God is all over her!” I felt so special that he picked me it caused me to sob uncontrollably. I was pulled up on the platform and it felt like I had made it to the holy of holies. My hands were shaking from the nerves, my breaths were short but heavy, and I sensed the catchers getting into place. Then he shouted, “FIRE!!! on you…” The emotion of the moment was too much for me to take as I felt something take a hold of my body. I abandoned all rationale and was powerfully forced to the ground. My body began to convulse and contort while I was laying on the stage; sounds poured out of my mouth I’d never made before. I could hear and feel other bodies beginning to fall around me and on me. Some people were laughing hysterically, others touched me and groaned deeply, and some were screaming while crawling on all fours. I have heard some Christians say this sort of experience was demonic, while others say it’s just hypnosis. To be honest, I haven’t seen it in the Bible and don’t really know what it is…but I really feel like it’s the Holy Spirit…
The virtual tour you’ve just read through is taking place all over the world every single week in tens of thousands of charismatic churches, healing crusades, youth groups, kid’s camps, Third Wave revivals, and N.A.R. conferences. Many conservative Christians are scared to death of their children ever going to one of these services but when asked what the issue really is, most cannot explain it but to say, “It’s unbiblical” or “not God.”
We need a better answer than that. (Let's see if he has one.)
So what exactly does someone mean when they say, “I got slain in the spirit!”? This phrase describes what many believe to be a touch from God that sends them falling to the ground – literally. (So the author has given us an accurate representation of the phenomena. Let's see if he can biblically evaluate the situation.)
Those who ardently defend this practice claim that it’s God’s manifest presence in a service that causes people to fall over. According to them, God’s power is usually “imparted” to people by a pastor who lays his hands on them, blows his breath on them, waves his hand, waves his jacket, or shouts a phrase like, “Fire!” or “Touch!” (Hmmm. Is this an accurate description, or is the author slipping in his own prejudices?)
These gestures cause people to go flying in all directions. Sometimes it even occurs when a certain song is sung by the worship band, or because people are overcome with emotion during a portion of the service. (Oh. Before he said "usually." Now we find out there are many ways this happens not involving a pastor.)
Often times those being slain in the spirit will manifest on the ground by making animal sounds, crawling, slithering, shaking, convulsing, weeping, laughing, and experiencing trance-like euphoria. (The author lumps these together as if they have equal bearing on the issue. This poisons the discussion by implying that "slithering" is on par with "weeping," and as such is deemed equally reprehensible.)
Some say they feel electricity when the pastor touches them, others feel warmth, while others are not able to stand under their own strength for hours afterwards. All of this is believed to be the work of the Holy Spirit as He refreshes and renews spiritually empty and broken people. (Perhaps, perhaps not. Let's see if the author will explain it to us with an even hand.)
With over 500 million charismatics, and 1.5 billion Hindus (Kundalini Awakening) (This is an Association Fallacy.)
practicing slaying people in the spirit, it is no exaggeration to state that at least 2/7 of the entire world has beliefs tied to falling or shaking under the power of some sort of spirit. This is not fringe behavior. This is now mainstream spiritualism and considered highly normative – it’s everywhere.
But does the Bible have any evidence to prove normative activity by the Holy Spirit that causes people to shake, slither, laugh, bark, crawl, or convulse in the church? When God interacts with people in the Bible, does He electrocute them into a seemingly drunken state where speech is slurred and the body uncontrolled? Can a preacher (shouting “FIRE!”) really cause heaven to invade your life on earth? Is there a chance that when some of these charismatic experiences are identical to manifestations found in Hinduism that there is a demonic aspect to it? (This last question can be answered. "Some of these charismatic experiences" most certainly can be demonic. Logically, that does not speak to the entirety of the experiences.)
The best way to understand the charismatic practice of being slain in the spirit is to understand the position of those who support and practice it. (That might be somewhat helpful, but perhaps the biblical case would be a better choice.)
