These are some great questions, thanks.
Women are a terrific spiritual resource in the church. We do not muzzle our women.
Our Pastor was out sick this Sunday, so his wife preached. Is that what you call speaking in authority over men? We also have women pastors and board members.
The Assemblies of God denomination has an excellent white paper on the subject.
The Role of Women in Ministry
Assemblies of God (USA) Official Web Site | The Role of Women in Ministry
Well, I read good majority of their article. However, they are in err because they claim certain words in the original languages changes the meaning of our English translations in our bibles. In essence, they know better than the translators of the Bible. This kind of handling of the Scriptures never sits well with me because it looks like folks merely trying to change the Bible using the "original languages" card (When in reality nobody knows biblical Hebrew and biblical Greek like those people who lived during bible times; Only in believing God's Word that says that had preserved His Word for our generation today is their hope and trust in what His Word plainly says). For we received the word not in the wisdom of men, but as the very words of God (See 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
In fact, another problem I noticed in their article is that they just outright deny what 1 Timothy 2:11-15 says plainly.
They mention Acts of the Apostles 2:17 in how sons and daughters will prophecy. Now, it is true; Acts of the Apostles 2:17 does mean that women can have the gift of prophecy (of tongues), but it was only devout Jewish men who actually spoke in foreign tongues at Pentecost (See Acts of the Apostles 2:5) along with Peter interpreting (See Acts of the Apostles 2:14-36). Nowhere do women speak in tongues having authority over a gathering of other believing men. That is what 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 is all about.
34 "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but
they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
Women can be used to evangelize publicly (not in authority over other believing men), and they can teach other believing women and children.
You said:
A few months ago someone that had been attending for a while approached me to ask if we spoke in tongues. I assured him that we did. He was relieved to find out. It is rare to get a word of prophecy and even more rare to get a word in tongues. And leadership has handled this differently over the years. For a while we had a requirement to get permission from leadership before delivering a prophetic message to the church.
That does not answer my questions. Do you speak in two or three at most? Yes, or no?
Do they all speak in turn? Or do all 2-3 of them speak at once?
You said:
Not in the sense that we schedule interpreters. It doesn't work that way. Interpretation works the same as prophecy. God moves on someone to interpret in the same way he moved on some to prophesy or speak in tongues. And you also need to understand that interpretation is not always a word for word translation.
No. You are wrong. It did not work that way in the early church. 1 Corinthians 14 told the early church believers that they were to keep silent if there is no interpreter. So if you were to do it correctly like the early church, you have to have an interpreter ahead of time.
27 "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.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
Jason0047 said:
Tongues are for unbelievers.
Have any unbelievers come to the faith as a result of the tongues being miraculous working of a foreign language?
You said:
Two verses later that passage says the opposite, citing prophecy.
You are limiting tongues to only one aspect. And applying the wrong kind of tongues to the passage. Have you seen my list of five different kinds of tongues? I'm glad that you are asking questions. This may help to clear up your ignorance on the subject.
1 Corinthians 14:22
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25
But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
Perhaps I should have clarified. The purpose of tongues is for unbelievers.
But coupled with an interpreter, it can be used for edifying the church.
20 "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With
men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
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.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in
those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?"
(1 Corinthians 14:20-23).
For the Jew seen the speaking of foreign tongues as judgment because of the tower of babel, and the Babylonian exile (*cough* babel-lonian).
But God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Yes. I have personally experienced it. But only once, I believe. It was not uncontrollable, if you are wondering. But it was contagious. lol -- I would do it again.
That's a cheap shot. The occult?
There is nothing new about shaking and quaking.
You have heard of the Shakers and the Quakers? (furniture and oat meal)
I don't limit what God might do in certain situations. If everything else was in line, why not? I would keep an eye on something like that. And it would be highly irregular. I suppose you think the plug should be pulled on a meeting like that. Would you stand in God's way and prevent what the Holy Spirit might want to do in a meeting based on your comfort level? Which would be more sinful?
I guess we call it "slain in the Spirit" if someone goes down on the carpet. I've been there many times. It's a wonderful thing. The Spirit of God wrapped around you like a warm blanket. I get up feeling spiritually refreshed. Haven't done it in years though. The church we attend now is pretty tame comparatively.
In reference to being thrown back, I had one experience that was quite extraordinary in that respect. This is my personal testimony. I was there, obviously.
I was in a meeting when a Pastor from Africa was speaking. Initially I was up on a raised walkway in back and could feel the heavy presence of God in the room. When I walked down toward the lower level it was like descending into a thick spiritual air. So thick you could cut it with a knife. At the end of the service people were going up for prayer from the speaker/Pastor. I asked my wife if she wanted to go up for prayer. She was nervous, so I offered to go with her. When it was our turn I stepped forward. My wife had her arm locked into mine. The Pastor reached out a hand to pray for us and there was the sound of a spark. We were both blown backwards off our feet and landed on our back. I turned in mid-air so that my wife would land on me and not the floor.
I helped my wife get up and we approached again. The Pastor reached out his hand but then withdrew it exclaiming, "You're hot! You're hot!" The Spirit on me seemed to be threatening to burn his hand.
I don't recall what happened after that, but the "spark" was memorable. I haven't thought about that for many years. If you saw something like that going on, I suppose you would probably run away in fear.
If you don't see the problem with these things, I cannot help you.
Only God can show you that such things are not of the Lord.
Even many Charismatics see the problems with these kinds of things.