Is modern praise and worship simply a form of conjuring?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
Here's a clip of Myles Munroe saying we give God legal permission to act.
What absolute nonsense. UTTER RUBBISH. It just goes to show how completely deluded these false teachers have become. The creature gives the CREATOR permission???? It just so happens that at present God is withholding His judgments. Otherwise these people would have died for uttering blasphemy.
 

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,269
1,425
113
Here's a clip of Myles Munroe saying we give God legal permission to act. Benny Hinn's there lapping it up like it's the most amazing thing he's ever heard.


This next one is of Lindsay Coil from Bethel Redding. You hear her say that by planting the seed you're giving God permission to make it grow. Apparently this video was originally posted by Kris Vallotton, the lead "prophet" at Bethel. I checked Bethel's website and Coil's still on staff there. If you watch the video through, toward the end at about 1:33, a comment by Vallotton pops up: "Bethel School of Ministry Revival Group leader, Lindsay Coil killing it this morning!" Apparently he's in hearty agreement with her.


I'm not sure where this image was taken from but it's apparently some kind of social media post by Gloria Copeland. I can't find any clips of Kenneth Copeland but I'm sure I've seen one at some point. If I ever run across it again I'll post it.

View attachment 231050

This is a great video on this teaching which includes some other general information about Word of Faith.

That first video is shocking. God doesn’t need human permission to act. To suggest that God needs our permission is utterly false. The idea tries to lower the sovereignty of God and elevate people.
 
S

SophieT

Guest
op a tactful:)LOL:) question asked:
Is modern praise and worship simply a form of conjuring?

Premise: modern worship has gone to the devil.

Respondents: agree with the op or be summarily ignored or chastised or insulted as though no question was ever asked, but a conclusion drawn by the op and submitted as a question (because we do not want to sound unreasonable)

Problem: some people take exception to the manner in which the op directs the thread to what he wishes to present as a conclusion rather than a discussion with various opinions and options

Solution: whine and accuse disagreeable respondents of twisting words and not understanding him in order to garner apologies and create the impression of victim to detract from intent

Proof (seeing is believing): research on youtube, that bastion of all that is truthful and beyond question, and dig up examples of well known whackos to illustrate the premise that all modern worship has gone to the devil

Justification: sit back and enjoy the affirmations of your presentation even though it is always the same people who agree with you, while continuing to ignore those who offer any attempt at discussion by employing the previously noted section on solution to problems


*this formula for a positive outcome in a contentious thread is offered at no cost

*the effectiveness of this model is well documented within this thread and has been used effectively in a good number of threads pertaining to the personal interests of the op

*disclaimer: not responsible for hostile comments should you stray in any way from this successful and popular model
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
Here's a clip of Myles Munroe saying we give God legal permission to act. Benny Hinn's there lapping it up like it's the most amazing thing he's ever heard.


This next one is of Lindsay Coil from Bethel Redding. You hear her say that by planting the seed you're giving God permission to make it grow. Apparently this video was originally posted by Kris Vallotton, the lead "prophet" at Bethel. I checked Bethel's website and Coil's still on staff there. If you watch the video through, toward the end at about 1:33, a comment by Vallotton pops up: "Bethel School of Ministry Revival Group leader, Lindsay Coil killing it this morning!" Apparently he's in hearty agreement with her.


I'm not sure where this image was taken from but it's apparently some kind of social media post by Gloria Copeland. I can't find any clips of Kenneth Copeland but I'm sure I've seen one at some point. If I ever run across it again I'll post it.

View attachment 231050

This is a great video on this teaching which includes some other general information about Word of Faith.

Are you a Christian? Just curious; I'm not going to judge you if you say no.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,239
1,038
113
but a conclusion drawn by the op and submitted as a question (because we do not want to sound unreasonable)
I thought it was a good question. At least for people to ask themselves- you know, for people to really ask themselves "is what I am doing actually worshiping God?"

I totally believe in the entering his courts with praise and thanksgiving. He does inhabit the praises of his people- that's real. But I think if somebody in their own head looks at it as conjuring god- like "im going to praise, so god has to show up" sort of thing- that's where it might go off the rails.
Because we're really entering into his presence, right?- and you don't just go up to the king with the attitude "okay, i praised, so he has to move", the praise has to be with humility and reverence and has to be genuine. I don't know if that's where the OP was going, but that's kinda how I see it.
 
