Worship Casualties: Who speaks for the injured?

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Sam

I don't like to be pushed.

A while back I was in a prayer meeting and a visiting minister prayed for each of us. There were maybe 20 people there. I was the only one who did not hit the floor. As he pushed me back I stepped back to retain my balance. He acted a little uncomfortable about it but didn't say anything negative about me.

I don't either!! Everything in me wants to push back. I'm under the power of the Holy Spirit when I DON'T push him back. I haven't had anyone put their hands on my head in many years and DON'T miss it.

[Jack Shephard]

Once upon a time I was a minister in a church. We had a special prayer time for people to come to the front and get prayed for. I prayed for several people and none fell out. I did pray for one lady and I had barely even touched her head and she fell like a ton of bricks to the ground. I am not certain if she had expected someone to catch her or not. When she hit the ground she wasn't speaking in tongues as far as I can tell. I think she knocked herself out, but with in a few minutes she was up and in her seat again and ready for the rest of church.

[Sherri]

Well, I have to disagree somewhat with NOW. I have been "slain" under the power of the Spirit of God a few times. No one pushed me and I was totally unable to get up for a while. It hasn't happened often, but it has happened. I think sometimes God's power just is so overwhelming that your physical body just can't stand it. I don't see it as any different than in the Bible when someone fell to the ground when the presence of God was there.

I have also seen men and women deep in the bush in Africa fall to the ground when we prayed for them and the power of God hit them. It was not a learned response for them; it was definitely the power of God. I've seen God do amazing miracles in people's lives while they were on the carpet. I've also seen them fall to the ground and immediately begin to speak in tongues.

Is there Bible precedent for it? Not sure, but I know it happens. God can move any way He wants to in my life - I just want to be available and have discernment to know when it's really Him.

All that said, I will NOT do a CD (Courtesy Drop)!

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Once upon a time I was a minister in a church. We had a special prayer time for people to come to the front and get prayed for. I prayed for several people and none fell out. I did pray for one lady and I had barely even touched her head and she fell like a ton of bricks to the ground. I am not certain if she had expected someone to catch her or not. When she hit the ground she wasn't speaking in tongues as far as I can tell. I think she knocked herself out, but with in a few minutes she was up and in her seat again and ready for the rest of church.

You might should practice it, Bono. You could make serious bank knocking people over like that! People are willing to pay big bucks for that stuff!

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Well, I have to disagree somewhat with NOW. I have been "slain" under the power of the Spirit of God a few times. No one pushed me and I was totally unable to get up for a while. It hasn't happened often, but it has happened. I think sometimes God's power just is so overwhelming that your physical body just can't stand it. I don't see it as any different than in the Bible when someone fell to the ground when the presence of God was there.

I have also seen men and women deep in the bush in Africa fall to the ground when we prayed for them and the power of God hit them. It was not a learned response for them; it was definitely the power of God. I've seen God do amazing miracles in people's lives while they were on the carpet. I've also seen them fall to the ground and immediately begin to speak in tongues.

Is there Bible precedent for it? Not sure, but I know it happens. God can move any way He wants to in my life - I just want to be available and have discernment to know when it's really Him.

All that said, I will NOT do a CD (Courtesy Drop)!

I understand your disagreement. But I would respectfully suggest that I could get statements from dozens who will say they howled like a dog, laughed like a hyena, or pooped in their diapers and there was just no way they could help it. In fact, I've heard the testimonials in the Rodney Howard Brown-type stuff.

I've had some very strong divine encounters. But I was never out of control. God doesn't want us to be out of control. It's the same reason He doesn't want us to get drunk on alcohol. And "Self-Control" is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. If a Fruit of the Spirit is "Self-Control", how could I be totally "Out-of-control" and claim I'm under the influence of the Holy Spirit? I'm unable to connect those dots.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by notofworks

I understand your disagreement. But I would respectfully suggest that I could get statements from dozens who will say they howled like a dog, laughed like a hyena, or pooped in their diapers and there was just no way they could help it. In fact, I've heard the testimonials in the Rodney Howard Brown-type stuff.

