I didn't get to vote, the polls were closed.
I would have voted No, and before you start telling me why I am wrong, please listen to why I think so. Thanks!
I believe that speaking in tongues is
a manifestation of THE GIFT - Holy Spirit. I use the KJV, and if you look in I Cor.12:7, it very clearly states that the following 9 "gifts" are called manifestations.
I speak in tongues, and I do it daily, as part of my prayer life, and praise life. The word
"gifts" is used in I Cor. 12:1, but it is italicized in the KJV, which means the word was added by the translators. The word "spiritual" (just before the word
"gifts" in the KJV, is the greek word
pneumatikos, and it means spiritual things, or spiritual matters.
The Gift is the Holy Spirit. The manifestation of that gift, is speaking in tongues, interpretation, healing, prophecy, etc. If I were to give you a car as a gift, that would be the gift. Along with that gift comes the radio, the heater, the brakes, the horn, etc. The radio is not the gift, the car is. You cannot operate the radio (manifestation of the overall gift), if you don't have the original gift of the car. Right?? Operating the radio, means you have the gift of the car.
I used to attend a charismatic Catholic group, and they were they ones who led me into speaking in tongues. I do use tongues in my prayer life frequently, and now I have another point to address --
posted by AV1611:
The Gift of Tongues as used in the Bible was not Satanic. However the gift of tongues as used in the Bible has ceased. This is because the purpose of tongues has ceased.
Av1611 -- I have to disagree with this because of Acts 2:7-11. If the original "use" of speaking in tongues was to "speak the wonderful works of God" in verse 11, why would God want that to cease???
We are to continue in speaking the wonderful works of God today. If this is another way of doing so, far be it from me to stop. I know I Cor 13:8 says that tongues will cease. But it also says knowledge will cease as well. Verse 10 gives the answer when it says -- "But when that which is perfect is come,
THEN that which is in part shall be done away."
In other words, the Apostle Paul is not saying "it's history", he is saying "it will be history, someday". (my paraphrase!)
So -- I believe that the Gift is the Holy Spirit, and when tongues, healing, etc. are done -- it is a manifestation (ie. - proof that you have the Spirit).
And yes -- it will continue until our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ comes down from Heavan to gather in His children!
