Prayer Soaking
 

Came across this on CARM, bizarre....


Hi Folks, I am sort of new here, and used to belong to a "charismatic" church, and have no beef with them, so this is not an antagonistic question.

But I have friends that are into this "prayer soaking" thing- where they lay around on long sheets of what looks like blue plastic saran wrap (representing a river) and even lay under the plastic. There is also a piece of plastic that's white, a circle, placed on the floor, called a "portal" for the Holy Spirit to "enter". They chant, and from what I observed, seemed to get into an altered state of consciousness. The visiting evangelist brought with him this sort of "shrine" looking thing, with candles, gem stones, a bridal veil (that he wears sometimes) and some scarves he wears, decorated with rhinestones, sequins, etc. He brings all his "love gifts" that people send him, like a red satin heart shaped pillow. These items are arranged on a table. There is also a "crown" on top of the stack of items, as well as a breastplate, with 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel.
They stand or sit for HOURS (4-5) listening to music that frankly sounds very "new age"-ish to me.
I cannot find any Scriptural evidence for what I believe is this hokey-ness. And I read that this "soaking" started with the Toronto blessing thing.
I don't see where we need props and "things" to enter into the presence of God nor to mediate on His Word.
Anyone want to defend this SOAKING experience? You are free to do so, but I've seen it, and do not believe it to be of the Holy Spirit, but that's just my opinion- you all may state yours.
Respectfully,
Emet
http://forums.carm.org/vbb/showthrea...r-Soaking-quot

I've never heard of this, even amongst charismatics, anyone else ever heard of such?????

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Let em alone... they just help focus faith... they hav portals and imaginary rivers... others shake their hair in the wind...

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I've heard of it.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

With all the trappings?

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Yes.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

stupid

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Don't knock it till you've tried it :christmasjig

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I've heard a lot of SOAKING in this part of Canada, but never heard of all the trappings listed. SOAKING, from what I've heard here, is simply prayer with music in the background. Some move out in the Spirit and pray for each other. But it is basically just prayer and SOAKING in His presence, so to speak.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I want to lay in plastic wrap... nevermind. :-/

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I researched this some more on the web after reading this thread, and I learned that soaking prayer emphasizes leaving your mind blank, and that concerns me. Prayer in the bible is purposeful and not leaving one's mind blank. Emptying our minds to receive "whatever" is more involved in transcendental meditation. I heard much teaching on the dangers of leaving one's mind blank and more or less opening oneself up to ANY spirit, not just the Lord's, inadvertently. It is said that the enemy is attracted to that sort of fluff, since it invites a take-over of the mind, while God never takes us over but always cooperates with us with our consciousness fully alert and involved.

Comments?

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Just such sounds stupid.

Whats next? A bunch of lactating mothers using breast pumps to fill bottles which are then used to spray it over the congregation calling it "the milk of the Word"?

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I watched a short video about it, also, and it stresses coming to God in prayer without a prayer list of requests, and just loving God. Nothing wrong with that. But the trappings of plastic and "portals" is nonsensical. lol The video said nothing about plastic and portals. But they may use that stuff. Not sure.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

If it works, exalts Jesus the Christ and His God and Father, God the Father, I say go for it. I'm sure similar things were said at the turn of last century when the Pentecostal folks acted fairly weirdly in comparison to traditional Christianity.

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Yeah, Seymour keep his head in a wooden box during the "soakings", what about that?

I won't be using the apple crate or the blue saran wrap!! LOL

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I keep imagining a bunch of dressed of partiers on the theater stage during a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Who asked you? Why don't you just go to Sokar? :jolly

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Actually, I think I have heard of folks "relaxing" in the spirit to the point they release bowels etc.

Again, stupid.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

IMO a lot of it is plainly new age and thus witchcraft........nothing biblical about it, I do believe in Praying in the Spirit , but come on, If you dig deeper into the movement........they talk about things like oil showing up in the "evangelists" hands, [ I use the term evangelist loosely] and gold flex showing up on them and stuff like that. [ They say it proves they are anointed and are of God. ] I believe they are False Prophets, lying wonders and false signs. Yogies in India do the same kinds of things.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Some of these same people are into what is called Tokin' the Spirit. Where they act like they are smoking a joint and getting high on the Holy Ghost, using profane language and things like that. I ask you is that the Holy Ghost you know? Is that the Jesus you know? Plainly I say no. Just follow where the Toronto Blessing [ once again I use the term loosely] See for yourself what fruit it produced and see if it of God.True Prayer soaking is weeping in the Spirit because of these kinds of abominations.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

That's an interesting thought. God wants us to THINK. God never wanted us to be robots, that's why he gave us free will.

This makes me think of something else..... in many churches the people aren't encouraged to think, either. They are supposed to accept what the preacher says without questioning anything.... basically to sit there with open, empty minds and just let whatever is said become their own thoughts.... no questions asked. We are taught that that is what pleases God. That if we question, we are in rebellion.

Isn't that a little similar to what you describe above?

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Sounds like Hoodoo to me. There are several divisions of Hoodoo and Voodoo (Voudon, whatever) that are based in Christianity with a lot of "tools" that are used in normal witchcraft mixed in.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

The foolishness of men are without bounds!!!!

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I'd choose prayer soaking over prayer smoking.

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Altered states of consciousness are dangerous.

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Why?

Are all altered states of consciousness dangerous?

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Most people enter an altered state of consciousness during prayer. ???

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I agree it sounds Eastern/New Age.

Not so sure about all the "opening oneself up to Spirits" stuff though. Heard that my whole life and it frankly sounds silly. I think it just misses the mark. We reflect and meditate... not on us... on God, His Word, His Mission, His Call, His Character, etc...

I think it's harmless (as far as people worrying about "catching spirits"), but missing the mark of what prayer and meditation is all about.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

The best way to get rid of all the noise of life is to reflect on His peace. Nothing wrong with finding rest. A place of quiet solitude, no one barking up a prayer, working hard to manufacture a "move of God," but just resting in Him.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

I've read a little on christian meditation and while TM talks about emptying the mind CM is about filling the mind with God's word. I've read where hinduism is about connecting to our inner diety, I don't see why CM cannot be about connecting to the HG in CM. any thoughts?

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

We used to call this "waiting on the Lord". Nothing strange about that in itself. Just getting before Jesus ans waiting on him expecting to hear from him. This plastic sheet and portal stuff IS STRANGE.

Now if lets say some one may have been directed of the Lord to have done that at some point for some reason it would be valid. But to make a doctrine out of it or some new "movement" seems like a delusion.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Reminds me of that old gospel classic... by Clarence Carter: "You soak it to the east, you soak it to the west..."

and those are all the lyrics I dare manipulate of that song!

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

We attend a service called Seek and Soak. Which is about an hour and half worship service, no preaching. A few people read some scripture between some of the songs.

It is a wonderful time of soaking in the presence of God. People from many differnet chjurches attend. I enjoy them a lot.

Re: Prayer Soaking
 

Here is IHOP soaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYM--...C2299A&index=9

No sheets or portals.