Question:  Dear Greg,

            It seems to me that you do not understand what the Bible says about being “slain in the Spirit.”  Paul fell down before God (Acts 9) and so did the apostle John.

            God has the absolute right to cause any human being to fall over in his presence.  I for one am only too happy to glorify God by being “slain in the Spirit.”

            Patrick

Answer:  Dear Patrick,

            Apparently you take issue with what I have said elsewhere about being “slain in the Spirit”—and quoted the example of John (Revelation 1) and Paul (Acts 9), who fell down in the Lord’s presence.  You said that it was God’s absolute right for people to fall over in his presence.

            In response:

1.      It should be noted that manifestations like being slain in the Spirit are not normative for the Christian church over the past 2000 years.

2.      Whether being slain in the Spirit is of God or not of God is  debatable—the mere act of falling on the ground and making sounds—sometimes barking, etc.—are not, of and by themselves, de facto proof of God’s presence.  Nothing in the Bible suggests such a thing.  Yes, sometimes people fell down in God’s presence, but sometimes they didn’t.  And sometimes people fell down and it wasn’t because of God’s presence.  We certainly do not read in the Bible about people falling down in some public meeting, creating a circus-like atmosphere.

3.      It certainly is God’s right for people to fall over in his presence, but we imperfect humans should not conclude that falling over means that God is present—nor is God obligated to be “present” (he is everywhere present according to the Bible) when humans fall over.  Some believe that those who are “slain in the Spirit” are better Christians, receiving some divine blessing that those who are not “slain in the Spirit” do not.  This is completely unbiblical.

4.      Finally, studies and research demonstrate that manifestations such as being “slain in the Spirit” are altered states of consciousness, and those humans who wish to have such an experience often will (and visa versa).

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht