Slain in the Spirit

inquiry

Dear Brothers:
I need some help in finding where in the bible it shows that slain 
in the spirit is biblical.  I would appreciate if you could e-mail 
the verses as to where I can find them.  Or if it is not biblical 
please let me know.  I have e-mail many christian sites and no one 
has responded with an answer.  I'm assuming that they don't know 
where to find it if they believe in it.  And if its not biblical I 
wish someone would just answer it as to no its not.  I'm just 
confused.
Thank you.
Sincerely your sister in Christ,

first response

There is nothing at all in the Bible that I am aware of which 
describes being "slain the the Spirt." I personally do not believe 
this is a genuine manifestation of God.

second response

There is a phenomenon that takes place within some
very particular Pentecostal churches--not all, mind you, but some.  People
seem to lose consciousness and just fall down.  This is typically called
"slain in the spirit."  It doesn't mean that these people have died or that
the Spirit has slain them.  The term itself is not in the Bible but neither
is the word Trinity, or so goes the reasoning.  It's true that there are
some terms legitimately used in churches that don't exactly come right off a
page in the scripture.

This phenomenon is open to much question.  Most conservative Christians feel
that people either become hysterical (with excitement) and pass out, or that
it is some sort of sleight-of-hand, a kind of mesmerizing (hypnosis) because
people (a) expect to feel this and (b) the preacher is suggesting this is
going to happen.  Many cases have been reported that the preacher reaches
out his/her hand and smacks people in the head or someone from behind puts a
knee into the back of the person's leg causing him/her to fall backwards.
It is a very questionable practice, mainly for the bad witness it makes to
unbelievers who witness this stuff.  It is potentially evil because it is
not scriptural and it even resembles occult practices.  For example, in
voodoo and Santaria, the very same thing happens, and a lot of other
spiritism groups experience similar phenomena--and we have to conclude these
events are not of the Lord, hence demonic.  It can be scary, and it can be
very wrong.

If you do look in the scriptures, you'll find many examples of people
falling, for example in Revelation when the elders fall before Jesus.
However, there is really nothing scriptural that could suggest that this is
an example of being "slain in the spirit" in the Pentecostal sense.
The cautious believer waits to see the fruit of the ministry, and compares
the things that are said and done with scriptures.  I have to add that many
people who do this kind of thing are indeed born-again believers and their
motives are sincere.  I also can't put God in a box and limit the ways He
wants to manifest Himself or demonstrate His power.  However, He has given
me His Word, the ability to read, and a brain.  I don't have to be swept up
in anyone else's emotion or emotionalism.

Keep both eyes open, check your scriptures, pray and seek God.  You seem to
have reservations, or you wouldn't have posted such a question.  He will
give you the answer you seek--just ask.

Grace is amazing.

third response

My wise brothers have given you some good biblical perspective on 
your question about being "slain in the Spirit".

Having spent some years in the Pentecostal movement and witnessed the 
spectacle to which you refer, May I add just a thought or two, with 
which I believe my brethren would concur?

You are wise indeed to seek biblical answers to these things that are 
troubling to you.  For instance, if you will make a study of the work 
of the Holy Spirit you will find that Jesus said, "When the Counselor 
comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth 
who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me (Jn. 15:26) 
and "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into 
all truth.  He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He 
hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory 
to Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." 
(16:13,14)  It is evident that the Holy Spirit's work is to make 
Jesus the centerpiece of His disciples' lives.

The Apostle Paul develops this further:  "And we, who with unveiled 
faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His 
likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who 
is the Spirit." (II Cor 3:18).  Then we have further revelation of 
the outcome of the Spirit's work in Gal. 5:22-26:  "But the fruit of 
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there 
is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the 
sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the 
Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become 
conceited, provoking and envying each other." Character is the 
issue--the character of Jesus!

It becomes increasingly evident to Christ's disciples that the 
fruitful life so described cannot be coerced or manufactured by 
self-effort or by some spiritual gimmick.  It is a dynamic godliness 
that can be produced only by the "glorious mystery" the Apostle Paul 
sums up in Col. 1:25:  "I have become its servant by the commission 
God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the 
mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is 
now disclosed to the saints.  To them God has chosen to make known 
among the Gentiles the *glorious riches of this mystery, which is - 
Christ-in-you - the hope of glory"*

"...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have 
received." (Eph. 4:1).  Let the Word of God (not some random "word of 
knowledge") instruct your mind with Truth and the Living Word, the 
Lord Jesus, fill your heart with His love.  Yours/ours is a radically 
life-changing calling.  You do well to pursue the living, 
active, sharp, penetrating, revealing Word of God (Heb. 5:12, 13). 
The Holy Spirit reveals through the written Word the Living Word. 
That is how He takes what is Christ's and makes it known to you, as 
Jesus promised He would do.

There is much on our website to help you as you search the 
scriptures.  Please let us know if we can help you on your journey. 
That is what we are here for!

God's amazing grace be with you,