A guy at one of the typical healing-miracles-slain-in-the-spirit "Christian" services, falls down "under the power"and injures himself.

After being refused insurance coverage for injuries, he sues the church. First, how come the "spirit" didn't protect him, heal him or miraculously fix his injuries? Why didn't he simply go back and get healed later? Why would God "slay" someone "under the power" and allow them to get injured?

Why doesn't he just run over to Todd Bentley or Benny Hinn and get healed? Read the story:

Man sues church, claiming spirit forced his fall

ASSOCIATED PRESS • July 10, 2008

A man says he was so consumed by the spirit of God that he fell and hit his head while at a Knoxville church.

Now he wants Lakewind Church to pay $2.5 million for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering he says he's endured from his injuries.

Matt Lincoln, who is 57, says he decided to sue the church after its insurance company denied his claim for medical bills.

Lincoln has had two surgeries since the June 2007 incident but says he still feels pain in his back and his legs.

The Sevier County man says he was asking God to have "a real experience" while praying at church.

He says he has fallen from the force of the spirit before but has always been caught by someone.

Lawyers for the church say other congregants saw him on the floor laughing after his fall. They say he failed to look out for his own safety.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/NEWS06/80710021

Sometimes I get so tired of the comical tomfoolery that goes on today giving ALL Christians the label of "kook" and "superstitious".

I'll tell you what folks, if I was an unbeliever watching the NONSENSE that goes on with the likes of Bentley and Hinn, I would think Christians are the biggest bunch of idiot fools on the planet. Suckers... Foolish... Childish...

Let's be hated for preaching Christ, not faking miracles. Let's be hated for having faith in God, not faith in a charlatan healer. Let's be hated for believing in the resurrection, not believing the metaphysical, unbiblical fables of tale bearers.

Let's be hated for exercising the power of the Holy Spirit to live a courageous, disciplined, humble life... not for pretending to fall down backwards under some experiential, psychosomatic, emotional experience that is not only completely Scripturally unsupported, but can be shown to be contrary to Scripture.

I'm not in ANY way saying that everyone who participates in this charade is NOT a Christian... I think many, maybe even most, of the audience is. The problem is they are being childish, and chasing experiential fads. They are babes, missing the true power of God found in His Word, in prayer and in living the Christian life... and they are pursuing a FAKE, impulsive, immature "experience of power" that is actually devoid of any spiritual power whatsoever. These "spiritual babes" (those in attendance) need to be taught, nurturedand matured in Christ, not dismissed as tares.

The actual leaders of these types of "ministries" however, I am not so patient with. They are false teachers, manipulators, often greedy, obviously fleshly and in some cases flat-out charlatan-frauds. They should not be tolerated or soft pedaled. False teachers and wolves who prey on the flock are not subject to diplomacy or finding "common ground".

If you are Christian, and you find yourself wishing, or wondering if you should be part of these types of "moves of the Holy Spirit"... let me answer the question for you: NO!

It is foolish, does not glorify God, makes a mockery of the power of the Holy Spirit, is a blight on genuine Christianity, and in no way testifies of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

People laughing hysterically, barking, shaking as if in seizure, trance-like states, "drunk in the spirit", confusion, irreverent manifestations of "power", unBiblical tales of visits to heaven, visions and miracles.... these are the things that typically mark the theatrics of people like Bentley and Hinn, and we can also show them to be unGodly by what is missing: clear

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Christians, LISTEN UP: anecdotal evidence, personal feelings, experience, pragmatism and emotion are NOT good measures of truth. I'm not questioning the sincerity of any INDIVIDUAL'S personal experience. That's between you and God. If you've had an "experience" in a setting like this, you don't have to convince me or answer to me. That's between you and God alone. You may have very well had an authentic personal experience of some type, but it is God allowing that IN SPITE of the environment, not because of it.

Despite individual experience, it's easy to evaluate and measure the unScriptural and false nature of what generally occurs, what is taught, and what tales are told by the likes of Bentley (and I only mention him the most here because he's the latest "rage" of the moment).

Harsh words? Yes. This is not the time (it never is) to go soft and compromising on people who are leading the Body of Christ astray.

A readers asks:

I would like to start a Men’s Ministry at our church to teach young men about fatherhood, parenting and being a Godly man. I’m new to this church, and they don’t know me well yet. We do have older, qualified men who would teach, but I think they will need someone to facilitate and manage the ministry. Do you have any suggestions on how I should proceed?

- - - - - - - - - - - -

If I were you, I would approach the leaders of the church and those who will do the teaching, and tell them exactly what you told me.

Tell them you know you are “new”, but with their careful oversight, you would like to begin to build this men’s ministry. They SHOULD welcome the enthusiasm and desire, and as long as they are overseeing the effort, that question of your “newness” should not be an issue.

