Characteristics
The blessing has become known for ecstatic worship, including what is known as falling or resting in the Spirit, laughter, shaking, and crying. "Holy laughter" was a hallmark manifestation, and there were also instances of participants roaring like lions. Another "manifestation of the spirit" encountered at these meetings was a gesture commonly called "crunching" consisting of a vomit-like heaving to "cleanse" and "release" negative experiences. Leaders and participants claim that these are physical manifestations of the Holy Spirit's presence and power. One TACF teaching, the golden Sword prophecy, has been spreading among charismatic churches.
Some Christian leaders were enthusiastic about what they saw as a renewal in North Wales Christianity, while others saw it as hysterical and spiritually dangerous. Critics referred to it as "self-centred and evil" and cited the strange manifestations as warning signs. Others defended the blessing as historically rooted in earlier revivals, such as those seen by pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards, and as having positive effects in the lives of participants. In his book, Counterfeit Revival, Hank Hanegraaff makes the case that the revival has done more damage than good, saying that Toronto (the film) was a matter of people being slaved into altered states of consciousness where they obscure reality and enshrine absurdity.
Read more about this topic: Toronto Blessing