"Holy Laughter" (for a good laugh!)

[MahogonySnail]

What makes you think that being a different person constitutes acting like a dumb animal? You cannot appeal to the NT for any implication or example of such behavior.
You are asserting that for which you have no evidence. When you examine the doctrine of these people you will find it failing, why would God give them the Holy Spirit?

Why should you imply that the influence of the Holy Spirit is akin to a "dumb animal"? Do not ever disrespect the Lord in that way. These are people who have found religious freedom of expression in emotions and probably have more joy than your sad prune-faced churches could ever muster.

 

[MaggieMye]

Mahogany wrote "These are people who have found religious freedom of expression in emotions and probably have more joy than your sad prune-faced churches could ever muster."
Surely you are not condoning the taking on the appearance of evil by 'tokin' the ghost'!! Are you??
Maggie

 

[Slepsog4]

Mahogany,

You have really missed the mark if you think my statement is disrespectful, but believe their behavior really represents God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit. There is no authority for their lunacy. They may have some kind of spirit, but it is hardly one of holiness or self-control.

Joy does not mean falling out of one's chair, or cackling like birds, or doubling over uncontrollably. Jesus is not a stand up comedian, nor were any of the prophets or old, nor the apostles.

 

[MaggieMye]

It is my opinion that most Christian, especially the ones that tend to be a 'bit off' do not really understand what "JOY" in the Lord truly is.

JOY in the LORD is peace.
JOY in the LORD is a source of strength from which to draw
JOY in the LORD is wisdom knowing His ways.
JOY in the LORD is understanding His character.
JOY in the LORD is taking comfort in who He is for us.
JOY in the LORD is being extremely please about pleasing Him!
JOY in the LORD is healing to the soul and heart because of Him.
JOY in the LORD is rest.
JOY in the LORD is NOT giddiness.
JOY in the LORD is NOT the utterance of uncontrolable laughter meeting after meeting; on occassion yes, but not every night...that is flesh.
JOY in the LORD is NOT shouting or girating or writhing on the floor...that is the appearance of evil and rightly so.
We can only true joy when we know how to rest in Him to the degree that we are, by our resting in Him, doing violence to the kingdom of darkness.
Maggie

 

[MahogonySnail]

God uses foolishness and base things to confound the wise, religious and pharisees and if that foolishness is acting like an animal then so be it. You judge by outward appearance you should judge by looking at the heart. I suggest you re-think the purpose of God-given emotions, joy, because honestly there's more joy and expression of emotion at football games than many churches. And if we think we can encounter the power of God in fullness without feeling something different we have no idea what we are talking about.

 

[mcap]

These guys are actually being called false teachers by apologetic groups,maybe they are right.I'm sure God saw nothing they were doing worth laughing about.

 

[Thaddaeus]

Mahogany wrote "These are people who have found religious freedom of expression in emotions and probably have more joy than your sad prune-faced churches could ever muster."
Surely you are not condoning the taking on the appearance of evil by 'tokin' the ghost'!! Are you??
Maggie

that video of token the Holy Ghost was blaspheme ,it was two people making fun of people who believe in being spirit filled, thats what I got from it

 

[Slepsog4]

Sail,

You seem to be of the opinion that emotionalism is the badge of true spirituality. You need to restudy and rethink what the Bible teaches.

You used the example of a football game. How many fans get all excited jumping up and down for a touch down, but then find out there was a flag on the play. The score does not count. All of their emotional outburst won't make it so. They expended lots of energy under false evidence.

The Bible constantly appeals to the mind (the rational part of man) to think, to understand, to know, to have wisdom. Where is their ONE exhortation to FEEL one's way into righteousness or holiness.

 

[RoboOp]

Benny Hinn makes this line-up (of drunkenness superstars) more complete:​

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOPQ9Cxz5So[/video]

 

[missy2shoes]

His hair was mesmerizing.......

 

[MahogonySnail]

Sail,

You seem to be of the opinion that emotionalism is the badge of true spirituality. You need to restudy and rethink what the Bible teaches.

Ahh, not really, I'm more or less saying that true spirituality includes emotions. While the video in the OP was a little far fetched, there is such a thing as experiencing joy and laughter in the Holy Ghost. What I say is that the absense of God-given emotions resulting from true spirituality is pretense. If you think the video was a bit "out of control", you should see some churches in Papua New Guinea for example.

You used the example of a football game. How many fans get all excited jumping up and down for a touch down, but then find out there was a flag on the play. The score does not count. All of their emotional outburst won't make it so. They expended lots of energy under false evidence.

Sure, if emotions are intended to produce a desired result, that is emotionalism and not right. But I'm talking about the expression of true emotions from true spirituality.

