HOLY
LAUGHTER TESTIMONIES ORDER IN THE CHURCH ....
The Apostle Paul had set certain guidelines for a believer's conduct in the
church. 1 Cor 14:33- For God is not
the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Paul says there must be order in ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS AND NOT
IN SOME CHURCHES ONLY! SPEAKING OF ORDER, THERE WAS LAUGHTER EVEN WHEN THE WORD
OF GOD WAS BEING PREACHED!!!!! HOW CAN THE HOLY SPIRIT LAUGH AT THE WORD OF GOD?
One does not have to be a genius to know that a person cannot laugh and hear the
Word of God at the same time! God's people are mocking at His WORD
and even the communion service is not spared!!! "One of Rodney Howard
Browne's initiates, an Episcopal priest, likes to tell the story of how, after
being "blessed" he went home to his Episcopal church and burst out laughing at
the most solemn moment of the service, the consecration of the Eucharistic elements"
Book entitled "Weighed and Found Wanting" by Pastor Bill Randles, page 25.
Now what about the ministry of our Lord Jesus. He had the Spirit without
measure (John 3:34), yet no one laughed during the three and a half years of His
ministry! Neither was there any laughter, when Apostle Paul or Apostle Peter ministered
in the Book of Acts. Should we emulate Our Lord Jesus and Apostle Paul or
Rodney Howard-Browne? " They had used the Holy Spirit to play a joke
on the people, and the people had joined in on the frivolity.........Being frivolous
with each other is one thing. Frivolity with God is another. In the Old Testament,
such behavior as I had just witnessed would have resulted in immediate death......"
From article entitled "The Toronto Revival" by Ron Owens, page 2.
A TECHNICIAN WAS IN A HOME DOING THE WORK OF HIS TRADE.
HERE IS WHAT TRANSPIRED: A family recently I visited had a ____________.
I was [ He describes his ongoing work in the home. ] I could hear this
thing and I heard a father in holy laughter and speaking out against his daughter
saying she that she had three demons in her! And that she needed to pray in toungues
now to release those demons. She ran out of the house. She was about 16. I ran
after her, and she opened up to me on how hard it has been for her. She
is forced to go to one of these churches. She told me that they forced her to
pray in tongues and she was so afraid of her dad and only wanted things to be
the same again, before he started going that " wacko " place as she called it.
This poor beautiful girl had sliced her knee on purpose during the summer and
branded her boy friends name on her thigh. I held her and wept. I
have found that the children really suffer terribly with this false doctrine.
And they are put in a place of severe rejection when they don't respond to it.
"Yet what I witnessed during my visit to the Vineyard was absolute
bedlam. (Indeed, this has been true *every* time I had visited an evening service
at the Vineyard. ) Several people were "pogoing in the spirit" (jumping up and
down); three women were lying on the floor (rather indelicately) going through
imaginary birth pangs, while a male minister stood over them, shouting "Birth
it! Birth it!"; four teenage girls lay tangled together on the floor, experiencing
some sort of shared convulsions; an overweight and unkempt man ran around the
perimeter of the floor, waving his arms and flinging sweat; a young woman, seemingly
oblivious to all around her, went through some crude ballet-like motions; various
people wept, laughed, barked like dogs, and roared like wild animals."
PHILLIP J-----------------
".......Brazil Howard-Browne
came to our former church for three weeks. His brother, Rodney, ministered for
about six weeks before that at another local church. The wildest reports that
we have received, however, were during the Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year.
Rodney held a revival at a friend's church there. You must first understand that
the Mardi Gras is as wild of a pagan orgy that you are likely to see anywhere.
People will get drunk and run naked in the streets, having sex of all sorts, even
with animals. Our Christian friends who were there all tell us that it was wilder
inside the church with Rodney than outside.....Women would come up to give their
testimonies about the joy of being "out under the power" and having wild orgasms..."
