Biblical, Physical Responses to Worship, and How to Judge Charismatic ‘Phenomena’

God created humans, body, soul, and, spirit. Our bodies respond to worship and God’s presence. What do the Scriptures allow and prohibit?

On the other side of the spectrum, ‘phenomena,’ also called ‘manifestation,’ range from “animal noises” (barking, roaring, howling, clucking), rolling around on the floor, and laughing fits.

I was in the middle of the phenomena (or bodily responses) in the mid-1990s, at Anaheim Vineyard. I observed them, but I never participated in the excesses, like animal noises.

This post has a companion piece, here:

Anaheim Vineyard and the ‘Phenomena’

Let me lay out my criteria for judging and then the acceptable bodily reactions to worship and God’s presence, in an outline format. It helps me keep my own thoughts clear. Maybe it will help the readers too.

I. Two Basic Criteria

A.. Judgment is allowed.

If we are permitted to judge prophecies without treating them with contempt (1 Cor. 14:29 and 1 Thess. 5:21), then surely we can judge these physical manifestations. If leaders do not clarify this issue, then people will be confused. Satan will also infiltrate the churches and prompt people to act strangely or exotically. Leaders must be vigilant.

B. Two basic principles for judging manifestations

The two principles are summed up according to 1 Corinthians 14:

1.. They are out of their minds (v. 24)!

We cannot confuse newcomers and inquirers in our church services so much that they believe we are out of our minds. They may never return, when we want to reach out to them, not scare them away. And it is no good to reply that one man’s disorder is another man’s order. I can draw the line to cut away the animal noises and laughing fits and other excesses. If not, reasonable and open people can be confused. Let’s not allow this, but worship biblically.

2. No disorder, but peace, and fitting expressions of the charismata (gifts) or decorum and orderly assemblies (vv. 33 and 40)

The relevant verses: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people” (v. 33). “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (v. 40). (Both verses come from the NIV.)

Those words no “disorder,” “but of peace” and “fitting” and “orderly way” are very strong. “Fitting” can be translated as “decorum.” They shut down charismatic excess.

As noted, those key words completely rule out the animal noises and the laughing fits and writhing on the ground. The only people who writhed on the ground were the ones from whom Jesus was expelling demons. For the rest of us, let’s keep our dignity or bodily decorum, because we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-28).

For more exegesis, please click here:

What 1 Corinthians 14 Really Teaches

Also see

9 Praise and Worship in the Church

II. Biblical Physical Responses in Worship

A. Brief intro.

We are whole human creations, and our bodies want to respond to the presence of God during worship. Let’s not deny or suppress our God-given humanity. But let’s not display the flesh, either. God provided the Bible to guide us.

Here are bodily reactions that are scriptural, within the truth of decorum (i.e. fitting) and order and peace and excluding the excesses. I do not call these biblical expressions ‘phenomena’ or ‘manifestations.’

B. Biblical bodily responses

1.. Trembling

Trembling in God’s presence and in the wholesome fear of God is biblical (Ps. 119:120; Jer. 5:22; Dan. 10:11).

However, there is no shaking so violently that the hair gets messed up or teeth fly out of the shaker’s mouth (I have seen this on YouTube.) In another church during a “revival,” (not Anaheim Vineyard) I saw a young girl–a teen–shake continually and uncontrollably, even when she was interviewed on national television news. She should have been taken out of public view and told to stop. If she says she cannot, then she should go home until the excessive phenomenon stops.

Excessive shaking appears human-generated and contrived. It’s not fitting or orderly but disorderly for a church service. What about for a small group? The women should tell her she can stop, but if she says she cannot, then she should be driven home until she falls asleep and outgrows it.

See the link to the 1518 “dancing plague,” under III.D. People get into hysterics. Women seem especially susceptible to excesses (sorry!).

2. Weeping and crying

This is certainly Scriptural. A few examples: Psalms 6:6, 8; 30:5; 35:14; 39:12; 126:6. It seems most of the weeping was done in private, but in a few cases it was done in public.

3. Weakened bodies leading to falling

The priests and others were unable to stand or even go into the temple at its dedication because God’s presence was so powerful (2 Chron. 5:14; 7:2). For the dedication of the tabernacle and a similar bodily response to the presence of God, see Exodus 40:34. Daniel was terrified and fell prostrate in the presence of Gabriel (8:17). In a vision of a man, Daniel felt so weak in his body that he fell asleep (10:7). At the temple and tabernacle dedication in Scripture, I have the impression that the priests and Moses could not have been able to physically take the glory. They stayed out of the structures.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John heard the voice from heaven proclaiming that God loves and approves of his Son. The disciples fell to the ground, terrified (Matt. 17:6). Saul fell to the ground at a blinding light (Acts 9:4). During Jesus’s arrest, he told those coming to lead him off. “I am he.” They fell back at those words (John 18:6). John fell at the Lord’s feet, as though dead (Rev. 1:17).