WHAT DO ‘SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT’ ENTHUSIASTS CLAIM?
First, there are a number of varying claims depending on what charismatic group is explaining them. That in itself proves how much confusion there is surrounding the practice.
Here are several key claims:
- Slain in the spirit experiences are the result of the manifest presence of God the Father.
- Jesus is the one doing the slaying.
- The Holy Spirit is a force that cannot be stopped. When He touches people they fall
- People who are “empty” need to be slain in the spirit to get filled with the Spirit.
- When God touches human flesh, something will happen.
- When heaven touches earth, things shake.
- The power of God is overwhelming. When it shows up, people fall.
MYTH #1: IT HAPPENED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
“It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10-11).
The context of this passage is the completion of Solomon’s temple in which the manifest glory of God literally descended. God’s presence dwelt in the temple as was consistent throughout the Old Testament. A similar experience happened in Exodus 40:34-38 to Moses when he was unable to enter the tent of meeting because of the glory of the Lord.
BUSTED: God’s glory descended upon the temple to signify His residence in the temple. The priest could not to stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10; 2 Chronicles 5:13), and Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because of the cloud of glory that filled it – not because they were laid out on the floor. There is nothing remotely close to today’s slaying in the spirit that provides evidence for the practice. God’s presence did not once slay people in the spirit, He did not cause people to fall hysterically, burst out into holy laughter, nor manifest with strange noises. None of what the Old Testament says about God’s presence or experiences at the temple has anything to do with the practice of being slain in the spirit today. (The author provides us a summary denial, without reason or explanation. Restating these denials is not a explanation.)
Though still a complete misinterpretation, if charismatic enthusiasts insist on using these texts as proof for their antics, then they must reconcile how the O.T priests were unable to stand or serve in the manifest presence of the Lord while modern day preachers, catchers, organ players, singers, and rest of the audience is able to stand, clap, use the restrooms, and film the antics with their cell phones while only people being “touched” are slain the spirit? (Was Solomon trying to enter the temple on his feet? Why was he not also under the power?)
If the glory of God literally shows up, nobody will be filming for YouTube. (Is this a rule?)
All will be faced down. (Another rule. Well, apparently Solomon was able to stand... And so was the whole of Israel. 1Kg. 8:14:
While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned round and blessed them.Oops. It certainly would help if our Bible expositor actually read the whole passage.)
(I've never heard of some of the following texts being related to slain in the spirit, but we shall continue to comment as necessary.) Other texts that are poorly twisted in a similar way to the aforementioned example are:
Genesis 15:12 – Abram fell into a deep sleep. (Abram's sleep was specifically related to an encounter with God. This is not a terribly big stretch.)
Exodus 19:18 – Mount Sinai shakes from the presence of the Lord. (What about Ex. 19:16, just a couple of verses before, where all the people are trembling?
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.Again, I am not specifically defending being slain in the spirit, but if the author is supposed to be refuting the practice, he ought to be able to present a coherent case.)
1 Samuel 16:13 – The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David.
Judges 6:34 – The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon.
(Hmmm. That's all the relevant OT Scriptures? What about
Ez. 1:26-28 ...and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Ez. 3:23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down.
Ez. 43:3-4 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he [Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts I] came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down. 4 The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east.
Ez. 44:4 Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling the temple of the LORD, and I fell face down.
Da. 8:17-18 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” 18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
Da. 10:8-9 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
Ex. 3:4-6 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Jo. 5:13-14 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
Is. 41:4-5 Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD — with the first of them and with the last — I am he.” 5 The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble.
Ge. 17:1-3 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell face down...
Habk. 3:16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.
Is. 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Je. 5:22 Should you not fear me?” declares the LORD. “Should you not tremble in my presence?"There sure seems to be a lot of falling down and trembling when the Glory of the LORD shows up. It makes one wonder if we've lost something with our staid, somber church services and our "reverence" that involves sitting there with our hands on our laps.)
