Speaking in Tongues

[DesGrieux]

Hello everybody. I accepted christ about three months ago at a Pentecostal church. It was awesome and beautiful, but the practice of speaking in tongues that I saw there perplexed me. I have a couple of questions, because when i ask people about it i get many different answers,

What exactly IS the gift of tongues?
Is the gift of tongues different from glossolalia?
Can all christians speak in tongues?

Thanks,

Des Grieux

 

[FriendOfGod6]

Hello everybody. I accepted christ about three months ago at a Pentecostal church. It was awesome and beautiful, but the practice of speaking in tongues that I saw there perplexed me. I have a couple of questions, because when i ask people about it i get many different answers,

What exactly IS the gift of tongues?
Is the gift of tongues different from glossolalia?
Can all christians speak in tongues?

Thanks,

Des Grieux

What exactly IS the gift of tongues?
There are two types of speaking in tongues, both of which are a gift of the holy spirit (it's considered to be just 1 gift, though). One is Xenolalia which is the gift of speaking in another language that is not your own to preach or spread the gospel in foreign countries. The other is glossolalia which is the gift of speaking in a language only God can understand. Both are desirable gifts.

Is the gift of tongues different from glossolalia?
See above, there are two types of speaking in tongues.

Can all christians speak in tongues?
The assemblies of God believe that speaking in tongues is the only proof of the holy ghost manifested in you, so yes we believe any Christian can speak in tongues.

 

[Kalasin]

It's not quite true that Xenolalia is for speaking to people in other countries. When I pray in tongues, I pray in a form of Arabic (having never learned Arabic), and I Google all the words. It's not fluent, what I tend to get is a whole load of small disconnected phrases, which I pray to God in my private prayer time. There are two forms of tongues: praying a heavenly tongue that nobody understands (Glossolalia) and a known tongue (Xenolalia.) I have personally witnessed both. I'm not an expert on tongues but I think Glossolalia is more common.

 

[tturt]

Des Grieux, glad that you've given your heart to the Lord. Welcome to the forums.

Yes, all believers can speak in tongues. While reading his book on tongues, Dave Roberson noted that in Scripture that all in the groups received. So these are the Scriptures I found.
1[FONT=&quot]--[/FONT]-On the day of Pentecost in the upper room: Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance"
2- ---At Cornelius’ house filled with friends and family who were baptized. Acts 10:44 ”While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God."
3- ---The Disciples of Ephesus Acts 19:2 "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” 6”And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve."

(The group that doesn't say all received is on the day of Pentecost, not in the Upper Room, where there were mockers of tongues. Acts 2).

I Cor. 12:28 states “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues,” These diversities have at least two main purposes -
(1) one purpose of speaking in tongues is for church edification that's speaking in tongues with an interpretation I Cor 12:10. So every believer isn't going to be given this gift; however,
(2) other purposes are a personal language between you and our Heavenly Father and is shown in such Scriptures such as Acts 10:46 "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. …”

 

[Bob Carabbio]

"What exactly IS the gift of tongues?"

There will be a language present in your mind, and you will be able to speak the words as they flow into your consciousness.

There appear to be two major variations:

When one is "Baptised in the Holy Spirit" (to use Assembly of God terminology) the ability to speak in a tongue typically occurs and can be done discretionally for as long as you want to and time you want to.

AND

Now and again the person MAY BE BURDENED to deliver a MESSAGE in a tongue in a congregational meeting. This IS NOT discretionary, and only occurs as the person is specifically LED by the Holy SPirit to do so. In this case the message will have an "End point" when the flow of words STOPS, and the "Burden" to deliver is gone.

"Is the gift of tongues different from glossolalia?"

Nope - in the '60s Lutherans wouldn't be caught dead "Speaking in tongues", but they WOULD "engage in the manifestation of Charismatic Glossolalia".
A ROSE by any other name -

"Can all christians speak in tongues?"

Controversial. Paul intimates that "ALL CHRISTIANS" will NOT.

However this may only mean that "all Christians don't "Speak in tongues" in "Message to the congregation" mode. I never have, and I've been a "Tongues speaker" for 39 years. I have been burdened to deliver "Interpretation of Tongues", and to "Prophesy".

Most of the "Pentecostal" denominations have "Initial evidence" clauses in their beliefs, and teach that WHEN you're "Baptized in the Holy Spirit", tongues will be part of the "package". It was for me back in '73.

There's a "Lunatic fringe" Pentecostal bunch called "Oneness", or "United Pentecostals" that teach non-trinitarianism. They also require water baptism in Jesus' name ONLY, and don't consider you saved UNTIL you've choked out an acceptable "tongue". DON'T get tangled up with those denominations.

Charismatics tend not to be so adamant about "Initial evidence", and feel that OTHER manifestations may also serve.

 

[FriendOfGod6]

It's not quite true that Xenolalia is for speaking to people in other countries.

I wasn't saying it was the only time you can use xenolalia I was just speaking of the benefits of the use of xenolalia.

 

[dayhiker]

.

Can all christians speak in tongues?
The assemblies of God believe that speaking in tongues is the only proof of the holy ghost manifested in you, so yes we believe any Christian can speak in tongues.

Last I knew the AOG considered speaking in tongues to be the initial evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. I don't think the AOG considers tongues the only proof of anything. I know I wouldn't.

 

[FriendOfGod6]

Last I knew the AOG considered speaking in tongues to be the initial evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. I don't think the AOG considers tongues the only proof of anything. I know I wouldn't.

Holy spirit manifestation is the same thing as being baptized in the holy spirit just different words.

 

[dayhiker]

Ok

 

[Biblicist]

Can all christians speak in tongues?...

When Paul asks this question he is not referring to how we can all pray in the Spirit (tongues) during times of personal devotions,which is something that every believer can do if they so wish but with how not everyone will choose to speak in tongues during the congregational meeting.

Even though many people may only offer a tongue to the Lord on the odd occasion, there will be numerous people who may choose to do so on a regular basis and it is these people who are credited by the local congregation as having the office/function of tongues, of which tongues is one of the 8 Congregational offices/functions as per 1Co 12:28.

In an ideal congregation (if they actually exist and if so where!), we should find people covering each of the 8 Congregational offices/functions and the same people could also operate in other functions as well.