Is modern praise and worship simply a form of conjuring?

At many charismatic churches, praise and worship can last from 30 to 45 minutes or even longer. The supposed purpose of this is to "call down" the Holy Spirit. But does the Holy Spirit really need to be called down, or is this just a way to get people into an emotional state of pleasure and receptivity? Does this sort of thing honor God or are we honoring the creature more than the Creator?

One song that comes to mind is Kari Jobe's "Holy Spirit." The reason I remember it is because the lyrics are clearly an invitation to the Spirit to fall, or come down. Here's the live video.


Virtually every charismatic church and especially megachurches use music to get the audience "in the mood." Maybe we should consider who or what is actually being conjured by this.

The Holy Spirit is God. You have a problem with asking God to come down now?

The Holy Spirit is God. You have a problem with asking God to come down now?

BTW, God coming down is an entirely Biblical concept. Please research these things before posting hit-pieces on people's music. Thank you.

Genesis 11:5
5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Genesis 11:7
7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

Micah 1:3
3For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

John 1:33
33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

I am convinced that when they sing "Let your fire fall" they do not know what they're asking.

I was talking with a brother, who was also a close friend at the time, about the gifts of the Spirit. In short, I was confirming that they were for the saints today. He shook his head, looked down, and mumbled, "Oh man."

I asked, "What's up?"

He told me he used to go to a charismatic church where it was demanded of members to always be "on fire for the Lord". You had to demonstrate you were filled with the Holy Spirit at all times: raising your hands during "praise and worship", speaking in tongues, etc. Now, by themselves, I have no issues with raising one's hands during songs or speaking in tongues, but he described a culture in which it was required to show you "had the Holy Spirit" (his words). It frankly wore him out. He felt that he could never measure up to the standards of the church (one of the largest in our area, by the way).

I told him, "I wold have left such a gathering as well."

I have since helped people come out of such cultures. The damage done to them was severe: some were spanked by their parents for not raising their hands during the songs and sent to bed without supper, cursed by church leaders for questioning the pastor or his message, told they would die young if they didn't adhere to church doctrine, etc. One man told me of a time when the pastor asked his mother to divorce her husband because he would not tithe a parcel of land to the church. I could write pages.

My point: while the gifts of the Spirit are authentic, a church culture centered around the gifts produces all kinds of vileness... even "child sacrifice" to appear more "holy" among peers. It's disgusting.

Mind you, I am not indicting all pentecostal or charismatic churches but we should be wary of ANY group that would want to be defined by the gifts.

is it me or is every thread you create anti Pentecostal/Charismatic?

At many charismatic churches, praise and worship can last from 30 to 45 minutes or even longer. The supposed purpose of this is to "call down" the Holy Spirit. But does the Holy Spirit really need to be called down, or is this just a way to get people into an emotional state of pleasure and receptivity? Does this sort of thing honor God or are we honoring the creature more than the Creator?

One song that comes to mind is Kari Jobe's "Holy Spirit." The reason I remember it is because the lyrics are clearly an invitation to the Spirit to fall, or come down. Here's the live video.


Virtually every charismatic church and especially megachurches use music to get the audience "in the mood." Maybe we should consider who or what is actually being conjured by this.

At many charismatic churches, praise and worship can last from 30 to 45 minutes or even longer. The supposed purpose of this is to "call down" the Holy Spirit. But does the Holy Spirit really need to be called down, or is this just a way to get people into an emotional state of pleasure and receptivity? Does this sort of thing honor God or are we honoring the creature more than the Creator?

One song that comes to mind is Kari Jobe's "Holy Spirit." The reason I remember it is because the lyrics are clearly an invitation to the Spirit to fall, or come down. Here's the live video.


Virtually every charismatic church and especially megachurches use music to get the audience "in the mood." Maybe we should consider who or what is actually being conjured by this.

is it me or is every thread you create anti Pentecostal/Charismatic?

is it me or is every thread you create anti Pentecostal/Charismatic?

I'm personally against all "isms". I also reject denominations in general. I've been an active member of a Charismatic Baptist and a traditional Pentecostal church. I was youth leader at the Pentecostal assembly.

I heard a demon speak a "message" in what was supposed to be a tongue. No one but me said a word. I had been saved for four years at the time. An elder came to me after the meeting and said that I was right. I did not say so, but I wondered why he did not speak up.

The problem with many who are "spirit filled" is that they do not know the difference between the true Holy Spirit and the false. This eventually lead to the disaster known as the Toronto Blessing. It is fake to the core and a straight out deception. There is even less spiritual knowledge now so people are even more open to deception. Lord Jesus warned us that this would happen.

I accept the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience that comes after being born again. I believe that all the spiritual gifts are as valid today as they were on the day of Pentecost. A huge problem is that many receive a spirit of spiritual pride along with the true gift. They do not believe that they could be deceived, which is a deception itself. A mainstream Pentecostal denomination in Australia teaches that a Christian cannot have a demon. So their people are bound by evil spirits and never get free.

My eight years as a Charismatic/Pentecostal were a real eye opener. It saddens me to see so many sincere believers led astray and living defeated lives. It does not have to be this way.

After all aliens are alienated beings. All they need is some charisma, and it has yet to be found.

My point: while the gifts of the Spirit are authentic, a church culture centered around the gifts produces all kinds of vileness... even "child sacrifice" to appear more "holy" among peers. It's disgusting.

Mind you, I am not indicting all pentecostal or charismatic churches but we should be wary of ANY group that would want to be defined by the gifts.

The Holy Spirit is God. You have a problem with asking God to come down now?

BTW, God coming down is an entirely Biblical concept. Please research these things before posting hit-pieces on people's music. Thank you.

Genesis 11:5
5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Genesis 11:7
7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

Micah 1:3
3For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

John 1:33
33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.