PAUL K----------------
"Even the 100+ pastors
and church leaders who were invited by RHB on the night of 18th to receive the
"fire" by his laying of hands (more like waving), fell on backs except for a handful
. Some of them were jerking and writhing on the floor. He even quipped that this
was one of the greatest "laying" of hands service ever (RHB repeated the same
on the night of 21st on a grander scale) and joked about a woman who fell on her
back that she would survive and on another pastor who was rolling on his back
with legs kicking in the air that the holy spirit was upon him! I also saw on
the same night, a man acted out vigorously his gonfu stances before he fell backward
on the floor while many more were jerking, screaming aloud and making animals-like
noises. I saw no edification at all as a result of these manifestations. To borrow
a remark from a sister-in-Christ who had witnessed similar manifestations in the
US services: `this "anointing" is scandalous, blasphemous, and seductive. Carnal
at the roots, it makes a mockery of our precious Saviour who died a serious and
sober death on the cross to obtain for us the unending mercy of God through His
grace. The humble, righteous and Holy character of God is openly ridiculed in
these meetings, and a spirit no less than demonic is purporting to call itself
the "Holy Spirit"'. Another local pastor who was at one of the day's services
but didn't participate in the "anointing" shared that he was: `closed to tears
to see so many pastors and church leaders being deceived and manipulated'....."
LOO KEE ----------------
My name is Bob Lally
and I live in upstate New York in the US. I have been in communication with George
Koch in Chicago concerning the so called "Laughter Movement." First, please add
me to a mailing list of updates on laughter. Second, George mentioned that
you believe it is completely demonic. I have already formed my views, based on
this movement's direct one for one relationship with AN EASTERN RELIGION. I believe
it is completely demonic and is Satan's last effort to fool the elect. God bless
you and your ministry. Bob L---------------
I watched a admittedly rather badly made film about it- more of a film of a
meeting about the Toronto blessing. I've never felt so creeped before- it was
utterly demonic- frankly, I wouldn't touch the stuff at all. -- MegaF--------------
"I am twenty-six years old, have been saved since I was
fourteen and am a fourth generation Pentecostal. I must say that I am very saddened
by the general lack of discernment that I see in the Christian church today. I
have seen this movement creep into many previous sound churches and cause nothing
but confusion. I must also say that I am surprised at how many believers (many
of whom are friends of mine), who were brought up in the truth, have been seemingly
locked into the Vineyard teaching. I have tried to witness to them but they just
seem so unreachable, even more unreachable than those who have never known the
truth." Ellen, --------
"My first exposure to this
movement was about a year ago when I was flipping the TV channels around and landed
on TBN where all these people were laughing hysterically. I watched it and I too
noticed that God's Word was hardly spoken while all these people were emitting
these peculiar sounds and doing the strangest things." David B----------
"One minister stands behind a couple who have asked for
prayer for infertility. He holds his hands above their heads, palms down,
and begins pumping vigorously up and down, as if he is pushing something into
them....Another minister stands in front of a man seeking prayer. As he prays,
his left hand rests on the man as his right hand scoops the air in a sideways
motion, palm toward the man being prayed for, as if he is pulling SOMETHING OUT
OF THE AIR AND SCOOPING IT INTO THE MAN'S BODY....Members of the congregation,
both standing and lying on the floor, SCOOP their own hands toward themselves
pleading, `MORE! GIVE Holy Laughter Part II- "The Force"-or pumped,
scooped, charged and slain by George B Koch, SCP Newsletter, Spring 1995. Emphasis
Mine.
"I am a pastor in Bartlett, Illinois (suburb
of Chicago). I recently signed on to the Internet and have gotten your remarks
concerning the "Toronto Blessing" over the last two weeks. I couldn't agree with
you more! I am very concerned over the sad state of the Evangelical Church in
our day and the lack of discernment prevelent. A theology of experience, a man-centered
theology has replaced a theology based on God's word. The principle of sola scriptura
is being lost as Christians are being lured away from the Word of God as their
sole authority by a host of satanic diversions. Keep up the good work! Hold forth
the Word!" Jim M--------------
I thought
that you might be interested to know that this morning we were visiting a nearby
Foursquare Gospel Church, and just before the sermon, the pastor gave a report
on the annual convention of the Foursquare Church that ended last night in Calgary.
He said that it was a great time of fellowship, and that the presence of God was
clearly felt, and that an orderly move of the spirit could be seen affecting people
throughout the room. But as that began, he said a disruptive manifestation began
in one corner, with laughing, shaking, and other disruptive manifestations. He
went on to say that the stronger the move of God got, the more disruptive these
other manifestations became. The chairman of the session spoke against the laughter
and the disruptive manifestations, and commanded them to stop in the name of Jesus.
