Speaking in Tongues?

[onionring]

One more question.

God understands a man's heart. When you pray you aren't really communicating to God with your mouth, right? Sound is not the medium, right? So why the language? Edification of yourself? Why? Do you understand what you are saying? No. So, once again back to my problem with "the purpose".

 

[adamdavid]

Interesting. So in a sense, speaking in tongues is like singing; it’s an optional form of worship. Both are simply preferred forms of worship? Correct?

Thats how I've always thought about it... I express my worship to God in lots of ways... I pray (in english and tongues... and occasionally hebrew ...), I sing (again, both in english and in tongues...), I dance... I lift my hands... lots of ways to express worship... tongues is one of them... and at the same time, as those who speak in tongues will certainly confirm, somehow, when speaking in tongues, the worship is just so very much deeper... truly limitless (I know... this is something I've already said... sorry... it just makes so much sense to me... Its hard for my simple lil mind to figure out somthing better to say ...) its just completely allowing your spirit to talk the language it was created to talk...

God understands a man's heart. When you pray you aren't really communicating to God with your mouth, right? Sound is not the medium, right? So why the language? Edification of yourself? Why? Do you understand what you are saying? No. So, once again back to my problem with "the purpose".

Again (I'm really sorry I'm not better at this...), it allows your spirit complete freedom in expressing itself... true, God understands the heart, but just because God knows that you think he's the coolest thing since... well, since cool, that doesn't mean he doesnt want you to tell him! Nay, he wants you to tell him constantly! Just because you know your best friend appreciates your friendship doesnt mean you dont want them to tell you how much they appreciate you (at least every now and then...), right?

Peace like a river,
AdamDavid

 

[knightlight72]

Sure...I think it is understood that not everyone gets one or all gifts (if any)...God's not a socialist.

Yet, that was never in question. Let's be frank...certain denomination practice speaking in tongues. God doesn't care about denominations,....we are all His people...right? So explain to me why God seems to mainly give speaking in tongues gifts to Charismatics? Never known God to show favorism to specific denomination ... minus some cults that claim to be Christian and God's choosen people (only ones going to heaven).

Well in answer to your question, many people have said they have seen it and experienced tongues in other denominations. So onionring, that question was already answered. That should answer the misconceptions of what speaking in tongues is all about.

 

[NJA]

Onion - the second is the main purpose of tongues !
1Cor.14:2, 4: 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. . . .he edifies himself

... because he allows God to free him from his own inability, as Romans says:-
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.
i.e. *He* has the words!

At Pentecost the people overheard others praying, that's why they were all left in doubt and confusion ! (Acts 2v12). i.e, tongues isn't much cop for preaching !
That's why the apostles stopped speaking to God in tongues and Peter stood up & began to speak to the crowd... then they understood. . . .do you ?

 

[onionring]

Well in answer to your question, many people have said they have seen it and experienced tongues in other denominations. So onionring, that question was already answered. That should answer the misconceptions of what speaking in tongues is all about.

I'm sorry. I read the posting from the Methodist that believes in personal prayer language (only) and the Adventist whose church took on speaking in tongues...I didn't recognize this as "many" people. My apologies for pushing the issue.

Come on! Are you really trying to brush my question off with that off-handed generalization about a majority based on 2 semi-examples?

Even if some one places a well written posting supporting your view, it should not disqualify further questions along that same line of thinking. Instead of answering my question, you dismissed it. If you don’t want to answer my questions…fine. But don’t treat them as unintelligent redundancy. It’s insulting no matter how subtle you try to be.

 

[TriZz]

I was recently saved, then baptized in the name of Jesus on May 5. When I went to the corporate prayer meeting (where they do the baptism), I was kind of freaked out about the toungues being spoken, although I had read and heard about it. I've been asking for God for it, because our Pastor says that it's a way of fighting spiritual battles. The things going on behind the scenes...that we don't notice.

However, as much as I want it, and as skeptical as I am about it...I refuse to speak in toungues and force it. If it's not real then I want nothing to do with it.

The gift will come when God is ready to give it to me. I think, for onionring, it's the same way as the bart person said earlier, and for me...we're standing in the way of receiving the gift. Whatever may be the case...until it happens for you, nobody is going to be able to make you or me understand the power or purpose of it...

 

[onionring]

... because he allows God to free him from his own inability, as Romans says:-
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.
i.e. *He* has the words!

If the definition of “utter” is to give audible, esp. verbal, expression to; speak or pronounce; to emit with voice; then how are you then saying “*He* has the words!”.

