Greetings brothers and sisters in Jesus' Name!I'm writing today concerning a post which received many reply's entitled, "Kenneth Hagin and the Laughing Revival".I must say that after viewing the video much of what I saw did indeed bother me. It was not so much the laughter as it was the language and other things being used.I must however say that I was slightly disappointed with the responses from both sides on this issue. Those who disagreed with the content came with what seemed to me to be a judgemental attitude, and those who supported it also came with a harsh, judgemental, know-it-all type of attitude. I understand that I am absolutely 200% capable of making mistakes so my judgements in this matter could be wrong.I personally have been in attendance as a very young man at a service conducted by Rodney Howard Browne. I must say that as a young man I was frightened by what I saw, and when I refused prayer I and my siblings were almost rebuked in front of the church by this brother. That disturbed me. Yet I will still make no blanket statements concerning his ministry because although I have seen things that I disagree with I have also seen some good fruit. I have also been in meetings that were local, where the whole congregation was caught up in "holy laughter". I know for certain some of those who were laughing were men and women of God, not one doubt about it in my mind. On the other hand I know for a fact that there were people laughing hysterically for the sake of getting attention. One young woman wound up pregnant by a man she was not married to weeks later. All of these things put somewhat of a sour taste in my mouth concerning this issue. Yet I would simply bring a word of caution that we not throw away or label something as demonic that could be a genuine manifestation of the Spirit. Although there have been MANY abuses and MANY excesses. History shows us that some of the greatest revivals and some of the greatest men of God have experienced similar manifestations. For instance, Praying (John) Hyde, one of the greatest intercessors of all time, experienced what was called "Holy Laughter". Pages 25 - 27 of the 3rd edition of the book "Praying Hyde" document this experience. It is said that while in prayer with a certain friend brother Hyde would begin to laugh in mid-prayer, and then return to praying. They believed this was God's way of giving them joy in the midst of heartbreaking intercession so that they would not be so overwhelmed with sorrow that they would lose heart. They said that God was showing them that He was the "God of Issac", Issac meaning laughter. Now I'm sure that Brother Hyde was not thinking in "Holy Ghost Bartender" terms when this would happen to him. But Nevertheless, he was indeed experiencing a manifestation of the Holy Ghost that caused him to laugh.In the "Nature of Revival" John Wesley writes of an occurence with took place on New Years Eve of 1739 where many were knocked to the ground and cried out in "Holy Joy". Wether this is a reference to Holy laughter I'm not 100% sure about.A letter to George Whitefield describing the Welsh Revival (1700's) under Daniel Rowlands Ministry says this"While on is praying another is laughing; some howl and beat their hands together; others are weeping and groaning; and others are groveling on the ground in a swoon, making all kinds of antic postures; then they all laugh at once, and continue laughing for about a quarter of an hour. The power than continues with Rowland in uncommon."It is also written of the Revivals in Africa under C.T. Studd's ministry"The whole place was charged with an electric current, men were falling, jumping, laughing, crying, singing, confessing, and some shaken terribly. It was a terrible sight . . . This particular one can best be described as a spiritual tornado. People were literally flung to the floor or over the forms, yet no one was hurt . . .as I led in prayer, the Spirit came down mightily sweeping the congregation. My whole body literally trembled with power. We saw a marvelous sight, people literally filled and drunk with the Spirit."Now in posting this I am by no means setting myself up as one who is involved in the laughter movement. All I am saying is that although I myself am somewhat skeptical and KNOW that there have been many abuses, we may not want to be so quick to make blanket statements.For two years I was priveleged to live in the midst of the Brownsville Revival. I know that prior to that precious move of God, Pastor John Kilpatrick became so desperate for a touch from God that he invited a man who was involved in the "laughter movement" to speak at Brownsville. Pastor told the man to preach the word and then to turn the service back over to him and he would decide whether or not to continue. At the end of the message (which was a very biblical message on revival), the man said, "The Holy Ghost is all over me quick run to the altar now, I'm gonna lay hands on you!" Pastor Kilpatrick immediately jumped up grabbed to mic and said that there was a strange spirit in the church and that the service was over! The church quickly emptied out, all except for around 50 people who came with this man. They all got in aisles and began chanting, "ICHABOD, GOD HAS LEFT THIS PLACE, ICHABOD!" The ushers literally had to drive these people out of the church. Then after being kicked out, these people began picking up rocks and trying to break the windows! Talk about putting a bad taste in your mouth!I know several times in the revival those who were laughing were escorted out becaus they were disrupting the preaching of the gospel. I like you have my problems with the excesses, my only caution to beware of blanket statements.BlessingsJeff