They instantly stopped, and one man fell back against a wall......it stopped so
abruptly. The pastor said that the incredible thing was the display of how mighty
God's power was against these demonic manifestations, and that they didn't need
the ushers to deal with it. They didn't need a "laughter room", a "shaking room"
or "demon room"; all they needed was to command the demonic disruptions to cease
in Jesus' name, and the spirits that were manifesting had to stop. He summarized
by saying that anytime the Spirit of God manifests itself, or the Spirit of God
is moving, we can expect Satan to try to disrupt the proceedings. Regards,
Tom S-----------
Holy Laughter or Wholly Error??
By: Joseph A. Nigro [ Disclaimer by Editor, Blessed
Quietness Journal: This ministry is quite useful for information, and
I think they can be believed in every detail, but they are participants in Charismatic
circles and do not stay exclusively with the King James Version. Joseph
Nigro's experiences in the Holy Laughter movement are very helpful. ]
1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are from God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
I had heard a lot about the new movement that is sweeping Christianity,
the "holy laughter revival." I read some articles about it, both pro and con,
and I discussed it with people who had experienced it. However, I could not make
a verdict about it without having an encounter with the movement. I chose to go
to a revival with the originator of the movement, Rodney Howard Browne, who likes
to call himself "The Holy Ghost Bartender." What I experienced was Biblical, but
not in the way that most people would want to hear. First, let me preface
this with the fact that there are brothers and sisters in Christ whom I love dearly
that are in this movement. I hold these dear brothers and sisters in the highest
regard, and this article is not against them personally, but rather a examination
of the holy laughter movement in light of the Bible. Jeremiah 51:37-40
"And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment,
and an hissing, without an inhabitant. 38 They shall roar together like
lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. 39 In their heat I will make their
feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual
sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD. 40 I will bring them down like
lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats." I had gone to the
meeting with some anticipation that God had possibly started a new movement bringing
a new found joy to the churches. I was prepared for the blessing, but
I also was prepared for the possibility of a counterfeit teaching. I walked into
a very large packed church that was jamming with music. The music was incredibly
good, and quite a few people were dancing. I noticed a good feeling inside. After
a few more songs, some people broke into a hysterical laugh. As the meeting kept
on going, people all over the church were laughing, some for hours on end.
Members of the choir were actually rolling on the floor laughing. People
were rolling around or just lying on the ground either crying or laughing. Literally
several hundred people would just be laughing at the same time, some for 5 minutes,
some for up to 3 hours! Some women danced sensually around the church while one
man massaged the wall with the front of his body! What was amazing
was that the speaker didn't really say too much except that he had the new wine
of the Holy Spirit to share with others so that they could get drunk with him.
That's about all Rodney said over and over, in various ways, in song mostly, but
the same message. Rodney criticized those who did not agree with his message,
saying that if you don't believe the laughter is from God, you are a mausoleum!
And yet I had this warm, feel good spirit inside of me...this must have been of
God. Before I ever stepped into the meeting, I was prayed up with my
wife, Andrea, to discern anything not of God. The crying and laughing and shaking
were so ultra hysterical that I immediately thought that this was of the flesh,
yet I still had a good feeling inside. So as the meeting progressed, I prayed
for God to show me...why the good feeling? What God revealed to me was one of
enormous dimensions. I Timothy 4:1 tells us, "Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." It hit me so hard that I almost
fell over, the good feeling was a seducing spirit...a literal spirit of a good
feeling from a demon! My spirit liked the feeling, but that's because
my spirit was being seduced (captivated, delighted, enticed), and it felt almost
sensual. That explained all the laughter and sensual dancing, and crying, along
with barking and roaring! This holy laughter revival is a movement of demons coming
as angels of light to seduce Christians in these end times. "Although
God is interested in our bodies as well as our souls, His sphere of involvement
with a Christian is primarily "in the spirit." God is a Spirit, and those who
worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth. On the other hand, demons interact
with people in the flesh - that is, in the physical body, and in the mental realm
(emotions, desires, feelings). They give bodily sensations (shivers,
shakes, heat, tingles, weakness, energy, etc.) and mental feelings (overwhelming
burdens, or intoxicating sensations of joy, revelations, strong desires, impulses
to do irrational things, etc.). The majority of people who experience "holy laughter"
say the result is a feeling of intense love. Because they are Christians, their
love is directed at Jesus. However, this does not prove that the feelings of love
are sent from God." (1) Rodney sang the same song for almost an hour,
but when He came to the altar call, he adamantly and repeatedly commanded, "hurry,
hurry." Yet a message was never given at all, so what were these people responding
to? Some of the "backsliders" who responded were laughing and dancing
just a few minutes earlier, yet they now waltzed down an aisle to respond to an
alter call. When the "sinners" came up to the altar, they were NEVER told to repent
of their sins. They were just told that they were a child of the King. When God's
Holy Spirit comes in power, He calls sinners to repentance. He convicts of sin,
He reminds of judgment, and He gives assurance of righteousness only to be found
in the Savior, the Lord Jesus. (John 16:8) Unless you're willing to
come to God as a sinner, asking for God's forgiveness, you don't have a relationship
with Him. So what type of alter call was being issued? There was never a real
serious moment, because as the alter call was given, people were laughing hysterically.
