Unholy Laughter - Part 1
by Dr. Cathy Burns
In a previous article we looked at the origins of the
March for Jesus. In this paper we are going to examine one particular phenomenon
which some of the founders of this march are involved in. The founders were
Graham Kendrick, Lynn Green, Roger Forster, and Gerald Coates, and the
phenomenon to which I am referring is the so-called "holy" laughter.
Roger Forster, who also heads Ichthus Fellowships, and Gerald Coates, who also
leads the Pioneer network of charismatic churches in England, are two among many
who have endorsed this movement.(1) Coates "noticed limited incidents of people
laughing and crying uncontrollably, or falling on the floor as if overcome by
God's power."(2) He also learned of other churches in which people were laughing
and collapsing to the floor."(3) Charisma magazine reports:
"Without him referring to the phenomenon from the pulpit, the laughter broke out
at his own church, Pioneer People, in southwest London. 'We saw it happening
throughout the month of May,' said Coates, who also is a leader in the March for
Jesus organization.
"According to Coates, congregations have been transformed since the movement
began. In his own church there has been 'a new spirit' and a fresh generosity
among members. Stories of changed lives pour into his office daily. 'It's a
different church,' he said."(4) Coates adds: "This could be the biggest thing to
hit the church in my lifetime."(5)
Such a report of "changed lives" may sound wonderful but we need to know more of
the background of this phenomenon before we jump on the bandwagon.
Holy laughter, also known as the "Toronto Blessing," "a time of refreshing,"
"another Pentecost,"(6) and "laughing in the spirit"(7) is encircling the globe
including places such as Argentina, Cambodia, China, Switzerland, Australia,
Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Britain, Canada, Ireland, United States, and South
Africa.(8) The person who is most responsible for this phenomenon is Rodney
Howard-Browne, a South African evangelist who was born in 1961.
In his book, The Touch of God, Howard-Browne describes an experience he had in
1979:
"Suddenly the fire of God fell on me. It started on my head and went right down
to my feet. His power burned in my body and stayed like that for three whole
days...."My whole body was on fire from the top of my head to the soles of my
feet. Out of my belly began to flow a river of living water. I began to laugh
uncontrollably and then I began to weep and then speak with other tongues.
"I was so intoxicated on the wine of the Holy Ghost that I was literally beside
myself. The fire of God was coursing through my whole being and it didn't
quit....Because of that encounter with the Lord, my life was radically changed
from that day on."(9)
In 1987, Howard-Browne "prophesied that God would send missionaries to America
for revival, which he has defined as manifestations of 'supernatural signs and
wonders.' "(10) In April 1989, while he was preaching, some unusual
manifestations began to take place: "People began falling out of their seats;
some were laughing and others were crying."(11)
Uncontrollable Laughter
By the Spring of 1993 Howard-Browne was attracting large crowds of people
including individuals from Africa, Argentina, and Great Britain who were drawn
to his meetings because of the unusual phenomenon of laughter taking place.
Charisma magazine revealed: "No matter what Howard-Browne did or said, hundreds
who attended the daily sessions always ended up on the sanctuary floor in
helpless laughter. When the services were broadcast on the radio, more curious
seekers showed up to join the fun."(12)
This laughter can break out during a communion service or even when serious
sermons are preached. Rodney Howard-Browne reported: "One night I was preaching
on hell, and laughter just hit the whole place. The more I told the people what
hell was like, the more they laughed." "The Holy Ghost...might have you do
something that no one's ever done before, and he might have you do something
that's totally unique. But don't question, and don't argue, and don't ask, and
don't try to devise and to plan it out but just follow the prompting of the
leading of the Spirit of God and, oh, great and wonderful things shall be done,
for God will move in diverse ways and with diverse anointings in these last
days."
Obviously, laughing during a communion service or during a sermon on hell can
hardly be called the "leading of the Spirit of God," yet we are being told that
this movement is of God. For example, Charles and Frances Hunter, proponents of
"holy laughter," relate: "There is a powerful new wind of the Holy Spirit
blowing, but it's lots more than a rushing mighty wind! There's an energizing,
forceful sound that's coming with this new wind of the Spirit and it is the
exciting sound of joy, joy, joy, joy! Not only an inward joy, but it's bringing
a vocal joy, a holy laughter, right along with it. It's energetically stirring
us to higher levels with God!"(13)
The Hunters also brag: "The Spirit of God is swiftly moving in breathtaking and
sometimes startling new ways, and people of every tongue and every nation are
letting out what is on the inside of them....they are running at a fast pace to
'Joel's Bar' where the drinks are free and there is no hangover!...one of
today's signs 'in the earth beneath' is the 'holy laughter' which is
supernaturally overcoming people in services all over the world!"(14)
Jill Austin exclaims: "The joy of the Lord started with bubbling and ended with
a flood of laughter in Toledo, Ohio, as the refreshing move of the Holy Spirit
touched the people. We had never seen such a wide-spread outbreak of hilarious
laughter hit a group for almost an hour. Adults and children acted like there
was one big 'swimming party' and they enjoyed themselves to the fullest!"(15)
Unsaved Hippies Zapped
Can anyone be filled with this "holy" laughter? Apparently so!
