Many viral videos come around on Facebook every single day, so it is often difficult to know which ones are the best to watch. This video of a pastor using “invisible magic powers” to knock down members of his congregation is at once hilarious and horrifying.
In the video, charismatic pastor Chris Oyakhilome uses what he calls the power of suggestion of the Holy Spirit to cause his followers to be flung backwards, crash into chairs, flail their arms and legs about, and otherwise be “slain in the spirit.”
It evokes a Darth Vader-esque feeling as participants go flying about the room seemingly with no outside force pushing them. One congregation member described it as being pushed by an invisible wind. She did not specify whether that wind was of the flatulent variety or not.
Reaction to the clip has been mixed, to say the least. Some people commenting under the YouTube video said it truly showed the power of God and Holy Ghost while others expressed outrage at the exploitation of people who are vulnerable and also, seemingly, dumb as dirt. One commenter stated: This makes me F****** ANGRY. All those a******* are making Christianity look so bad. I f****** hate people like that.”
But some people chastised the dissenters. One commenter issued the stern warning:
It is very disheartening to realize that there are individuals who have never seen or witnessed the move and Power of Almighty God…and to think that man is given to magic when God moves by His Spirit is blasphemy. Be very careful dear ones speaking against that which ye know not…it is better to keep silent than to put your soul in danger of eternal separation from God because you committed the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Ghost…even if it is out of ignorance. Best to keep your lips zipped and listen!
Some commenters took issue with the fact that the pastor is undoubtedly making money from this hysterical dog and pony show and pointed out that it is generally the poor and downtrodden who fall victim to such con games.
Take a look at this unarguably cray cray video and let us know what you think in the comments section below. Is this a display of the Holy Spirit or a cunning magician putting on a fantastic act in order to suck every last dime out of his dedicated yet ignorant parishioners?