• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Stupid Question from new christian

Status
Not open for further replies.

Hobo No More

Active Member
Nov 9, 2003
198
9
39
Visit site
✟15,401.00
Faith
Christian
Speaking in tongues is where God gives you the gift of speaking in a different language which you are unable to speak because you don't know it. Then it is normal for someone to interpret the 'tongue' or language so that the church can understand the meaning of what God gave this person. Paul talks about this in the book of Corinthians I think and the gift of tongues originated from the day of Pentecost where God poured His Holy Spirit upon the disciples for the first time. While some argue that this gift is not in use today I completely believe it is still in use. A well known pastor in England called David Carr can speak in 11 languages. The thing with 'tongues' is that they can be verified so I don't see how people who don't believe them to occur can argue.

hope that helps

Hobo
 
Upvote 0

jay1_z

Active Member
Mar 15, 2004
86
4
✟221.00
Faith
Christian
There are no stupid questions. We all had to learn by asking and research. Speaking in tongues is a gift given to us from the Holy Spirit. When we speak in tongues it is actually the spirit interceding for us. It is a language that only you and God knows. Sometimes you may not even know what is being said and an interpreter (also a gift given by the Holy spirit) must translate. One of the reasons for speaking in tongues is so that no one (or demonic spirit) can understand. Satan can not read our minds therefore we have to be careful about what we say. Words are powerful and we must not speak bad things into existence. Tongues allow us our the spirit to make different petitions to God for us. It's like a lawyer speaking for us in a courtroom. The lawyer will know how to explain our situation to the judge properly.
 
Upvote 0

Iosias

Senior Contributor
Jul 18, 2004
8,171
227
✟9,648.00
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Private
TennYankee2004 said:
:confused: OK....now your all going to think that I am really new and I am....you may believe this is a stupid question...but what is "Speaking in Tongues"?
After His ressurection Our LORD issued a commission saying "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16: 15-18) This passage is spoken to the disciples ONLY! The passage continues..."So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

From this passage we know that the gift of tongues was a SIGN-gift which confirmed the word they spoke...i.e. it was a sign that shewed the authority of their message. Acts two charts their progress and in Hebrews 2:3-4 we are told "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" Again the same point is made...the gift of tongues was just one sign which confirmed the message they carried.

The SIGN-gifts were time specific. There are only three periods where miracles in this sense of the word have occurred and all three were at periods where God was revealling a new message and this is one of them!

So when the period of revelation is over i.e. at the end of Acts so the gift ceases.The gift of tongues is not for today!

I hope this has helped you!

Regards,
Richard
 
Upvote 0

Iosias

Senior Contributor
Jul 18, 2004
8,171
227
✟9,648.00
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Private
The gift of tongues is the supernatural ability to speak in a foreign language.

When did tongues cease? If foreign tongues were really a sign of coming judgment upon the nation Israel, then once this judgment had come, the sign-gift would no longer be necessary. Any Jew who knew his Old Testament should have recognized foreign tongues as a solemn warning of coming judgment. Once the judgment had come, the warning sign was no longer needed!

God graciously waited four decades following the crucifixion of His Son (Israel’s rejected Messiah) before He brought final judgment upon the nation. But in 70 A.D. the Romans under General Titus brought the Christ-rejecting nation to its final ruin. Ever since A.D. 70 there has been no question that Israel as a nation is under the judgment of God. The Jews have been forced out of the land. They have been scattered and persecuted throughout the world. It is obvious that God is no longer working through His chosen nation. His program has now shifted and God’s witnesses are among all nations. The Jews are out of the land, a definite sign that they are now under God’s curse (cf. Deuteronomy 28).

In every nation where they have been scattered they constantly hear foreign tongues (Russian, German, English, etc.) as a continual reminder to them that they have refused the blessing and rest of God. Interestingly enough, not one book in the New Testament was written in the language of the Jews. Not only did God shift from Israel to the Church, but He also shifted from Hebrew to Greek as the language through which He would give His Word! God has not cast away His people Israel (Romans 11:1), but He has cast them aside for a time. The final and ultimate event which marked Israel’s judgment was the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., an event that was predicted by our Lord forty years before (Matthew 23:38; 24:2).

