The term “Holy Roller” refers to a specific group of Christians who practice a more expressive form of worship. They are known for becoming extremely emotional during church services, sometimes even rolling on the floor as they feel “slain in the Spirit.” The term originated in the early 1900s as these practices became more widespread in certain Protestant denominations.
Holy Rollers trace their origins back to the Holiness movement that began in the mid-1800s. This was a Methodist-led effort to return to the church’s Wesleyan roots, with an emphasis on personal holiness, love of God and neighbor, and living free from willful sin. Out of this impulse arose groups like the Free Methodists and Church of the Nazarene.
A key belief behind the Holiness movement was the doctrine of sanctification – the process by which believers are made holy through the power of the Holy Spirit. There was a hunger for a deeper experience of God’s presence and power to live a righteous life. This led to seeking after moments of divine visitation during worship, with outward displays of spiritual ecstasy.
In the early 1900s, these practices spread beyond the Holiness churches into other evangelical denominations and non-denominational settings. It was especially associated with revival movements and traveling evangelists. Services often featured healing prayer, speaking in tongues, prophecy, and exuberant praise. These became hallmarks of the fledgling Pentecostal movement.
The term “Holy Roller” was originally derogatory, used by more staid Protestants to belittle the emotive worship and experiences described above. However, some adherents eventually adopted the term as a badge of honor. They felt they were enthusiastically “rolling” in the Spirit of God during divine moments of worship.
Beliefs
Holy Rollers adhere to basic evangelical Christian doctrine – biblical authority, human sinfulness, salvation through Christ’s atoning death, the Trinity, etc. What distinguishes them is an emphasis on the experiential side of faith.
They believe the Holy Spirit remains active today as described in the Book of Acts – performing signs and wonders, imparting spiritual gifts, and directly touching people’s lives. More structured liturgical worship is seen as spiritually lifeless. The Holy Spirit needs freedom to work spontaneously.
This leads to an exuberant, emotionally expressive worship style. Singing may be accompanied by hand-clapping, dancing, shouting, running, laughing, crying, jumping, and speaking in tongues. Orderly reason is eclipsed by subjective spiritual experience.
Services usually feature a time of “tarrying” – waiting on the Lord for a fresh infilling of the Spirit. Prayers for divine healing, baptism of the Spirit, or discernment of gifts are offered. This often culminates in being “slain in the Spirit.”
Slain in the Spirit
A common practice in Holy Roller worship is being “slain in the Spirit” – falling to the ground, often unconscious, under the power of God. This typically occurs as someone is being prayed over by the laying on of hands.
Highly emotional services build up anticipation for divine visitation. Music, singing, exhortation and prayer stir hearts to receive a touch from God. When the Spirit “falls,” some become so overwhelmed they collapse in spiritual ecstasy.
Adherents believe this experience is biblical, pointing to verses like Ezekiel 1:28, Daniel 10:8-10, Matthew 28:4 and Acts 9:4 as evidence. They see it as a divine blessing that brings refreshment, healing, deliverance, or empowerment for ministry.
Critics argue there is no biblical precedent for being slain in the Spirit. Passages used to support it have other valid interpretations. They often attribute it to psychological factors – the power of suggestion, stagecraft, hypnotic states, etc. It remains a controversial practice.
Related Practices
Here are some other worship practices associated with Holy Rollers and similar charismatic groups:
- Speaking in tongues – Uttering syllables of an unknown language as prompted by the Spirit. Seen as spiritual edification or divine revelation.
- Prophecy – Spoken message believed to be spontaneous revelation from God for the church. May exhort, instruct, predict, or give guidance.
- Healing Prayer – Petition for physical or inner healing from sickness, demonic oppression, destructive habits, etc.
- Exorcism – Casting out demons and evil spirits that are afflicting someone. Done in Jesus’ name and authority.
- Vision Experiences – Vivid spiritual encounters with God, angels, heaven. Sometimes direct divine revelation or prediction of future events.
These practices stem from a high view of spiritual gifts and the Spirit’s continued work among believers. Reason is distrusted in favor of personal divine encounter and miraculous manifestations as evidence of God’s presence and activity.
Worship Services
A typical Holy Roller worship service is not overly structured or programmed. There is freedom for the Spirit to work spontaneously at any time. But services do generally follow a basic pattern:
- Music Praise – Exuberant singing of choruses and hymns, focused on spiritual and emotional engagement. May involve dancing.
- Testimonies – Personal stories of God’s work in life. Builds faith and expectancy for God to move.
- Preaching – Message to stir hearts and create desire for divine encounter. Usually calls for decision and immediate response.
- Ministry Time – Musicians play as various Spirit-led expressions occur like weeping, shouting, tongue-speaking, prophesying, being slain.
- Altar Call – Opportunity to come forward for specific prayer needs like healing, Spirit baptism, life decisions.
- Benediction – Closing prayer and blessing.
Everything is open to the Spirit’s leading. The order may shift, activities overlap, and multiple things may happen simultaneously. Chaotic and frenzied to outside observers, but meaningful spiritual engagement for participants.
Origins and History
The roots of today’s Holy Rollers reach back into the late 19th century Holiness movement, as noted earlier. This primed the pump for more explosive outpourings shortly after.
The Pentecostal movement is commonly traced to a prayer meeting at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas in 1901. Students began speaking in tongues and prophesying. Revivals followed in Houston and Los Angeles led by black preacher William Seymour.