I've had some very strong divine encounters. But I was never out of control. God doesn't want us to be out of control. It's the same reason He doesn't want us to get drunk on alcohol. And "Self-Control" is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. If a Fruit of the Spirit is "Self-Control", how could I be totally "Out-of-control" and claim I'm under the influence of the Holy Spirit? I'm unable to connect those dots.

It is because of this that what you say carries very little weight in this discussion. You have really not had the experience on any deep level like many others have.

For myself, I am not sure either. Early on in my Pentecostal years I had participated in a little shockamoo, runnings and an OTB or two, but I am still not sure that I was ever "Out of control".

I actually do recall telling someone else that I had experienced something so supernatural that I sort left my physical body. Now, I think I simply wanted to believe that very badly.

[Hoovie]

I do think OBEs are real and not inherently good or evil.

If an otherwise stable and well balanced Christian has such an experience, they very well might handle it and might even believe it deepens their relationship with the Lord. I do not think it's a positive thing for most to seek the experience - especially new Christians or those not well established in the faith.

Just my current thoughts on the matter.

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

It is because of this that what you say carries very little weight in this discussion. You have really not had the experience on any deep level like many others have.

For myself, I am not sure either. Early on in my Pentecostal years I had participated in a little shockamoo, runnings and an OTB or two, but I am still not sure that I was ever "Out of control".

I actually do recall telling someone else that I had experienced something so supernatural that I sort left my physical body. Now, I think I simply wanted to believe that very badly.

Bolded: Really??? I would think exactly the opposite. Are you saying that because some HAS pooped uncontrollably under the power of the Holy Ghost, that it would lend them credibility into the discussion? If someone NOT experiencing something takes away their "street cred", then it would seem that someone that HAS experienced something makes them credible.

Just because I haven't experienced something that doesn't exist in the first place doesn't remove my foundation to comment about it. It's like saying, "Well, because you've never seen a UFO, you can't lend any help into the discussion of UFO's".

But again, the scriptural principles are the ONLY thing that matters here. Personal stories are just that...stories. Stories are a dime a dozen and we could gather some stuff that would make you immediately say, "No way", and we already have, at least, a couple of those things...pooping, barking like a dog, and laughing like a hyena. Do you think that your lack of experience in those areas takes away your ability to comment about their validity? I'm sure you would say, "No."

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Bolded: Really??? I would think exactly the opposite. Are you saying that because some HAS pooped uncontrollably under the power of the Holy Ghost, that it would lend them credibility into the discussion? If someone NOT experiencing something takes away their "street cred", then it would seem that someone that HAS experienced something makes them credible.

Just because I haven't experienced something that doesn't exist in the first place doesn't remove my foundation to comment about it. It's like saying, "Well, because you've never seen a UFO, you can't lend any help into the discussion of UFO's".

But again, the scriptural principles are the ONLY thing that matters here. Personal stories are just that...stories. Stories are a dime a dozen and we could gather some stuff that would make you immediately say, "No way", and we already have, at least, a couple of those things...pooping, barking like a dog, and laughing like a hyena. Do you think that your lack of experience in those areas takes away your ability to comment about their validity? I'm sure you would say, "No."

No we can comment on them, but if you have actually experienced something then later had second thoughts about it... or about the meaning or nature of the experience you would be more credible.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by notofworks

It hasn't happened to anyone. I never happened nor was mentioned in the bible and it isn't an actual event. That's as simple as it can get. Any who experience this are psychologically vulnerable and have been overcome by the "Power of Suggestion."

If being "Slain in the Spirit" (and it's hard for me to type that without gagging) is authentic, then so are the activities of radical charismatics who wear diapers because they can't control their bodily functions when under the "Power of the Spirit" or those who have laughing hyena fits, or those who "Vomit in the Spirit" and the list can go on and on and on. There is no scripture to support any of it and if any of it is legitimate, then it all becomes legitimate.

You speak as though you are the expert on the case and none other. But I hate to burst your bubble, you are not. Many will disagree with you. And to add adsurity (sp) to compare being slain to all the other rediculous things is nonesense.

But as to scripture to support someone being slain, I believe there are.

Mat 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.