Prudent leaders will always want to get to know someone, and observe their faithful life, before putting them in leadership over the flock they tend. However, those same prudent leaders will also not quench the desire and passion of someone because they are “new” unless they recognize some reason for it. There is no inherent reason why a “new” member of a church cannot actively build a ministry, although it is VERY prudent for the spiritually mature Christians to provide oversight and guidance until such time as sufficient trust and history has been established.

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As far as getting started, there is no secret trick… just get started. Pick out a good book or series on parenting or fatherhood and begin with a study of that. Present a few study choices and let the men who are going to teach review them, and pick one. Decide on a date, find a meeting place… things will get rolling by themselves after that. People are hungry for leading, training and teaching, so you’ll most likely have no problem finding participants.

You can have discussions or do surveys of the group of men to find out what activities and studies they would find most beneficial.

The hard part is to ACTUALLY take the first step. That’s what most people never do. Always planning, never taking action. It’s the same in both business and Christianity.

It is wise of you to recognize that being “new” is an issue, and for the simple fact that you do recognize that, it will help establish trust in you. But don’t let your age or “newness” dampen your enthusiasm or prevent you from forging ahead. Christianity needs more people willing to minister, serve and lead.

A reader asks:

What do you think about this Todd Bentley and the revival taking place in Florida right now?

- - - - - - - - 

I'm careful when I speak about specific people directly, but I do not hesitate when warranted.

Todd Bentley is nothing more than an exaggerated extension of the whole Toronto, Brownsville nonsense/embarrassment. 

Todd Bentley is a foolish, fleshly, deceived, false teacher and false prophet... he is typical of that movement that appeals to experiential, fleshly Christians seeking the latest "high" in spiritual manifestation.

Mature Christians should not only avoid him totally, they should carefully guard new and weaker Christians from these types of charlatans.  We should NOT find common ground with people like this. We should NOT tolerate them in the circles of genuine Christ-followers. We should NOT be polite and un-offending about the spiritual poison and sewage that pours from his mouth.

His stories get more embellished and nonsensical over time, and he is the fulfillment of Col 2:18:

• "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions."

Here is a sample of his absolutely, absurd, fleshly, immature, foolishness:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSK9TyduR4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BYxoSYTr_E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMEKB2UUmac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fliqcEqYUX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wRy0HhhggU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axm5sLeqes8

I don't judge his HEART, that is God's business. I judge what he says and does PUBLICLY. He may very well be sincere, and may truly look to God for salvation, but his current public ministry is a nuisance to the Biblically illiterate, an embarrassment to genuine Christianity and utterly unBiblical through and through.

Let's pray he repents and turns back to the basics of sound doctrine from God's Word and sensible, humble, simple Christian living.

A reader asks: what do you think about people who say they don't go to church because churches are filled with hypocrites?

I think THEY are hypocrites.

Why? Because they still go to work, where there are hypocrites. They still go to school where there are hypocrites. They still go to grocery stores, doctors offices and sporting events... where there are hypocrites.

Look, let's get real here. People who say "I don't go to church because of the hypocrites" just simply don't want to go to church and they spout off that nonsense because of several reasons:

• They've heard it said before
• It sounds self righteous  - like they REALLY care or KNOW about the people at churches they've never been to
• It's one of those universally accepted excuses that most people, and most Christians do not know how to answer or rebuke. It works, so why not say it?

A hypocrite comes from a word that means "actor" (gee, should we follow that line of thinking given Hollywood today?). It means a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.

A person who says "I don't go to church because of hypocrites" shouldn't go ANYWHERE ELSE that has hypocrites either, or they become a hypocrite.  Never thought of that, huh?

Regardless, it's just a tired excuse for people who do not want to give their Sundays in thanks and worship to their Creator who gave them life, and everything they have in this life. That's the real truth.

Final question... if church is not the place for a hypocrite to go, find forgiveness, be loved, get taught how to not be a hypocrite... exactly where should they go? 

I know. They should stay home so that there aren't any hypocrites down at church. Assuming there aren't any other hypocrites living at their house.

I'm often asked about my views concerning Genesis, creationism , evolution and the ideas about an old or young earth.

After years of answering the question, what I have found to be most profitable across the board, is simply to give people resources and let them decide for their self.

My friend Jim Nienhuis has a great little book that covers 25 common questions and topics. He also has several great DVD's and books about ancient civilizations and the fascinating technology they used to map and navigate the world.  It's really interesting stuff. I highly recommend you check it out.

Download "Old Earth? Why Not!" by Jim Nienhius for FREE! No strings attached, no obligation, no nothing... just a free download for you. You don't have to give an email address or sign up for anything. Just a free download.

Get your free eBook here, and be sure to thank Jim by taking a minute to visit his blog: www.dancingfromgenesis.com.  No obligation, no gimmicks. The eBook is free for your enjoyment and education.