It is called attention seeking and self edification. They want everyone to see them as being special.
I guess I agree with that.
But that brings us to the heart of the matter here, and the OP. What led you to God. In case you haven't read my testimony, I will share a little of what led me to God.
I am 40 years old. I did not always believe in God, especially after the BS of the RC church put me through. But at age 25 when my first child was born, I was so amazed at it, I felt like I needed to start searching. So I started reading the bible.
It took 6 years before I decided that what Jesus was saying (never mind the rest of it) was pretty cool, and if there was a God, then this guy was probably his Son. I liked what he said. So I accepted him by faith that he was his Son. Then another 7 or more years went by, and searching for churches. I really never could find one that I felt would be a good reason to get up early on a Sunday and go.
But then I was told by 2 people that I do not know, on 2 different days (in a row)in another country, that I should be a spiritual leader of my family. Not an uncommon thing to say, but it had never been said to me before. Then when I returned on the third day, a lad I know, but never say anything more than "hi" came up to me and asked me if I was a Christian, because her son and my son were talking about Jesus in school (public school, lol). I said yes, she invited me to a church.
I looked to the sky and said, I hear ya God, I'll go.
When I went to this place, it didn't even say the word church outside. There was this half bald headed guy on the guitar, and a full rock band, and they were jammin out to the Lord. The atmosphere in this place was overwhelming. There was something going on there.
Needless to say I was overwhelmed with a feeling that felt something similiar to being plugged into an electric socket. I left, and then bought some cd's of the music that they were playing, and I continued to feel this feeling for the next 2 weeks, while driving down the road and listening to the music. It was during that time that I all these thoughts started popping into my head, and though God was speaking to me.
I never had thoughts like this before, so like I always say, it was during that time, that I either heard from God, or I went crazy.
But he said some cool stuff to me, and in a instant many things in my life changed. Physical and emotional. Keep in mind, that my life up to that point was really ok. No more hardship than the average person.
I feel it was the Holy Spirit that I felt, and continue to feel to this day.
I have never spoken in tongues, or fell over, but I do feel something, and I can see how that feeling can overwelm people. It's like you feel the presense of GOd, and all his goodness. (I know what your thinking God? good?, yea right) But once you experience the goodness, and the love, then you automatically understand why he did what he did. You almost cannot put it into words, but then again that has been done for you in the bible.
If God is the truth, and Jesus is the light and the way, then this world is surely full of deciet and lies, and you have to do a lot of uncovering before you can see through to the truth. It would seem the more complex our lives are, then the harder it is to see through to the truth.
I know you have an opinion of me, and you might think that I am full of BS, and the whole God thing is full of BS, and I am the perfect example. But I hope not. You would have to get to know me. I was raised in NYC where people curse, and have sick sense of humor. I am made tuff from the street, and have a NYC attitude sometimes. I moved away from there, because I could not take it anymore, and I bought myself a log cabin on a lake in the woods. But God started a work in me, and I hope I remain faithful enough for him to finish it.
Yes God made a big change in me. If you think I am bad now, you should have seen me then. But I was always a good person at heart. Just like I think most everyone here is. If I can experience God like I did, then so can everyone else here in this forum. That is what I am trying to share with people. I want them to know that God loves them. I want things to make sense for people about God. I can see all the deception.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and it is by that truth that I now try to let guide me. I don't always do a good job of it.
People can fall down when they experience God's love. Whether they manifest it themselves or God really exists and does show them that love, I can really understand why they fall down. I get a little dizzy sometimes myself. I hope I am not just making this up in my own head. I remain open minded as I can be about it, but so far the last 2 years have been quite a ride. I have found nothing fake about what I feel is God inside of me. But I do see plenty of what I think are fakes in churches, and TV. I have also meet some of the most caring, and faithful people I have ever meet in my life the last 2 years.
So Brian, I don't think it is fake, and yes, something is really making those people fall down. I don't think you can prove it. They fall down, because they fall down, and that is truth. What makes them fall down? I don't know, its an individual thing.
Me I just look at people and ask God, God? is that you doing that or is that something else? I usually get an answer. But the answer is for me, not to share.
Instead of making fun of people who might be faking it. I try to understand why they would fake it. Usually it could be out of a need. So instead of critizing it, I would try to love that person, and fulfill their need. That is what I feel God tells me to do.
Don't see how you can call it prejudice since I have examined many of the pentecostal 'gifts', glossolalia in particular.
I call it prejudice because you have already labeled it all as a fake. You are pre judged before you even meet that person. You feel as though it is proven. I beg to differ. I would agree that some, or more of it may be fake. But I would not commit to it all being fake. Your life is not over, and there is still more to learn.
I also do not understand speaking in tongues. Some churches even require that you speak in tongues before they consider you babtized in the Holy Spirit. I say that is BS. The bible clearly says that not all gifts are for all people. I have not recieved that gift. But I have recieved the gift of patience, love, wisdom, and discernment. Of course these gifts are relative to me, and they are not a full representation of who and what God is.
My wife has been a Christian for 28 years, and she told me she spoke in tongues once. She said she really did not have control over what was coming out of her mouth. My wife may be many things, but she is not a liar, so I believe her, and what she experienced.
So I don't really know what it is. I don't think Jesus ever spoke in tongues. Only those filled with the Holy Spirit. I also have never seen someone interpret tongues, supposedly another gift.
Oh and BTW, on the first day I went to that church, my wife asked me for us as a family to go up for prayer. A lady asked us what do you want me to pray for? My wife responed, just pray of us in general. She prayed for me to be a spiritual leader of the family. 3 different people, who I never met before in one week and a day, told me the same thing. I never heard it before, and I never heard it since. Yes my eyebrow was raised. I understand it proves nothing though.
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