"Drunk in the spirit," "Slain in the spirit," "holy Laughter"
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
A good sister in the Lord (who attended Bible school for a short period) very recently asked me to comment on the above three phenomena. I make no claim to having perfect understanding. What I share below is that which I believe I have received as of this point in time. I share these things for your consideration.
We are exhorted to "prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The Bereans were commended because they searched the Scriptures to prove whether things were true or false (Acts 17:11). When I attempt to "prove" the three manifestations (slain in the spirit, drunk in the spirit, laughing in the spirit, and their related cousins), I cannot find any scriptural basis for any of the three.
What is being drunk in the spirit, slain in the spirit or holy laughter? In the title, above, note that I did not capitalize "spirit" and did not capitalize "holy." That was deliberate as the reader will see shortly. We must also remember that the students who attend Bible schools are immature (or less), babes in Christ. That means they are much more impressionable or susceptible to emotions and the logical reasonings of the natural, carnal mind. For the same reason, I have found those three phenomena (particularly being "slain in the spirit") to be very common in African-American churches, where emotions are much more active.
In our house church days (1968-1980) I attended the great majority of our many, many meetings. We had almost every genuine gift of the Spirit in operation and many ministries available. There was NOT ONE occurrence of "holy laughter"; NOT ONE occurrence of anyone being "slain in the spirit"; NOT ONE occurrence of anyone being "drunk in the spirit."
In the past ten years we have been to numerous predominantly black churches, one of which we went to regularly for 15 months. In all of those black churches, there were up to 25 believers "slain in the spirit" (?) every Sunday. Further, most of those came back every Sunday to get "slain in the spirit" again and thereby receive another blessing. Why the difference? And what really happens when a believer is "slain in the spirit."
First, let us look at Scripture. The words "slain in the spirit" do not occur anywhere in the Bible. Therefore we need to tread lightly before making any kind of dogmatic statement. In addition, we recognize that God is God and He can do anything He wants to do at any time, even though it may not agree with our understanding.
Let us consider what happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. Saul, before he was sovereignly apprehended by the Lord, was a very intense man. Unfortunately he was intense for the Jewish traditions, law, customs, etc. So he went everywhere trying to capture Christians and put them in jail (or worse). Saul was also consenting to the death of Stephen. Why? because of ignorance. He had no understanding of the ways of the Lord at that time. But on the road to Damascus,
The power of the Spirit of God, which he did not know at that time, knocked him to the ground to get his attention. Obviously Saul (soon to be re-named Paul) was not slain by the Spirit because he had been doing things right and the Lord wanted to bless him ... on the contrary.
I find no other reference in Scripture about being slain in the spirit. So what do we "see" (in the natural realm) happening today? What causes real Christians to "hit the floor," or rather to fall back into the arms of the "catchers"? For the most part, psychic power. Psychic (soul) power can be a very powerful thing, particularly when the person being "ministered" unto is in a state of expectation. For example, have you ever noticed that when one person yawns, there is a tendency for other people around also to yawn? And if one person starts giggling or laughing, there is a tendency for others around him to also start laughing? The power of suggestion can be very strong. Hypnosis is also in this category. I have even seen very strong psychic power which was really divination and "mind reading." Psychic power does not come from the Lord. It comes from the soul of man. Psychic power can also develop into demonic power, which can appear to be the power of God to the undiscerning eye.
The Apostles never mentioned that being drunk in the Spirit was a manifestation of the Spirit. I do not find any substantiation for this doctrine. The only people who said that the Apostles were drunk on the day of Pentecost were the mockers (Acts 2:3). So if the mockers were saying the Apostles were drunk; and any man (of which there have been many) also says that he was drunk in the spirit and stumbled around acting like a drunk, only one conclusion can be reached ... that such men and the mockers in Acts 2 are of the same mind. That is actually mocking the Holy Spirit.
There are videos available on the internet that show Christians falling, laughing and running all over the place. Such scenes are absolutely sad and chaotic. Such services could best be characterized by confusion. They end like they begin, with a rock concert disguised as a worship service. There was a spirit there, a false spirit, a demonic spirit, an unclean spirit masquerading as the Holy Spirit. God is not the author of confusion. The devil is the author of confusion and he is the father of lies. Peter replied to the mockers in the book of Acts 2:15, "For these men are not drunk as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day" (9 AM).
