YOU ARE HERE  PART I ... Introduction. The never ending quest for signs and wonders. Slain In The Spirit. The final arbitrator - When it comes to spiritual matters ALL our decisions have be based NOT what took place in this ministry or that, NOT on anything anyone may claim or teach, and NOT on personal experiences (whether our own or someone else's), but on what the Word of God says - Nothing more, nothing less. PART II ... Is There A Biblical Basis For Being "Slain" or "Resting" In The Spirit? Examining the 'Proof Texts' . PART III ... Related Phenomena - Is there any Biblical support for Shaking In The Spirit, being Drunk In The Spirit, "Holy" Laughter, or Trances? PART IV... Comparing the supposedly 'Christian' phenomenon of 'Slain In The Spirit' with the ancient Hindu tradition of 'Awakening' Kundalini - an intelligent and contagious life force associated with the goddess Shakti. Can You Tell The Difference between the physical manifestations of 'Slain in The Spirit' and an 'awakened' Kundalini
Introduction - The Never Ending Quest For Signs and Wonders
Be they Pentecostal, part of the Word Faith movement, Dominionists, or in the camp of one or the other NAR "apostles", a very large percentage of Christians in the Charismatic world seem to endlessly chase 'signs and wonders'. Christianity that consists of nothing more than faith, prayer, and obedience to God's commands seems to be far too mundane and boring. Holiness may as well be a word in a foreign language.
They want miracles. They want to see healing. They want to experience what they consider an in-filling of the Holy Spirit. They want to to hear prophecy (regardless of whether it actually comes to pass or not). They want to do something, hear something, experience something. In other words they want excitement. People want to feel good about themselves and seem to rely on how they feel to the exclusion of everything else including the word of God. They assume any experience they may have is from God if it makes them feel good The problem is that we say we believe that our Bible is the inerrant word of God. We say that we read His word and implicitly believe what it says. The truth is that we do not. Because if we actually took the Word of God seriously, we would stop glossing over passages like Matthew 12:38-39 in which Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees who wanted to see a sign from Him. "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet". (Matthew 12:38-39 NASB)
Yet, like so many other warnings in the Scriptures, it goes unheeded. See Entertainment - The New Way of Doing Church
Slain In The Spirit Slain in The Spirit: sometimes referred to as falling under the power, carpet time etc. These terms are used to describe what happens when the Holy Spirit supposedly comes up a person with such power that they cannot stay on their feet and collapse on the ground. "Resting In The Spirit" is said to take place after someone has been 'Slain'. The person on the ground feels very peaceful and relaxed - a sensation that has been described by some as a feeling of "floating" or being wrapped in cotton wool. They may have visions, hear what they assume to be the voice of the Lord, or experience some form of healing. They can 'Rest in the Spirit' for a few minutes to several hours.
Closely connected with speaking in tongues this phenomenon has gained unprecedented popularity and is in fact, a much sought-after experience in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles. It has even become a trademark of the meetings of many well known preachers since it is often seen as a sign of the spirituality (or anointing) of a minister who is able to impart the Spirit with a touch. Charismatics view this phenomena as being in harmony with the Scriptures because they claim there are several instances in the Scriptures when people physically dropped to the ground under the power of God. See The Anointing
A little understood and common misused term. Please note that The Bible makes absolutely NO mention of any preachers or teachers being "anointed". Much to the contrary the fact that so many are running around calling themselves "anointed" is an extremely ominous sign of the end of days. Benny Hinn will sweep his hand or even his jacket in the direction of a group of people who promptly fall over, more commonly a so called 'anointed' evangelist touches people on the forehead causing them to be "slain". This is seen as a clear sign of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The person's fall is usually broken by "catchers" who are positioned behind them to prevent injury. Especially in the case of women in skirts they may also provide a sheet to cover the lower half of the ladies' body. More About Benny Hinn Some will lie quietly in an almost trance like condition and later report feeling very peaceful and relaxed. Yet others have described a feeling of "floating" or being wrapped in cotton wool. They may see visions, hear what they believe is the voice of the Lord, or experience some form of healing. They can 'rest in the spirit' for as little as a few minutes to as long as several hours. However, many others will writhe or roll around on the floor, weep and cry out, make strange noises etc, All too often they laugh uncontrollably and virtually unceasingly - a phenomenon knows as "holy laughter" or being drunk in the spirit. Even those who do not fall to the ground will adopt strange postures, jerk uncontrollably, violently shake their heads similar to what can be seen in a mosh pit at a rock concert. Not only is the participant's behavior many steps beyond bizarre, but the phenomenon has spread - to the furtherest ends of the church. Russia
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Note that the only people in the New Testament who manifested irrational behavior of any kind were those who were demon possessed.
