I can understand much of the scepticism surrounding spiritual gifts, I grew up in Baptist and Presbyterian churches and grew to believe what my churches believed. The classic fears and reasons used to explain the phenomenon of tongues and the like in pentecostal churches I also grew up with.
When my world turned upside-down a few years ago it was the Lord who miraculously healed me of an emotional upheaval, and that opened my mind to thinking, "If God can heal me of such emotional pain overnight, what else can he do?". This led me to seeking more of what the Holy Spirit could do and especially the spiritual gifts.
It's hard to describe it to people who have not operated in any spiritual gift, but until you do it's as if someone living in three dimensions is trying to explain it to their friends who are living in two dimensions. They may think you are being high-minded for suggesting you know something they don't, but really all you're trying to do is share your exciting experiences with them and wanting them to share in it.
I will share a few points, since to mention everything will take up too much time:
*if you don't believe in spiritual gifts for today, it's likely you won't experience them - faith comes by hearing the word, and faith is lived when acted upon. There are always exceptions, but any truth of God is received when people believe, are convinced and act on it in faith.
*If your church beliefs don't allow for spiritual gifts for today, then likely you will also think the same - and until something shakes one out of their denominationally-moulded way of thinking (and most all of us have one) they will not easily think otherwise. I know that until I was shaken out of mine through adverse circumstances I didn't think of spiritual gifts at all.
*The common reasons given to explain things like tongues by those who are outside charismatic christianity... - as one who has seen both sides, I have to say that these reasons come from a paradigm that simply cannot account for it. It's like a landlubber trying to explain why people in the sea move the way they do without ever having swum.
*The common fears - one need not fear. I feared tongues at first because of all my classic denominationally-based fears I'd read about and took in. Once that paradigm was blown open, I could finally look at it without bias and the scriptures convinced me that it was of God, and being a gift it was a good thing. Beyond appearances the heart of it was a spiritual language of praise, prayer and worship to God. Once the peace was there about it, I was ready to receive. And God allowed me to receive it in a way that took care of all my classic fears of emotionalism, hype, psychological, psychosomatic, etc. I was alone in a quiet setting. God is gracious!
I hope that helps. I am no more or less a christian than anyone here, and spiritual gifts do not make me anyone better than any non-spiritually gifted person. Spiritual fruit is what counts in that regard. Still, the gifts are there for us to receive if we are convinced of them and we ask for them in faith, and I wouldn't shun them if God is offering them.
blessings to all,