Some have cited Acts, Chapter 2 in an attempt to prove that the Apostles were drunk in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This is nonsense. Those who said the disciples were "full of new wine" were the mockers who wanted to debunk the miracle of tongues which was occurring (Acts 2:13). The mockers did not say the disciples were drunk because they were staggering about and slurred in speech and falling to the ground, but because of the many languages which were used to magnify the Lord that day and because they wanted to slander the servants of Christ. In his reply to these mockers, Peter plainly said they were not drunken (Acts 2:15).
In Ephesians 5:18, Paul contrasts drunkenness with the filling of the Spirit. The drunk is not in control of himself, but is under the power of a foreign substance. In contrast, the Spirit-filled Christian is entirely in control of himself under the direction of the Holy Spirit. ("The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" 1 Corinthians 14:32) There is absolutely no case in the New Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ or the Apostles or early Christians staggering about in a drunken stupor, unable to attend to necessary duties, as those in the laughing revival are experiencing. The Christian is commanded to be sober at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8; 1 Timothy 3:2, 11; Titus 1:8; 2:2, 4, 6; 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8).
The only example of "spiritual drunkenness" in the Bible is in the prophets, referring to God's judgment upon sin and apostasy (Isaiah 29:9-14; Jeremiah 51:37-40). Please read those verses in Isaiah and Jeremiah. These prophecies sound a solemn warning to the "laughing revival" crowd. They have rejected the sound teaching of the Bible; they have refused to be sober and vigilant; they have mocked careful Biblical discernment; they have exalted experience over doctrine; they have gone a whoring after feelings and "signs and wonders"; and they have been blinded by demonic delusions. God warns that those who refuse to obey the truth will be blinded by lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
A final, but most important, warning concerning being slain in the spirit, drunk in the spirit, and "holy" laughter is this. What is the fruit? How do (did) such manifestations work in your life to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit? How do these manifestation help to mature you in Christ? As believers, we should not be looking for signs and wonders. We are concerned with Christ in you, the hope of glory. In the example of Saul of Tarsus, there was immediate fruit. He immediately became a changed man.
On the internet you can find many, many, specific "big" names in the charismatic community, both past and present, who apparently believe and practice and encourage other Christians to engage in being slain in the spirit, holy laughter, and being drunk in the spirit. I elect not to mention any names, although it is easy to list 10 or so "big" names rather easily. I personally believe that most of those "big" names are indeed Christians, but have been seduced by lying spirits.
We are all held accountable individually. Following the crowd will not cause us to be exempt from the fruit of errors. Let us search the scriptures for ourselves in order to endeavor to keep our garments clean. lt is toward this end that I write with such boldness. Blessings in Christ.
We are exhorted to "prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The Bereans were commended because they searched the Scriptures to prove whether things were true or false (Acts 17:11). When I attempt to "prove" the three manifestations (slain in the spirit, drunk in the spirit, laughing in the spirit, and their related cousins), I cannot find any scriptural basis for any of the three.
What is being drunk in the spirit, slain in the spirit or holy laughter? In the title, above, note that I did not capitalize "spirit" and did not capitalize "holy." That was deliberate as the reader will see shortly. We must also remember that the students who attend Bible schools are immature (or less), babes in Christ. That means they are much more impressionable or susceptible to emotions and the logical reasonings of the natural, carnal mind. For the same reason, I have found those three phenomena (particularly being "slain in the spirit") to be very common in African-American churches, where emotions are much more active.
In our house church days (1968-1980) I attended the great majority of our many, many meetings. We had almost every genuine gift of the Spirit in operation and many ministries available. There was NOT ONE occurrence of "holy laughter"; NOT ONE occurrence of anyone being "slain in the spirit"; NOT ONE occurrence of anyone being "drunk in the spirit."
In the past ten years we have been to numerous predominantly black churches, one of which we went to regularly for 15 months. In all of those black churches, there were up to 25 believers "slain in the spirit" (?) every Sunday. Further, most of those came back every Sunday to get "slain in the spirit" again and thereby receive another blessing. Why the difference? And what really happens when a believer is "slain in the spirit."
First, let us look at Scripture. The words "slain in the spirit" do not occur anywhere in the Bible. Therefore we need to tread lightly before making any kind of dogmatic statement. In addition, we recognize that God is God and He can do anything He wants to do at any time, even though it may not agree with our understanding.
Let us consider what happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. Saul, before he was sovereignly apprehended by the Lord, was a very intense man. Unfortunately he was intense for the Jewish traditions, law, customs, etc. So he went everywhere trying to capture Christians and put them in jail (or worse). Saul was also consenting to the death of Stephen. Why? because of ignorance. He had no understanding of the ways of the Lord at that time. But on the road to Damascus,
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Acts 9:3-5
The power of the Spirit of God, which he did not know at that time, knocked him to the ground to get his attention. Obviously Saul (soon to be re-named Paul) was not slain by the Spirit because he had been doing things right and the Lord wanted to bless him ... on the contrary.