In all these cases the body gave out and was weakened. But no preacher used “slaying in the Spirit” to show how powerful he is. Today’s platform performers often push people. These men are showoffs. No one should push anyone down, ever.

As a matter of fact, during ministry time, the leaders on the platform should announce that they don’t want anyone to fall because the prayer team needs to pray for them. The team can’t pray for the people’s needs when they are lying on the ground. But I understand that sometimes God’s presence is so heavy that people do fall. Maybe they can come back later for prayer.

I place trances under this category (Acts 10:10; 11:5; 22:17). If someone is lying on the ground in a trance and cannot get up, then let him be, or move him off to the side, so he does not get stepped on.

4. Bowing

Worshippers can bow down: Psalms 5:7, 95:6, 138:2; Isaiah 45:23; Ephesians 3:14; Philippians 2:10

More charismatic churches may allow this on Sunday morning, but more conservative churches may restrict this to worshipping at home. No one should bow down to show off or distract the people.

5. Prostration

Abram fell on his face before God (Gen. 17:3); Moses and Aaron fell on their faces at the doorway of the tent of meeting (Num. 20:6); even Dagon, a statue, fell on its face before the ark of the covenant (1 Sam. 5:23); the people fell prostrate before the Lord (1 Kings 18:39); David and the people bowed low and did homage to the Lord (1 Chron. 29:20); At the dedication of Solomon’s temple, people bowed with their faces to the ground (2 Chron. 7:3); The people worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground (Neh. 8:6); the angels, twenty-four elders, and the four living creatures fell on their faces before the throne (Rev. 7:11).

In charismatic churches, this can be done off to the side or in the back of the church at the Sunday morning service. It depends on the church’s policies. The main thing is not to show off or distract or make it a routine. The worshipper can do this at home in his private devotions.

6. Kneeling

Solomon knelt before the Lord at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:54); See also Ezra 9:5; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 45:23; Luke 22:41; Acts 21:5; Ephesians 3:14; Philippians 2:10-11.

Some churches have kneeling rails. Other churches do not. People can kneel at their seats.

7. Standing

People do this in church all the time, especially during worship songs: see Deuteronomy 4:10; Joshua 24:1; 2 Chronicles 20:13-14, 19-20; Luke 1:19; Romans 14:10; Revelation 8:2, 20:12.

No problems for church services.

8. Sitting

People do this all the time during a church service as they listen to the word or simply to wait on God: see Judges 21:2 (a negative context); Ezekiel 8:1; Revelation 11:16;

9. Dancing

David danced (2 Sam. 6:14). A healed lame man walked and leaped and praised God, which was done outside in response to a great healing (Acts 3:8), and not a matter of routine. See also Exodus 15:20; 1 Samuel 18:7; Psalms 149:3; 150:4; Jeremiah 31:4, 13.

Young worship leaders like to hop up and down. They are joyful and enthusiastic. Let them.

It is to be noted that the apostolic community in the New Testament did not practice or advocate dancing. But in a church service, perhaps built on the Old Testament, this can be done only with the permission of the elders, like a dance team. Otherwise, individuals taking it on themselves to dance can get distracting and disorderly. During worship, someone should not dance all by himself so people can see him. Decorum is needed.

See the link to the 1518 dancing plague under III.D, below.

10. Lifting hands

Paul exhorts men to pray, lifting up holy hands (1 Tim. 2:8). The Psalmist encourages people to lift their hands in the sanctuary (Ps. 134:2). Lifting one’s hands can be like the evening sacrifice (Ps. 141:2). Let us lift up our hands and hearts to God in heaven (Lam 3:41). See also 1 Kings 8:38; Psalms 28:2; 63:4; 88:9; 119:48; Isaiah 1:15; Ezra 9:5; Luke 24:50.

This physical worship response is common now, even in more conservative churches.

11. Joy

It is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22); the psalmist clapped and shouted with joyful praise (Ps. 47:1).The psalmist tells us to make a joyful noise (Ps. 95:1); Nehemiah told God’s people that the joy of the Lord is their strength (Neh. 8:10).

But nowhere in Scripture do God’s people engage in laughing fits. Clapping should be directed from the platform or in a natural response to a wonderful story or miracle. But a routine? It gets old and stale.

