Concerning Holy Laughter -Reply

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

"Holy laughter" is a non-biblical term used to describe an
event where the person laughs uncontrollably "in the spirit."
It also refers to a very recent phenomenon among
charismatic churches where people laugh, bark, "fly"
around the room, snort, oink, and make any other noise
not related to tongues.  You ask, is it a part of our
Pentecostal heritage?

1) There are tons of Old Testament references to laughing
and to general expressions of joy, leaping, and
rejoicing...all, evidently, a part of Jewish traditions for the
making of merriment.
2) I find no where in the New Testament where people
laughed as a result of the Holy Ghost giving the utterance.
3) I have personally experienced joy in the Holy Ghost,
with limited laughter, but that was more my own
expression and response to the joy I was feeling in my
heart.  

Amos, if you're describing the current phenomenon among
charismatics, NO, this has not been a part of our heritage. 
If you're referring to feeling joy in the Holy Ghost, Romans
14:17 says, "For the kingdom of  God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and *joy* in the Holy
Ghost."  This joy IS a part of our heritage.

Pastor Ed Cantu
Monument, CO