Speaking In Tongues

And chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians, talks about Prophecy and tounges.

I never denied the existence of tongues. I argue with the way tongues are viewed and used today.

Jesus never once mentioned speaking in tongues, yet you accept that the disciples spoke in tongues in the early days of evangelism. The Bible never said it went away.
Do you believe in any of the gifts now tht were practiced in that time and age? How about Prophesy, healing, love, etc.?
Or do you discount all the gifts? Because if you believe the Bible, they are all operational gifts, otherwise, why would Paul give instruction as to the use of various gifts of the Spirit?

Originally posted by StogusMaximus



That is completely relevant.

Why didn't Jesus say,"This, then, is how you should pray: Blaa blaaa Blaaa, Yaaada Yaaaada Yaaada, See My BowTie, Tie My BowTie, Blaa Blaa Blaaa, Amen".

Speaking in tongues had it's time and purpose, God wants us to speak to him in our own language. He doesn't not give select people a special language "hotline" to Him.

Click to expand...

I believe the gifts of the Spirit are given to us to serve a purpose, not for our personal use. The gifts of the Spirit are to be used for God's purpose.

Prophesy, healing, wisdom, etc. are still used to day to accomplish God's will. Speaking in tongues was used in the days of the disciples to spread the word about Jesus to foreign lands. Today there is an easy way to spead the word to all languges without the need to speak in tongues.

The use of tongues that people are speaking of on this thread to do accomplish anything for God but are to glorify the person who speaks in them. Therefore I do not give credit the the tongues as mentioned here.

"Speaking in tongues was used in the days of the disciples to spread the word about Jesus to foreign lands."

Actually, I don't think that was always the case. In fact if I recall, I believe tongues were only used once in that way only, as they are only recorded once being used in that fashion: being a "known" tongue in Acts 2. In other places of the bible tongues are mentioned as needing an intepretation because they are "unknown." Everyone in the early church, not just the Disciples themselves, spoke in tongues and exercised other gifts. This included the lay people, the newborn converts, street preachers, leaders, servants, masters, slaves... men, women, children, the list goes on.

Unknown tongues edify the church when interpreted. They only edify the person when there is none. Paul said both reasons were good. It is when one uses tongues for prideful purposes, however, that it is wrong...aka they have no love.

Originally posted by Droobie
There is a difference between speaking in tongues and praying in tongues.

Now, with speaking in tongues, it is usually when God has a message for someone in the congregation/gathering, whether it be in tongues in another language, or as a scripture, God will also provide an interpreter, or it may be the person themselves who can relay the message.

Praying in tongues is not directed at anyone in particular, and is the voice of the Spirit within you, speaking out when you pray. People who pray in tongues for the first time do not know the words, that's why it may sound like gibberish. Kind of like a baby learning to talk.

Bear in mind, this is a gift of the Holy Spirit that not everyone has. Each person has different spiritual giftings.

God Bless

Click to expand...

Excellent post Droobie!

I am Pentecostal, Assembly of God to be precise, and I have used tongues in my prayer life since I was 16 years old.

If a person doesnt feel comfortable with it, thats fine. But people shouldnt say it isnt from God and that it isnt used. Thats dangerous.

Tongues are NOT needed for salvation, and it doesnt make you any better than anyone else. Its simply a gift. You can choose to accept it or decline it.

I accepted it and it has helped me in my prayer life awesomely.

If a person doesnt want it, fine, but dont degrade those who do, and those who have it. That isnt very Chirstianly.

I believe the gifts of the Spirit are given to us to serve a purpose, not for our personal use. The gifts of the Spirit are to be used for God's purpose.

Click to expand...

I agree that the gifts are for God's purpose. However, isn't part of God's purpose that we be edified and have a personal relationship with him? Taking your quote to its conclusion would preclude "personal" prayer from our lives also. When i pray in a room by myself noone else is getting anything, except that hopefully i will be closer to God and therefore be a better person and Christian, which will in the end glorify our Savior.

That is right, it is ok for the person to be edified but not for the sake of pride, but as an indicator that the Holy Spirit is operating through that person in a particular situation.

We must be careful in every case of pride, particularly when it comes ot the use of the gifts of the Spirit.

Originally posted by Josephus
"Speaking in tongues was used in the days of the disciples to spread the word about Jesus to foreign lands."

Actually, I don't think that was always the case. In fact if I recall, I believe tongues were only used once in that way only, as they are only recorded once being used in that fashion: being a "known" tongue in Acts 2. In other places of the bible tongues are mentioned as needing an intepretation because they are "unknown." Everyone in the early church, not just the Disciples themselves, spoke in tongues and exercised other gifts. This included the lay people, the newborn converts, street preachers, leaders, servants, masters, slaves... men, women, children, the list goes on.

Unknown tongues edify the church when interpreted. They only edify the person when there is none. Paul said both reasons were good. It is when one uses tongues for prideful purposes, however, that it is wrong...aka they have no love.

Click to expand...

Josephus says:
It is when one uses tongues for prideful purposes, however, that it is wrong...aka they have no love.