Howard-Browne enjoys "zapping" people with this anointing by commanding them to
laugh. Of course, they don't have to be saved before receiving this "infilling."
Howard-Browne "proudly says that he lines up on the stage a row of unbelieving
hippies with their mohican haircuts and earrings, and then goes down the line
laying hands on them and making them fall over, again and again, until they
'accept the Lord.' "(16)
Tricia Tillin reports that in one video of Howard-Browne's meetings, she "saw
little talk of repentance or holiness and there was no reverence of God. People
were 'zapped' no matter what their lifestyles or circumstances, no matter if
they were saved or not. The Spirit of God is not indiscriminate. Satan is!"(17)
The Bible clearly tells us that the Holy Ghost is only given to them that obey
God (Acts 5:32). John 14:17 states that the world cannot receive the Spirit of
truth. Ephesians 1:13 reveals that it was only after an individual believed that
he was sealed with the Holy Spirit. Since "holy" laughter can be received by
those who are unsaved, we can plainly see that this phenomenon is not of God.
Also, under the so-called "anointing" of "holy" laughter, some people even start
to rip their clothes off.(18) There's one place in the Bible which tells us
about a person taking his clothes off. This individual, however, was not a
Christian. Luke 8:27 tells us that this man "had devils long time, and ware no
clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs." In other words, he was
demon possessed. After Jesus cast out the demons, the Bible reveals that this
man was found "sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind"
(Luke 8:35; Mark 5:15). People in heathen lands who get saved also have a
tendency to put clothes on, but in the meetings where so-called "holy" laughter
is taking over, people are taking their clothes off. Isn't this fact alone
enough to reveal to us that this movement is not of the Holy Spirit but is of
the spirit of Satan?
Laugh Or Suffer The Consequences
Not only is this move not of God but people who attend these meetings are
actually coerced into experiencing the laughter. Howard-Browne intimidates and
humiliates people by calling them "ugly," "sad," etc., if they don't laugh.(19)
Al Dager even reports: "On several occasions I've witnessed him 'slay people in
the Spirit,' and if they didn't begin to laugh he would place his foot on their
stomach and tell them to laugh. Some he would kick as they lay there, and accuse
them of not yielding to the Holy Spirit. He would keep at it until they would
obviously begin to force some kind of laugh out of themselves."(20)
With such tactics, it's no wonder that even Howard-Browne has described one of
his services as "total pandemonium." In fact, here are his own words: "I
remember one service where I just went and sat down for an hour and a half. I
just went and sat down. Well, there was nothing else I could do. Total
pandemonium--people falling off of their chairs, people crying, people laughing
and some were wailing--some were shaking. So, I just said to the people, I said,
'Look, just come up when you're ready and lift your hands and God will touch
you.' I was sitting on the platform--just sat there and watched them for about
an hour and a half. People came right up, got to the front, lifted their
hands--BAM!--on the floor. I just sat there. I didn't even pray. You say,
'What'd you do?' I just sat there and twiddled my thumbs. I thought, 'Lord, I
wish every meeting was as easy as this.' Now I had preached the word already and
taught the word of God, and then I went and sat down. And they came walking up,
got to the front, lifted their hands--BAM!--under the power of God."(21)
Who Is In Control?
