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The "Toronto Blessing"
A Theological Examination of the Roots, Teaching and Manifestations, and Connection Between the Faith Movement and the Vineyard Church
By Stephen Sizer
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Appendix 2: What does the Bible teach about manifestations associated with the "Toronto Blessing?"
1. References to "Laugh" and "Laughter" in Scripture
- GEN 18:13,15 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did
Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am
old?'.....Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not
laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."
- GEN 21:6 Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and
everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."
- JOB 5:22 You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not
fear the beasts of the earth.
- JOB 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips
with shouts of joy.
- PSA 52:6 The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at
him, saying,
- PSA 59:8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you scoff at all those
nations.
- PSA 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with
songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has
done great things for them."
- PRO 1:26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when
calamity overtakes you -
- PRO 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end
in grief.
- PRO 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can
laugh at the days to come.
- ECC 2:2 "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure
accomplish?"
- ECC 3:4 A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and
a time to dance,
- ECC 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is
good for the heart.
- ECC 7:6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the
laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
- ECC 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life
merry, but money is the answer for everything.
- JER 51:39 But while they are aroused, I will set out a feast for
them and make them drunk, so that they shout with laughter -
then sleep forever and not awake," declares the LORD.
- HAB 1:10 They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at
all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them.
- LUK 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be
satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
- LUK 6:25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go
hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
- JAM 4:9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning
and your joy to gloom.
Observations
There is no sense in which these passages (apart from one verse
in Psalm 126) could explain or justify the current phenomenon of
congregational laughing, which is supposedly a sign of God's
presence and blessing. Many references in fact have to do with
derision or scorn. Nor is it true that laughter is synonymous with
joy (Prov 14:13). The NT does not teach that we should act in
this way - just the opposite (James 4:9).
2. References to "Roar," "Roared" & "Roaring" in the context of a "Lion."
- JOB 4:10 The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of
the great lions are broken.
- NUM 23:24 The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves
like a lion that does not rest till he devours his prey and
drinks the blood of his victims."
- NUM 24:9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness -
who dares to rouse them? "May those who bless you be blessed and
those who curse you be cursed!"
- JOB 10:16 If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion and
again display your awesome power against me.
- JOB 37:2,4 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the
rumbling that comes from his mouth. After that comes the sound
of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice
resounds, he holds nothing back.
- PSA 10:9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait
to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them
off in his net.
- PSA 22:13 Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths
wide against me.
- PSA 104:21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food
from God.
- PRO 19:12 A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his
favor is like dew on the grass.
- PRO 20:2 A king's wrath is like the roar of a lion; he who
angers him forfeits his life.
- PRO 28:15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man
ruling over a helpless people.
- ISA 5:29 Their roar is like that of the lion, they roar like
young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it
off with no one to rescue.
- ISA 31:4 This is what the LORD says to me: "As a lion growls,
a great lion over his prey - and though a whole band of
shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened
by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor - so the LORD
Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its
heights.
- JER 2:30 "In vain I punished your people; they did not respond
to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a
ravening lion.
- JER 12:8 My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the
forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.
- JER 25:30 "Now prophesy all these words against them and say
to them: "'The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from
his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land. He will
shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who
live on the earth.
- JER 25:38 Like a lion he will leave his lair, and their land
will become desolate because of the sword of the oppressor and
because of the LORD'S fierce anger.
- JER 49:19 "Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets to a
rich pastureland, I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me
and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against
me?"
- JER 50:44 Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets to a rich
pastureland, I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me
and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against
me?
- JER 51:38,58 (Babylon) Her people all roar like young lions,
they growl like lion cubs.....The LORD will destroy Babylon; he
will silence her noisy din. Waves [of enemies] will rage like
great waters; the roar of their voices will resound.
- EZE 19:7,9 He broke down their strongholds and devastated their
towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his
roaring....With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought
him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar
was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.
- EZE 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a
roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take
treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.
- HOS 11:10 They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion.
When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
- HOS 13:7 So I will come upon them like a lion, like a leopard I
will lurk by the path.
- HOS 13:8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and
rip them open. Like a lion I will devour them; a wild animal
will tear them apart.
- JOE 3:16 The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from
Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will
be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of
Israel.
- AMO 3:4,8 Does a lion roar in the thicket when he has no prey?
Does he growl in his den when he has caught nothing?....The lion
has roared - who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken -
who can but prophesy?
- ZEP 3:3 Her officials are roaring lions, her rulers are evening
wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
- ZEC 9:15 And the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will
destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar
as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling
the corners of the altar.
- ZEC 11:3 Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich
pastures are destroyed! Listen to the roar of the lions; the
lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!
- 1 PE 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
- REV 10:3 And he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When
he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
Observations
References to "roaring" describe the presence of evil or of
destruction and when applied to the Lord refer to His impending
judgement of sin. They most certainly do not speak of God's
blessing.
