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> Speaking In Tongues: Heresy, Prophecy or Intimacy
Glen
post Aug 2 2006, 01:44 PM
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Speaking in tongues has been controversial since it began 2,000 years ago. Please don't expect for us to agree on it now. I wanted to start this post to set the tone for a calm and polite discussion on what the Bible says about it...rather than any church or denomination. If you enter the discussion, please treat differing views with the same respect you expect for yours, and please include Biblical references, as I have, so we can all learn from each other's perspective.
My take: I've seen churches expel members and ministers for worshiping with tongues and, in other churches, I've seen people who don't, treated like spiritual retards or 'pre-Christians'. As in many Biblical issues, you can't take an extreme position without ruling out a large part of what the Bible has to say on the subject. As I interpret it, the Bible lists 3 things which people, today, call tongues:
1. Speaking in a known language: This is where the person speaking doesn't know the language but the Holy Spirit takes over and delivers a message in the language of the person meant to receive the message. This is what happened in Acts 2:4 as explained by Peter as a form of prophecy, later in the chapter. In his book "The Beauty Of Spiritual Language" Jack Heyford describes a recent experience of his. This is a gift to be sought by everyone but given as the Holy Spirit chooses, I Co 12:10.
2. Speaking in an unknown language: This is where the Holy Spirit speaks in a language foreign to everyone and then has someone interpret the message meant for someone present at the time. This is why Paul insists that interpretation accompany tongues in a gathering in I Cor 14:26-28. This is also a form of prophecy, though not to be preferred over plain language prophecy, I Co 14:18. This is a gift to be sought by everyone but given as the Holy Spirit chooses, I Co 12:10.
3. Praying in the Spirit: This is where the Spirit intercedes in moans that words can't express, Rom 8:26. This can and should be done by everyone, Eph 6:18, cannot be explained or understood, I Co 14:14, and should be done quietly if there is someone who might misunderstand, I Co 14:6-12, 28.
Bottom line: If we believe God wrote the Bible then we can't pick and choose which parts of the Bible we'll believe. The Bible says speaking in tongues must be done but must be done in an orderly fashion, I Co 14:26-33. Those who say they must speak in tongues regardless of the circumstances and those who refuse to allow it regardless of the circumstances are both denying parts of God's Word. He's bigger than all of us and our silly notions.
What do you think about speaking in tongues?


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Glen


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regalbabes2
post Dec 4 2006, 05:00 PM
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Glen,
Hi! I'm new to this site, but am finding alot of insightfulness in it. Thank you for expressing your thoughts concerning this topic. It's nice to hear (or read) someone's take on it in such a calm yet grounded way. I have to agree with you. I've been pressured from both extremes and it is unnerving to say the least, especially if you're not confrontational to begin with. I, myself, have never been priviledged to be used by the Holy Spirit to speak in a known or unknown tongue publicly or to translate. I have friends who have been given this gift, though, and have watched them grow in their confidence to allow God to use them. It is amazing to say the least. I have been led by the Holy Spirit to do so in my prayers quietly and that in itself is a wonderful experience. I don't have any scriptures, but I do believe that my experiences have been sincere and if God gives you a gift, it is important that we overcome our inhibitions and allow Him to use us with these gifts.

Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading other posts.

Kim
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Glen
post Dec 5 2006, 05:32 AM
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Thank you, Kim. Glad to have you on the site. Feel free to post your insights and opinions in the forums, too.


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Glen


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chisholm
post Apr 5 2007, 10:48 AM
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I do not have a hard and fast opinion one way or the other. I guess if someone is moved to do it by his belief in God, then I say great. I just do not see the benefit to other Christians who are around the happening.

Why not shout the glory of God in a language everyone can understand? I do believe in the written word but I am not sure if speaking this way is designated by God as a way for all Christians to reach out to each other and further our belief in the almighty.

If in fact, this is necessary, does this mean you will not go to heaven if you do not speak in tongues? I thought the way to heaven was the belief that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us by dying on the cross. If we believe in him and what he did for us then that is surely the way to our God in heaven.

Obviously, I have much to learn. I read the verses cited by Glen and find them to be very interesting. Is there anywhere in the Bible where Jesus suggested that speaking this way was a capability needed by all Christians or your belief was was not strong enough?

I realize this can happen when someone is very moved by the Holy Spirit. However, without interpretation, it is not very helpful. The other issue is, how many ways can it be interpreted and which interpretation should we believe?

Maybe my faith needs to be a lot stronger but I just have a hard time with this one since I am still trying to improve my personal relationship with God.