Some other phenomena that take place at these laughing revivals include:
"shaking, jerking, loss of bodily strength, heavy breathing, eyes fluttering,
lips trembling, oil on the body, changes in skin color, weeping, laughing,
'drunkenness,' staggering, travailing, dancing, falling, visions, hearing
audibly into the spirit realm, inspired utterances--i.e. prophecy, tongues,
interpretation, angelic visitations and manifestations, jumping, violent
rolling, screaming, wind, heat, electricity, coldness, nausea as discernment of
evil, smelling or tasting good or evil presences, tingling, pain in body as
discernment of illness, feeling heavy weight or lightness, trances--altered
physical state while seeing and hearing into the spiritual world, inability to
speak normally, disruption of natural realm--i.e. electrical circuits blown, the
'fire of God' burning you that you have to remove some clothing, pawing people
and roaring like a lion, walking like a chicken, howling like a wolf, digging
the ground with hoofs like a bull while prophesying, flying like an eagle,
throwing communion bread around to show your joy in the Lord, screaming AHHHHH
as a mighty warrior to stop the preaching of the word of God during a service,
incoherent babbling, pounding the floor with your arms while holding a
conversation in tongues with the minister in charge of the service, feeling
electricity shoot through your body, affecting electronic scanning devices in
airports, etc."(22)
Do the above disturbances and commotions sound like something that is
Scriptural? Hardly! I Corinthians 14:40 clearly states: "Let all things be done
decently and in order." Think of the sacredness of a communion service and then
envision having this bread which represents the body of our Savior, Jesus
Christ, being thrown around and desecrated. Not only is something of this nature
not "done decently and in order" but is it extremely disrespectful and
blasphemous. Blasphemy and irreverence, however, seem to proliferate during
these laughing meetings. For example, Rodney Howard-Browne calls himself the
"Holy Ghost bartender."(23) He claims he is serving "new wine"(24) and Charles
and Frances Hunter refer to this as " 'Joel's Bar' where the drinks are free and
there is no hangover!"(25) Howard-Browne encourages people to: "Take another
drink...the bar is open....Be filled! We loose the power! Have another
drink!"(26) Romans 14:17 tells us: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Also, we cannot
loose the power. Only God can do this.
As can be seen, the Holy Ghost is taken lightly. Not only is Howard Browne
supposedly a "Holy Ghost bartender" but Frances Hunter makes mention of "Holy
Ghost glue." Describing her laughing experience, she relates: "We went to a Full
Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship banquet in Houston....The man [the speaker]
said, 'Well, Jesus, bless Frances!' Down I went faster than you could blink an
eye, followed one second later by my precious husband!...I tried to get my hands
off of the floor, but nothing happened. I couldn't believe what had happened to
me, because it was physically impossible for me to move....I felt as though
someone had given me a divine alka seltzer because way down deep in the very
center of my being I began to feel a most peculiar type of `bubbling.'...then it
abruptly came out of my mouth in the form of the loudest laugh I have ever
heard....no pressure on my mouth could keep the laughing back. I laughed,
laughed, laughed and laughed....I stopped laughing just as quickly as I started,
and suddenly I was released from the bed of Holy Ghost glue in which I had been
resting!"(27)
Laughter Brings Demon Oppression
We opened this article with Gerald Coates (a co-founder of the March for Jesus)
claiming there were changed lives from this laughing phenomenon. Proponents do
point to changed lives and other seemingly positive results. However, Al Dager
reveals that "there are also reports of demonic oppression, suicidal feelings,
and loss of faith after the holy laughter experience."(28) Obviously, such
results would not take place if this phenomenon were of God. In fact, Galatians
5:22-23 points out that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law."
Actually, the spectacle of uncontrollable laughter and animal noises may be new
to the church world but the occult has known such phenomena for a long time. Joy
Smith, an ex-follower of Swami Baba Muktananda discloses that the Swami "would
transfer what was called 'guru's grace' to his followers through Shaktipat
(physical touch). This 'grace' triggered the gradual awakening of the Kundalini
which in turn produced various physical and emotional manifestations.
Manifestations included uncontrollable laughing, roaring, barking, hissing,
crying, shaking, etc. Some devotees became mute or unconscious. Many felt
themselves being infused with feelings of great joy and peace and love. At other
times the 'fire' of Kundalini was so overpowering they would find themselves
involuntarily hyperventilating to cool themselves down."(29)
We also find that Anton Mesmer, a Mason and the founder of "animal magnetism" or
"mesmerism," which was the forerunner of hypnosis, and who called his sessions "seances,"
was able to cause uncontrollable laughter. One occult book gives this
description of his sessions: " 'His patients sat round a large oak tub which was
filled with water, iron filings and powdered glass, and from which iron rods
protruded. The patients applied these rods to the afflicted parts of their
bodies while Mesmer marched about majestically in a pale lilac robe, passing his
hands over the patients' bodies or touching them with a long iron wand. The
results varied. Some patients felt nothing at all, some felt as if insects were
crawling over them, others were seized with hysterical laughter, convulsions or
fits of hiccups. Some went into raving delirium, which was called "The Crisis"
and was considered extremely healthful.' "(30)
Another report of his sessions reveals the following: " 'Some are calm, tranquil
and experience no effect. Others cough, spit, feel slight pains, local or
general heat, and have sweatings. Others, again, are agitated and tormented with
convulsions. These convulsions are remarkable in regard to the number affected
with them, to their duration and force. They are preceded and followed by a
state of languor or reverie...Patients experienced more or less violent
perspiration, palpitations, hysterics, catalepsy, and sometimes a condition
resembling epilepsy.' "(31)
Yet another interesting factor is that Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was called the
"divine drunkard" by his followers.(32) Hundreds of people flew to India to
"drink" from Rajneesh's "wine."(33) "Often referred to as being 'drunk on the
divine,' Rajneesh encouraged his followers to come and 'drink' from him.
