In Pentecostal religious traditions being slain in the spirit is the ritual of someone falling over backwards when a leader yells, waves his hands or touches the person. Over the last two years I have attended various churches where such rituals were practiced on a regular basis.
In searching for biblical justifications for these practices I found the assessment of the Got Questions site informative: “The biblical instances [justifying these practices] were few and far between, and they occurred only rarely in the lives of a few people.”
However, I myself have fallen down. Admittedly, that happened for real only once. I was not expecting to fall. I had no intention of falling. I did not know I was falling. It was totally involuntary. Suddenly I found myself looking up from the floor wondering how I got there.
When that happened it was a kind of sign and wonder, much like a divine healing would be, but without the healing. It also made me suspect that the minister had superpowers. Weeks later I stood in that same minister’s prayer line. He did not make me fall like he did before as I expected he would, but I did go down in what is known as a courtesy fall. As I was going down I realized that this minister didn’t have the superpowers I should have never expected him to have had in the first place.
Although signs and wonders are important, the Bible also tells us to be wary of them. They may be a sign of false prophets or of the last days.
Matthew 24:23-24 KJV – 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Since that time I fell, I have been watching people fall over backwards, caught by an usher and covered with a cloth. I have also watched a few who defiantly refused to fall down, even as a courtesy.
At the moment, I am more aligned with those who refuse to fall. My reason for this is, as the Got Questions site confirmed, I don’t see much biblical justification for the practice and such signs and wonders may be used for deceptive purposes.
There is, on the contrary, biblical justification for standing, not for being slain by some “spirit”. The most powerful verses that come to mind are from Ephesians 6 where Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God and to stand:
Ephesians 6:10-13 KJV – 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
As warriors against the rulers of darkness we are called to stand, stand, stand always being prepared to exercise dominion over, without ever capitulating to, that defeated, demonic darkness.
So, stand. Don’t fall. If for some spooky reason you find yourself on the floor involuntarily, get up and stand.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 