There is not a theologian on earth who can make any of these truly mean that being slain in the spirit is biblical. Did God move in powerful ways throughout the Bible and does He still today? Absolutely. Is there a single instance in the Old Testament where He “slays someone in the spirit” or instructs a prophet to form a fire tunnel and knock people down in a heaping pile? Absolutely not. (This is beneath reasoned discourse. Apparently something in the Bible has to be written in exactly the right way, or it can't happen today.)
MYTH #2: IT HAPPENED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
“They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:5-6).
Jesus the very Son of God stood face to face with a betrayer, and a mob of soldiers and high priests, then sent them straight to the ground with a declaration of who He was. This was the ultimate sign of power and authority by Christ and a clear display of His divine sovereignty over those He was allowing to kill Him. Not once was the Lamb of God not fully God and not once was He without control.
BUSTED: When we observe Jesus sending these men falling to the ground, several things cannot be overlooked: 1) They were His enemies 2) He did not impart His anointing to them 3) They did not have a euphoric encounter with God 4) They did not manifest by barking, shaking, convulsing, or sobbing 5) They were not filled with the Spirit 6) They were not healed while lying on the ground 7) They carried on with arresting Him. (The author wants to take away a supernatural event from Jesus because it doesn't conform to contemporary happenings in the church. We shall deny the author this by pointing out that the glory of Jesus had a physical effect on people. Their status is not relevant.)
The events of this text cannot be divorced from the application of this text. What Jesus did, and how the mob responded offers no support for modern day practices. (I thought the author was going to demonstrate that there was no supernaturally induced falling or trembling in the Bible?)
Other New Testament texts poorly twisted in a similar way to the example above: (Once again, I've never heard of some of the following texts being related to slain in the spirit, but again we shall continue to comment as necessary.)
Acts 8:17 – Peter and John lay hands on people who receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:12 –Handkerchiefs that touched Paul were used to heal and deliver people.
Acts 26:13-14 – Paul was knocked off his horse by a beam of light. (Hmmm. Well....)
Revelation 1:17 – John falls on his face before Jesus out of fear. Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” (Another hmmmm... Re. 1:17: When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.)
Again the author stops short. What about
Mt. 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified.
Mk. 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
Lk. 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
Ac. 10:10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
Ac. 16:29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
Ac. 22:17-18 When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking.(Once again, there sure seems like a lot of falling in the presence of the power of God!)
To use any of these examples of God’s power in the New Testament as proof to support the normative practice of slaying people in the spirit today is beyond far reaching – it’s dangerous hermeneutics. (Apparently the author's standard is that something cannot happen in church if it isn't in the Bible. Is there Sunday School in the Bible? Is there a paid senior pastor job outlined in the Bible? Are there denominations in the Bible? Are there little communion cups and crackers in the Bible?)
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT BEING ‘SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT’?
There is literally nothing in the Bible that supports the practice of slaying people in the spirit, being slain in the spirit, or even uses those terms. Some may argue that the term “Trinity” is not in the Bible either yet we believe in the Trinity. This is not a good argument since the doctrine of the Trinity is explicitly proven through countless texts that describe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and we apply it exactly as the scriptures teach it. Terminology is not the issue with determining the biblical evidence for being slain in the spirit – finding any evidence is. (Waaaaait. The author just made a big deal about the terminology for slain in the Spirit being absent from the Bible, then tells us terminology not the issue?)
Even the most commonly known chapters on spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14) do not at all deal with the practice or give credence to it. In fact, Paul does more to tone down the chaos of Corinth than to invoke further antics that would confuse the church.
The burden of proof to legitimize this completely unbiblical practice ultimately lies only with those sympathetic to being slain in the spirit. (So the author, having failed to make his case, passes it off to his doctrinal opponents.)
WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING ‘SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT TODAY’?
