Question from a Skeptic

[Hidden in Christ]

I am not Charismatic or Pentecostal, but I would like to hear the views of those who are. I guess you could say I’m a skeptic about this whole idea of the gift of unknown tongues existing today. I adopt the view that tongues in the New Testament were foreign languages only, or at least for the most part. (I am aware of I Corinthians 13:1) Today we have missionaries who learn other languages in order to share Christ. However, I believe that God is powerful enough that if He wanted me to witness to a Japanese person, He would allow me to speak fluent Japanese long enough for that purpose to be completed, even though I have never studied Japanese. The question I would like to ask is “Of what relevance is the gift of unknown tongues today?” I absolutely believe that God speaks powerfully through His Holy Spirit, but I believe He is powerful enough to speak just as clearly when everyone in a congregation is speaking the same language as He could if there were those speaking in the “tongues of men and angels.” Spiritual things must be spiritually discerned no matter what the method for communicating them. And just because something cannot be understood or explained in human terms does not mean it is of God, in my opinion. So my question is “Why are unknown tongues necessary today if God can speak just as powerfully without them?”

 

[ReNé4Him]

when we speak in tongues we are actually relating to the Holy Spirit, as it is a a gift of the holy Spirit when we speak in other tongues...so as we speak we are relaying what our spirit is saying. it is just the same as to say, why should we pray at all if God knows everything? we pray because it is a form of communication between us and God.... same goes for speaking in tongues.

 

[imasharp]

I agree. It is our spirit talking to God and it leaves our flesh out so we can't mess it up.

 

[Hidden in Christ]

when we speak in tongues we are actually relating to the Holy Spirit, as it is a a gift of the holy Spirit when we speak in other tongues...so as we speak we are relaying what our spirit is saying. it is just the same as to say, why should we pray at all if God knows everything? we pray because it is a form of communication between us and God.... same goes for speaking in tongues.

Actually my argument is not communicating with God vs. not communicating with Him, but rather one method of communication vs. another. I have worshipped God and prayed to Him in the power of the Holy Spirit in my native language. What makes praying, speaking or worshipping in another tongue superior? God knows all languages and tongues so why would He be impressed with one over the other? God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. He seeks people to worship Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you saying that speaking in tongues means a person is in the Spirit? And if so, once again why would God work that way or be impressed by that when He looks on the heart and sees and knows all?

 

[MsAnne]

Hidden in Christ-
Your questions are valid and well put. I must tell you, I genuinely appreciate the way you have asked your questions, with a degree of disbelief, yet without sounding condescending or judgmental toward those who cherish their belief in tongues. That doesn't often happen in these tongues / charasmatic threads.

Do be careful not to confuse the gift of prophesying in tongues (which needs an interpreter) with praying in tongues. Praying in tongues is a pure, uninhibited form of prayer. It is relating to the spirit as those have described above.

I hope you continue asking questions. And even if you don't agree with the answers given, you will continue seeking.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Actually my argument is not communicating with God vs. not communicating with Him, but rather one method of communication vs. another. I have worshipped God and prayed to Him in the power of the Holy Spirit in my native language. What makes praying, speaking or worshipping in another tongue superior? God knows all languages and tongues so why would He be impressed with one over the other? God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. He seeks people to worship Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you saying that speaking in tongues means a person is in the Spirit? And if so, once again why would God work that way or be impressed by that when He looks on the heart and sees and knows all?

The point of praying in tongues can be found in Rom 8:26-28 "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

If we pray in our own language we pray with our own understanding. But when we pray in our prayer language then we pray with His understanding. While we pray according to what we believe we need, He prays with what He knows we need.

And as far as a known language on the earth goes: I have a friend who while recovering from surgery was approached by the attending nurse and asked how long he had spoken Hebrew. He told her he had never spoken Hebrew. She then told him that while he was under anesthetic and being operated on he spoke very fluent Hebrew the whole time. And. . .the surgical doctor, who was Jewish understood every word. My friend was witnessing to his doctor the whole time.

Could God have done it in a more natural way? Probably. But what would have been the fun in that!

We serve a Supernatural God, who loves for us to need Him to move in Supernatural ways. I think, especially in America, that we have become so learned and capable of doing things ourselves that we no longer depend on God. Why? Because we can do it. Or so we think.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Actually my argument is not communicating with God vs. not communicating with Him, but rather one method of communication vs. another. I have worshipped God and prayed to Him in the power of the Holy Spirit in my native language. What makes praying, speaking or worshipping in another tongue superior? God knows all languages and tongues so why would He be impressed with one over the other? God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. He seeks people to worship Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you saying that speaking in tongues means a person is in the Spirit? And if so, once again why would God work that way or be impressed by that when He looks on the heart and sees and knows all?

I see Quaffer beat me to it...
Rom 8:
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.

 

[look]

You guys are great together...

 

[Andrew]

Hidden in Christ,

Check out the Benefits of Praying in Tongues thread. It'll answer many of your questions.

 

[dpatrick]

What makes praying, speaking or worshipping in another tongue superior? . . . why would God work that way or be impressed by that when He looks on the heart and sees and knows all?

If I may, perhaps the question is not whether worshipping in tongues is superior or impressive, but whether it is simply an aspect of the Christian experience God has available to you. In other words, God is not making you choose between one form of prayer or another, but giving you an opportunity for both. Based on your reasons for being skeptical about tongues, I am going to assume that you have already concluded that praying in tongues is Biblical, or at least a Biblical possibility. If so, then instead of trying to figure out why tongues is superior, or why God would be impressed, why not just seek the Lord to see what His heart is for you concerning tongues?

I fear I am making the whole thing sound too simple, but then, I think we humans are famous for making the simple too complex.

 

[admtaylor]

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Quafer,

I would say that the groanings which cannot be uttered would be the key here. We don't know what to say or how to say it, but we know there's a need to communicate with God. But it doesn't need to be uttered because the Holy Spirit brings it to God for us. Therefore how does tongues fit into this? Honestly.

 

[Iddie4him]

VERY WELL PUT QUAFFER !!!!!!
You explained it just abit differently than I would have, I couldn't have been quite so eloquent. Same thoughts from me tho. God Bless.