Owl noises in worship?

Presbyterian Continuist · Nov 17, 2019

Sabertooth said:
Two of the posters have not signed the agreement for this sub-forum (as required to post here). They are not here to edify. Their net effect is to hijack this thread.

You are talking about a whole other issue.

If while I was on the leadership team of my Presbyterian church, someone started hooting like an owl at any time during the service, I would be getting alongside them and letting them know that it is inappropriate in our type of service, because Presbyterians don't go for that sort of thing.

Although I have no problem with owl hooting, crowing, falling over, rolling on the floor, in general, because people can worship God in any way they choose if their hearts are right with God. But one has to be sensitive and respectful of groups that wouldn't be happy with that style of worship.

Although I have a decided Pentecostal theology, and the people in my church know it, I have never pushed it because I don't feel I have the right to push my personal views on others who might not find my view welcome to them. But one or two have asked me about it, and I have always been happy to explain it to them.

bekkilyn · Nov 17, 2019

Sabertooth said:
Yes, there was such an implication. That is a given in this sub-forum.

They are related and relevant. We have no obligation to appease naturalists in this matter.

It is not a given in this sub-forum that we are obligated to view all verses in the bible that mention birds as indications of supernatural phenomenon.

bekkilyn · Nov 17, 2019

Oscarr said:
If while I was on the leadership team of my Presbyterian church, someone started hooting like an owl at any time during the service, I would be getting alongside them and letting them know that it is inappropriate in our type of service, because Presbyterians don't go for that sort of thing.

Although I have no problem with owl hooting, crowing, falling over, rolling on the floor, in general, because people can worship God in any way they choose if their hearts are right with God. But one has to be sensitive and respectful of groups that wouldn't be happy with that style of worship.

Although I have a decided Pentecostal theology, and the people in my church know it, I have never pushed it because I don't feel I have the right to push my personal views on others who might not find my view welcome to them. But one or two have asked me about it, and I have always been happy to explain it to them.

LOL I was just thinking of someone just starting to hoot like an owl for no apparent reason in the middle of a more traditional United Methodist service, and then seeing the expressions on some of the faces....

Personally, I don't mind it at all when/if things get a bit lively and "enthusiastic" as John Wesley might call it!

Sabertooth · Nov 17, 2019

bekkilyn said:
It is not a given in this sub-forum that we are obligated to view all verses in the bible that mention birds as indications of supernatural phenomenon.

What is a given is that our understanding of the spirit realm is informed by imagery in the Bible, even if that imagery can also be read as a metaphor.

If not, where do you propose we should get our understanding of spiritual elements?

Sabertooth · Nov 17, 2019

I am skeptical of the whole "animal" noises spirit that came out of Toronto, but I can't write it off altogether, as @lismore pointed out. Even if it isn't the Holy Spirit, it is most assuredly a counterfeit spirit (not just flesh or emotions). In the latter case, it must be addressed, not ignored.

bekkilyn said:
I was just thinking of someone just starting to hoot like an owl for no apparent reason in the middle of a more traditional United Methodist service, and then seeing the expressions on some of the faces...

It can't hide in a UMC service as easily, but it can in a Charismatic or Pentecostal setting. That is why the OP brought it up.

Halbhh · Nov 17, 2019

Mantishand said:
A guy today in church made owl noises during clapping and worship. I seemed to be the only one who noticed it. It was kind of strange, Iv'e never seen anything like that before. Any input on that? Aren't owls associated with demons?

No, owls are not associated with demons any more than any other animal.

If someone told you they were, stop listening to that person (even if it was yourself), and start reading and hearing the word from God in the New Testament. Best to start with a gospel.

Aussie Pete · Nov 18, 2019

bekkilyn said:
If people are already clapping and doing other noisy things in worship, then why would owl noises on top of all of it even be an issue?

When I can imagine Lord Jesus hooting like an owl, I might agree with you. An awful lot of so-called worship is simply self-indulgent, not much different from a rock concert

Job3315 · Nov 18, 2019

Mantishand said:
A guy today in church made owl noises during clapping and worship. I seemed to be the only one who noticed it. It was kind of strange, Iv'e never seen anything like that before. Any input on that? Aren't owls associated with demons?