As they prayed the prayer, and sang worship songs, people were laughing uncontrollably.
Later, when a video was shown of Rodney pretending he was drunk in the Spirit,
the place went wild. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also
forget thy children." (Hosea 4:6) I really can't tell you where the
Word of God was in all of this because it sure wasn't in the meeting. When you
go to a church, or a revival, or a teaching, there is NOTHING that i s more important
than the teaching of the Word of God. Yes, I give high priority to musical worship,
but God tells us that its the opening and teaching of His Word that He blesses.
The Scriptures tell us in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerned of
the thoughts and intents of the heart." God's word shares the very
attributes of God Himself. It is living and full of activity and power. God Himself
is telling us that He is active and so is His judgment. He tells us that His Word
is a sharp sword that goes into man's most inner being and judges the thoughts
and intentions of the heart. But whenever the word was "attempted" to be preached,
the people would laugh even harder. This quote is from a meeting led
by Rodney Howard-Browne: "One night I was preaching on hell, and laughter just
hit the whole place. The more I told people what hell was like, the more they
laughed." (Charisma, August 1994) Of course there is no preaching of
God's Word, because demons are mockers of God's Word, and they don't want to hear
it! Answer me these questions Church: "How can you laugh frivolously
when you know that millions of people are dying and going to hell?" "How
can you laugh when over 4000 babies are being aborted in American daily?"
"How can you laugh when thousands of children are dying daily because of
starvation?" The only way you can laugh frivolously is when you are seduced by
a demonic spirit! I'm not against joy or laughter. But the joy of knowing Christ,
the joy of salvation, and seeing others come to a saving knowledge of God is truly
a joy inexpressible. Yet, I also identify with the Man of Sorrows,
Jesus, because I hurt for those who are dying from starvation, or are being massacred
in a war. I weep for those who are going to hell, and march against babies being
aborted. Most Scripture references to laughter are nearly all adverse,
and has to do with mocking and derision. There is no biblical "gift" of a spirit
of laughter. Christian joy is an inward peace and assurance, not an hysterical
outburst of laughter. The Bible tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is "self-control"
and commands: 1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently
and in order." I ask and exhort my brothers and sisters in Christ to
truly test the spirits. Learn to distinguish the difference between the presence
of the Holy Spirit, as opposed to the presence of seducing spirits. Choose to
build your life on the Word of God and not on an experience or good feeling.
Once Jesus ALONE becomes our foundation, we don't need a "experience" to
draw closer to Him. Spend quality time in the Word of God and let His Word cleanse
you. May God open your eyes to His Spirit, His Love, and His Peace as you seek
Him with all your heart, and you find your Joy in Him alone. 2 Timothy
4:3-4 "For the time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teacher, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
[1] The Toronto Phenomenon/Laughing in the Spirit: Is it of God? How
can Christians Decide? - Tricia Tillin - Banner Ministries. Special Thanks
and blessings to Banner Ministries of UK for the research that they provided.
This article is from Straight Path Ministries Magazine. If you are
interested in a free subscription, please contact us: Straight
Path Ministries
Box 1093, Paramus, NJ 07653-1093 BACK
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