Do Free Methodists believe in speaking in tongues?

[Ave Maria]

Hi everyone. Do Free Methodists believe in speaking in tongues?

 

[IndyPirate]

I'm not a church expert, but I would have to say no. In my 15 years of attending Free Methodist churches I have never seen anyone speaking in tongues. I did get to witness it while visiting a Penecostal church several years ago. It kinda scared me.

 

[vle045]

I think that is mostly just a Pentacostal thing.... but I am not sure...

Here is a link that describes the history of it. http://www.religioustolerance.org/tongues1.htm

 

[footprints1973]

From what I have read/understand, generally they may believe it is possible to speak in tongues but it is not really part of their services/core beliefs etc. Methodists believe we may be blessed with a variety of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the speaking in tongues is mostly a practice in Pentacostal denominations....

Hope this helps,
Laura

 

[Ave Maria]

Thanks everyone.

 

[PastorMikeJ]

they use to...when they started they were penecostal..Wesley was a penecostal..

 

[joyfulthanks]

Wesley was a penecostal..

Actually, Wesley was an Anglican priest.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Actually, Wesley was an Anglican priest.

I don't think Pastor Mike meant in the denominational sense.

As it was possible for Wesley to be both an Anglican priests and organizationally a a Methodist, so it was possible for him to be both an Anglican priest and a pentecostal at heart. There are still plenty of pentecostals (small "p") and quite a few charismatics in the United Methodist Church, but I don't know about the Free Methodist.

 

[Qyöt27]

Among Methodists, the closest to the idea of speaking in tongues that you'll find is likely the belief in xenoglossia, the speaking of other extant languages for the sole purpose of evangelizing, not the idea of a 'prayer language' that exists in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles.

In terms of Wesleyan history, Pentecostalism was influenced by the Holiness movement, of which Methodism also took influence from and was a part of in many respects. There's a rather wide gap on a number of issues between the two, though - theologically and socio-politically.

EDIT: ok, I was going to much for the denominational sense of the word.

 

[GraceSeeker]

ok, I was going to much for the denominational sense of the word.

Yeah, I figured. As to whether Wesley was a pentecostal at heart of not, I don't know for sure. But it wouldn't surprise me.

Among Methodists, the closest to the idea of speaking in tongues that you'll find is likely the belief in xenoglossia, the speaking of other extant languages for the sole purpose of evangelizing, not the idea of a 'prayer language' that exists in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles.

Agains, as far as Free Methodist goes, I can't say. But I do personally know several United Methodists who have experienced speaking in tongues in exactly the same context as one would in say an Assembly of God church. In fact, in southern Illinois it is almost common.

 

[IndyPirate]

In fact, in southern Illinois it is almost common.

Hmm.. Where at in southern IL? I grew up on the very very eastern edge of southern IL (Mt. Carmel). I never saw anyone speak in tongues at any of the Free Methodist churches that I attended.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Hmm.. Where at in southern IL? I grew up on the very very eastern edge of southern IL (Mt. Carmel). I never saw anyone speak in tongues at any of the Free Methodist churches that I attended.

I keep saying that I cannot say anything with regard to the Free Methodist Churches. But I am in Lawerenceville, right across the river from Vincennes. There are some United Methodists here who practice speaking in tongues as a private prayer language. And if you get down to around Harrisburg, that is the region where it is actually common. I can also tell you that just north of Quincy, up around Carthage, in western Illinois that you'll encounter it in United Methodist Churches as well. And my first introduction to it was in Bloomington in the center of Illinois.

I know the OP was asking about Free Methodists, which is why I didn't respond at first. But when Qyöt27 (and others) said "among Methodists...." it wasn't clear whether that was referring to Free Methodists or United Methodist, which is why I then joined in by have tried to be clear that I am only referring to United Methodists.

 

[MoeSzyslak]

I have never been to a Free Methodist church. But my coworker has been a Free Methodist in rural Missouri for almost 60 years so I asked him. He said he had never seen it or heard it. For whatever its worth?