From experience, owls are actually a sign for prophets. I've had dreams with them before indicating so. The devil is the one who tried to change the meaning pf the symbolism. God love His prophets.

I do, however, find it strange to hear someone making an owl noise, unless you were actually listening in the Spirit or that was a prophetic expression of the Holy Spirit within the individual.

bekkilyn · Nov 18, 2019

Sabertooth said:
What is a given is that our understanding of the spirit realm is informed by imagery in the Bible, even if that imagery can also be read as a metaphor.

If not, where do you propose we should get our understanding of spiritual elements?

I agree with you that imagery in the bible can provide us with some understanding of the spirit realm BUT we still must be discerning that we're not just reading in such imagery into verses out of context. The particular parable of the sower is giving us an understanding of Satan's behavior (in the spiritual realm) by using the natural behavior of birds (in the physical realm) as an example, but it is not at all making any implications that the actual birds themselves are directly representing demons or evil spirits.

Sabertooth · Nov 18, 2019

pot-ay-to/pot-ah-to

bekkilyn · Nov 18, 2019

Sabertooth said:
I am skeptical of the whole "animal" noises spirit that came out of Toronto, but I can't write it off altogether, as @lismore pointed out. Even if it isn't the Holy Spirit, it is most assuredly a counterfeit spirit (not just flesh or emotions). In the latter case, it must be addressed, not ignored.

It can't hide in a UMC service as easily, but it can in a Charismatic or Pentecostal setting. That is why the OP brought it up.

My thought is that if everyone in the congregation is clapping and making loud noises, then owl sounds aren't any different than people hooting and hollering at a concert. It's just another way of making noise. While of course it *could* indicate something more supernatural, I have a lot of doubts in this particular context.

I would be more inclined to believe something unusual was going on if, for example, someone was just randomly hooting when everyone else was being quiet. In either case, it still may have nothing at all to do with owls or birds, but just one of the normal ways that specific person makes loud noises. If you really listen to all the different ways people make noise, there is a huge variety of unusual and sometimes hilarious sounds!

Sabertooth · Nov 18, 2019

bekkilyn said:
The particular parable of the sower is giving us an understanding of Satan's behavior (in the spiritual realm) by using the natural behavior of birds (in the physical realm) as an example, but it is not at all making any implications that the actual birds themselves are directly representing demons or evil spirits.

Pretenders aren't actually "tares," either, but we can continue with that allusion in order to make a point.

Sabertooth · Nov 18, 2019

bekkilyn said:
While of course it *could* indicate something more supernatural, I have a lot of doubts in this particular context.

That is because you judge our baseline behavior against a UMC standard.

Lost4words · Nov 18, 2019

People shoudnt give a hoot for what he is doing. Owl do you know that it aint coming from an evil source either!

bekkilyn · Nov 18, 2019

Sabertooth said:
That is because you judge our baseline behavior against a UMC standard.

For the Pentecostal congregation that rents out space in one of my churches, the baseline behavior there wouldn't even make "owl noises" even a minor consideration as the *expectation* is that people make noise and lots of it.

Sabertooth · Nov 18, 2019

bekkilyn said:
For the Pentecostal congregation that rents out space in one of my churches, the baseline behavior there wouldn't even make "owl noises" even a minor consideration as the *expectation* is that people make noise and lots of it.

So, the OP cannot question it in his church...?

bekkilyn · Nov 18, 2019

Sabertooth said:
So, the OP cannot question it in his church...?

Of course the OP can question it, but the OP is also asking for the opinions of people here as if any of us have any real idea of what is considered normal or abnormal in the OP's church.

Sabertooth · Nov 18, 2019

bekkilyn said:
...but the OP is also asking for the opinions of people here as if any of us have any real idea of what is considered normal or abnormal in the OP's church.

People who go to churches where "signs" regularly occur would have such an idea.

bekkilyn · Nov 18, 2019

Sabertooth said:
People who go to churches where "signs" regularly occur would have such an idea.

One might think so, but it's not necessarily true.

Dave G. · Nov 18, 2019

Some people just can't sing, I'm one of those though it doesn't sound like owls. I just keep quiet and sing in my heart.

Owl noises in worship?

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