Do you speak in tongues?

[The_Unknown]

I know there's already an thread about this subject, but no poll...fell free to debate though. I would also like to challenge anyone who thinks its wrong or not from God or that its just 'pretending'...

 

[raphael_aa]

Hi Unknown,

You keep putting up polls with no alternatives I can vote for.

I would like to choose 'I used to'.
I was a worship leader at a large Assembly of God church and spoke in tongues regularly. Since then, God has led me in different directions and I no longer feel the need or the leading. I have no problems with tongues provided they are used in a responsible manner. I do think though they can be used to generate a feeling of first and second class christians. I also am wary of the emotionalism sometimes involved in such displays.

 

[apenman]

Much of what I have seen in tongues is just a bunch of babble.

 

[Gwynne]

Ditto apenman. I personally don't think that what modern Christians call tongues is biblically supported. However, I also don't believe we should be limited to the Bible in our beliefs.

 

[StreetPreacher]

I have a tongue. I do believe that the devil can give a person the ability to speak in tongues.

 

[Mish]

Everyone wants to speak in tongues nowerdays. Its stupid, God gives everyone special gifts, and we all want the one with the most glory attatched. Its rediculous, IMO.

 

[Gwynne]

Everyone wants to speak in tongues nowerdays. Its stupid, God gives everyone special gifts, and we all want the one with the most glory attatched. Its rediculous, IMO.

It's the most "obvious" one, the most easily recognizable. Prophecy is easy to prove, either it comes true or it doesn't, and a person would look really dumb saying "God told me you're going to....." and then it not come true.... Immediately proves the gift of prophecy didn't exist in the first place. But anyone can spout random syllables and call it speaking in tongues, and no one can prove one way or another if it really is the Gift of Tongues or just random babbling.

I'm not saying the gift of tongues doesn't exist, I just feel that in a good number of instances, it's just a matter of wanting to fit in and so forcing yourself to do it.

 

[StreetPreacher]

Actually tongues is the least of the gifts and it only edifies the person speaking.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

I don't believe in it. Doesn't add up when studied.

Take one recording of a person speaking in tongues and allow two interpreters to interpret it, and they'll find different things. Also, interpretations always line up with what the interpreter personally believes.

The actual babble that they speak is not that strange either, as it usually only contains the same phonemes found in the speaker's native language. An American person speaking in tongues won't use rounded o's or harsh glottal stops, for example.

 

[Inane Drummer]

I do not speak in tounges... Wheter I believe the gift of tounges has ceased or not doesn't matter. I do not believe I have the gift. I also do not believe I have the gift of healing, or of teaching, or of...

You get the idea.

 

[sandman]

Actually tongues is the least of the gifts and it only edifies the person speaking.

I can find a few things wrong with that statement.

First - Speaking in tongues is not a gift ……….It is a manifestation of the gift {holy spirit} given to us when we were born again. Speaking in tongues along with the other eight, are what we have been given to operate as fully equipped Christians in a dark and perverse nation; one gift {holy spirit} nine operations or manifestations. If God were selective in whom he gave manifestations to that would make Him a respecter of persons. I think the Bible is quite clear that God is not. (Acts10:34; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25).
God is only a respecter of conditions, the condition being “believing”, and believing connotes action. God’s desire is that we operate all nine manifestations of the gift. It is up to us to believe what the Word says is true

**One more thing having to do with interpretation of tongues. The person who speaks in tongues in group meetings is the one who should be interpreting his tongues, not someone else. The verses in I Cor. 14: that some use to substantiate that claim are just a poor translation.

Second – I am not sure what criteria you go by to qualify it as the least. Yes it is specifically designed by God to profit the individual, but so is the manifestation of Faith according to the words used in I Corinthians 12. The word used for another is the Greek word heteros for both tongues and faith meaning “when only two are involved” (the operator and God) the other manifestation of the spirit employ the word allos meaning “when more then two may be involved” in other words; profiting others also.

Third – It does edify the person speaking as you stated, but there is more


1. To speak the wonderful works of God

Acts 2:11
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

2. To magnify God

Acts10:46
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

3. To give thanks well

I Corinthians 14:17
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified

4. To bring a message from God {when interpreted} I Corinthians 14:5, 27, 28;
5:… except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

27: If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28: if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.




5. Sign to the unbelievers I Corinthians 14:22, Mark 16:17;

I Corinthians:
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

Mark:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

6. To edify you, build you up. I Corinthians 14:4, Jude 20;

I Corinthians:
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.


