God never asks us to pray without using our intellect... He rather says that we are to worship the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.. Paul says that he would rather speak 5 intelligble words (this implies that many at Corinth were not engagin in a biblically acceptable form of tonhess, eg known human languages, and were instad engaging in ecstatic utterances... giberish...
1 Corinthians 14:19 (ESV) Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue." Tongues, like other miracles, were used by God to authenticate His message. On Pentecost many were convinced iof the truth opf the Christian message by the fact that people were able to speak in languages they did not naturally know, and could hgear and understand languages they did not naturally know. As the Good News spread, we see a diminshing of the mioracouls such that even Paul, who could (by the power of God) heal others, could not heal himself.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV) [7] So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. herefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I realize that people today feel very strongly about tongues. And if they have hade an "experience" where they "spoke in tongues" they feel even more validated. However, our feelings are not what direct us to what our faith and practice ought to be. Rather, our feelings are judged by thew word of God, not the other way around. And it seems to me anyway, that as you watch the NT unfold on a historical level, we see the signs and wonders for the most part cease, and people are instructed to believe based on the testimony of the NT writings, which are, according to Peter, suffceint, and containing all that we need for live and godliness, and one of these traits that we need to possess in ever greater measure is self control. But self control is exactly what most of those I have personally witnessed speaking in tongues lack..
2 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV) [3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
[5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,"
Lastly, we see that the bible teaches that the gifts that God does give are directly given by the decree of the sovereign Lord God. Most often, in my expereince anyway, tongues is elevated to the be all and end all of the gifts of the Spirit, and those who "don't have it" are deemed second class citizens. But if God gives this gift strictly according to His will, assuming even for the moment that there is still a purpose for that gift to function today, then those who have it and those who do not experience it or experience the lack of it due to the sovereign decision of God Almighty.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (ESV) [27] Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
[28] And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
[29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
[30] Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
[31] But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way."
So this rhetorical question "do all speak in tongues?" has an obvious "no" as the answer. This invalidates most of the Charismatics approach to this subjhect as being one of which where the super Christians speak in tongues, and the other "mere Christians" don't. But they are constantly encouraging all Christians to speak in tongues and at times, use extreme psychological pressure and even guilt manipulation which is exerted upon those who do not "speak in tonguers" in order to get them to speak in tongues by whatever means necessary. I have seen people encouiraged to speak in nonsenseical gibberish after being told to repeat a certain phrase over and over again, faster and faster. As sson as the person trips up and is no longer abler to xclearly sperak the phrase in an intelligble way voila!!! they are said to now have the gift of tongues! This manufacturing of the gift that is given by the sovereign will of the Father to whom ever He pleases is a sad indictment and reminds of Simon the Magician.... Acts 8:14-21 (ESV) [14] Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
[15] who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
[16] for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[17] Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
[18] Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles hands, he offered them money,
[19] saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.
[20] But Peter said to him, May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
[21] You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
blessings,
ken
[6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
[7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
[8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
Secondly many wrongly equate "spirit baptism" with "speaking in tongues". This is likewise mistaken. All Christians are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. To be a Christian is to "have or be baptized by the Holy Spirit". Mark 1:8 (ESV) I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. And since God is triune, to be baptized by the Holy SPirit is to be baptized by the Father, as well as the Son. In fact, if you are not baptized by the Son, you are not even a Christian. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
