Speaking in tongues

[JackRT]

The Pentecost event that has been called "speaking in tongues" is a misnomer. It is actually "hearing in tongues" because each listener heard him speaking in his native tongue. There seems no point in anyone speaking in a tongue no one can understand. To me, that looks like a form of induced hysteria.

 

[Anto9us]

Act 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:5
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

The multitude HEARD in their own tongue because the disciples SPOKE WITH OTHER TONGUES.

The miracle was not only in the HEARING - it was in the SPEAKING as well.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

1Co 14:22
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

And what is prophesying? To speak as a mediator between God and humankind.

 

[HTacianas]

While researching Protestant denominations, I learned this interesting bit of information: Most, but not all, evangelicals and Pentecostals believe people still receive gifts from the Holy Spirit - including speaking in tongues - when they are saved. Although speaking in tongues is Biblical I have never heard of any new Christians doing so. The same article states other denominations hold the belief that this stopped a long time ago. This makes sense, but they lump together all Holy Spirit gifts, not just speaking in tongues. I don't believe it is all or nothing. What do you think?

I don't care if someone speaks in tongues or pretends to speak in tongues or whatever. According to the bible, speaking in tongues is the least of the gifts and should be avoided. It has occurred here and there throughout the history of the Church but is rare.

The problem I have is when people claim that speaking in tongues is a requirement to determine if a baptism is valid, an idea I know to be false. Any person making that claim places themselves in the position of judge over the validity of every baptism in history.

 

[PaulCyp1]

The original and true Christian Church, the one Church Jesus Christ founded, to which He promised the fullness of truth, has accepted the gift of tongues for 2,000 years. If it were not the true teaching of Jesus Christ, His Church would not have included it when it compiled the Holy Bible.

 

[GingerBeer]

While researching Protestant denominations, I learned this interesting bit of information: Most, but not all, evangelicals and Pentecostals believe people still receive gifts from the Holy Spirit - including speaking in tongues - when they are saved. Although speaking in tongues is Biblical I have never heard of any new Christians doing so. The same article states other denominations hold the belief that this stopped a long time ago. This makes sense, but they lump together all Holy Spirit gifts, not just speaking in tongues. I don't believe it is all or nothing. What do you think?

I think that talking gibberish and pretending that God made you do it and that it is some kind of special prayer language or some kind of angelic language is just silly. Oh and I think that's what "speaking in tongues" means to most, but not all, evangelicals.

 

[Yarddog]

While researching Protestant denominations, I learned this interesting bit of information: Most, but not all, evangelicals and Pentecostals believe people still receive gifts from the Holy Spirit - including speaking in tongues - when they are saved. Although speaking in tongues is Biblical I have never heard of any new Christians doing so. The same article states other denominations hold the belief that this stopped a long time ago. This makes sense, but they lump together all Holy Spirit gifts, not just speaking in tongues. I don't believe it is all or nothing. What do you think?

The Catholic Church still teaches that all of the gifts of the Spirit exist today.

 

[Anto9us]

Act 2:9
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Because we really do not know how many human languages 2:9-11 represents, people have proposed that the miracle was just in the HEARING...

Yet one group of disiples could have spoke to a Parthian group, others to an Arabian group, etc.

I wish we had a video of Acts 2, but we don't. I have heard it happenned on SOLOMON'S PORCH -- but I don't know.

Maybe Matthew was speaking Egyptian to a group of Egyptians gathered near him, maybe Phillip was speaking Parthian to a group of Parthians gathered near him, we really don't know exactly how it went down - other than disciples spoke in tongues they didn't know, and the hearers heard their own separate language.

 

[Anto9us]

I disagree that 'most evangelicals' consider Tongues as "Gibberish".

Every thread on Tongues I have seen at CF does seem to have references to 'Benny Hinn' and 'Gibberish' come up quite early in the thread, though.

...

Yes, Maria, you have accurately defined 'prophesying'

 

[Anto9us]

The problem I have is when people claim that speaking in tongues is a requirement to determine if a baptism is valid, an idea I know to be false

Of course that idea is false.

 

[Anto9us]

Reductio ad Hitlerum - Wikipedia

The references to Benny Hinn and "Gibberish" seem to me akin to Reductio ad Hitlerum whenever a thread on Tongues comes up.

 

[Anto9us]

Benny Hinn has had a lot of showy, perhaps fake I dunno, miracles of HEALING. But I don't know anyone who claims that God doesn't heal people today. That is why I use my "counterfeit money" example -- yes, counterfeit money exists, but that doesn't make real money invalid.

 

[Anto9us]

According to the bible, speaking in tongues is the least of the gifts and should be avoided.

Least of the gifts - yes.
To be avoided - no.
Paul says "Forbid not to speak in Tongues"

1Co 14:39
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

 

[Anto9us]

I have never seen a person change positions on Cessationism/Continuationism because of a thread on a message board; and I have seen a LOT of such threads.

There is a greater chance of me going to the United Pentecostal church 100 feet from my apartment and convincing those Oneness Pentecostals to accept the doctrine of the Trinity than there is of anyone changing their minds about Tongues because of a thread.

I went to a couple of services there til I read through a book their pastor gave me and choked on the non-Trinitarianism. I liked everything about 'em except the denial of Trinity

 

[bèlla]

I don't have the gift of tongues or interpretation of tongues. But I've spoken in tongues on one occasion. It was during an immense spiritual battle. I was being shown something the Lord prevented and tongues followed. It has never happened since. I don't feel qualified to say God has ceased the manifestation of His gifts.

 

[Anto9us]

That is not unheard of LaBella. Myself, I have only INTERPRETED once. I cannot do it "at will" like praying/singing in Tongues;nor have I been led to seek more of it.

The Holy Spirit cannot be "put in a box" and be made to conform to neat little rules. He's wild, ya know.

 

[HTacianas]

Least of the gifts - yes.
To be avoided - no.
Paul says "Forbid not to speak in Tongues"

1Co 14:39
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

This is not a point I'm arguing with you, but:

1Co 14:23 - Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

And then, prophesy is to be coveted:

1Co 14:1 - Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Why don't those who claim the gift of tongues not prophesy? Or heal? Why is it that the most easily faked gift the one that counts?

I had cancer last year that required life changing surgery to cure and then required the same invasive procedure all over again to correct a complication from the first surgery.

I could really have used someone with the gift of healing rather than the gift of incoherent babbling. And I certainly have no use for some charlatan claiming it's a requirement for salvation.

 

[GodLovesCats]

Also, ChristianforCats, Tongues is NOT just a Protestant phenomenon. Look up Catholic Charismatic Renewal -- I myself have gone to charismatic Catholic services.

I did not say it is. I specifically was researching Protestant denominations because I am not Catholic.

 

[Anto9us]

I never hear from any charismatic that tongues was a requirement for salvation.

 

[GodLovesCats]

Have you heard of any uncharismatics saying it is?

I know it's not. We are saved by faith alone.