Aug 20, 2021
1,863
310
83
SomeDisciple said if someone: looks at it as conjuring god- like "i'm going to praise, so god has to show up" sort of thing- that's where it might go off the rails...yea at worst that's witch craft.At best its comic book stuff..Like by the power of grey skull!!.....We know the bible says to pray always..like Jesus did...because gods always close.
 

Aidan1

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2021
1,680
705
113
God can be present in a manifest way or present in unseen ways. Asking the Holy Spirit come down is about requesting God's presence in a manifest way. Remember, God is omnipresent meaning He's everywhere.

Do you believe God still gives people signs, works miracles, answers prayers?
Of course I believe this.

But this has nothing to do with calling the Holy Spirit down, who is already living in the believer.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,239
1,038
113
And I think i get what your saying about that repeating, hypnotic, emotional frenzy type of worship that is really just... people being nuts. I don't know what actually happens if you try to "conjure god" but I'm willing to bet that's not what actually happens. That places the target of your worship as something that can be controlled- which is not a characteristic of god, so it turns out that it's not God you are worshiping. We know that demons can be controlled to some extent (of course we aren't supposed to do that by worship).

We see when the jewish exorcists tried using the name of Jesus (not exactly a worship scenario, but...) the demons DO react. Whether it's because God actually made them, or not I don't know. But using Jesus' name irreverently could be a more dangerous practice than people realize.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,231
3,574
113
Look, here's the thing. The point is this.

Prolonged praise and worship that puts people into a sort of hypnotic-like state is a counterfeit. People think they're calling on God; they believe the Holy Spirit responds because they start feeling warm and fuzzy; they believe it's real because that's what they've been told or that's what they want to believe. But they're not really praising God nor are they receiving from the Holy Spirit. It's all an exercise in self-indulgence. They're calling things out of themselves that they misinterpret as God or the Holy Spirit.

You can't say some forms of this sort of thing good and others bad. The whole thing's a sham from start to finish.
 

Tararose

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2020
753
564
93
Uk
www.101christiansocialnetwork.com
I know that in the Old Testament times, kings hired professional musicians to help them worship God. I know that David danced in his undergarbs before the Lord, and I know that I have been to some hyped up meetings where they say "the Holy Spirit is moving" when it is clearly group hyper-emotionalism built up through the use of creating atmosphere with music.

There is NOTHING wrong with having a good time before God, with dancing away and enjoying music and singing to God at the same time. But there is something wrong with attributing the presence of God, to the experience that is the same as many worldly people can get attending a concert of their favourite pop star. There is nothing wrong with gentle or quiet reverent ties of worship, but again atheists can experience the same sort of "spiritual experience" sitting on the top of a mountain or meditating. Let us not assume any feeling is GOD because it feels good. It doesn't mean it is wrong, it just means it is what it is, a good feeling.

There is equally nothing super holy about limiting singing to soul-less vocal only events, or organ accompaniment only. I really dont think David had an organ player on the back of a cart following him around, and I dont think the walls of Jericho came down after a somber dry tune was played repeatedly. If that is what you enjoy then great, but let us not judge one another on regard the tempo, the instruments or the style of worship, and let us not downgrade the presence of God to an emotional experience linked to the atmosphere or lack of it, that any music can create.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,239
1,038
113
Look, here's the thing. The point is this.

Prolonged praise and worship that puts people into a sort of hypnotic-like state is a counterfeit. People think they're calling on God; they believe the Holy Spirit responds because they start feeling warm and fuzzy; they believe it's real because that's what they've been told or that's what they want to believe. But they're not really praising God nor are they receiving from the Holy Spirit. It's all an exercise in self-indulgence. They're calling things out of themselves that they misinterpret as God or the Holy Spirit.

You can't say some forms of this sort of thing good and others bad. The whole thing's a sham from start to finish.
You might be right. I went to a church like this at one time, and at the end of service the pastor said something I'll never forget. He said that he would rather be in the church and live righteously, even if there is no afterlife.