Chisholm
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Guest_tidalrider_*
post Apr 5 2007, 09:50 PM
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What do I think of speaking in tongues? The first time I heard a friend speaking in tongues in the middle of the night I was terrified. That was before I got saved. Where I first started going to church the body acted as though speaking in tongues was the only gift of the Holy Spirit. I went up for prayer time and again hoping for this great gift but it never happened in church. I figured maybe it was a bunch of hooey or maybe I just didn’t have the faith for it. People told me that I just needed to get past my logical brain. It kind of bothered me that if it was a gift of the Spirit why did people need to be laying hands on me and yelling in my face words that I couldn’t understand? Well one night I was driving home from service just praising God and feeling really great about my life in Christ and I started singing, nothing unusual at first but I found myself singing words that I’d never heard before, words I couldn’t understand and yet at the same time I knew I was praising God because of the joy and wonder in my heart. I’ve spoken in tongues ever since. I’m not one that has ever given a word in tongues at church although I have interpreted them. Mostly for me tongues is a form of prayer, occasionally a fervent and passionate plea but more often a quiet intimate kind of prayer. After reading your posts I was reminded of a scripture that spoke of “speaking the tongues of angels.” Perhaps the one I found is not the only reference but here it is.
1Cor.13-1- “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” King James version.
This chapter speaks of several gifts, all of which ,without love, are useless. So whether one speaks in tongues or not is not so much and issue as if one walks in love. I suppose that speaking in an unknown tongue is speaking the language of angels. 1Cor.14:2 says, “ For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God…” and again in verse 4, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…” and Paul states in verse5 ,” I would that you all spake with tongues…” Aside from giving a message in tonuges with an interpretation following, it seems to me that speaking in tongues is for our personal benefit, to stir up our faith, or to pray the things we don’t even know are in our spirit. Someone once told me that I should be praying in tongues over my husband because I would be praying about things I didn’t even know about. I didn’t take the advice and I later learned about the things that I should have been praying about. I’m not saying that as a warning or any thing like if you don‘t pray in tongues bad things are going to happen. My point is just that God knows things that we know nothing about obviously, and that if praying in tongues is a way of communicating spirit to spirit with God , a way to accomplish things that we couldn’t otherwise understand then I am for it.
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Glen
post Apr 6 2007, 08:12 AM
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[quote name='chisholm' date='Apr 5 2007, 11:48 AM' post='606'
If in fact, this is necessary, does this mean you will not go to heaven if you do not speak in tongues
Is there anywhere in the Bible where Jesus suggested that speaking this way was a capability needed by all Christians or your belief was was not strong enough?
The other issue is, how many ways can it be interpreted and which interpretation should we believe?
Maybe my faith needs to be a lot stronger but I just have a hard time with this one since I am still trying to improve my personal relationship with God.
Chisholm[/quote]
I'm reaaly enjoying the replies building up on this topic. I wanted to answer some important questions that Chisholm brings up.
Speaking in tongues is not individually necessary to go to heaven or to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. I believe Paul was saying it was necessary for those who have the gift of tongues to be allowed to express it, given the restrictions he placed on visitors, understandability and order in the gathering.
The Bible records No evidence that Jesus ever mentioned speaking in tongues. He definitely never made it a belief issue.
If the tongues and interpretation are genuinely from the Holy Spirit, there will only be one interpretation. Paul instructs everyone to "weigh carefully what is said." Another Scripture tells us to "test all things and only hold on to the good." Many Scriptures tell us there will be many false prophets in the church. These warnings and instructions would not be there if we were supposed to just "believe" what comes out of someone's mouth...even mine.
The day any of us stop needing to improve our relationship with God, we'll be with Him in heaven. The best way to do that is to study His Word and seek Him and His counsel. In my experience, the biggest cause for error and disunity in His Church, is Christians relying on the study and opinions of others instead of doing the work themselves. The Holy Spirit is in every Christian. If we listen to Him and study the Bible, we need no one else to teach us.
See 1 John 2:27


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Glen


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chisholm
post Apr 6 2007, 09:05 AM
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Glenn:

Thank you for providing some insight into my questions concerning speaking in tongues. Your answers to my questions have helped me to understand how one should regard this experience. I do hope one day I am filled with the Holy Spirit to the degree some folks are. I envy them because of the joy they must experience.

I am very happy I found this website and implore you to continue your great work. Many of us need your help and prayers. I hope my questions were asked in the manner you requested. I like the idea of religious discussion without anger and distress. It provides for a very helpful learning experience and makes us better Christians.

Chisholm
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Glen
post Apr 6 2007, 10:17 AM
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Thank you, Chisholm! You've hit on exactly why God led me to set these forums up. "...speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body...grows and builds itself up in love." Eph 4:15-16


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Glen


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cottrel2
post Jun 27 2007, 04:07 PM
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I think all of these comments are good. Personally, I'd recommend tongues, not so much so that you can wear it like a badge of honor or lord it over other people. It's just good to believe that you can hear directly from God. This is not to say that many people don't hear from God who never speak in tongues. It could be another tool... Maybe when Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice and follow not that of a stranger (in John Chapter 10) he was thinking of divinely inspired speech (or maybe not). Somehow the early church fathers had a gift to hear directly from the Lord. I think the most profound thing the Holy Spirit ever said to me is that if something comes out that is in direct violation of the spcriptures then to not ever, ever listen again. Therein is the acid test. This is not to say that things might seem to contradict scripture. We all have our own pet beliefs and doctrines which seem to come out of the bible. In fact, I've many times read over church doctrinal statements to be followed by a few bible references that could be interpreted in a number of ways, depending upon one's perspective. I will also add this, I recently heard Franklin Graham speak a short word regarding sin. It seems that the mantle has or already is passing to Franklin (there will soon be great morning, following by joy in heaven when Rev. Graham goes to be with his wife). Sorry, just commentary... Anyway, whether or not the Grahams have ever spoken in tongues is immaterial to me. There is a great anointing there that supercedes such doctrinal disputes as this. God loves us all equally. He even loves the Muslim, which he spoke through me on September 9, 2001 (thanks in part to Pacific Garden Mission).

Love in Christ.
Dave
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Glen
post Jun 28 2007, 07:07 AM
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Hi Dave! You're absolutely right. By the way, it would be difficult to read the Bible and not come to the conclusion that God speaks directly to everyone who believes in Him, regardless of Spiritual gift. Equally difficult while reading the Bible would be to conclude God loves some people more than others. Yes, even Osama Bin Laden! Since there is more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 righteous people, it's possible to conclude God loves sinners more than Christians...hmmm! I don't think that would be a correct conclusion, but there is more Biblical evidence for that than the opposite idea.


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Glen


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