Bhagvhan's (sic) spiritual 'wine' was often passed along with a single touch to
the head. Many of his Sannyasins [disciples] would fall to the floor in ecstasy
after their encounters with Rajneesh."(34) (Does this sound strangely familiar?!
Something is wrong with the church when it starts to experience the same
phenomena as the occultists.)
In an additional article we will look at several more individuals who have
endorsed the laughing revival, but in the meantime, "Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets
are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).
--Dr. Cathy Burns
For information about books, booklets, articles, and tracts, write to:
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212 E. 7th St. (F)
Mt. Carmel, PA 17851-2211
1 Tricia Tillin, "Is It Revival?," Mainstream (Summer 1994), p.3.
2 Christian News (November 7, 1994, Vol. 32, No. 41), p.3.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 Ed Tarkowski, "The Laughing Phenomena: From South Africa to St. Louis to
Toronto to Your Church" (Part I), The Christian Conscience (February 1995, Vol.
1, No. 2), p.21.
7 Ed Spurlin, "Unholy Laughter," Voice in the Wilderness (February 1995, Vol. 2,
Issue 2), p.1.
8 Tarkowski, "The Laughing Phenomena" (Part I), op. cit., p.23.
9 Ibid, quoting Bill Randles, p.22.
10 Ibid, quoting from "The Good Life" program which was broadcasted April 20,
1994.
11 Ibid, quoting Bill Randles; Albert James Dager, "Holy Laughter: Rodney
Howard-Browne and the Toronto Blessing," Media Spotlight, (1995), p.2.
12 Tarkowski, "The Laughing Phenomena" (Part I), op. cit., quoting Bill Randles;
Albert James Dager, "Holy Laughter: Rodney Howard- Browne and the Toronto
Blessing," Media Spotlight, (1995), p.11.
13 Albert James Dager, "Holy Laughter: Rodney Howard-Browne and the Toronto
Blessing," Media Spotlight, (1995), p.6.
14 Ed Tarkowski quoting David W. Cloud from O Timothy magazine Volume 11, Issue
9-10, 1994.
15 Jill Austin, Passion & Fire Conferences.
16 Tillin, op. cit., p.5-6.
17 Ibid., p.6.
18 Ibid., p.5.
19 Dager, op. cit., p.7.
20 Ibid., p.7, 9.
21 Tarkowski, "The Laughing Phenomena" (Part I), op. cit., quoting from a TBN
video-taped service which was broadcasted on May 1994, p.23-24.
22 Ed Tarkowski.
23 Joel C. Gerlach, "Holy Laughter Is No Laughing Matter," Christian News (April
17, 1994, Vol. 33, No. 16), p.4; Dager, op. cit., p.10.
24 Ibid.
25 Tarkowski quoting David W. Cloud, op. cit., p.22.
26 Ed Tarkowski.
27 Tarkowski, "The Laughing Phenomena" (Part I), op. cit., quoting from David
Cloud, p.25.
28 Dager, op. cit., p.1.
29 Warren Smith, "Holy Laughter or Strong Delusion?," SCP Newsletter, (Fall
1994, Vol. 19:2), p.14.
30 Alan Morrison quoting Richard Cavendish, The Serpent and the Cross: Religious
Corruption in an Evil Age (Birmingham, England: K & M Books, 1994), p.249,
473-474.
31 Ibid, quoting R. B. Ince, p.249.
32 Joseph R. Chambers, " 'Holy' Laughter" (Part II), The End Times and
Victorious Living, (January/February 1995, Vol. 9, No. 1), p.1; Smith, op. cit.,
p.1.
33 Smith, op. cit., p.1.
34 Ibid, p.14.