How Christians can justify such phenomena, supposedly as
evidence of the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit - in
flagrant disregard for what the Scriptures do teach - is most
worrying.
This is particularly so in the light of what the Holy Spirit
warns us about in 1 Peter 5:8 and Jeremiah 51.
3. References to "shaking" or "shaken" in relation to a person in Scripture
- PSA 22:7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults,
shaking their heads:
- 1SA 28:21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was
greatly shaken, she said, "Look, your maidservant has obeyed
you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do.
- 2 SA 18:33 The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the
gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My
son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you - O
Absalom, my son, my son!"
- NEH 5:13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In
this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every
man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken
out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and
praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
- JOB 34:20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed
without human hand.
- PSA 15:5 Who lends his money without usury and does not accept a
bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never
be shaken.
- PSA 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at
my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- PSA 21:7 For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing
love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
- PSA 30:6 When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
- PSA 109:23 I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off
like a locust.
- ISA 7:2 Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied
itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were
shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.
- MAT 27:39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking
their heads
- MAR 15:29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking
their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the
temple and build it in three days,
- ACT 2:25 David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before
me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- ACT 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting
was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
spoke the word of God boldly.
- ACT 16:26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the
foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison
doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.
- HEB 12:27-28 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what
can be shaken - that is, created things - so that what cannot be
shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom
that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God
acceptably with reverence and awe.
Observations
Most references, in context, have to do with fear, terror,
death, sorrow or mockery, but never blessing. There are, to the
contrary, several promises which specifically say that the
believer will not be shaken. The passage in Acts 4:31, so often
quoted to justify this phenomena, speaks of the place not the
people "shaking" and refers to an earthquake.
4. References to "tremble" and "trembling" in Scripture
- GEN 42:28 "My silver has been returned," he said to his
brothers. "Here it is in my sack." Their hearts sank and they
turned to each other trembling and said, "What is this that God
has done to us?"
- EXO 15:14-15 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will
grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be
terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
- DEU 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear
of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports
of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you."
- 2 SA 22:46 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their
strongholds.
- 1 CH 16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly
established; it cannot be moved.
- JOB 4:14 Fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones
shake.
- JOB 9:6 He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars
tremble.
- JOB 21:6 When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling
seizes my body.
- PSA 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
- PSA 18:45 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their
strongholds.
- PSA 48:6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman
in labour.
- PSA 55:5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has
overwhelmed me.
- PSA 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
- PSA 99:1 The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits
enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.
- PSA 114:7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the
presence of the God of Jacob,
- ECC 12:3 When the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong
men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and
those looking through the windows grow dim;
- ISA 19:1 An oracle concerning Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a
swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble
before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.
- ISA 21:4 My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I
longed for has become a horror to me.
- ISA 23:11 The LORD has stretched out his hand over the sea and
made its kingdoms tremble. He has given an order concerning
Phoenicia that her fortresses be destroyed.
- ISA 32:10-11 In little more than a year you who feel secure will
tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit
will not come. Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you
daughters who feel secure! Strip off your clothes, put sackcloth
around your waists.
- ISA 33:14 The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the
godless: "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us
can dwell with everlasting burning?"
- ISA 41:5 The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the
earth tremble.
- ISA 44:8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim
this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there
any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."
- ISA 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word:
"Your brothers who hate you, and exclude you because of my name,
have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your
joy!' Yet they will be put to shame.
- JER 5:22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you
not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the
sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll,
but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
- JER 23:9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within
me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a man
overcome by wine, because of the LORD and his holy words.
- JER 33:9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and
honour before all nations on earth that hear of all the good
things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at
the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.'
- EZE 12:18 "Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder
in fear as you drink your water.
- EZE 26:16 Then all the princes of the coast will step down from
their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their
embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the
ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you.
- EZE 32:10 I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you, and
their kings will shudder with horror because of you when I
brandish my sword before them. On the day of your downfall each
of them will tremble every moment for his life.
- DAN 10:10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands
and knees.
- DAN 10:11 He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,
consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and
stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said
this to me, I stood up trembling.
- AMO 3:6 When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people
tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused
it?
- AMO 8:8 "Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in
it mourn? The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be
stirred up and then sink like the river of Egypt.
- HOS 3:5 Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD
their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the
LORD and to his blessings in the last days.
- HOS 11:10 They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion.
When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
- MIC 7:17 They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that
crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens;
they will turn in fear to the LORD our God and will be afraid of
you.
- NAH 2:10 She is pillaged, plundered, stripped! Hearts melt,
knees give way, bodies tremble, every face grows pale.
- HAB 2:7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise? Will they not wake
up and make you tremble? Then you will become their victim.
- HAB 3:6 He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the
nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old
hills collapsed. His ways are eternal.
- MAR 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came
and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the
whole truth.