Therefore, it must be concluded that the gift of tongues as a sign-gift was no longer needed after 70 A.D. Tongues must have ceased on or before 70 A.D. The last historical mention of the gift of tongues is in 1 Corinthians which was written about 55 A.D. There is no evidence historically that the genuine gift of tongues ever occurred after 70 A.D. Tongues served their purpose, and tongues ceased, even as God had predicted through the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 13:8).



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 (1 Corinthians 14:22).





As previously noted, tongues were a sign for the unbelieving, rebellious, Christ-rejecting nation of Israel. The believers in the Corinthian assembly needed to understand the purpose of tongues, but much more they needed to avail themselves of the gift of prophecy, which is valuable towards edification and exhortation and comfort (verse 3). Not only is prophecy of value for believers, but prophecy is also of value for potential believers (those visiting the assembly), as Paul explains in verses 23-25.



It is important to realize that the unbelievers mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 are very different than the unbelievers mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:23-24, even though the same Greek word is used (apistos). In verses 21-22 Paul describes rebellious and disobedient unbelievers, who heard God’s message but then refused and even rejected the God who gave it. These were unbelievers who would not hear God (1 Corinthians 14:21). They stubbornly refused God’s gracious offer of rest (Isaiah 28:12). These were unbelievers who belonged to "this people" (1 Corinthians 14:21; Isaiah 28:11), which in the context of the Isaiah passage can refer only to the people of Israel, the Jews. Tongues were a foreboding sign of coming judgment for an unbelieving nation who would not listen to their God.

But the unbelievers described in 1 Corinthians 14:23-24 are in marked contrast to the rebellious, God-rejecting Jews just mentioned. These were unbelievers who had come into the assembly. Paul was most likely thinking of unbelieving Gentiles who decided they would visit the Corinthian church and see what was going on there. They were willing to come and to listen to whatever the church had to offer. Apparently these unbelievers were seekers. In fact, they were potential believers! Paul knew that the one thing potential believers need more than anything else is prophecy, not tongues.

The Bible teaches, in 1 Corinthians 14:22, that tongues served as a judgmental sign to the nation Israel. [George E. Gardiner, The Corinthian Catastrophe (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1974), pp. 35-36. See also the excellent discussion by Dillow, pp. 26-34.] Does this mean that wherever tongues were spoken, there had to be unbelieving Jews present? Such a position is very problematic. Why would a rebellious, Christ-rejecting Jew be present at a church service in Corinth? Assembling with Christians would be the last thing he would want to do. Also, there were no unbelieving Jews present in Acts 10 or Acts 19, when the tongues speaking occurred. The Bible never says that unbelieving Jews must be present whenever tongues are spoken, and Paul did not include this in his list of regulations in 1 Corinthians 14:27-35.

How then could tongues serve as a sign to the Jews? It should be understood that the unbelieving Jews in the Roman empire knew about the Christian church. They were conscious of the Christian community in their midst. The Christians were the talk of the synagogue! Indeed, the Jews were very much aware of the fact that some of these Christians had the amazing ability to speak in foreign languages-languages that they had never learned. They had at least heard of this amazing phenomenon.

How can it be said that the unbelieving Jews were aware of the gift of tongues? It is important to think back to the day in which the Church first began and tongues were first heard. On the day of Pentecost there were assembled Jews "from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5-6). These Jews all witnessed the gift of tongues in operation. Many of them believed the gospel as Peter preached it, but many did not (compare the "mockers" of Acts 2:13). As these Jews returned to their homes they must have told their kinsmen about the remarkable things which they saw and heard. One can almost imagine such a conversation:

"Have you heard what went on at Jerusalem? The followers of Jesus of Nazareth were claiming that their leader had come back from the dead. On the day of Pentecost the most amazing thing happened! They spoke in foreign languages. It was remarkable! The men who spoke in these tongues were Galileans!"

