As I have stated elsewhere on my Home Page, I have been a Christian for most of my life and was brought up in a Christian family. I attended a Baptist church, and now attend a Presbyterian one. My whole church life has been, in general, for want of a better word, "normal". You know, the traditional kind. I hardly knew anything about speaking in tongues or other "unusual" things that happen in churches these days. To me, that was just something weird that a few unusual Believers did.
Only in the last couple of years, after chatting on the Internet, have I realised that there are more than a "few" people who practice such things. These things are big! I mean, big!! It seems every second person (at least) I meet in chatting room either practices such things, or at least believes in them.
As time has gone on, I've got more and more intruiged as to what people believe about such things, and why. I was brought up as all this being "weird" and either wrong, or just unnecessary, but was it? I, like everyone else, can't just rest my beliefs on how I was brought up. I have a mind. I also have a Bible. :-) I started to think, "I don't believe these things should happen quite like people say they do, but I don't know why. Not Biblically. And I should know. Why do I believe what I believe? And maybe I'm wrong in some way? "
From those thoughts, I have started to study on several things, mainly speaking in tongues, slaying in the Spirit, and the theology of Faith Healing. This study has involved various books I have read, which are all based on The Bible, and various websites I have visited, and chatters I have spoken and listened to.
Now, I want to make it clear that yes, I approached this study with a dubious attitude, but I have been very openminded about it all. So much so, that I say right now, that if anyone disagrees with what I have said, if anyone has any arguments, then I want to hear them. If I am wrong, I want to know in what way I am wrong. I don't know everything. I'm still learning. In a few months time, I might look back on some of the things I have written here, and think to myself, "Hmm... I'm not sure I agree with that sentence now". Then again, I might not. :-)
I also want to make it very clear that I have not blindly followed any writer, preacher or chatter. I don't think there's any book I have read that I agree in EVERY way with... I have followed their arguments, have balanced them with the Word Of God, and have come to my own conclusions.
What I'm saying is that I have been very open minded and very respectful of people's beliefs. But I also want to know the truth, and there is only one truth in any subject.
For sake of copyright, I don't feel I can directly quote any of the books I have read, but just to list a few here that have been of help to me...
"Charismatic Chaos" by John F. MacArthur, Jr
"The Healing Promise" by Richard Mayhue
"The Toronto Blessing And Slaying In The Spirit, The Telling Wonder" by Nader Mikhaiel
"Signs Of Revival" by Dr Patrick Dixon
"Joy Unspeakable" by Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones
"My Search for Charasmatic Reality" by Neil Babcock
"The Signs And Wonders Movement - Exposed" by Mark Haville, Chris Hand, Philip Foster and Peter Glover
"Portal In Pensacola" by Renee DeLoriea
"Revival In Brownsville" by Steve Rabey
"The Beauty Of Spiritual Language" by Jack Hayford
"Tongues: Yes Or No?" by Joy Balk
And most importantly of all, "The Holy Bible", by our dear Lord...
Healing
Slaying In The Spirit
Slaying In The Spirit - Part 2
Speaking In Tongues
