Originally posted by LouisBooth
"The only difference between the two is that one side is accually experiance with working with tongues."
I'll take the bible over "experience" anyday, because some people with "experience" don't know God at all.
I've had experience with tongues, seen it misused in a varity of ways along with many other things. Thus why I am causious and quite biblical about it. You don't have to be, that' doesn't make you a nonchrisitan, just not biblical about tongues, that's all.
"So, in the body of believers who speak in tongues, if the congregation is just praying and lot's of people are praying in tongues there does not need to be an intrepretation. "
According to paul, you're wrong.
Louis,
I can understand where you might think that but I will try and explain a little more fully.
The only time that Paul seems to see it an issue is when unbelievers are present. As previously stated, I and several others in my church, including the Pastor, are able to intrepret. So, when unbelievers are present, there are intrepretations.
I remember one time in particular where the congregation was worshipping. Some in tongues, and some in english. There were unbelievers present. The Holy Spirit moved on me in a song of compassion, compelling, and love from the Lord.
Those unbelievers did not accept the Lord that day, but told the poeple who brought them that they were greatly touched by what God had said through that song.
This has happend many times in our services and the unbelievers have ran to the alter, without the leader asking them to do so, in order to accept the Lord. This is very much in line with what Paul teaches.
I have another friend, who while in the hospital recovering from surgery, was approached by the surgical nurse and asked how long he had spoken Hebrew. He told her he did not speak Hebrew. She then told him that while he was under anesthetic, he spoke Hebrew quite fluintly the whole time.
The surgeon, being Jewish, understood every word. My friend Mike was glorifying God and witnessing to his Jewish doctor.
Anything can be used as a vehicle of abuse. Including the great commission. But, we don't stop doing it just because some have abused it. We are to learn from their mistakes, and hopefully, not make too many of our own.