I nearly lost it! I was like, way to promote your self-righteousness, while undermining a core principle of the faith. Any idea of him having a real anointing immediately vanished. Of course all I could hear was a roaring AMEN!, but the sound of it didn't phase me- it was like I saw that church naked in that moment, for what it really was. Sad.

But I don't like to think that everyone there was like that. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think it was a cult or anything. Maybe some misguided people, but I don't think the entire place was sinister.
 
S

SophieT

Guest
Look, here's the thing. The point is this.

Prolonged praise and worship that puts people into a sort of hypnotic-like state is a counterfeit. People think they're calling on God; they believe the Holy Spirit responds because they start feeling warm and fuzzy; they believe it's real because that's what they've been told or that's what they want to believe. But they're not really praising God nor are they receiving from the Holy Spirit. It's all an exercise in self-indulgence. They're calling things out of themselves that they misinterpret as God or the Holy Spirit.

You can't say some forms of this sort of thing good and others bad. The whole thing's a sham from start to finish.
and you know that because you are omnipotent and have eyes everywhere

you are free to abstain from anything you deem to dangerous for your sensibilities and you can caution the 24 elders in heaven when you get there and the throngs of the saved worshipping the Lamb on the throne who lives forevermore

you are just as dangerous as those who do cross a line

neither you nor they should brag
 

Cabrillo

Active member
Sep 6, 2021
420
221
43
Look, here's the thing. The point is this.

Prolonged praise and worship that puts people into a sort of hypnotic-like state is a counterfeit. People think they're calling on God; they believe the Holy Spirit responds because they start feeling warm and fuzzy; they believe it's real because that's what they've been told or that's what they want to believe. But they're not really praising God nor are they receiving from the Holy Spirit. It's all an exercise in self-indulgence. They're calling things out of themselves that they misinterpret as God or the Holy Spirit.

You can't say some forms of this sort of thing good and others bad. The whole thing's a sham from start to finish.
I understand the point that you seem to be trying to make and yes there's a difference between prophecy and prophesied.

Let's not forget that Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was only mentioned after Jesus was accused of being Beelzebub. Suppose you are wrong 1 time about the newer versions of praise & worship and just once you misjudged what you thought you wittnessed. Are you ready, willing and comfortable in eternal torment?
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,160
1,787
113
The lyrics invite the "spirit" to fill the atmosphere of the place, not people. And besides, we don't have to invite the Spirit to fill us, He's already in us.
Wasn't the Holy Spirit within them before this happened?

Acts 4
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,160
1,787
113
Look, here's the thing. The point is this.

Prolonged praise and worship that puts people into a sort of hypnotic-like state is a counterfeit. People think they're calling on God; they believe the Holy Spirit responds because they start feeling warm and fuzzy; they believe it's real because that's what they've been told or that's what they want to believe. But they're not really praising God nor are they receiving from the Holy Spirit. It's all an exercise in self-indulgence. They're calling things out of themselves that they misinterpret as God or the Holy Spirit.

Show me where the Bible warns about hypnosis occurring during singing songs of praise to the Lord. Why does the Bible use terms like 'joy', 'pleasure', and in the verses I quoted you in the Psalms?

Where is the warning about self-indulgence? Do you think people need to beat themselves with whips while they sing praises to God, lest they have any joy in contemplating the greatness of God?

Do you turn this type of criticism to yourself? How do you know the God you believe in is really the God described in the Bible?

You can't say some forms of this sort of thing good and others bad. The whole thing's a sham from start to finish.
Do you have anything from the Bible at all to back up your theories and accusations?

The Bible warns with the same measure you judged, it will be measured back to you.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
Of course I believe this.

But this has nothing to do with calling the Holy Spirit down, who is already living in the believer.
How does God answer prayers if, according to you, He's trapped inside your body?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
But they're not really praising God nor are they receiving from the Holy Spirit.
It is not for you to determine whether this is true or not, since you do not know what is in the hearts of these people. Only God knows hearts and only God is the one who will decide. In the meantime, confine yourself to the church where you are most comfortable, and leave other Christians to their own kinds of worship.