 

[IndyPirate]

I keep saying that I cannot say anything with regard to the Free Methodist Churches. But I am in Lawerenceville, right across the river from Vincennes. There are some United Methodists here who practice speaking in tongues as a private prayer language. And if you get down to around Harrisburg, that is the region where it is actually common. I can also tell you that just north of Quincy, up around Carthage, in western Illinois that you'll encounter it in United Methodist Churches as well. And my first introduction to it was in Bloomington in the center of Illinois.

I know the OP was asking about Free Methodists, which is why I didn't respond at first. But when Qyöt27 (and others) said "among Methodists...." it wasn't clear whether that was referring to Free Methodists or United Methodist, which is why I then joined in by have tried to be clear that I am only referring to United Methodists.

I gotcha. Very cool to find someone else from southern IL on here. My mom and sister actually work in Lawrenceville right now and I went to Vincennes University. Nice to meet you.

 

[banthis]

All Christians believe in speaking in tongues because Paul wrote about the church speaking in tongues and Peter spoke in tongues in the book of Acts, as did Cornelius. Speaking in tongues is a Christian thing to do, and the Holy Spirit gives that gift to whomever he desires to give it to.

 

[Redheadedstepchild]

Not all Christians believe that the gifts are for today. There is no rule (that I know of) which states one must be charismatic in order to be a Christian.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Not all Christians believe that the gifts are for today. There is no rule (that I know of) which states one must be charismatic in order to be a Christian.

I think the point was that it is a given that "speaking in tongues" has been a part of the life of the church. If you accept the scriptures at all, then you accept the validity of the concept of "speaking in tongues". I didn't hear banthis say anything about expecting that all today would speak in tongues, or even that it remained an ongoing phenomena. And one can believe that it is still practiced in the church, as I do, without expecting that another person must themselves practice it. Banthis said, "the Holy Spirit gives that gift to whomever he desires to give it to." This is the same sovereignty of God that you referenced in another post when you said, "I can certainly pray that there would be a way [for salvation] for those who do not know God, for whatever reason." Both of you are saying that God is sovereign and can choose and not choose whomever he wishes for whatever purpose he so desires. But you have applied it to salvation while Banthis has applied it to speaking in tongues. Might it not apply to both?

 

[Redheadedstepchild]

I think the point was that it is a given that "speaking in tongues" has been a part of the life of the church. If you accept the scriptures at all, then you accept the validity of the concept of "speaking in tongues". I didn't hear banthis say anything about expecting that all today would speak in tongues, or even that it remained an ongoing phenomena. And one can believe that it is still practiced in the church, as I do, without expecting that another person must themselves practice it. Banthis said, "the Holy Spirit gives that gift to whomever he desires to give it to." This is the same sovereignty of God that you referenced in another post when you said, "I can certainly pray that there would be a way [for salvation] for those who do not know God, for whatever reason." Both of you are saying that God is sovereign and can choose and not choose whomever he wishes for whatever purpose he so desires. But you have applied it to salvation while Banthis has applied it to speaking in tongues. Might it not apply to both?

Actually I'm very open to "the gifts" being practiced today, so no arguement here. I get a little concerned when I hear "all Christians..." do or think one thing or another. I'm not sure the poster wasn't implying that cessasionalists are not Christians, but maybe I misread. If so I appologize.

 

[banthis]

Not all Christians believe that the gifts are for today. There is no rule (that I know of) which states one must be charismatic in order to be a Christian.

That's only because not all of them believe the Giver exists. If they believed in the Giver, they would have no choice but to believe in the gifts.

 

[banthis]

I think the point was that it is a given that "speaking in tongues" has been a part of the life of the church. If you accept the scriptures at all, then you accept the validity of the concept of "speaking in tongues". I didn't hear banthis say anything about expecting that all today would speak in tongues, or even that it remained an ongoing phenomena. And one can believe that it is still practiced in the church, as I do, without expecting that another person must themselves practice it. Banthis said, "the Holy Spirit gives that gift to whomever he desires to give it to." This is the same sovereignty of God that you referenced in another post when you said, "I can certainly pray that there would be a way [for salvation] for those who do not know God, for whatever reason." Both of you are saying that God is sovereign and can choose and not choose whomever he wishes for whatever purpose he so desires. But you have applied it to salvation while Banthis has applied it to speaking in tongues. Might it not apply to both?

A deeply intuitive analysis. Thank you.