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Man Sues His Church After He Hits His Head After Receiving the Holy Spirit

Orginally published on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 8:46 AM
by Todd Rhoades

According to The Smoking Gun, last June, Matthew Lincoln was attending an evening service at his nondenominational Tennessee church when he approached the altar where a visiting minister was offering individual prayers for parishioners. Assigned "catchers" were present on the altar in case congregants fainted, fell, or otherwise lost control.

When the minister, Robert Lavala, slightly touched his forehead, the Knoxville-area man "received the spirit and fell backwards." Except nobody was there to catch him, Lincoln charges in a $2.5 million lawsuit filed yesterday against Lakewind Church and its pastors. Lincoln, 58, claims that he fell backwards, striking his head against the "carpet-covered cement floor," according to the Circuit Court complaint, which was first reported by Courthouse News Service. A copy of Lincoln's lawsuit can be found below. Since he already suffered from a "degenerative disc disease of his neck and back," Lincoln, a former church board member, contends the fall exacerbated the pre-existing condition and has caused him "severe and permanent" injuries.

You can see the actual lawsuit filed here (at The Smoking Gun)...

Any thoughts?

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There are 15 Comments:

Posted by David Insell

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM

It almost makes you not want to touch anyone.
Posted by Bo Lane

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 10:43 AM

Thankfully this guy wasn’t from Florida.
Posted by Abdel

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 11:11 AM

I need spirit!
Posted by Brad Raby

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 12:29 PM

Hmm, anyone know what the statute of limitations is on these sort of incidents? I may need to contact my attorney.
Posted by Bo Lane

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 12:52 PM

Just heard word that there is a new mandatory protocal for all churches who hire evangelists to come and speak at one of their servies.

As soon as he (or she - if your doctrinal statements allow) initiates the “altar call,” he must first ask the believers to flock to the right of the sanctuary where there is a “hold-harmless” agreement - next to the pen with the large peacock weather, a gold cross and an oversized Bible with large print and pictures portraying Jesus as a beautiful white guy knocking on a door (the door to your heart of course).

The fine print on the bottom will read something to the effect: “You agree not to hold the other responsible for certain acts or under certain circumstances. (e.g., acts of God, events beyond the control of the parties, unforseen circumstances, and/or if all of our “catchers” are busying assisting other folks).”

Of course this mostly applies to our pentecostal/charismatic friends.
Posted by

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 12:52 PM

Somehow I am reminded by the man at a Benny Hinn “crusade” shouting, “Don’t slay me, bro!”

http://tominthebox.blogspot.com/2007/10/heckler-at-benny-hinn-miracle-service.html

--
CS
Posted by Joey Smith

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 1:31 PM

Why didn’t he just go back through the line?
Posted by

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 1:51 PM

Is it possible to buy “slain in the Spirit” insurance coverage? If not, it sounds like a good market to create.
Posted by Andy McAdams

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 6:01 AM

So, I take it that this guy wasn’t healed of his degenerative disc disease of his neck and back? I’d sue for that too.
Posted by Mike Utech

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 8:18 AM

shouldn’t his case be thrown out as he is suing the wrong party. the minister nor the church caused him to fall, based upon his belief system it was the Holy Ghost, so shouldn’t he be suing God?
Posted by

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 8:47 AM

if it was the holy spirit it would not have hurt him, he was just pretending,
Posted by Anthony Trask

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 3:14 PM

As if the Spirit woul actually be a part of something where people recieving a good and perfect gift from God would get hurt....not to mention the ridiculous oportunist who is suing the church for this- some ex board member.
Posted by Anthony Trask

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 3:25 PM

Even funnier is if you read the actual lawsuit; it talks about Lincoln’s business suffering a setback from some of his equipment being ruined by...."lightning"! He may want to file a suit against The Big Guy for that…
Posted by

Monday, June 16, 2008 at 5:23 PM

“Lincoln, a former church board member, contends the fall exacerbated the pre-existing condition and has caused him “severe and permanent” injuries.” Gee, do ya think his “former church board member” status had anything to do with the lawsuit?!?!? Far be it from me to judge but it sounds suspicious.
Posted by

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:14 AM

Joey Smith wrote:

“Why didn’t he just go back through the line?”

That’s awesome.

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