What is truly frightening is that charismatic churches are not the only places where this phenomena is seen. Chapter Four compares the supposedly 'Christian' phenomenon of 'Slain In The Spirit' with the ancient Hindu tradition of 'Awakening' Kundalini. Kundalini being the concentrated life force associated with the goddess Shakti. What speaks volumes is that the only people in the New Testament who manifested irrational behavior of any kind were those who were demon possessed.
History
Although the it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where and when the phenomenon of being "slain in the spirit" originated. What we do know is that it has been going on for quite some time. Perhaps one of the earliest groups to indulge in this behavior were the Shakers - the term being a mocking description of a Christian sect founded circa 1747 in England and then organized in the United States in the 1780s. They were initially known as "Shaking Quakers" because of their ecstatic behavior during worship services. In meeting, they marched, sang, danced, and sometimes turned, twitched, jerked, or shouted. The preaching ministry of nineteenth-century Methodist circuit-rider Peter Cartwright (1785 - 1873) was characterized by similar manifestations. "God's power" were also said to have taken place in the Kentucky revivals of 1800-1801, Finney's ministry, Andrew Murray's church and the Welsh revival of 1859. And there have been plenty of others ranging from the "trance evangelist" Maria Woodworth-Etter who would often go into a trance like state. At her so called "revival" meetings would also fall into trances, some standing rigid gazing into heaven, others lying on the floor unable to move for hours or even days. Others screamed, cried, moaned, shook violently, and rolled around on the floor. Others include Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) founder of the Foursquare Gospel denomination. Evangelist and healer Kathryn Kuhlman (1907-1976) made "slaying in the Spirit" a household term among charismatics in the ‘60s and ‘70s. (Televangelist Benny Hinn was heavily influenced by the latter two women even claiming to be Kuhlman’s successor having picked up "the anointing," which he says still lingers at her grave). And then of course there was William Seymour & The Azusa Street Revival. See Brief History of Pentecostalism - The Four Major Pentecostal 'Revivals' William Branham's (1909 – 1965) praises are sung even today in the Pentecostal And Charismatic World. See The Occult Beginnings of Dominionism The sad part is none of these 'ministers' were particularly concerned with scriptural precedent only in getting what they deemed as 'results'. For example Finney asserted that a revival is not a miracle but rather the "result of the right use of the appropriate means" with the blessing of God". He also claimed that "mistaken notions concerning the sovereignty of God have greatly hindered revivals.” [01]
Hindered revival? Seriously? See Why The Fire Hasn't Fallen
Christianity is not alive and well in spite of loud declarations to the contrary. We don't seek God because we are wholly convinced that we have already arrived.
The Final Arbitrator
However, using the phenomena that occurred in the ministries of preachers of yesteryear is both devoid of common sense and dangerous - similar to treating the writing of the so called 'church fathers' on par with Gospel truths. All too often they penned the most awful anti-Biblical manure. Although not a 'church father' Augustine is an outstanding example. See The Sins of Augustine
Regardless of spread and popularity the million dollar question is whether or not there is a Biblical basis for being Slain In The Spirit, Resting In The Spirit, Being Drunk In The Spirit, Holy Laughter etc.? One of the four most dangerous mistakes any Christian can make is unquestioningly believing and trusting any man or woman based on any combination of their personal testimony, their ability to supernaturally cause someone to fall to the floor or heal them, their often hear claims that God spoke to them, any accounts of visiting 'Heaven' etc. HERE When it comes to spiritual matters ALL our decisions have be based NOT what took place in this ministry or that, NOT on anything anyone may claim or teach, and NOT on personal experiences (whether our own or someone else's), but on what the Word of God says - Nothing more, nothing less. When confronted with any kind of phenomena (especially unusual phenomena claiming Divine origin) a wise believer will first search the Bible to see whether there is a Biblical foundation for what is taking place. However, if you wish to ensure that there is actually any support for these practices in the Scriptures then you have to be willing to examine these "proof texts" in detail not just superficially read the passages in question. End Notes
[01] Charles Finney's on Revivals of Religion: Summary
http://www.jesusdust.com/2012/11/charles-finneys-on-revivals-of-religion.html Continue on To Part 2 - Is There A Biblical Basis For Resting In The Spirit, Shaking In The
Spirit, Being Drunk In The Spirit, or for Holy Laughter? HERE | 