Since we can conclude it is not found in the Bible, there must be other factors at work. After 26 years of personally experiencing, or being a part of tens of thousands of “slayings”, I’ve come to find that five conclusions quantify what in the world is going on when people fall under this supposed power. (All of these may be true, but do not come to bear on the truth or falsehood of the matter.)
I. People think they have to fall down – Peer pressure at these sort of services is intense. Nobody wants to look bad or make the preacher look bad. It is widely believed that there is something wrong with you if you don’t “feel” God’s presence and have a manifestation of some sort, so peer pressure plays a huge factor in falling. Sadly, kids end up being the biggest loser in this forced behavior as they seek to please and soon are brainwashed into the system. In many cases, people see other people falling and just follow suit. Finally, it is common for seekers who come to these services to think they have to fall down in order to get the experience that the preacher is promising.
II. People are told they are going to fall down – The power of suggestion and hypnosis is real. Documentaries like “Miracles for Sale” have proven that the power of suggestion and hypnosis can be used to make complete strangers do whatever the hypnotist commands. This isn’t news to those with an understanding of psychology and social science but many Christians are still unaware that many charismatic extremists who slay people in the spirit are experts at hypnosis and manipulation. Three hours of sensual and soothing music, countless bursts of saying, “Jesus is here! He is going to touch you! You are going to feel something you’ve never felt before! Just receive it!”, gets people in the mood. Then, they are ripe for the picking. Hypnosis is also proven to put people in a trance-like state – something common at these services.
III. People want to fall down – Reverence is a big deal in Third Wave, N.A.R., and charismatic extremist circles. People are taught to honor leaders in a god-like fashion because they are literally on His level. Many former followers in these movements have admitted that they wanted a deeper connection with God, and wanted the anointing that was being promised by the leader – so they chose to fall in hopes of having a spiritual experience. This often leads to the weeping, praying, and emotional responses seen after the pastor lays his hands on them.
IV. People are faking it – I’ve personally interacted with friends, family, and followers who have faked it. By the grace of God, people who don’t grow up in charismatic chaos have no idea this happens but when you grow up with a special anointing service every week and it lasts 4 hours a shot – you start falling just to get it over with. I once asked someone close to me why they threw themselves back and acted so crazy on the platform to which he claimed, “Come on man, we gotta make him look good and get this over with.” Make no mistake about it, people fake it.
V. It is demonic – In many cases where a false teacher is involved (Start @ 3m:15s) modern day slayings in the spirit are akin to the biblical accounts of someone who is experiencing demonization and demonic possession (Mark 9:17-18). Being seized, thrown to the ground, and rigidness of the body are all things people experience – this is exactly what demon possessed people experienced in the Bible. This isn’t a blanket statement to say that all slaying in the spirit practices today are demonic, but it is to say that when the other four points aren’t in play, you can bet it’s not innocent charismatic behavior. Some may wonder how anyone could dare attribute this to demonic behavior, but think about this for a second. Can a false teacher, teaching a false gospel, being used by Satan (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), lay hands on false Christians (or anyone for that matter) and cause them to experience the true Holy Spirit? No. It’s a false imposter – a demonic spirit.
At best, well-meaning people are seeking an encounter with God in the wrong way through the wrong means and will end up confused and disappointed. At worst, desperate people and apostates are being overtaken by hypnosis, the power of suggestion, demonic forces, or a false spirit that they believe to be the Holy Spirit.
If it doesn’t match the Bible, isn’t found in the Bible, or can’t be truly backed up by proper interpretation of the Bible, you’re not missing out on anything. The Holy Spirit is accessible today through the power of the gospel and He exists to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, not to put on a show (John 16:14-15). If people surrender to Christ, embrace the true work of the Spirit in their life, and submit to the Bible as sufficient and final revelation, being slain in the spirit becomes obsolete.
No matter what a person’s position is on spiritual gifts today, all discerning Christians can confidently say, “I’ll pass” when it comes to being slain in the spirit.
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