Penang, the Pearl of the Orient, has been in the news in recent years. There have been "prophecies" that revival would come to Penang before spreading to the rest of Malaysia.
This morning, I received an email from someone providing links to Youtube showing glimpses of revival in Penang - people are being healed of their infirmities, set free from bondage, and filled with the Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues.
Check out the following videos: People were being slained in the Spirit; shook uncontrollably ; jumped up and down; spoke in tongues; danced in circles; and were made to roll on the floor. This obviously happened in a Chinese speaking church, and I am not sure which church this is (perhaps Steven Sim could provide a lead?)
There are also incidents where people were asked to place their hands on the side of the pulpit to be prayed for. There was a young man running in circles in the church hall. There was also this case of a gentleman who laid on the floor, and he was made to roll from one end of the hall to the other, and then was made to roll back again. Is this evidence of him being set free?
Is this true revival? I have often been asked whether revival only takes a particular form of charismatic expression, and this is one question I have great difficulty in answering. I wonder if St Paul were to visit this particular church, what would he say?
13 comments:
Oh my....
KY,
When I saw those clips, the Holy Spirit told me that those are from the Beelzebub... Rolling on the floor... that's JLFnGy, an ancient demon that roll people on the floor for leisure.
St Paul:"Oh My God"
Hi Joshua,
I am very disturbed by all these manifestations - so disturbed until I am speechless. As a closet pentecostal (bearing in mind I was in a charismatic church for 7 years before moving on to EFC), I wonder how many of my pentecostal friends would agree with me that this is excessive....
Hi Wey Shyang,
I wonder whether Paul would think this is no match for the Corinthians church. Perhaps the admonition in 1 Cor 14, particularly 14:40 seems very mild....
Wesley post a comment on my blog regarding to the video clips. Feel free to have a look at:
http://perngshyang.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!360539F747B77C73!2092.entry#comment
Hi Perng Shyang
Yes, I have read it - but as usual, Wesley's language is so "chim" and my limited knowledge of Chinese does not allow me to fully copmprehend what he is saying... :-)
Hi Kar Yong,
Not sure if 'Jonathan Edwards on Revival' is of any help. I have the book but have not read it. The volume actually consists of 3 treatises i.e.
1. A Narrative of Surprising Conversions
2. The Distinguishing Marks Of A Work Of The Spirit Of God
3. An Account of the Revival of Religion in Northampton 1740-1742
But the problem is I think I've read both Charismatics and non Charismatics used Jonathan Edwards to support their respective position.
Of course, there is also Jonathan Edwards' classic, 'Religious Affections'. Again it is a book I have but have not read. That's the problem with classics I guess. Everyone know about them but very few read them.
Anyway, coming back to this 'revival' if you ask my opinion, those participants were being humiliated and degraded. I believe God will humble us but I don't think He will humiliate or degrade us.
My simple doctrine of Man. Totally depraved yet fully dignified.
why would they wanna roll ppl in the name of Jesus?
If i know which church that was, I would warn my frens about going there.
All I can see is ppl losing control over their motor actions, their primitive id were triggered by some auto suggestions by the whole situations and the leaders.
Madness is not liberation. And Penang won't be transformed with ppl plague with temporary insanity.
As bad as Corinthians church was, I don't think St. Paul was prepared for the images here.
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"
Steven Sim
I just watched a little and could not go on....
On a "magicians" forum I frequent, there was a thread on this kind of "phenomena" and it makes many people look down on Christians and call us manipulative etc.
For many, this is a form of hypnosis (and used in an abusive and unethical manner)
Hi SP,
Thanks for reminding me about Edwards' books. Read them in seminary about 9 years ago! Wonderful preacher.
I would agree with you - instead of setting the people free, they are humuliated, and asked to roll on the floor, jump up and down, and all sorts of other manifestations. Pardon me - I think a normal human being would not do any of the above by themselves.
Hi Steven,
Totally agree with you - it nothing short of madness that I see. Yes, I think as bad as the church in Corinth, St Paul would be shocked I guess. That would be one question I would like to ask him when I see him up there one day...and hear what he would say...
How's your new job?
Hi Paul,
Yup - Christians get all the bad press - especially now that the clips are available at youtube!
Otherwise, how are things? Hope we can catch up when I am in Auckland in July.
Thats not true! 10 years ago i heard from reliable prophecy that revival will start from IPOH my hometown and spread to the rest of the world. Its NOT penang i tell u!
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