Many years go by and then: "Do you remember when you told me about that tongues-speaking in Jerusalem? Well, certain Christians have started meeting our city and I have heard a report that some of them speak in foreign languages also!"

It is not necessary to be present in a church to know what takes place there. Reports go out and word gets around! In the days of the early Church people were aware, at least to some degree, of what was taking place in the Christian assemblies. The same was true in Old Testament times. When the Assyrians or Babylonians came to invade the land, the news was spread quickly. The Jews did not need to see their enemies and hear them speak to know that they were coming!

In 1 Corinthians 14:22, the Greek article precedes the word "tongues" in verse 22 and is very significant. It is an article of previous reference (pointing back to what has just been mentioned).



"Wherefore the tongues are for a sign."


"What tongues are you talking about, Paul?"
"The tongues I just finished talking about in verse 21, namely foreign tongues."




Thus if the tongues in verse 21 are foreign languages (Isaiah 28), then the tongues in verse 22 (the Corinthian tongues) must be the same thing.





If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and report that God is in you of a truth ( 1 Corinthians 14:23-25)





In order for the Corinthian assembly to have an effective testimony before the lost, its members must manifest the life of Christ. The world needs to see a healthy, growing organism (not organization). The number one characteristic of an organism is that it possesses life. The local church is animated by "the very life of God (cf. 1 Timothy 3:15--"the assembly of the living God"). The assembly is pulsating with God’s life because it is indwelt by the living Christ (Colossians 1:27).



During our Lord’s incarnate life and ministry here upon the earth, God was manifested in the flesh! But the great mystery that thrilled the heart of the Apostle Paul is that today God is incarnate in a body upon this earth (1 Timothy 3:15-16; Colossians 1:26-27). Christ now has a body on the earth, in addition to His resurrected body in Heaven.

The world cannot see Christ directly, because He is in Heaven, but it can see His body which is upon the earth--a living organism manifesting the heavenly, resurrected life of Christ! The Head is in Heaven, but the body is upon the earth, for the purpose of bearing witness to the Head! And there is only one way that the world can see Christ today. It must see "Christ in you!"(Colossians 1:27) It must see Christ in the Church, because Christ is today manifesting Himself in a body, which is His Church, "the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:23). How precious the assembly must be to the Lord!

According to Colossians 1:27-28, there is only one way that the living Christ can truly manifest Himself in and through the assembly. Every single member of the body must be warned, every single body member must be taught, and every single member of the body must be well fed! When the members are well fed, then the body is going to be healthy; when the body is healthy, then the life of Christ will be manifested, sinners will be convicted, and God will be glorified!

In 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul describes the local Church as the house of God, indicating that the Most High God lives and dwells in the assembly. What a marvel--the indwelling presence of the living God in the Church! If the expression, "house of God" (oikos theou) were to be translated into Hebrew, the resultant word would be Bethel (Beyt-el). If one is ever going to understand the New Testament "Bethel" (1 Timothy 3:15), then he must first realize what Jacob discovered about the Old Testament Bethel in Genesis 28.

When Jacob awoke from his dream, he exclaimed, "Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God.... And he called the name of that place Bethel" (Genesis 28:16-19).

"The LORD is in this place" and Jacob did not even realize it! And those who belong to the New Testament Bethel often fail to realize this very thing. Paul wrote to the Corinthian "Bethel" and said, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) God dwells in the assembly. The Church is the habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).

Ephesians 4:11-16 makes it very clear that God’s priority is a healthy organism. In 1 Corinthians 14 (especially verses 3,4,5,12,17) it has been noted that the body of believers must be edified and healthy. The world needs to see a healthy assembly, not a sick one!

