Speaking in Tongues or the Charismatic Movement

[reddogs]

We first have to ask ourselves if, since the Adventist founders were what we might broadly describe as charismatic believers, should we accept speaking in tongues today. The issue is a serious one for many reasons including to see if false charismatic mamifestations are being created to mislead. Was God meeting a need amongst early Adventists with genuine manifestations of the Holy Spirit?

Many thousands of Christians, and multiplied tens of thousands of others, have joined the charismatic movement to experience this spiritual power. People speak in tongues; they're "slain in the Spirit" and lie prostrate on the floor, sometimes for hours. Something called "holy laughter" has happened, where believers find themselves almost shaking uncontrollably with joyous hilarity; they can't stop laughing. But there's more: people barking like dogs and roaring like lions.

Are these things really from the Holy Spirit? Is this a phenomenon identical with what the Apostle Paul himself experienced and spoke gratefully about? As we read the Bible. First Corinthians 14, he says in verse five:
"I would like every one of you to speak in tongues."
Verse 18:
"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."
Verse 39:
"Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues."

In the book of Acts chapter 2 is described the Day of Pentecost. Christ had returned to heaven and His followers are waiting in Jerusalem for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:2
"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [or languages] as the Spirit enabled them."
Right away the question of the week jumps out at us.
Acts 2:4-5
"Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language."
As the rest of the chapter unfolds it has Peter preaching about the resurrected Jesus Christ - with 3000 people being converted and baptized.

 

[reddogs]

What kinds of languages do you think they were speaking? Known tongues or glossolalia - an unknown "heavenly" language?

 

[Jimlarmore]

I think the gift of tongues will be manifested abundantly the closer we get to the second coming of the Lord. When the latter rain starts to fall many will be given this gift so the varied languages can be addressed and the gospel spread. Folks who don't know Russian will preach in that language or any of the languages of the world for that matter. The things we see happening today in charasmatic churches is not the true gift of tongues and it's not any part of a known language. If you read your Bible you will not find one instance in the early church where the gift was used for confusion of the members being ministered to. Also we know that God is not the author of confusion. The babyling heard today in churches cannot be understood by the masses hearing it or used for the true glorification of God or His word.

Most folks that I have heard doing this ( glossolalia ) don't even know what they are saying, they are simply making an undicernable noise. We need to be very careful how we deal with these folks and by all means don't offend by telling them they are speaking demon language or being under the control of demons. The love of Christ needs to fill our hearts as we witness about the truth of what tongues actually is and what it's all about. Let the Bible do the talking and pray that the truth will be seen by those sincere folks wanting to find it.

Being slain in the spirit is addictive to some and it's very real. Again, we need to be very careful with how we approach this phenomenon. I talked to a brother ( not adventist ) who said he laid on the floor for about 15 minutes the first time he was knocked down and could see all kinds of colored lights coming out of the ceiling. He felt incredible in his entire body but lost control of his leg muscles. What ever is happening effects the central nervous system dramatically.

We need to pray that the Lord will make known the deceit of this practice to those immersed in it. Brother Hall Steenson on 3ABN is a previous charasmatic pastor and is doing a series on this on 3ABN every week now. I encourage everyone to tune in if you can to learn about this from one who really knows both sides of this issue.

God Bless
Jim Larmore

 

[capnator]

I dunno how much closer to the second coming we can get before the latter rain?????? You always have good ol doug bachelor up there saying it's 11:59 and christ is coming at midnight, Jesus is coming very soon is something you hear quite regularly in adventist circles! Are you sure it's not already raining?

 

[Jimlarmore]

No, I am not sure that it hasn't started. In Isaiah the Bible says the Glory of God comes on like the morning. The light of the morning is barely discernable at first then it gets brighter and brighter as the morning progresses. I think we are about to witness some incredible things in the not too distant future.

Some times I think we get impatient for the Lord to come but we need to realize what is at stake here, eternal life. The Lord will come when the time is right but He will not come until this gospel is preached in the entire world and everyone has an opportunity to accept the Good News.

God Bless you

Jim Larmore

 

[reddogs]

Some groups which push speaking in tongues and other aspects of the charasmatic movement do not reveal their true agenda until they have changed your critical thinking. Concepts such as "peace, love, unity and brotherhood" sounded nice until we learned that it was at the expense of disobedience to God.
To combat critical thinking about obedience, we have seen a movement within Catholic and Protestant churches to abandon the teachings of the Bible in favor of "miraculous" or unearthly happenings.

Usually they involve:

• Emphasis on personal testimonies and experience over the word of God.
• Emphasis on physical manifestations over the word of God.
• Not centered on preaching or teaching the word of God.
• Appeal to miracles as proof of divine favor.
• "Switching off your mind' and yielding to whatever spiritual impulses come upon you.
• The false conception of "surrender" as yielding the body to a supernatural power, with the mind ceasing to act. This is the same technique described by psychics and channelers!
• Not willing to test the spirits by the Bible.
• Emphasis on power.
• Usually cannot show any documented example of any miraculous healing.
• Assumption that acceptance by many faiths is a sign of divine guidance.

Others that exhibit the same bizarre behavior as the charasmatics.

• Kundalini: Spiritual energy that leads us to the awareness that god is in all things and we are divine. It is taught by enlightened siddha masters such as Bhagawan Nityananda, Swami Baba Muktananda and Gurumayi Chidvilasananda

• Bagwhan Shree Rajneesh: took over a town in Oregon and wiretapped all the public phones. In an effort to have their political candidates win the election - they poisoned supermarket and restaurant food with a biological agent so that the other people in town would not show up to vote.
• Ramakrishna: All religions are valid paths to God. Sri Ramakrishna is supposed to be a divine child born on February 18, 1836 is supposed to be the incarnation of Siva.
• Qigong
• African pagan, primitive rituals
• The possessed demoniac that Jesus healed.

 

[reddogs]

I dunno how much closer to the second coming we can get before the latter rain?????? You always have good ol doug bachelor up there saying it's 11:59 and christ is coming at midnight, Jesus is coming very soon is something you hear quite regularly in adventist circles! Are you sure it's not already raining?

You have to remember, a thousand years is like a second when compared to eternity.