getting up and screaming in church

[Mrs Butterworth]

In the past I have been to a few churches where, for no particular reason, someone from the congregation will get up, scream, and then run in the isles between the seats. This can happen at any point during the service and, to say the least, can be quite disruptive (and it's weird).

When I ask about this behavior the answer is always something like " well, when the Holy Spirit gets a hold of someone, they just do that". With this reasoning, they allow the behavior in the church.

I can't find anything in the bible that mentions this behavior and/or states that this behavior is acceptable during a service. Because this behavior is disruptive (not to mention weird) and does not work to edify others, I see it as something that should not be allowed.

What is your opinion?

 

[SoundCard]

Well, one idea that comes to mind, and I sincerely apologize if anyone gets offended by it is, maybe the person has a demon, and the demon, being tormented by the words of truth of the Bible, in anguish causes an uproar to get it to stop.

 

[Nurbz]

I think people are just excited and express it in really.. different ways. I personally get uncomfortable around these types of people.

 

[mont974x4]

Well, one idea that comes to mind, and I sincerely apologize if anyone gets offended by it is, maybe the person has a demon, and the demon, being tormented by the words of truth of the Bible, in anguish causes an uproar to get it to stop.

I agree with you. IMO, it is of the devil. Now, how to react? Well, I know my dad was in physical pain and if it wasn't for extreme self discipline he would have probably got up and run out screaming too....but that was when he first went to church and wasn't saved yet. I am eternally grateful that the church this happened in was a loving, patient, and Christ-like place.

 

[nyghtowl]

I dislike those kinds of displays.

 

[Nurbz]

its not demons, demons inside us would go against the promise of free will, and you can't have free will with a supernatural force telling you what to do.

its just overly-energetic display, just like speaking in tongues (read: gibberish)

 

[mont974x4]

its not demons, demons inside us would go against the promise of free will, and you can't have free will with a supernatural force telling you what to do.

its just overly-energetic display, just like speaking in tongues (read: gibberish)

so, you ignore the passages of Scripture of people that were possessed?




at best it's against Paul's teaching about maintaining order and discipline in the church.

 

[Nurbz]

so, you ignore the passages of Scripture of people that were possessed?

people WERE posessed at points, but since the ressurection God doesn't seem to allow them. And as I mentioned in the other thread that demonic posessions in the past were recently have found to be descriptions of people having seizures and mental disorders. We have a promis of free will and demonic posession is not having free will

 

[mont974x4]

ahh, so you have an opinion based no biblical facts, and guesses made by other people...that is, them trying to find a non-supernatural explanation in order to discredit God and His Word.


People have always had free will, and demon possession was an issue then as it is now.

 

[whatfor]

I don't pretend to understand this, and don't have an opinion on it yet.
I guess it's like anything else, unless you experience it yourself you doubt.
I have not seen this happen , but like other things I have seen I won't judge it.

 

[Nurbz]

ahh, so you have an opinion based no biblical facts, and guesses made by other people...that is, them trying to find a non-supernatural explanation in order to discredit God and His Word.


People have always had free will, and demon possession was an issue then as it is now.

I take most supernatural parts of the bible with a grain of salt, and it doesn't affect your standing with the almighty one way or another if you don't believe it still happens.

I just think its more 'reality based' to assume a homeless man screaming and talking to himself has a mental disorder rather than to think he's posessed like in the middle-ages. Being rational isn't being anti-biblical.

 

[Nurbz]

OK, so you think that disregarding parts of the Bible you disagree with is OK, and you honestly don't understand how that could be a problem? The Bible does say when issues were physical as opposed to spiritual.

You can call God a liar, that's all on you.

'grain of salt' means completely disregarding parts of the bible and calling God a liar.... wow.. just wow. I'll just let the thread get back on track.

 

[mont974x4]

good idea

 

[Svt4Him]

That's why God gives leaders for the church. It is they who must discern.

 

[Mrs Butterworth]

Folks, the getting up and screaming thing was not an isolated event. It happens frequently and sometimes several people do it at various times during the service.

My husband's boss goes to one of those churches. I asked the bosses wife if they do the screaming and running around thing, and she said with a proud smile, that they did. When I asked her for an explanation for the behavior she (like everyone else to who I asked the same question) said "that's what happens when the Holy Spirit get's a hold of you." She didn't see anything wrong with it.

I can't imagine that there are that many demon possessed or oppressed people running around in the church. Statistically it does not seem likely. I wonder if it is some kind of socially acceptable hysteria.

Furthermore, only certain kinds of churches allow this kind of behavior. They are known as the super charismatics, holy rollers, (which are some what derogatory words) or some kind of Pentecostal.

 

[nyghtowl]

I think you have hit it on the head with socially acceptable hysteria, sortof.

 

[cowboysfan1970]

I've seen it and it's a strange thing. It's like the speaking in tongues too. Sometimes I think people that do those things are doing it more for show or because they think that's what's expected to them to show that they have the Holy Spirit in them. It can be very pretentious. Sort of like how the Pharasees would go outside and ring a bell when they made an offering so everyone would know how good they were. Most of the time when people speak in tongues they aren't really saying anything either. It's almost always something like "rah rah rah" and "ta ta ta." I think that Paul also said that we need to be careful and guarded about those sorts of things. I remember once I saw a well known, scandal-ridden evangelist work up a congregation into a frenzy like that so they would start donating money on the spot. It worked too. Very well. I think the whole thing was staged.

 

[Cassidy]

One of the fruits of the spirit is SELF CONTROL. When somebody loses control like that...it is NOT the Holy Spirit...and IF they were being controlled by the demon then they are NOT Spirit filled, born again children of God either.

 

[Cassidy]

some kind of socially acceptable hysteria.

Yeh that too! Power of suggestion as well.

 

[EazyMack]

I don't pretend to understand this, and don't have an opinion on it yet.
I guess it's like anything else, unless you experience it yourself you doubt.
I have not seen this happen , but like other things I have seen I won't judge it.

Most practical response.