Jude:
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost

7. To speak to God mysteries {divine secrets}

I Corinthians 14:2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.



8. Makes intercession for us

Romans 8:26&7
26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;



What one believes about speaking in tongues is either based upon the Word of God or experience; and experience is no guarantee for truth. I have seen the idiotic garbage that some Christian groups have associated with tongues. Things likeblurting out uncontrollably, or running around the church screaming during service, or falling down in the aisles rolling around speaking in tongues but what I read in the Bible is that “all things are to be done decently and in order”.
What people do in the name of God or Christianity does not negate the truth nor does it confirm it. The Bible either sets the standard for truth in ones life or it doesn’t. If it does then that has got to be what allows one to discern truth from error. If it doesn’t, well good luck …your pretty much open to whatever blows your skirt up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God Bless

sandman

 

[Inane Drummer]

I can find a few things wrong with that statement.

First - Speaking in tongues is not a gift ……….It is a manifestation of the gift {holy spirit} given to us when we were born again. Speaking in tongues along with the other eight, are what we have been given to operate as fully equipped Christians in a dark and perverse nation; one gift {holy spirit} nine operations or manifestations. If God were selective in whom he gave manifestations to that would make Him a respecter of persons. I think the Bible is quite clear that God is not. (Acts10:34; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25).
God is only a respecter of conditions, the condition being “believing”, and believing connotes action. God’s desire is that we operate all nine manifestations of the gift. It is up to us to believe what the Word says is true

Paul tends to disagree Read 1 Cor 12:4-11. It says word for word "distributing to each one individually as He wills". Now explain that to me, with how you said "if He were selective" distributing to each as He wills seems selective to me, I don't see how it can be otherwise.

 

[tulc]

Everyday.
tulc(also prays, reads his Bible and drinks a lot of coffee!)

 

[sandman]

Paul tends to disagree Read 1 Cor 12:4-11. It says word for word "distributing to each one individually as He wills". Now explain that to me, with how you said "if He were selective" distributing to each as He wills seems selective to me, I don't see how it can be otherwise.

Verse 4 of I Corinthians 12 speaks of the diversities of gifts of which there are 7 in number given to the Church of the Body of Christ {5 gift ministries listed in Ephesians} {holy spirit the gift given at new birth} and {gifts of healing because every healing is a gift, yet it is still an operation or manifestation of the spirit }. Then in verse 6 it states that God is the one who energizes {worketh} each operation.

Verse 7 states “But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal”

but = sets in contrast that which precedes it …......... gifts

manifestation = no linger dealing with gifts, but now, manifestation of the spirit.

The word manifestation in the Greek is phanerôsis meaning “to be visible,” “bring to light,” “or open to sight”

The gift of holy spirit was given on the day of Pentecost. When we are born again {confess Romans 10: 9&10} we receive the gift of holy spirit from the giver; God, who is Spirit and is Holy. What we do with the gift is up to us. The manifestation of the holy spirit [the gift] has nine separate yet united parts making up the whole, and the whole is given to every man for profit to himself, and for the good of the church. {the called of God}

verse 11. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” This verse states that all these {the manifestations of the spirit} are as the man wills, which ties in with verse 7 when it states the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man……. Furthermore the word severally is the Greek word idios and should be translated “his own” or “ones own”, this is the only place that idios occurs out of 114 times that it is translated severally. Some have said that it is as God wills, but that would contradict what God stated in verse 7.
I hope that helps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bless
sandman


{Side note}
Many times in the Bible translators have added words to help enhance the meaning of scripture, sometimes well supplied, sometimes not. In chapters 12, 13, &14 the word gifts has been added four times 12:1, as well as 13:2, 14:1 & 12. These should be deleted as they are not in the original text and it throws many off as to the correct translation.

 

[Wisdom's Child]

Though I have not consciously experienced speaking in tongues, my wife often wakes me up at night complaining that I'm singing hymns in tongues again in my sleep. She don't recognise the words, but she knows the melodies...

 

[Space Ghost]

if you mean that jibberish you hear and cannot understand..? No!


But, i do believe in tongues..... by that, the person speaking tongues is speaking in his/her language, but you and I are hearing in our own language.... none of this "what did he/she say"?....

 

[tulc]

[pong] Welcome to CF Space Ghost! [/pong]

tulc(hope you are blessed while here!)

 

[sandman]

But, i do believe in tongues..... by that, the person speaking tongues is speaking in his/her language, but you and I are hearing in our own language.... none of this "what did he/she say"?....

Sorry SG you lost me on that….could you clarify your statement

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

Bless

sandman