Bible Studies

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There is a new, maybe not so new phenomenon sweeping through the church. Many pastors and guest evangelists are lining folks in droves to perform the latest craze. They are not giving words of encouragement or even expositing a passage. What they are doing is commonly called being “slain in the Spirit.” Simply put, hands of the preacher or other authorized person are laid on someone, usually the head, and then the loudest most enthusiastic prayer ever heard is offered. Another also stands behind the one needing prayer. After a while, the person falls to the ground (always backwards) passed out and into the hands of the one behind him. Hence they have been “slain.”

Let me tell you why I think this is so popular. First, it is due to biblical ignorance. Those caught up in this “thing” do not know what the Bible teaches about this matter. Second, most participants are looking for a tangible quick fix to life’s problems that can be seen with the naked eyes. I guess they forgot that believers are to walk not by what is seen (2 Corinthians 5:7). Third and I think this explains why people fall backwards and not forwards, they are pushed. I once attended a men’s only service at a local church. After the sermon, the pastor asked if anyone desired to pray for a man who did not attend the service. Taking him at his word I journeyed down the isle to the altar desiring to make my request known. Instead, he put olive oil on my head and prayed for me. Upon conclusion to his prayer, he attempted to get me to fall backwards by pushing my head. I did not move. Needless to say, I received much flack from the male leadership. Why? Not because I needed prayer but because I refused to be “slain.” By the way, that pastor never asked me who actually needed the prayer.

When I was in third grade, there was a sign near the dictionaries that read, “Our motto: We never guess we look it up.” I think the best way to resolve this issue, as far as Bible believing disciples are concerned, is to “look it up.” The Bible does have much to say on the word. Depending on the translation slain appears about 120 times. It is never associated with the Holy Spirit, but with death. Surely those who advocate being slain do not recommend that Christians should be afraid of dying when they go to the altar. As a matter of biblical fact, there is no New Testament commandment for Christians to be slain in the Spirit. There are five commandments, 3 affirmations, 2 prohibitions, for Christians regarding the Holy Spirit.

The affirmations:

1. Christians should walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Our walk is our way of life. Paul warned the Galatians about attempts to live under the law (3:23-25). Living under the law caused the flesh to be at war with the Spirit (5:17). Paul desired they not fulfill their fleshly desires but walk or live by the Spirit.

2. Christians should be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). There is a difference between being indwelt by and being filled with the Spirit. Every believer, because they trust in Jesus Christ, has the Holy Spirit taking up residence in them. If anyone does not have Jesus, they do not have the Spirit (Romans 8:9). Indwelling is permanent but filling is temporary. On occasion, we allow the flesh to take over (Romans 7:19). Filling is when the Spirit has influence over us. On Pentecost, many thought the disciples were drunk (Acts 2:13). They were not drunk (controlled or influence by alcohol) but filled with the Spirit (2:1-4). This is the rationale of the alcohol analogy in Ephesians 5:18. How does one become Spirit filled? In a parallel passage to the one in Ephesians, Paul wrote that the way to be Spirit filled is to let the word of Christ richly dwell in you (Colossians 3:16).

3. Christians should pray in the Spirit (Jude 20). The Bible teaches that we do not always know how to pray. In those instances the Spirit’s help is needed (Romans 8:26-27). Praying in the Spirit keeps us in the love of God (Jude 21).

The prohibitions:

1. Christians should not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:20). To grieve means to distress. Now I am not saying that we as mere humans can distress God to the point where he can not perform. That is a theological impossibility. We can grieve the Spirit who works in others (3:20) by treating them with our bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice (4:31).

2. Christians should not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). This is similar to the first prohibition with the exception that the Spirit in others is like a flame that has been drenched by a bucket of water. Grieving the Spirit may take some time but quenching the Spirit can occur instantaneously. Ever wonder why some get dissatisfied and leave churches? It could be the Spirit in them has been grieved and quenched. How do we avoid this? Seek after good for everyone (5:15).

There is nothing in the biblical record of anyone ever falling out because a miracle was performed. No one ever passed out when Jesus or the apostles healed. There was no one standing at the back as “catchers.” Why then does this persist to be called biblical doctrine when it is far from the truth? Could it be that Paul’s prophecy in 2 Timothy 4:2-4 is being fulfilled? I have tried my best to echo what the Bible has to say on this subject. Those who continue to practice this “slain in the Spirit” doctrine have no biblical basis to label it as truth.

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