4 of my non-charismatic friends wanted to attend a Thursday night extremist Pentecostal service--not my cup of tea, but I felt obligated to attend to later explain my reaction to such services. In the meeting, one lady's eruption of loud "holy laughter" was very sincere, but totally disruptive for me and my visiting friends. Also, the lady who came to the mike claiming a special "word from the Lord" tried in vain to establish that effective faith is "the Lord's faith," not "your faith," a message that certainly did not come " from the Lord!"How was your service today?
Yeah, the leader of this group hd entered a local furniture store to ask my friend Gary (a non-Charismatic Nazarene) to serve as "a catcher" for those who fall straight backwards "slain in the Spirit" after the female evangelist laid hands on them. That request seemed as strange to Gary as it would to any of you here. Gary hoped that his unchurched co-workers would barely notice, but at lunch this young female employee said to Gary,"Uh, so in your church people fall down, huh?" Gary was so embarrassed, but I laughed my head off. To my dismay 3 non-Charismatic Methodist served as "catchers" and, believe me, their role was necessary during the healing service of laying on hands. It was as if the evangelist electricuted those being blessed as they fell backwards! To my dismay, all 3 Methodists loved the experience, later explaining that they sensed who was authentically overpowered by the Spirit and who was merely following expectations.Anything interesting or special?
She got my attention when she claimed to have recently raised the dead!Did the topic or message or readings speak to you for some reason?
One of the recruited "catchers" Dave was singled out by he evangelist for prayer. She told him, "I sense that you have heart problems and a pinched nerve in your neck." Dave gasped at this clairvoyant accuracy. She then laid hands on him to heal him. Now Dave is a close friend whom I have known for many years. He is a member of our weekly prayer group. Dave often complained of the nightly headaches caused by his pinched nerve in his neck. But amazingly, at the next prayer meeting he announced that he was healed and that healing has remained permanent! So those Methodist "catchers" want to attend her next meeting in a nearby city to see more miracles. I was basically there to protect them from offense, but apparently I was the only one offended by the meetings excesses. Food for thought and not just your boring typical worship service! Perhaps a little wildfire is better than no fire at all!And whatever else about your service you think we might find interesting.