May I stand on my soapbox just a few minutes?  

Earlier today I posted about our Rodeo adventure which was a lot of fun.  But the comment the rodeo announcer used a few times “holy roller” (though HE confessed to be a Christian) really disturbed me.

I looked up Holy Roller on Wikipedia and this is what I found:

Holy Roller is a term in American English used to describe Pentecostal Christian churchgoers.^[1] The term is commonly used derisively, as if to describe people literally rolling on the floor or speaking in tongues in an uncontrolled manner.

It is generally considered pejorative, but some have reclaimed it as a badge of honor, William Branham wrote: “And what the world calls today holy-roller, that’s the way I worship Jesus Christ.” ^[2] Gospel singer Andrae Crouch stated, “They call us holy rollers, and what they say is true. But if they knew what we were rollin’ about, they’d be rollin’ too.”

Merriam-Webster traces the word to 1841.^[1] The Oxford English Dictionary cites an 1893 memoir by Charles Godfrey Leland, in which he says “When the Holy Spirit seized them … the Holy Rollers … rolled over and over on the floor.”^[3]

Similar disparaging terms directed at outspoken Christians but later embraced by them include Jesus freaks or, from former centuries, Shakers and Quakers.

Does this bother anyone other than me?  I don’t know about you, but I have never had the Holy Spirit take over my mouth and pray in tongues without my will being involved.   Sounds to me like someone who was fearful and didn’t understand what was happening “coined” this term.  

I had a discussion with a pastor years ago about the term CHARISMATIC.  When you think of Charismatics, you probably think of people raising their hands …

Psalm 28:2
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Psalm 63:4
Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the LORD.

Lamentations 3:41
Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.

You get the idea.  I could go on and on with these …

Maybe the word “Charismatic” means people who pray in tongues.

Mark 16:17
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:46
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

1 Corinthians 14:5
I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

1 Corinthians 14:18
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

1 Corinthians 14:39
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

I guess that covers what people consider Charismatics and probably what people consider Holy Rollers.

Here is my opinion (if you are still reading).  Is there a word for those who aren’t passionate for Jesus?  For people who never mention His Name?  Is there a name for those who confess to be Christian when filling out a form, but never show the fruit? 

I think derogatory terms towards those who love Jesus, such as a “JESUS FREAK” simply means the person doing the name-calling is uncomfortable with someone’s passion and love for Jesus.  Perhaps it convicts THEM.  What do YOU think?  I would really like to hear from you.

Ok, off of my proverbial soap box now.  

Signed the NC Holy Roller, Charismatic, Jesus Freak.  :o)