"Slain in Spirit"

[evearael]

Alright, I was poking around in the website for the camp the Jesus Camp movie was filmed about and I keep coming across the phrase "slain in spirit." What on does it mean? Is this term isolated to Evangelical Christians or is it more widespread? Most importantly from my perspective, what is the scriptural basis for it?

 

[kateyes]

From what I can find it does seem to be a Pentacostal/Charismatic belief.
Wikipedia has as good an explanation as any other:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slain_in_the_Spirit

 

[*Paul*]

I've spen time in Churches where this phenomena happens, it;s is no different to shaktipat. The claim is that The recipent recieves such a blessing from God usually through the laying on of hands by some super Christian that they can no longer stay on their two feet and fall down and are subject to several different manifestations. Some will speak in unknown tongues (if not all) some will howl like dogs or jump around like monkeys and yet others will laugh or cry manically. The animals noises can be interpreted by an interpreter as a message from God. It's almost identical to some kundalini phenomena within hinduism and yoga.

It is not biblical the only people slain in the Spirit were annanias and sapphira. The only animal impression came as a judgement from God on king Nebuchadnezzar. I spent six years in a pentecostal so I know what i'm talking about plus I did the Alpha course twice.

 

[evearael]

Thank you for your responses! In the Pentecostal Church, is being "slain in spirit" a prerequisite for being saved?

It is not biblical the only people slain in the Spirit were annanias and sapphira.

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with this... could you elaborate?

 

[*Paul*]

Thank you for your responses! In the Pentecostal Church, is being "slain in spirit" a prerequisite for being saved?

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with this... could you elaborate?

Sorry, I was kind of joking but here is what I meant:

Acts 5v1-10: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband

I guess they were slain by the Spirit rather that in the Spirit. As an aside, notice how Peter equates lying to the Holy Spirit as lying to God.

 

[michel]

I still don't quite understand the word 'slain' - because, from what I have understood, it is more the opposite (the mention of people being cured).

This also sound a bit like televangelists who apparently knock people over just by touching them.......which (excuse the cinicism) sounds more like a kind of "instant hysteria" brought on by what can only be a kind of hypnosis.

 

[*Paul*]

Thank you for your responses! In the Pentecostal Church, is being "slain in spirit" a prerequisite for being saved?

No officialy but I can tell you from experience that if you are not a partaker of this you are viewed as un spiritual and refusing God's blessing, so there is a great pressure put upon you to speak in tongues, to fall down when someone prays for you, to speak a word of prophecy and so on. Questioning these practices makes you become known as a trouble maker and divisive trying to undermine the pastors authority, these are similar methods as those held by cults the only difference is they are not official practices but practically they always respond to queastioning in similar ways, they will endevour to answer you at first but if you press them for biblical reasoning you are seen to have a decieving spirit. I'm so glad the Lord opened my eyes and led me away from this movement.

 

[*Paul*]

I still don't quite understand the word 'slain' - because, from what I have understood, it is more the opposite (the mention of people being cured).

I think what they mean by it is that you come under the power of God and can no longer remain on your feet, you are overpowered by His Spirit and the blessing He pours into you is so powerful that you just fall down and go into a trance like state.

This also sound a bit like televangelists who apparently knock people over just by touching them.......which (excuse the cinicism) sounds more like a kind of "instant hysteria" brought on by what can only be a kind of hypnosis.

This is exactly what it is in my opinion, the exact results can be reproduced by hynotists and hindu gurus. These tele-evangelists are rank decievers and scripture twisters (most of them) who are making a merchandise out of the gospel, Peter warned us about them and the cap fits:
2Pt 2v1-3: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Praise the Lord for the warnings about these days we live in.
A sure sign of a false prophet is the appeals for money in exchange for gifts and blessings from God, you know "send your $15 seed faith offering and I will send you this anointed handkerchief", and such like. Truly abominable.

 

[michel]

No officialy but I can tell you from experience that if you are not a partaker of this you are viewed as un spiritual and refusing God's blessing, so there is a great pressure put upon you to speak in tongues, to fall down when someone prays for you, to speak a word of prophecy and so on. Questioning these practices makes you become known as a trouble maker and divisive trying to undermine the pastors authority, these are similar methods as those held by cults the only difference is they are not official practices but practically they always respond to queastioning in similar ways, they will endevour to answer you at first but if you press them for biblical reasoning you are seen to have a decieving spirit. I'm so glad the Lord opened my eyes and led me away from this movement.

It sounds like you had a narrow escape.........

 

[*Paul*]

It sounds like you had a narrow escape.........

Man I really did, I was brought up in a pentecostal church and it was to the pentecostal church I first turned when I was given a new heart and new life, I was disposed to believe the kinds of things that go on in those places but fortunatley for me I had the godly example of my parents who always went to the bible to affirm any doctine or practice, and it was there that I found the contradictions with what I was being taught, I also did the alpha course twice, it's amazing I got out really, I can only think that God graciously honoured my desire (and prayers)for truth above all things and showed me and gave me a discerning eye for these things. I think if Christians had a love of the truth more than a love of their church and denomation things would be very much different now. Instead they will often ignore things for the sake of being accepted by the fellowship they are in and to have the praise of the elders deacons and pastors.

 

[michel]

Man I really did, I was brought up in a pentecostal church and it was to the pentecostal church I first turned when I was given a new heart and new life, I was disposed to believe the kinds of things that go on in those places but fortunatley for me I had the godly example of my parents who always went to the bible to affirm any doctine or practice, and it was there that I found the contradictions with what I was being taught, I also did the alpha course twice, it's amazing I got out really, I can only think that God graciously honoured my desire (and prayers)for truth above all things and showed me and gave me a discerning eye for these things. I think if Christians had a love of the truth more than a love of their church and denomation things would be very much different now. Instead they will often ignore things for the sake of being accepted by the fellowship they are in and to have the praise of the elders deacons and pastors.

I am so happy you had the sense and the ability to get out of it!

I think if Christians had a love of the truth more than a love of their church and denomation things would be very much different now

Unfortunately, I think you are right there too..........

 

[Scuba Pete]

Michel,

these episodes do appear to be hysteria and do not convince me at all. I feel like attending one and seeing what really happens.

 

[*Paul*]

I am so happy you had the sense and the ability to get out of it!

Thanks Michel, i am grateful that there is a faithful remnant of Christians out there who do not fall for these latest "moves of God". I can only give God the glory for my escape from this though, I needed Him to show it to me by His Spirit, all I did was make myself available and obeyed Him.