What will happen when an unsaved person comes into an assembly that is functioning contrary to the principles of edification? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 14:23. He will say, "This is a madhouse! These people are out of their minds!" But what a difference when he comes into an assembly that is functioning according to principles of edification (verses 24-25). Now he sees a healthy organism, and he sees Christ-like saints! So, falling down on his face he will worship God and say, "God is in these people. God is in this place. How dreadful is this place. This is none other than the house of God. This is not a madhouse. This is the house of God! Bethel."

Is this what unbelievers notice as they come into local churches today? Do they see a healthy organism? Do they see well-fed members? Do they see "Christ in you"? Are they convicted by the awesome Presence and Person of God?

The greatest testimony before the world results when the local church functions as an "edificational center," not as an "evangelistic center." The greatest need today is for a lost world to see the Lord Jesus Christ manifesting Himself in and through a healthy assembly of believers. This cannot be produced by preaching "John 3:16" salvation sermons every Sunday. The saints need nothing less than a steady diet of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-32; Matthew 28:20; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; etc.)...
See http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/tongues/tongues9.htm for full text!!
 
Upvote 0

OrthodoxyUSA

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jul 6, 2004
25,292
2,868
61
Tupelo, MS
Visit site
✟187,274.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]From http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Q-and-A_OLD/Speaking-in-Tongues.html[/font]

..........................................................................................................

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit and specifically speaking in new tongues, I offer the following observations: [/font]
  1. [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]While the Orthodox Church does not deny this gift in any way, it does acknowledge that this gift is rarely given, spontaneous, and only evident in cases of need. On the day of Pentecost, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles proclaimed the Good News to all who would listen. Acts notes that there were many people from many lands in Jerusalem at the time, celebrating the Jewish feast of Pentecost. Many languages were spoken. Acts continues by stating that every one in the crowd heard and understood the apostles as if they were speaking in their own tongues. This gives rise to speculation: does speaking in tongues mean that someone is speaking in a language he or she does not know, or does it imply that he or she is speaking in his or her own language but that the Holy Spirit miraculously enables his or her listeners to understand, even if his or her listeners do not know the speaker's language? [/font]
  2. [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It follows that on the day of Pentecost there was a clear need for this manifestation: everyone was from a different land and spoke a different language. However, everyone understood. This clearly implies that speaking in tongues is not meaningless babbling, but readily understood speech and language. [/font]
  3. [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]While on the day of Pentecost there was a need, due to varying languages, in the case of a group of people who all speak and understand the same language, what would be the purpose of tongues? In Scripture we do not find other indications or references to the apostles speaking in tongues, other than on the day of Pentecost. Perhaps it was because no such need had made itself evident. [/font]
  4. [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is only my personal opinion, but I think the Orthodox Church would say that "regularly scheduled" speaking in tongue sessions conducted by individuals who speak the same language somehow miss the point. For example, it seems inconceivable to say, "Welcome to our mid-week prayer service. From 7:00 until 7:30 we will pray and sing hymns, and then we will speak in tongues." [/font]

    [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If everyone speaks the same language, what is being revealed? If what is uttered is not intelligible to the hearers, what is being communicated? [/font]