Seymour taught about Spirit baptism evidenced by speaking in tongues. His Azusa Street Revival, beginning in 1906, attracted followers from many backgrounds and ignited a passion for Spirit-filled living. Their worship was emotional and ecstatic, giving rise to the term “Holy Rollers.”
Early Pentecostals were ostracized by mainstream churches for their practices. They often met in homes, storefronts, tents, and makeshift tabernacles. Independent churches and denominations developed, like the Assemblies of God, founded in 1914, now one of the largest global Pentecostal groups.
Over time, the movement spread beyond small sects into mainline Protestant and Catholic circles, leading to the Charismatic Renewal of the 1960s. This “second wave” of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring crossed denominational lines and hit college campuses, urban revivals, and parish prayer groups.
Pentecostal teachings filtered into evangelicalism and by the 1980s a “third wave” brought acceptance of charismatic gifts into non-Pentecostal churches. No longer just Holy Rollers on the fringe, but experienced by ordinary believers across the spectrum.
Today, an estimated 500 million Christians worldwide identify with Pentecostal or charismatic spirituality – one quarter of all Christians. The exuberant worship and ecstatic experiences once dismissed as religious extremism are now an integral part of global Christianity.
Varieties of Holy Rollers
There are different streams under the broad umbrella of Holy Roller spirituality:
- Classical Pentecostals – Originating from the early 20th century revivals, they formed distinct denominations like Assemblies of God. Emphasize speaking in tongues as initial evidence of baptism in the Spirit.
- Charismatic Movement – Also originating in the 20th century, they stayed in their existing churches, whether mainline Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or evangelical. Open to spiritual gifts while maintaining liturgical worship.
- Neocharismatic Movement – From the late 20th century, they planted new independent “neo-Pentecostal” networks of churches and parachurch groups. Very evangelical in theology and growth-oriented.
- Indigenous Pentecostal Groups – Arise spontaneously within developing nations and cultures. Mix Pentecostal spirituality with local customs and beliefs. Often very emotional and experiential.
There are also many independent, non-denominational Pentecostal churches and centers with no broader affiliation. Despite diverse origins, they share core Holy Roller beliefs and worship attributes.
Key Figures
Certain pioneers helped shape Holy Roller spirituality and practices:
- Charles Parham – Bible teacher in Topeka, Kansas where students had seminal tongue-speaking experience in 1901.
- William Seymour – Led historic multi-racial Azusa Street Revival which ignited global Pentecostalism.
- Smith Wigglesworth – British plumber turned evangelist known for dramatic healings and Spirit manifestations in early 1900s.
- Aimee Semple McPherson – Flamboyant organizer and celebrity preacher who founded Foursquare Church denomination.
- Kathryn Kuhlman – Influential healing evangelist who pioneered television and stadium meetings in post-WW2 era.
- David du Plessis – Early Pentecostal leader who later bridged divide with mainline Protestants to help spark Charismatic Renewal.
- Dennis Bennett – Episcopal rector whose receiving Spirit baptism in 1960 brokebarrier to Pentecostal experience in mainline churches.
- Kenneth Hagin – Led Word of Faith movement in postwar era which blended Pentecostal spirituality with prosperity teaching.
- Yonggi Cho – Pioneering pastor of world’s largest church in Seoul, Korea, which served as model for Pentecostal megachurches.
There are many lesser known but influential figures who spread Holy Roller spirituality in local communities worldwide. Their collective impact shaped modern Pentecostalism and Charismatic movements.
Controversies and Criticisms
Despite phenomenal growth, Holy Rollers still generate controversies:
- Excessive emotionalism – Critics say it is all whipped up emotion and psychological manipulation, not true spirituality.
- Economic exploitation – Televangelists and “prosperity gospel” preachers manipulate people for lavish donations.
- Unbiblical practices – Handling snakes, drinking poison and claims of raising the dead have led to injuries and deaths but no verifiable miracles.
- Moral failures – High profile scandals among prominent pastors have marred reputation.
- Extreme beliefs – Some hold fringe doctrines like usurping Catholic authority, mystical energy transference, spirit manifestations in bodily fluids, and exotic end-times scenarios.
- Cultic leadership – Autocratic control and cover ups have occurred in certain independent networks with little denominational accountability.
Most Holy Rollers are sincere, ethical, and avoid fringe extremes. But abuses by those claiming special anointing and revelation damage credibility. Critics also say Holy Roller worship is so focused on subjective experience that theological substance gets neglected.
Holy Rollers Today
The legacy of early Holy Rollers lives on today in three main ways:
- Vibrant Pentecostalism – Classically Pentecostal groups represent one of the fastest growing segments of global Christianity, especially in the developing world.
- Charismatic Diversity – Spirit-filled worship and gifts have permeated across all denominations and networks, no longer confined to the fringe.
- Relentless Energy – The raw spiritual zeal of early Holy Rollers continues to inspire new generations seeking passionate religious experience.
While excesses or abuses occur at times, the basic hunger for intimacy with God, divine visitation and spiritual power reshaping lives remains strong. Elements of the old time Holy Roller worship services still thrive.
The long-term historical impact is clear – what once seemed wild and subversive to guardians of traditional worship, now meets almost everywhere. Holy Roller spirituality has become “vital center” Christianity for millions. The emotive worship and Spirit manifestations are likely to endure wherever hearts long for experiential relationship with God.