The Bible constantly appeals to the mind (the rational part of man) to think, to understand, to know, to have wisdom. Where is their ONE exhortation to FEEL one's way into righteousness or holiness.

Yes, but not at the expense of emotions. Unfortunately this is a symptom of western culture, not the original intention of God's design. The human is both rational thoughts and irrational emotions. God made emotions for a purpose. If we neglect them we are being "half human". We should embrace them along with the rational thoughts , say in expressing joy and laughter in the things of God. I've seen documentaries on the Jews for example , they have tears running down their face, joy and dancing, really emotional, about God and their land. I can't remember the last time I saw such things in your average church. What about your church? The amens are expressionless, as are the "praise the Lord's". Pretense, falsehoods. The video in the OP, while a little overboard IMO, is not that unusual for people who truly have encountered the power of God.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Consider as one example of disorderly conduct: David dancing before Jehovah with all his might:

2Sa 6:14 And David danced before Jehovah with all his might. And David was girded with a linen ephod.


But no, David must have had a demon or his own emotions, since it was so disorderly!.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Where is their ONE exhortation to FEEL one's way into righteousness or holiness.

Well, not feeling your way into something, but emotions certainly are part of the Christian experience:

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

And these being "in the Holy Ghost".

 

[MahogonySnail]

So it really surprises me when Christians say things like that they see nothing of God in it or it couldn't be the Holy Spirit. Perhaps solemnly morbidity and depression is more Godly?

 

[MahogonySnail]

Laughter, and joy is throughout the Scriptures. Let's not make the mistake of making it merely a written concept and not our own experience. Unfortunately some such as Maggie #48 need to redefine for us what joy is according to their own minds, because God couldn't possible be a God of joy and laughter right? Well you'd have to explain to me how one can rejoice in the lord or be exceedingly glad without laughter at least once?

Scripture says:

Luk 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

1Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.



Maggie said:

JOY in the LORD is NOT shouting or girating or writhing on the floor...that is the appearance of evil and rightly so.

Scripture says:Psa 33:1 Rejoice in Jehovah, O righteous ones; praise is becoming for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Praise Jehovah with lyre; sing to Him with a harp of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with shouts of joy.

Psa 84:2 My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh shout for joy to the living God.

Sorry Maggie, you might have a degree in whatever it is you have a degree in from Wagner, but scripture tells me it's perfectly ok to shout for joy in God. Praise is becoming for the upright.
So let's not claim laughter and joy is somehow evil, and not of God, or mock and deride those in the video that may choose not to be prune-faced and have found a way of expressing themselves.

 

[Kakashi]

I saw this in the news quite some time back. Simply, laughter is contagious, but common sense is not. it's just another " fad" for someone to abuse. This one is just really freaky. i could barely get past t he 1st 2 minutes...

 

[Alejandrox]

that scare to me!
I don't think that it is made by the holy spirit

 

[BLC]

Hmm well BLC, good question.

There are only three possibilities:

1. The Holy Spirit

2. demonic spirits

3. misled people getting all worked up psychologically

Well we know it's not #1, right!?

So I don't know BLC, either #2 or #3 or some combination! What say ye?

Are you trying to be funny to get a laugh out of me? Your a funny guy! All joking aside, I knew a man from New England that would come to our services and the pastor would have him get up a say a few words. He would get all worked up in His love for the Lord and had, what we called in jest, a 'Hallelujah Breakdown' He was a very loving man and would drive 100's of miles to be with the family of God and the ministry that he loved. He was always ministering to students and layed his life down for the brethren constantly. He was like a poured out vessel. He had a unique portion in God's body but it was always edifying not matter what it looked like.

I am not condoning or condemning anything that was observed on the video. These so called 'manifestations of the Holy Spirit', including this kind of laughter, is not exactly what I depicted happening at Pentecost or thereafter. I do not believe in any way that these videos illustrate any sign or wonder from the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, those that were gathered heard these Galileans speak in many national tongues and I kind of lean toward (Eph 5:18-20) in terms of what was taking place along with (1Pt 1:8). It was around 9:00am in the morning, not exactly a time when people drank wine or strong drink or that people were normally or even naturally filled with this kind of joy. It probably seemed very strange to those that were there observing their behavior, comparing it to those that get drunk in the night. There is no mention of laughter but you can't rule it out. If you were filled with the Spirit and God gave you a national tongue to speak to those gathered in their own language, you just might laugh a little about the whole ordeal. It is also very possible that they (or some) had been up all night waiting in the upper room, so you could add tiredness to the setting.

