• Man Sues Church After Being “Slain in the Spirit” And Injured

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According to Charismamag Matthew Lincoln is suing Lakewind Church for US$2.5m, claiming that he was injured there after being slain in the spirit. Lincoln says that the church had a duty to ensure that someone caught him when he fell and failed to do so, therefore the church is responsible for the injuries that he received when his head hit the floor. Lincoln’s wife is suing for US$75,000 for “loss of consortium, loss of services and companionship of her husband”. Is that legalese for “I’m not getting any nooky now”?

So, what is “being slain in the spirit”? Basically, the pentecostals and charismatics believe that the Holy Spirit causes someone to fall down. Although God is capable of acting in this way, my personal belief – and observation – is that is what is seen in churches today is not from God and is entirely man-made. I cannot give a scriptural defence for this position because, as far as I know, the Bible does not specifically address it. However, the overall Biblical pattern is that those who came into direct contact with God and/or angels retained conscious control of their bodies, although they certainly did feel fear and probably felt weak at the knees!

Today we’ll look at two aspects of Lincoln’s law suit:

1. The merits of the case
2. The manner in which Lincoln has made his complaint

1:: The merits of the case

Looking the Chraisamag article, Lincoln had been going to Lakewind for a long time and someone had always caught him when he was slain in the spirit, but this did not happen on this occasion. Therefore he alleges that the pastors did not properly supervise the “catchers” and that the church board did not fulfil their duty. The implications of a court ruling supporting these allegations are horrifying: “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to discuss the Risk Management Plan for Visitations of the Holy Spirit”. Let’s now look at an analogy applicable to Lincoln’s situation.

Imagine that you have a daily walk which includes crossing a bridge over a deep gorge; you have been walking this route for many years and can reasonably expect that the bridge will be there when you get to the gorge. However, the owner of the bridge has been neglecting the maintenance of the bridge and one night it collapses into the gorge. The next morning you’re strolling along as usual and daydreaming as is your habit. Then suddenly you step into thin air and wake from your daydream to find yourself at the bottom of the gorge and severely injured; your daydream is now a daymare. Has the owner of the bridge failed in his duty of care towards the users of the bridge? Certainly he has. Are you responsible for your injuries? Certainly you are. Why so? Because you failed to use your God-given faculties and thus didn’t notice that the bridge was no longer there.

On the other hand, if you had a contractual relationship with the bridge owner and the contract said “the bridge owner shall maintain the bridge so that I the undersigned can always safely walk over it whilst daydreaming and not observing my surroundings” then the bridge owner would be entirely responsible for your injuries because he was in breach of contract.

I believe the following:

1. Lincoln had a reasonable expectation of being caught, but no further inference can be made from this.
2. Lincoln did not have a contractual relationship with the church which required that he be caught and therefore the church is not culpable.
3. Lincoln was in control of his bodily actions and therefore was responsible for ensuring that someone was going to catch him. He failed to do so and therefore he is entirely responsible for his injuries.
4. Lincoln is attempting to impose a contractual relationship upon the church post facto via litigation.
5. Even if the church is responsible for Lincoln’s injuries – a notion that I reject – the church has not directly injured his wife, and therefore her claim is contrary to scripture because the personal injury laws of the Bible only require that compensation be made to the injured party, not to his wife, daughter, cat, and camel as well (e.g. Exodus 21).

Consider this: if I am wrong and the Holy Spirit was controlling Lincoln in such a way that he was not capable of ensuring that someone would catch him, why would the Spirit allow harm to come to Lincoln during what is supposedly a blessing from the Spirit?

2:: The manner in which Lincoln has made his complaint

Paul said to the christians in Corinth:

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. (1 Cor 6:1-8 NIV)

Lincoln has gone against the word of God by taking a matter between christians to a civil court, and even if he had a good case for compensation he should have forgone that compensation rather than going to a civil court. If Lincoln wanted to pursue this case he should have approached Lakewind Church in the first instance, then sought out a christian arbitrator if his approach was unsuccessful. If Lakewind Church was not willing to abide by the ruling of an arbitrator then Lincoln should have ceased all proceedings.

In my humble opinion Paul clearly believes that suing a fellow christian before unbelievers is bringing the Church and the name of God into disrepute: if you doubt that, try and imagine what the reaction would be if you told this story to a pagan friend. Lincoln has also bought shame and defeat upon himself by taking this case to a civil court.

Post a comment and share your thoughts on this situation.

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