Falling Under the Anointing: Is it Biblical?

Yemi Olakitan

 Falling Under the Anointing: Is It Biblical?

“Falling under the anointing” remains one of the most debated and misunderstood practices in contemporary Christianity. Popular in many Pentecostal circles, the phenomenon was famously described by late American evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman as being “slain in the Spirit.” Yet, decades later, many believers still ask the same question: why do people fall when some pastors touch them, pray over them, blow on them, or simply come close?

Within Pentecostal theology, the explanation is often straightforward. The fall is said to occur because of the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the anointing. Supporters argue that when God’s power manifests strongly, the human body may respond physically.

One frequently cited biblical reference is found in the Gospel of John. When soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, He stepped forward and asked whom they were seeking. Upon replying, “Jesus of Nazareth,” He said, “I am He,” and the men drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6). To many, this moment illustrates the overwhelming power of divine presence.

### Discernment and Caution

Reverend Father Francis Emene of Saint Thomas Chapel, University of Lagos, offers a more cautious interpretation. Drawing from an Igbo proverb, he warned against confusing outward appearance with spiritual authenticity.

“There is an adage in Iboland which says that mechanics make it difficult to identify madmen because both are often dirty,” he said. “Scripture tells us that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit, but it also warns that many false prophets will arise. There are genuine ministers of God, and there are also false and occult ones. They can be found anywhere.”

He referenced the biblical warning that Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light, emphasizing the need for spiritual discernment. According to him, dramatic displays often attract people because humans are drawn to the spectacular.

“People like what appears magical. When a man of God behaves in a certain way, people say, ‘That man is powerful.’ But the Bible instructs us to test all spirits,” he added.

On the origin of falling under the anointing, Father Emene acknowledged that the incident involving Jesus and the soldiers demonstrates divine power, though he stopped short of endorsing modern practices that replicate it without discernment.

### The Anointing as a Tangible Experience

American preacher Tom Brown approaches the subject from a different angle, insisting that the anointing is real and can be physically felt. He pointed to Luke chapter 8, which recounts the story of the woman who had suffered from a bleeding condition for twelve years.

After touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, Jesus stopped and said, “Someone touched me; I felt power go out from me” (Luke 8:46). According to Pastor Brown, this passage suggests that spiritual power can be experienced physically.

“The anointing can feel like heat or electricity,” he said. “I’ve felt it many times. Sometimes I feel nothing, but others feel it when I pray for them.”

He recounted an experience involving a young woman with a painful knee. After a brief prayer, she later returned, describing how something entered her body and left her unable to move for several seconds. According to Brown, the pain disappeared instantly.

At the same time, he admitted that not every fall is spiritual.

“Sometimes people fall because they are conditioned to. They see others do it and follow along. I discourage that. People should focus on receiving from God, not copying a crowd,” he explained.

He also recounted an incident during a prayer session where a woman fell hard on a wooden floor yet later claimed she felt no pain, describing the experience as floating onto a soft surface.

### Not the Measure of the Spirit

Pastor Emmanuel Onoja of Hope of Life Evangelical Church takes a more skeptical view. According to him, falling is often misunderstood as proof of divine encounter.

“There is a misconception that you must fall to be under the anointing,” he said. “The apostles did not fall at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended. They spoke in tongues, and those present were amazed.”

He expressed concern about services where everyone falls after the laying on of hands, describing such scenes as theatrical rather than biblical.

“In deliverance sessions, people may fall, and that can be understood. But if the same person falls every time, when will true deliverance take place?” he asked. “Falling is not evidence of the anointing. It can be deceptive.”

He further questioned why such manifestations were absent from Christ’s healing ministry.

“Which of Jesus’ healings happened this way? We never read that He held services where people fell as He touched them,” Onoja said.

Regarding the Gethsemane incident, he argued that it was not an example of being slain in the Spirit but a demonstration of authority.

“Jesus was showing that He had the power to stop His arrest if He wanted to. Yet He chose submission because of His mission to save humanity.”

### A Matter of Divine Sovereignty

Evangelist Ezekiel Keith of House on the Rock Church, Lekki, offered a more open-ended view. According to him, no one can dictate how the Holy Spirit chooses to operate.

“The Spirit works in diverse ways, and we must be careful when dealing with spiritual matters,” he said. “Joel 2:28 tells us that God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, with different manifestations. Falling can be one of them.”

Similarly, Mrs. Akpabio Eno of the Catholic Church urged restraint in judging spiritual experiences.

“No one can fully understand the ways of the Holy Spirit,” she said. “If electric current can knock a person down, how much more the power of God? People should feel something when they encounter Him.”

A Continuing Debate

Across denominations, the question remains unresolved. Some see falling under the anointing as a genuine response to divine power, others view it as psychological conditioning or misuse of spiritual authority. What remains consistent across perspectives is the call for discernment, humility, and a focus on spiritual fruit rather than physical reactions.

As Christianity continues to evolve in expression, the challenge for believers is not merely to ask whether something is powerful, but whether it aligns with Scripture, produces lasting transformation, and points people back to Christ rather than to spectacle.