What do Baptists believe about speaking in tongues?
Hi everyone. I am just curious as to what Baptists believe about speaking in tongues. I was raised Southern Baptist but I don't remember this issue ever coming up in church. I am slowly beginning to do research about various denominations because I am considering possibly going back to church again. Anyway, if you could, please identify which specific Baptist denomination you are in. I'll appreciate your answers.
Some information that I came across and thought might be relevant:
Members of a Southern Baptist congregation might view members of a neighboring congregation of United Pentecostal Church International speaking in tongues. The Baptists might believe that most believers in that congregation may be demon-possessed. Meanwhile the Pentecostals, noticing that few if any of the Southern Baptists speak in tongues, might conclude that almost none of the Baptists have been truly saved; the vast majority will spend eternity being tortured in Hell without hope of relief.
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I'm not sure if you could say this is a Baptist belief in regard to tongues, but after recently researching the topic and having discussions with various peers, I will share what has been revealed to me from the scriptures. Doesn't mean i'm entirely right or anything, just what I've read.
Tongues were first and foremost a sign for unbelievers during the time of the Apostles. 1 Cor. 14:22, "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe."
One of the explicit requirements for tongues in the church is there has to be someone to interpret the tongues before they should be spoken in the church. 1 Cor. 14:27-28, "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God."
The Apostles had the ability to show signs for non-believers, as tongues was. The Apostles could pass these abilities on to others, but those others couldn't further pass on the abilities. Just as an Apostle could touch a piece of cloth and however touched that cloth would be healed, but that person couldn't do the same with another piece of cloth. In 1 Cor. 13:8 it says, "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." These things were spiritual gifts. Knowledge, for instance, doesn't mean knowledge as in learning, but instant knowledge given by the God, not learned. Why did these things cease? We now have the word of God, to study, to give us hope, to give us comfort. The word of God is complete and those things have passed away. 1 Cor. 13:12 says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
There are some other angles to the subject, but I don't want to start anything negative, so i'll just stick with these verses
Edit -> I am Baptist, but not Southern Baptist. I'm Primitive Baptist, and from discussions with peers (not only Primitive Baptists) the above is relatively close to most Baptist beliefs.
I am the pastor of a church that is in fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC).
The following quote is from the GARBC Articles of Faith:
III. The Holy Spirit We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. We believe that the sign/revelatory gifts of the Holy Spirit have fulfilled their purpose and are not applicable to the work of the Holy Spirit today.John 14:16, 17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5, 6; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14, 16, 26, 27; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; 13:8-10; 14:1-40; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:2-4.
We believe that speaking in tongues is one of those "sign/revelatory" gifts. Although I personally believe that God can do what He wants and could supernaturally enable someone to speak in a language they have not otherwise learned if it served a legitimate purpose. I do not believe that the modern tongues movement (ecstatic babbling) is biblical at all nor is it of the Holy Spirit...I believe it is of the flesh (not the devil).
I have many close friends who are pentecostal. We disagree on this one point, but we embrace each other in love as brothers and sisters in Christ. Unity is not uniformity; it is cooperation (and love) in the midst of diversity.
Since i reject dispensational theology I accept tongues as being scriptural and for today, but the moment someone barks at me and trys to interpret it I'm prepared to excise the demons
I also seek these gifts myself in prayer, though the Lord up until now has decided not to grant them.
Since i reject dispensational theology I accept tongues as being scriptural and for today, but the moment someone barks at me and trys to interpret it I'm prepared to excise the demons
I also seek these gifts myself in prayer, though the Lord up until now has decided not to grant them.
We believe that speaking in tongues is one of those "sign/revelatory" gifts. Although I personally believe that God can do what He wants and could supernaturally enable someone to speak in a language they have not otherwise learned if it served a legitimate purpose. I do not believe that the modern tongues movement (ecstatic babbling) is biblical at all nor is it of the Holy Spirit...I believe it is of the flesh (not the devil).
I totally agree. IMO the passages that are used to indicate the tongues have ceased (or any of the gifts for that matter) are a stretch (with all due respect to those who believe that they have ceased).
Originally Posted by rural_preacher
I have many close friends who are pentecostal. We disagree on this one point, but we embrace each other in love as brothers and sisters in Christ. Unity is not uniformity; it is cooperation (and love) in the midst of diversity.
How awesome is that. I think we as Christians spend way too much time focusing on our differences rather than what we have in common.
__________________ Just to be is a blessing. To live is holy. Abraham Joshua Heschel
What does a rejection or acceptance of dispensationalism have to do with gifts of the Spirit?
Thats incorrect, i went to an A/G college dedocated to training ministers (www.cbcag.edu), I have the 16 fundamental truths and A/G history burned into my skull. They are premillienial but they reject dispensationalism.
Thats incorrect, i went to an A/G college dedocated to training ministers (www.cbcag.edu), I have the 16 fundamental truths and A/G history burned into my skull. They are premillienial but they reject dispensationalism.
That's interesting. I worked full time on the staff of an AG college for 4 and a half years. I don't remember running into any objections to a dispensational approach. I will agree that they do not specifically teach dispensationalism, but I never was confronted with any objection. There were some very well educated people there who would fit into that system simply by their understanding of the Bible.
For instance, the AG folks that I know would agree with the following:
- A consistent, literal/historical interpretation of Scripture.
- The "rapture" of the church prior to God pouring out His wrath on the unbelieving world (some are pretrib, some midtrib).
- The literal return of Christ to earth to reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem for 1,000 years thus literally fulfilling the promises of OT prophecy concerning the nation of Israel.
As the saying goes: If it smells like a dog and barks like a dog...
Last edited by rural_preacher; 1st November 2004 at 07:35 PM.
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