Its been a while since Ive been on this post, but for those taking it off topic, a reminder.
I posted this not to discredit tongues, but to seek some answers concerning a fear I have had. That fear is my prayer language was fraudulent. My understanding now is it is not, for anytime I direct my prayer (known or unknown, syllables or just grunts/groans) to God he hears.
I used to fear if my tongue didnt sound exactly like "a language" it wasnt real. But scripture says that tongues can be human or angelic language, as well as groans or just noise.
So this post isnt to parade a lack of belief in tongues, but to edify those like myself who just need some encouragement to keep praying in tongues
1 Corinthians 13 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
Christian love—the highest and best gift
13 1-3
If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only
all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even
if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
13 I may speak in different languages, whether human
or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy,
I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may
even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love.
Paul is not saying we can speak in language of angels or that we can know all secrets or know everything there is to know or to have our living bodies burned as an sacrifice --- in short Paul is using exaggerations.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Let Love Be Your Guide
13 I may speak in different languages, whether human or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love.