As strange as these videos seem to some, it would have also been strange to see the Lord spit in the dirt and rub it in the blind man's eyes and tell him to go wash it off (. It would have also been strange to see Elijah spread his entire body over the dead boy three times, crying out to God to bring him back to life in (1Kgs 17:16-23). Would it not also have been a strange and peculiar sight to witness the Lord casting devils out of two crazy men into the swine, that ran violently into the sea and perished (Mt 8:28-34). How about the deaf man with a speech impediment in (Mk 7:32-37), when Jesus pulled him aside and put His fingers in his ears and spit, then touched his tongue. What would you have thought of Christ in the Pharisee's home that permitted a sinner (prostitute) to wash His feet with her tears and wiped them dry with her hair (Luke 7:37-50). Would you think that she had a foot fetish that Jesus accommodated or would that be thinking evil. We are to walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor 5:7). God looks upon the heart while man looks on the outward appearance (1Sam 16:7). Yet ,I do believe that Satan can transform himself and counterfeit all the fruits of the Spirit and we should not be ignorant of his devices. So be filled and walk in the Spirit so that you can discern all things.

 

[RoboOp]

Hmm well BLC, good question.

There are only three possibilities:

1. The Holy Spirit

2. demonic spirits

3. misled people getting all worked up psychologically

Well we know it's not #1, right!?

So I don't know BLC, either #2 or #3 or some combination! What say ye?

Okay I'm quoting myself above, to append what I said. Actually I want to change what I said, slightly.

I said that we know that it's not the Holy Spirt.. so it must be either demonic or just people working themselves up emotionally/psychologically. Well, after further thought, I think that instead of saying "it's not the Holy Spirit", I should simply say this:

Even if it is the Holy Spirit, it's wrong.

Wrong as in crazy and out of order.

I'm not saying it is the Holy Spirt (and I certainly don't trust those leaders who are staging it), but I'm just saying that even if it is the Holy Spirit (in some of them or all of them), it's still wrong, crazy, out of order, and doesn't help the gospel. Look at what Paul said in the very chapter where he's dealing with even genuine manifiestations of the Holy Spirit being out of order (and being a bad witness):

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (1 Cor 14:23)

The tongues may be real, but nonetheless they should be sensibly controlled, and the church shouldn't be trying to have some big mass Holy Spirit manifiestation. People who enter will "say that you are out of your mind".

The Holy Spirit is kinda strange.. I don't know how to explain.. but look at what else Paul said in that chapter (1 Cor 14). He said that if a prophet is speaking and then a revelation is made to one who is seated, the first one should stop............ YES, he should STOP.. stop what? stop letting the Holy Spirit prophesy through him! Paul remarks,

"32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. ".

It's almost as if we can somewhat control, release, contain the Holy Spirit... and we could possibly have a big mass gathering (church, whatever) to try to have a big mass manifestation of the Spirit -- all speaking in tongues, all prophesying at the same time, or even "holy laughter" (if that could possbily be of the Spirt), etc. But just because we could harness/release the Holy Spirit in that way doesn't mean that we should. And I guarantee you, that Paul (and the Lord) would feel even more strongly about everyone rolling on the floor and acting like hyenas (even if it's a genunine manifestation of the Spirit) than he would about everyone speaking out loud in tonges. He would say the same (or perhaps with even stronger words). He would say:

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues [or rolls on the floor laughing like hyenas], and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (1 Cor 14:23)

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

And I dare say that these kinds of "Holy laughter" gatherings encourage people to seek after wild experiences with the Holy Spirit rather than really knowing the Lord, obeying the Lord.. and it doesn't help the gospel .. people say that we're out of our minds, just as Paul said.

And again, I'm still not saying that any of that stuff in those videos is genuninely from the Spirit.

Imagine this:

Kenneth Hagin or Kenneth Copeland or Benny Hinn has one of these big gatherings where thousands of people are all worked up to experience the next big manifestation of the spirit... and then Hagin/Copeland/Hinn says:

"Hey you know the Holy Spirit works in strange unexpected ways" and presents some slippery prooftext scripture from the Bible for that vague general point..and then Hagin/Copeland/Hinn says "One time the Holy Spirit came down on me and I just start QUACKING like a duck!!! Glory to God!". And then the guy (Hagin/Copeland/Hinn), or their accomplice in the audience, just starts quacking!... then I guarantee you it would quickly spread like a wave through the thousands of people there.

They'd all be insanely quacking like ducks, thinking wow what a manifestation of the Holy Spirit!

(Then we'd have a "Holy Quacking" thread here.)

 

[RoboOp]

Pardon me, I couldn't resist, I went ahead and made a thread of it ("Holy Quacking").