III. Reflections

A. Quick summary

I take the restrictions in 1 Corinthians 14 very seriously. They guide me. We should ask if a physical response provoke reasonable and open people to state, “They are out of their minds!” And we should take Paul’s key words at the end of his chapter to heart: “no disorder,” “peace,” “fitting” or “decorum,” and “order.”

Those key words in 1 Corinthians 14 exclude animal noises and writhing around on the ground and the laughing fits and individualistic dancing and other exotic physical movements.

B. Objection and reply

Objection: But Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) allowed the phenomena, during the First Great Awakenings. So don’t exclude them. Are you better than Edwards?

Reply: I don’t see myself as better than Edwards, but I have to go with the Apostle Paul, who clamped down on the phenomena. He would oppose them today. And I don’t see them in the Gospels, Acts or epistles. If a teen girl says she cannot stop shaking, or she does not come out of her trance, then, as noted, she needs to be taken home until she stops.

C. Where to draw the line

Each biblical response can turn into excesses. That’s the way human nature works. Do not let them. I would not go beyond those eleven expressions of worship, done reverently and respectfully, not individually in front of people. A big church can have a separate room to allow those physical responses, with an intercom system hooked up to the room, so the people can hear the music. Or not. Tell them to do this at home, in private worship.

You may not know where precisely to draw the line between the excesses and the balance of the biblical bodily responses, but do not let anyone tell you that you are putting God in a box when you shut down the excesses. Just tell them that you are following a reasonable and open interpretation of Scripture, particularly 1 Corinthians 14.

Let me expand on the previous point (Letter B).

Jesus never saw the excesses (that is, the phenomena) in the four Gospels, and he was anointed of the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). The only people who writhed on the ground were the ones from whom he was expelling demons.

Nor did the apostolic community in Acts witness the excesses. And in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul actually clamps down on them, telling the Corinthians no. He was not even dealing with animal noises or the laughing fits or uncontrollable shaking. If he would not allow the biblical gift of (uninterpreted) tongues in public, then for sure he would say no to the animal noises and laughing fits and writhing around on the ground. They are unintelligible, and no amount of explanation from a leader can fix their unintelligibility.

So the whole tone and tenor of 1 Corinthians is the restriction of charismatic excesses or hyper-charismatic behavior.

D. The dancing plague of 1518

Read about the dancing plague of 1518 among women, here. They could not stop, and hundreds danced themselves to death. The same can be true of the laughing fits or uncontrolled shaking or writhing on the ground. People respond irrationally and hysterically. They must not dominate the church service or even laugh or writhe or shake uncontrollably for any reason at any time.

E. Lesson learned at community college

During one of my classes at a community college, years ago, a student told a joke, and the students laughed. And laughed. And laughed. They couldn’t seem to stop, though they eventually did. I would not say they got in a laughing fit, but they came close.

We have to guard against these excesses. They are probably just of human origins, but the excesses could be prompted by a demon to distract people from the main and plain things of Scripture and a church service:

F. The main and plain things of a church service

They are worship, community, the word, communion, and ministry time. All physical responses must submit to and never distract us from those essentials. Let’s keep our church services in the right perspective and the biblical mental state.

And certainly no phenomenon or manifestation should interrupt the preaching of the word and communion. Tell them to stop. If they refuse, remove them.

G. Don’t overcorrect.

It may happen that a deacon or elder develops a zeal for order so strongly that he overcorrects. For example, he may see someone raising or waving his hands awkwardly. He needs to use love and discernment. Sometimes it is best to let things like that go. Creating a fuss can damage the enthusiastic worshipper. Also, the church leader should ask another leader if he should correct the worshipper. If they both agree, then correct him. There is safety in numbers.

H. Basic principles or guidelines

Just to be clear, order and peace and decorum and no disorder must characterize our church services. The local church can determine when people get out of line. No animal noises or laughing fits or writhing on the ground, for they are too disruptive and confusing. Those physical responses could be demonic. So can excessive shaking, as I have observed on YouTube.

Follow those two guidelines or principles in Section I.

Let peace and the Spirit rule in church.

Anaheim Vineyard and the ‘Phenomena’

9 Praise and Worship in the Church

Observations on the Early Vineyard Movement

Sixteen Characteristics of a Healthy Church

Sixteen Characteristics of an Unhealthy Church

Review of Sam Storms’ Book ‘The Rise and Fall of the Kansas City Prophets’

Mike Bickle and His Team v. John Wimber and His Team

What 1 Corinthians 14 Really Teaches

The New Apostolic Reformation

Observations on New Apostolic Reformation and Christian Nationalism