    [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If it is a way of showing who in a congregation is filled with the Holy Spirit and who isn't, it constitutes heresy, for the Holy Spirit is everywhere present and fills all things, including those individuals who have been created in God's image and likeness yet who reject the very notion. Scripture is very clear that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are never to become sources of personal pride. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]With regard to miracles, surely there can be no end to the age of miracles, for God is present everywhere and at all times in the midst of His people. This in itself is a miracle. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If, however, by miracles we are referring only to physical healings, flashing lights, unexplained phenomena, and the like, then we may very well be disappointed. Christ Himself condemned those who continually wished to see signs, or miracles. And Scripture is clear that even those who witnessed miracles with their own eyes often rejected that which they had experienced. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Read the account of the resurrection of Lazarus; everyone witnessed Lazarus walking out of his tomb, yet Scripture says that immediately this created a division among the people, with some greeting Christ the very next day with palm branches as He entered Jerusalem while other witnesses sought a means by which they might put Him to death. "If we don't stop Him, the whole world will chase after Him." [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Indeed, we believe in miracles -- the real miracle, however, is discoverning God's presence in our lives; discerning His voice, small and still as it may be, as the Prophet Elijah did -- and keeping still and silent so we can hear His voice and discern His will for our lives; accepting His call and invitation to live in this world while not being of this world; etc. Healings do occur, but as Christ Himself states in every case, healings are not only signs of God's power and love but also signs of tremendous faith on the part of the one healed -- "Your faith has made you whole." [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Finally, one of the greatest miracles that can occur today, in this age of personal issues, lack of self esteem, and the ongoing search to discover "who am I," is the recognition of ourselves and our very lives as miracles. As Saint John of Kronstadt, the late-19th century Orthodox saint, once wrote, "Lord, I am a miracle of Thy love. ..." [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]With regard to what we might call phenomenal miracles -- weeping icons, faces of Jesus appearing on walls, and the like -- Saint John Chrysostom offers good advice: they may be a revelation from God, or they may be a deception from Satan. If we are living according to the teachings and example of Christ, however, we should not make much of them.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]..[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]..........................................................................................................[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I would also point you to a book: "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future"[/font]
by Fr. Seraphim Rose - ISBN 1-887904-00-X

Just because someone claims to have "the Spirit" it doen't mean its the "Holy Spirit", people tend to forget that others spirits are perfectly willing to act in the same way and misguide us...

There have been times "lately" when an Arabic speaking person would enter a local congregation and hear them speaking in tongues, after the service the Arabic was scared to death because of what he had heard. He reported that the people there were speaking in his native language but they were saying awful things about the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) and the Son of God..

Forgive me...
 
  • Like
Reactions: RJ1
Upvote 0

rainbowprism

Elevate My Soul
May 4, 2004
1,298
63
44
Ohio
✟1,869.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
Why don't some of you let this woman discern for herself whether or not the gift of tongues exisits for today? She was just asking what it was....not about the historitcy of it.

OP--the gift of tongues is a spiritual gift of the ability to speak in languages unknown to you, these language can be a known foreign language or you can recieve a 'language' to be used in prayer, the second type of language just allows you better communication in your prayer time kinda like a Holy Spirit overide because since you don't know what your saying exactly it frees your mind and the Spirit intercedes for you. This is a gift, and not something that every Christian MUST have in order to be assured of thier salvation or anything like that. There are many spiritual gifts and this just happens to be one of them.

If you have any questions beyond the basics, feel free to PM me! And don't worry about asking questions on this board you might think are 'stupid', every mature Christian started out as immature :)
 
Upvote 0

Iosias

Senior Contributor
Jul 18, 2004
8,171
227
✟9,648.00
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Private
rainbowprism said:
Why don't some of you let this woman discern for herself whether or not the gift of tongues exisits for today? She was just asking what it was....not about the historitcy of it.
I am...but in order for her to make up her own mind she needs to understand the cessationist case!

OP--...or you can recieve a 'language' to be used in prayer
Prove this with scripture!!
 
Upvote 0

Chica4Christ

Active Member
Jul 16, 2004
68
10
37
✟22,746.00
Faith
Non-Denom
The gift of tounges is real, and it IS a gift for today. What are you guys talking about? I thought all Christians knew this. I was baptized on February 29th of this year and about 2 weeks afterwards God gave me the gift of tounges in which I received at my then church.

Are yall saying you CANNOT recieve the gift of tounges today or you CAN? Little confused here.. :)

God bless
 
Upvote 0

rainbowprism

Elevate My Soul
May 4, 2004
1,298
63
44
Ohio
✟1,869.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
AV1611 said:
I am...but in order for her to make up her own mind she needs to understand the cessationist case!


Prove this with scripture!!

You were not. You could have told her what tongues were, as you did in the beggining of your post and said "some" think this way. Not with a screen full of stuff that a new christian isn't nessacarily prepared to dig through.