Hence, “cannot be uttered”…doesn’t seem reasonable to attach to “speaking” in tongues. In reading the verse in context of the full chapter (or even just surrounding verses), I find myself hard-pressed to find your interpretation.

Aside from that…how are you drawing a line from the Holy Spirit interceding, to the act of “speaking” in tongues?

At Pentecost the people overheard others praying, that's why they were all left in doubt and confusion ! (Acts 2v12). i.e, tongues isn't much cop for preaching !
That's why the apostles stopped speaking to God in tongues and Peter stood up & began to speak to the crowd... then they understood. . . .do you ?

Don’t hold back; tell me how you really feel…

NIV“6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.”

KJV”“6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”

EVERYBODY within the crowd “understood” the message in their own language. Their bewilderment was in the miracle.

NIV “12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"”
KVJ“12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?”

At which time Peter spoke. First explaining the miracle, then preaching the good news.

 

[onionring]

I was recently saved, then baptized in the name of Jesus on May 5. When I went to the corporate prayer meeting (where they do the baptism), I was kind of freaked out about the toungues being spoken, although I had read and heard about it. I've been asking for God for it, because our Pastor says that it's a way of fighting spiritual battles. The things going on behind the scenes...that we don't notice.

However, as much as I want it, and as skeptical as I am about it...I refuse to speak in toungues and force it. If it's not real then I want nothing to do with it.

The gift will come when God is ready to give it to me. I think, for onionring, it's the same way as the bart person said earlier, and for me...we're standing in the way of receiving the gift. Whatever may be the case...until it happens for you, nobody is going to be able to make you or me understand the power or purpose of it...

Probably as much to the point as anything. Thank you.

Unlike TriZz, however, I don't think "purpose" is hidden from all, but those that have the gift. Reading 1 Cor. 12:28 I can see the purpose of every gift...however tongues as a language un-interpreted, lacks purpose. Even Paul writes about it in 1 Cor. 14:5-17.

 

[Heinrich]

My friend got Spirit filled and started praying in tongues while still in a reformed church.
Nobody told him anything. He didn't even know the phrase "spirit-filled" and only heard the doctrine on tongues after he started praying in tongues on his own.

My brother is in a non-charismatic church. I prayed with him and he recieved the Holy Spirit. And that night he also started praying in tongues by himself.

Now umm... yes I think that speaks for itself.

 

[TwistrAndy]

Paul writes that tongues mean nothing if you're speaking in tongues in church as a message, and there is no interpreter there to intepret.

Also, about the gift of tongues manifested in other denominations. I've always thought that God was a gentle God, that He wouldn't force anything on you that you aren't willing to accept. When you don't beleive, you put God in a box, because He's not gonna throw something on you if you are against it.

 

[TwistrAndy]

Prayer tongues are different, Paul doesn't want the "gift" of tongues manifested in a church if there is no interpretor present in the church to edify the church, and that is when you should keep quite.

Prayer tongues is not a gift like that of the church edification tongues, the church edification tongues is a gift from God that He distributes at His own will. But the prayer tongues is there for EVERY beleiver.

 

[TriZz]

Now...what about corporate prayer meetings? We had one on this Sat. and everyone (except me, from what I saw) was praying in toungues...and quite loudly.

Like I said before, I haven't been given that gift yet...and it may be because I'm standing in the way of it. I am a bit of a skeptic about it...and God probably isn't going to give it to be...because I think I mostly want it, just to see if it's real...and that's probably not the right reason...LOL

I have to get over this funk and just get into it...

 

[Victrixa]

Onionring,

Tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and is not given by God to every Christian.

As was mentioned earlier,there are three types of tongues: known languages (languages of men) which are spoken, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that people of these languages will understand (i.e. by missionaries - for the spreading of the Gospel), tongues with the need of an interpreter, tongues for personal prayer.

Why God desires to communicate through the gift of tongues sometimes is a mystery. Maybe it is, as it was mentioned in some posts above, because the languages of men are so limited... But why it happens in some certain places, at some certain times and through some certain people, I don't know. Why the gift of tongues is given to some Christians and not to others, I don't know either. This is a mystery, as there are many mysteries within the Christian faith but that we take simply by faith. We must trust that God knows what He's doing and that everything, every gift, has a purpose. I think this cannot be explained rationally.

I have the gift of tongues and God does utter mysteries through me...

Don't worry if you don't have the gift of tongues, Onionring. I am sure you have many many other gifts that you use to serve God with (that He has given you)!

Love in Christ,

Caroline