What is the Baptist view on Speaking/Praying in Tongues?

[Colfax]

I know that there is considerable diversity within the Baptist movement, but I'm not sure whether this extends to multiple positions on glossolalia.

 

[Purge187]

From what I can tell, most Baptists view it with skepticism and caution.

 

[South Bound]

I know that there is considerable diversity within the Baptist movement, but I'm not sure whether this extends to multiple positions on glossolalia.

Depends on the Baptist. I'm a cessationist and the official position of my church is that the sign gifts ceased with the Apostles and tongues ceased with the completion of the canon.

 

[iLove]

I am a Baptist who has received several gifts from the Holy Ghost speaking and praying in tongues is just one of them.

 

[classicalhero]

The point of speaking in languages was to get the Gospel message out quickly. The gift was that you would speak normally in your own language and a person from a different language would be able to understand you in their own language. This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost when the disciple preach and many people of different languages all heard the message in their own language and they marvelled at what happened, but on that day 3,000 people were saved as a result of hearing the Gospel message in their own language.

 

[Bluelion]

We share Paul's view.

 

[Colfax]

Thanks for all the replies. This is a fascinating topic. Bluelion, could I ask where in Paul you are referring to? SouthBound could I ask what distinction your church makes between sign gifts and the gift of tongues? I ask because many of the Pentecostals I have spoken with about the subject of tongues claim that tongues too are a sign.

 

[South Bound]

SouthBound could I ask what distinction your church makes between sign gifts and the gift of tongues? I ask because many of the Pentecostals I have spoken with about the subject of tongues claim that tongues too are a sign.

The sign gifts were given to confirm an apostle's authority and the Gospel he preached. We now have the completed canon of scripture, and there are no apostles, anyway, so there is no need for the sign gifts.

 

[FriendOfJesus916]

My church says that tongues ceased already as it said it would in the bible. But, I personally have no real opinion. I don't think it's impossible.

 

[Bluelion]

Thanks for all the replies. This is a fascinating topic. Bluelion, could I ask where in Paul you are referring to? SouthBound could I ask what distinction your church makes between sign gifts and the gift of tongues? I ask because many of the Pentecostals I have spoken with about the subject of tongues claim that tongues too are a sign.

sorry i did not see your question until now. here is what Paul says Cor 14

14 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,[a] you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

6 Dear brothers and sisters,[c] if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language,[d] how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?

9 It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.

10 There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11 But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit,[e] and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures[f]:

“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”[g]
says the Lord.
22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

Hope this helps.

 

[Andrea411]

I know that there is considerable diversity within the Baptist movement, but I'm not sure whether this extends to multiple positions on glossolalia.

Tongues Tied | Christianity Today

Note the head of SBC missions - at the time of this article prays in tongues…. ???

 

[HereIstand.Todd]

I was once Southern Baptist and we were all cessationists. Presbyterians are cessationists as well. The biggest problem that I have with most charismatic churches is the belief that one must speak in tongues to show evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the the baptism is a later event that happens sometime after salvation. My belief is that one gets baptized with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation and that the Spirit will fill you at times for special purposes to do His work such as what to say when a non-believer has a question and I myself does not have the answer but The Holy Spirit moves in me and leads me what to tell them. Now, with all that said my wife has spoke in tongues during her private prayer time. So I will not deny that its possible. I think it is but that it is between her and God. I myself have never spoken in tongues but I know I have the Holy Spirit. I hope this helps.

 

[now faith]

This rules out the gifts disappeared with the Apostles.


1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Paul was teaching the lay people at Corinth,he was not among the apostles.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Tongues are spoken to God.

They are for your benefit, it is better in the Church to speak prophesy.

Yet this in no manner denies tongues,but in the next verses he teaches they can cause confusion in the church.
But he never denies them or forbids them simply because they are for your edification.

1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

 

[now faith]

I want to say one simple thing.

No one speaks in tongues at will,if they do it is not of God.

All the gifts are given by the Holy Spirit and his manifesting.

Satan will copy to destroy,also
To take away the gifts of God that belong to the believer.

No where can anyone find a new dispensation where God removed the gifts.
They have simply been beat out of the body.

God is no respecter of persons.
If so the gift of salvation would be gone today.

 

[Andrea411]

I want to say one simple thing.

No one speaks in tongues at will,if they do it is not of God.

All the gifts are given by the Holy Spirit and his manifesting.

Satan will copy to destroy,also
To take away the gifts of God that belong to the believer.

No where can anyone find a new dispensation where God removed the gifts.
They have simply been beat out of the body.

God is no respecter of persons.
If so the gift of salvation would be gone today.

Seriously??? I speak in tongues and pray in tongues at will. It most certainly is of God. You need to do your homework before attributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit to satan.

 

[South Bound]

Seriously??? I speak in tongues and pray in tongues at will.

For what purpose?

 

[HereIstand.Todd]

Satan will copy to destroy,also
To take away the gifts of God that belong to the believer.

I think this is why Baptists/Presbyterians shy away from it.

 

[Bella Vita]

Most of us believe it is a true gift from God. But we do not believe gibbering away is speaking in tongues we believe it is when you start speaking a real language go Earth in order to minister to others. So speaking gibberish here at a church in the middle of the United States is not speaking in tongues. So many of us believe it is a real gift from God just one that is very misused here in the US.

 

[Bluelion]

Seriously??? I speak in tongues and pray in tongues at will. It most certainly is of God. You need to do your homework before attributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit to satan.

My brother spoke in tongues when confronted with truth, then he threaten me. There was nothing Holy about it in fact it was unholy.

 

[Andrea411]

My brother spoke in tongues when confronted with truth, then he threaten me. There was nothing Holy about it in fact it was unholy.

I'm sorry that was a disturbing way to have a conversation about speaking in tongues. I understand why that would validate any preconceived thoughts you have. But its not what your brother says that would concern me. Many Baptists speak in tongues, the head of Missions SBC 'J.Rankin' does. Although he's probably the former head of missions??.
I would ask you to pray and search the scriptures. I don't believe the Lord would force anyone, especially if that person thinks it may be satanic to speak in tongues. Its a gift you must desire.
I think we should be submitting to the Holy Spirit but where a gift will cause confusion or division, it may be that the Holy Spirit just simply knows whats best, for that body, then.
As far as being able to pray in tongues on demand I do.

Cor 14:32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;

1 Cor 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for[a] he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

I pray in tongues for self-edification to strengthen the inner man. I don't prophesy in tongues.

God bless, andrea