You are a cessationist; why would you want me to prove anything of a prayer language's existence with scripture? You aren't open to it, you'd would just try to turn it around on me...and this certainly is not the thread to do this in. PM me if you really want to prove me wrong.
 
Upvote 0

Iosias

Senior Contributor
Jul 18, 2004
8,171
227
✟9,648.00
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Private
Chica4Christ said:
The gift of tounges is real, and it IS a gift for today. What are you guys talking about? I thought all Christians knew this. I was baptized on February 29th of this year and about 2 weeks afterwards God gave me the gift of tounges in which I received at my then church.

Are yall saying you CANNOT recieve the gift of tounges today or you CAN? Little confused here.. :)

God bless
You CANNOT recieve the Gift of Tongues today because its purpose has been completed for the time being...http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/tongues/tongues9.htm and http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/tongues/tongues7.htm
 
Upvote 0

Iosias

Senior Contributor
Jul 18, 2004
8,171
227
✟9,648.00
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Private
rainbowprism said:
You are a cessationist; why would you want me to prove anything of a prayer language's existence with scripture? You aren't open to it, you'd would just try to turn it around on me...and this certainly is not the thread to do this in. PM me if you really want to prove me wrong.
No I want you to try to prove your case...which you cannot do scripturaly because it is not in scripture...furthermore I am still awaiting your reply to my PM.
 
Upvote 0

OrthodoxyUSA

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jul 6, 2004
25,292
2,868
61
Tupelo, MS
Visit site
✟187,274.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Chica4Christ said:
The gift of tounges is real, and it IS a gift for today. What are you guys talking about? I thought all Christians knew this. I was baptized on February 29th of this year and about 2 weeks afterwards God gave me the gift of tounges in which I received at my then church.

Are yall saying you CANNOT recieve the gift of tounges today or you CAN? Little confused here.. :)

God bless
Please read my earlier post carefully..

Forgive me..:priest:
 
Upvote 0

Bob Moore

Reformed Apologist
Dec 16, 2003
936
38
77
North Carolina
✟23,884.00
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Married
TennYankee2004 said:
:confused: OK....now your all going to think that I am really new and I am....you may believe this is a stupid question...but what is "Speaking in Tongues"?

It isn't stupid at all.

In the early days of the Church signs and wonders were given by God to validate His messengers. Tongues was one of the sign gifts. But do not miss the fact that a Biblical 'tongue' was always a known language as seen here:

Acts 2:4-8, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans? And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?"

As the 1st century wore on, the sign gifts diminished. For example Paul performed many healings but later in his ministry he could not, as seen here:

2 Timothy 4:20, "Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick".

James knew this, and instructed the churches like this: James 5:14-15, "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him."

Why the change? Because we are commanded to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). At various times in history God has seen fit to demonstrate His power by miracles, but it never has been a common ongoing thing.

Tongues, as seen today, is not the sign gift for the simple reason that signs are no longer required. The Bible says that wisdom, (which is the knowledge and fear of the Lord) is gained in this manner: James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him".

All this is not to say that we are not to desire spiritual gifts, but we must be careful to discern what is real and what is not. In the "Christian" world today there is a vast amount of lousy teaching, false preaching, phony miracles, and fake healing going on for the benefit of the gullible.

So my advice to you would be this: Earnestly desire that God give you wisdom and discernment so that you might know the truth. But desire without action isn't worth much, so "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

**********

I notice that others have told you pretty much the same thing. That's good because the Bible also tells us "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety". (Proverbs 11:14)
 
Upvote 0

Bob Moore

Reformed Apologist
Dec 16, 2003
936
38
77
North Carolina
✟23,884.00
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Married
Chica4Christ said:
The gift of tounges is real, and it IS a gift for today. What are you guys talking about? I thought all Christians knew this. I was baptized on February 29th of this year and about 2 weeks afterwards God gave me the gift of tounges in which I received at my then church.
God bless

Is it a known language? Or is it only glossolalia?
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.