- MAR 16:8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled
from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were
afraid.
- LUK 8:47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go
unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence
of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she
had been instantly healed.
- ACT 16:29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell
trembling before Paul and Silas.
- 1 CO 2:3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much
trembling.
- 2 CO 7:15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he
remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear
and trembling.
- PHI 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed
- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence -
continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
- HEB 12:21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am
trembling with fear."
Observations
It is more usual to take the term "trembling" as a metaphorical
description, as for example, "in fear and trembling." This is
describing an inner feeling not necessarily an outward
manifestation such as "shaking." (e.g 1 Corinthians 2:3).
Most of the references to "tremble" or "trembling" have to do
with great fear, terror, or guilt associated with impending
calamity or with God's imminent presence, His holiness and
judgement.
Daniel 10:10 and Jeremiah 23:9 are the only references that
remotely equate with this current phenomena. In both instances
however, these prophets were channels of Divine revelation.
Jeremiah describes how he felt as he was delivering a prophecy
of judgement against lying and evil prophets. The experience of
Daniel is similarly in the context of the giving of Divine
revelation.
The Scriptures nowhere teach such experiences as normative,
least of all in the context of worship. Psalm 2:11 is a specific warning to
rebellious rulers, not an
aid to worship. Jeremiah 5:22 was spoken in the context of judgement.
In many passages, such as Isaiah 44:8, God specifically says "Do
not tremble, do not be afraid." (see also Gen 15:1; 21:17;26:24;
46:3; Ex 14:13; 20:20; Deut 1:21; Jud 6:23; 1 Sam 12:20; Dan
10:12,19; Zec 8:15). Surely this is the pattern for those who
are now "In Christ"? (Matt 28:5,10; Luke 1:13,30; 2:10; John
12:15; Rev 1:17). By the blood of the eternal covenant we now
come into His presence with confidence.
"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience
and
having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)
5. References to "drunk," "drunken" and "drunkenness" in
Scripture
- DEU 32:42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood, while my
sword devours flesh: the blood of the slain and the captives, the
heads of the enemy leaders."
- 1SA 1:13-14 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were
moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk
And said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get
rid of your wine."
- PSA 107:27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were
at their wits' end.
- ECC 10:17 Blessed are you, O land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time - for strength and not
for drunkenness.
- ISA 29:9 Be stunned and amazed, blind yourselves and be
sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from
beer.
- ISA 34:5 My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it
descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally
destroyed
- ISA 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they
will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind
will know that I, the LORD, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the
Mighty One of Jacob."
- ISA 63:6 I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made
them drunk and poured their blood on the ground."
- JER 13:13 Then tell them, 'This is what the LORD says: I am
going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land,
including the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the
prophets and all those living in Jerusalem.
- JER 23:9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within
me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a man
overcome by wine, because of the LORD and his holy words.
- JER 25:27 "Then tell them, 'This is what the LORD Almighty,
the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to
rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.'
- JER 51:7 Babylon was a gold cup in the LORD'S hand; she made the
whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore they
have now gone mad.
- EZE 23:33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the
cup of ruin and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria.
- ZEC 9:15 And the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will
destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as
with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the
corners of the altar.
- LUK 21:34 "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down
with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and
that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.
- ACT 2:15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine
in the morning!
- ROM 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in
orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery,
not in dissension and jealousy.
- GAL 5:21 And envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn
you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God.
- EPH 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
- 1 TI 3:3 Not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not
quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
- TIT 1:7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must
be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to
drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
- 1 PE 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what
pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness,
orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
- REV 17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the
saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I
saw her, I was greatly astonished.
Observations
The majority of references are to a literal "drunkenness" and
this is condemned and forbidden to believers. By implication so
is the appearance of "drunkenness" (Romans 13:13).
As a metaphor, the Scriptures frequently use the term "drunk" to
describe the effects of Gods wrath and impending judgement.
The only evidence Eli had that Hannah was drunk was that her
lips moved but she said nothing (1 Samuel 1:13-15). It was
because she was "deeply troubled" that she prayed in this way,
and she strenuously refuted his criticism.
Jeremiah 23:9 is not offered as a model but was Jeremiah's
experience in the context of receiving Divine revelation.
Zechariah 9:15 is describing the Second Advent (see 9:14ff)
In the celebrated instance of the Day of Pentecost, it was the
eagerness to proclaim the Gospel so boldly to unbelievers that
drew the accusation that they were drunk (Acts 2:15). A charge
Peter was most anxious to refute.
We are commanded to behave decently (Romans 13:13) and carefully
(Luke 21:34).
The "filling" of the Spirit is contrasted not compared with
drunkenness. (Ephesians 5:22-23). This must surely be because
one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit's presence and work is self
control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Nothing in the Scriptures substantiates the idea that believers
may appear "drunk" in worship or ministry.
 Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Bibliography
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