Solo66man says:
That is right, it is ok for the person to be edified but not for the sake of pride, but as an indicator that the holy Spirit is operating through that person in a particular situation.
We must be careful in every case of pride, particularly when it comes ot the use of the gifts of the Spirit.

Stogus says:
I never denied the existence of tongues. I argue with the way tongues are viewed and used today.

I tend to agree with Stogus on the above point. To the position of Josephus and Solo66man, another question comes to mind. Would the Holy Spirit give a tongue to a person for prideful use?
I suppose some would say that God didn't know that person would use the gift for his own sake of pride, but I think I'd disagree with that. If God is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, He would know the result.

I am enjoying this engaging topic.

This is an excellent debate on this topic! Everyone has great points.

I personally speak in tongues. I have never done so in public.

I agree with Stogus that tongues (at least the more public idea) is used unscripturally. In too many churches i have been to it is just a distraction, which is very specifically what Paul taught against.

I also like your point, Solo. I hadn't thought about it from the pride perspective, but it certainly seems to be a logical conclusion. We all have to be ever diligent in not falling into pride in all areas. That kinda hit me between the eyes so maybe I needed to see that. Thanks.

Just like any gift of the Spirit, talent, or blessing we receive, such as musical, prophesy, money, whatever, all is given by God, can be used or should I say misused by us. With every gift, talent or blessing is a responsibility of only using them for God's purposes and not ours, as you already know. I do not judge God's wisdom,
but ours.

You are welcomed. I am too familiar with pride myself. I always am looking out for it, because it just comes so naturally to me.

Originally posted by tericl2
This is an excellent debate on this topic! Everyone has great points.

I personally speak in tongues. I have never done so in public.

I agree with Stogus that tongues (at least the more public idea) is used unscripturally. In too many churches i have been to it is just a distraction, which is very specifically what Paul taught against.

I also like your point, Solo. I hadn't thought about it from the pride perspective, but it certainly seems to be a logical conclusion. We all have to be ever diligent in not falling into pride in all areas. That kinda hit me between the eyes so maybe I needed to see that. Thanks.

Click to expand...

You are welcomed. I am too familiar with pride myself. I always am looking out for it, because it just comes so naturally to me.

Click to expand...

I can very easily identify with that! God has blessed me so much, both physically and mentally and the flesh definitely tries to convince me that all the good things I have are because of me or my skill in a particular area.

There have been recent occurences in my life though that have very effectively brought me crawling to God in utter humility. I didn't like it at the time but I know God has used that to strengthen me in Him. Without him we are nothing.

Isaiah 41
9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, `You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I think I may have overstated the pride thing.

Solo66man, you are right that all things are from God and He does give us at least some freedom (depending on your opinion of predestination) to use or misuse what He has given us. And he does allow Satan to have power on earth, He even created him.

Tericl2 said:
"I personally speak in tongues. I have never done so in public.

I agree with Stogus that tongues (at least the more public idea) is used unscripturally. In too many churches i have been to it is just a distraction, which is very specifically what Paul taught against. "

I was long-winded but that's the point I was attempting to make.
Thanks for the more direct route.

About the signs and wonders issue in my first post. My fear is that people practicing tongues, miracles, faith healing, etc. may be too receptive to the same if it comes from a different covert source.

I was saying that a lot of us pray selfish, useless prayers. The Holy Spirit didn't come until Jesus left the earth. Why would he teach us to pray in tounges if it is a gift of the Holy Spirit? All I am saying is that Jesus was sent to teach us how to live, to die for and cleanse our sins, then the Holy Spirit came and taught us to pray in tounges. It wouldn't make since for Jesus to teach us something that we would not understand at the time.

"If God is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, He would know the result."

This might rock a few boats: God doesn't know what choices we will make. He knows what choices we have available to us (and boy is he smart about that), and he will often warn us not to make the wrong choice (since he is smart enough to know the right one), but I don't believe God (nor does the bible seem to support it) knows what choices we will make before we make them. I guess that's a foundational worldview regarding free will.

When it comes to giving us a gift, we still have the choice to operate in pride, it's not that God gives it to us willingly knowing we will use it for our gain. Rather he gives us the gifts of the Spirit knowing there is that risk we could use them wrong...which is why when we do abuse, we often "quench the Holy Spirit", meaning his power simply chooses to leave us and we continue operating in the flesh! So it's not that God willing gives us a gift to use for the sake of our pride, but rather gives it to us knowing there is a risk of us making the wrong decision. BUT the good news is that He will still let us start with His gifts in His power because we originally start with our hearts in the right condition: humble and obedient. The moment that changes to pride and disobedience, God can no longer use you for His glory.

You definitely do not need to speak intongues to prove you are saved. But you hould not quech the Spirit either.

Tounges is for the now. Prophecy is for the now. God wouldn't people the gift of tounges for no reason. And, people CAN speek to others in thier gift of tounges.

A quick story.

A woman felt led to speek out in tounges. She did, and a man came up to her after the service.
"Where did you learn that language?" he asked. She said it was from God. He said,
"That's a language the Chinease used, and few people know of it. You helped me see how much God loved me through what you said in that language." That man was saved, because she spoke out, and he undersrood it. All for God's Glory!