I find no other reference in Scripture about being slain in the spirit. So what do we "see" (in the natural realm) happening today? What causes real Christians to "hit the floor," or rather to fall back into the arms of the "catchers"? For the most part, psychic power. Psychic (soul) power can be a very powerful thing, particularly when the person being "ministered" unto is in a state of expectation. For example, have you ever noticed that when one person yawns, there is a tendency for other people around also to yawn? And if one person starts giggling or laughing, there is a tendency for others around him to also start laughing? The power of suggestion can be very strong. Hypnosis is also in this category. I have even seen very strong psychic power which was really divination and "mind reading." Psychic power does not come from the Lord. It comes from the soul of man. Psychic power can also develop into demonic power, which can appear to be the power of God to the undiscerning eye.
The Apostles never mentioned that being drunk in the Spirit was a manifestation of the Spirit. I do not find any substantiation for this doctrine. The only people who said that the Apostles were drunk on the day of Pentecost were the mockers (Acts 2:3). So if the mockers were saying the Apostles were drunk; and any man (of which there have been many) also says that he was drunk in the spirit and stumbled around acting like a drunk, only one conclusion can be reached ... that such men and the mockers in Acts 2 are of the same mind. That is actually mocking the Holy Spirit.
There are videos available on the internet that show Christians falling, laughing and running all over the place. Such scenes are absolutely sad and chaotic. Such services could best be characterized by confusion. They end like they begin, with a rock concert disguised as a worship service. There was a spirit there, a false spirit, a demonic spirit, an unclean spirit masquerading as the Holy Spirit. God is not the author of confusion. The devil is the author of confusion and he is the father of lies. Peter replied to the mockers in the book of Acts 2:15, "For these men are not drunk as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day" (9 AM).
Some have cited Acts, Chapter 2 in an attempt to prove that the Apostles were drunk in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This is nonsense. Those who said the disciples were "full of new wine" were the mockers who wanted to debunk the miracle of tongues which was occurring (Acts 2:13). The mockers did not say the disciples were drunk because they were staggering about and slurred in speech and falling to the ground, but because of the many languages which were used to magnify the Lord that day and because they wanted to slander the servants of Christ. In his reply to these mockers, Peter plainly said they were not drunken (Acts 2:15).
In Ephesians 5:18, Paul contrasts drunkenness with the filling of the Spirit. The drunk is not in control of himself, but is under the power of a foreign substance. In contrast, the Spirit-filled Christian is entirely in control of himself under the direction of the Holy Spirit. ("The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" 1 Corinthians 14:32) There is absolutely no case in the New Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ or the Apostles or early Christians staggering about in a drunken stupor, unable to attend to necessary duties, as those in the laughing revival are experiencing. The Christian is commanded to be sober at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8; 1 Timothy 3:2, 11; Titus 1:8; 2:2, 4, 6; 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8).
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
The only example of "spiritual drunkenness" in the Bible is in the prophets, referring to God's judgment upon sin and apostasy (Isaiah 29:9-14; Jeremiah 51:37-40). Please read those verses in Isaiah and Jeremiah. These prophecies sound a solemn warning to the "laughing revival" crowd. They have rejected the sound teaching of the Bible; they have refused to be sober and vigilant; they have mocked careful Biblical discernment; they have exalted experience over doctrine; they have gone a whoring after feelings and "signs and wonders"; and they have been blinded by demonic delusions. God warns that those who refuse to obey the truth will be blinded by lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
A final, but most important, warning concerning being slain in the spirit, drunk in the spirit, and "holy" laughter is this. What is the fruit? How do (did) such manifestations work in your life to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit? How do these manifestation help to mature you in Christ? As believers, we should not be looking for signs and wonders. We are concerned with Christ in you, the hope of glory. In the example of Saul of Tarsus, there was immediate fruit. He immediately became a changed man.
On the internet you can find many, many, specific "big" names in the charismatic community, both past and present, who apparently believe and practice and encourage other Christians to engage in being slain in the spirit, holy laughter, and being drunk in the spirit. I elect not to mention any names, although it is easy to list 10 or so "big" names rather easily. I personally believe that most of those "big" names are indeed Christians, but have been seduced by lying spirits.
We are all held accountable individually. Following the crowd will not cause us to be exempt from the fruit of errors. Let us search the scriptures for ourselves in order to endeavor to keep our garments clean. lt is toward this end that I write with such boldness. Blessings in Christ.
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