Hey Bros & Sis's,
I have a nagging issue that I just have not been able to shake off for years. In order to get a clear answer I have to give a short background, so please bare with me.
My wife and I attended a small pentecostal church in Harlem, NYC about 2 years ago. I was very involved and a "high prospect" and many "prophesied" that I would be the next pastor. unbelievable. Anyway, it was a Hispanic church and was extremely charismatic. It is a common trait of Hispanic Pentecostal churches. So we would frequently have the speaking in tongues, screaming, and yelling, and waving hands and the falling backwards, etc. Even as a youth minister in the church, I was NEVER charismatic and was very skeptical of the falling backwards and shaking and speaking in tongues. My wife was even more skeptical than me. I guess you can all see where this is going. Well one day we went to visit another church. Things began to get a bit loud and rowdy in there as people were "receiving the Spirit" and shaking and speaking in tongues. I, as always, I sit down in dissapproval of this whole thing only to peak to my left and to my surprise, my very skeptical wife, is shaking uncontrollably while speaking in tongues and finally falling to the ground with a big thump! She was about 4 months pregnant at the time, so my initial concern was the baby (the baby was fine). She had to get picked up and carried back to her chair. She must have been exhausted after all that seizure type shaking. I couldn't believe or explain what had just happened. Finally after all this was able to sink in, I got the guts to ask her "What the heck was that?!!" She does not remember exactly what happened, but she did confirm it as a legitimated experience and she felt it was of God at the time. But as always with these things, she was the same exact person afterwards. No super spiritual revelation, no difference in attitude, no difference in character. Nothing. Was this an act of the Devil? Or was it a an act of God? Is this scriptural. I know Ray does not think so, but I used to believe this was all just acting. Now I know that at least it is a real experience since I know my wife is being very sincere, I just do not know what the source of it is.
We no longer attend any babylonic institutions and we both felt that it was the right decision. Although, neither of us were ever able to explain what happened that day. Has anyone here had a similar experience? and can anyone lend some insight on what happened? I am still a little baffled. Any and all comments are welcomed.
God's grace and love be with you all,
Fe