The Truth about Tongues - Once and for All

Gordi · Mar 24, 2003

Only a few days after I was saved and felt the Holy Spirit come into my presence, I met people from a certain revival fellowship (not all revival fellowships are the same btw).

I had been healed from my addictions by the Holy Spirit and was over the moon with joy, but that was not enough for these people as they said speaking in tongues was a necessary sign of salvation.

They didn't even regard me as a Christian and said I still needed to recieve the Holy Spirit for salvation.

Needless to say it reduced me to tears and had me arguing with my family etc..........

I hope I never get into that situation again, I'm faithful of my conversion, but that really left a nasty taste in my mouth.

Blindfaith · Mar 24, 2003

Gordi,

You have my heartfelt support. I too had a really bad experience regarding this, and my conclusion is is that my relationship with the Lord, and relationship with others is wayyyy more important than speaking in tongues, or lack thereof.

I hope you're okay now?

Andrew · Mar 24, 2003

I hope I never get into that situation again, I'm faithful of my conversion, but that really left a nasty taste in my mouth.

So, are you going to throw out the baby with the bath water?

my conclusion is is that my relationship with the Lord, and relationship with others is wayyyy more important than speaking in tongues, or lack thereof.

if you cld take your relationship/communication with God to a higher level, would you?

dignitized · Mar 24, 2003

andrew? baby out with the bath water? you mean like the reformation did??

BTW - I have manifest the gift of tongues among other gifts . . . I would NEVER say however that it is "the" discerning sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Blindfaith · Mar 24, 2003

Andrew my friend, I don't think we're going to completely understand where the other is coming from

God is doing some amazing things in/with me, because I am trusting him, just as He instructed Abraham to do. It's not because I'm speaking a different language.

I respect your position, but I want to be respected as well. And, I know that you will. Also, I'd like to point out, that a fellow Christian, Gordi, had a terrible experience with those who made him feel guilty about not being able to "speak in tongues". Those who are gung-ho need to leave him be, and just encourage and edify him.

Know what I'm saying?

SpiritPsalmist · Mar 25, 2003

Yesterday at 09:23 PM Gordi said this in Post #21

Only a few days after I was saved and felt the Holy Spirit come into my presence, I met people from a certain revival fellowship (not all revival fellowships are the same btw).

I had been healed from my addictions by the Holy Spirit and was over the moon with joy, but that was not enough for these people as they said speaking in tongues was a necessary sign of salvation.

They didn't even regard me as a Christian and said I still needed to recieve the Holy Spirit for salvation.

Needless to say it reduced me to tears and had me arguing with my family etc..........

I hope I never get into that situation again, I'm faithful of my conversion, but that really left a nasty taste in my mouth.

Hey Gordi,

I do know what you mean.  One time on a public bus I tried to start a conversation with a man who was reading his Bible.  But because I was a woman and wear pants, he could only criticizise me and tell me I did not really know God because I was wearing pants. 

I felt humiliated because I had been witnessing for some time to several other people on that bus. 

I grew up in the Penticostal group but abandened that teaching when we changed to AOG.  Some members of my own family still believe that way.  One time, when I went to visit I was wearing a pair of long shorts. Actually, at that time they were called cullots (spelling ?), now they would call them skorts.  Anyway, one Aunt told me I was not welcome in her home wearing shorts. 

Anyway, just keep on loving God, and don't reject anything just because of what others may do or say. 

I believe tongues is a great asset to my spiritual walk.  The Holy Spirit makes intercession for me and lifts me up above the things that would bring me down.  It is not a requirement of salvation though. 

Sorry for your bad experience.  Be blessed.

Gordi · Mar 25, 2003

Hey thanks

What's kinda frustrating about this kinda thing is that, whilst I know it's not necessary for salvation I like the fact that people still seek and use the spiritual gifts.

Andrew, I'm not saying that the spiritual gifts are wrong or not in use anymore, and yes if I am blessed by the Holy Spirit to use certain gifts to take my relationship with God higher then that is amazing.

I think that sects that think speaking in tongues is necessary for salvation are gonna actually put people off seeking the gifts for a start.

SavedByGrace3 · Mar 25, 2003

Yesterday at 09:23 PM Gordi said this in Post #21

Only a few days after I was saved and felt the Holy Spirit come into my presence, I met people from a certain revival fellowship (not all revival fellowships are the same btw).

I had been healed from my addictions by the Holy Spirit and was over the moon with joy, but that was not enough for these people as they said speaking in tongues was a necessary sign of salvation.

They were not correct. Faith is the evidence of these things... that is all that you actually need. But in your testimony, the joy you were feeling was also evidence of an inward Change.
You do, however, have the "abba" word within your newborn spirit. You can speak forth from that spirit, and this is much of what the NT is talking about when it talks about tongues and prophesying.

They didn't even regard me as a Christian and said I still needed to recieve the Holy Spirit for salvation.

Click to expand...

They were wrong. They likely are confusing the Holy Spirit with the spirit of Christ that is born into you when you were born again. Like I said above, everyone receives the spirit of Christ and the "abba" word when they are born again. Not everyone is baptised with the Holy Spirit immediately upon conversion. Not everyone speaks in tongues at that time.

Needless to say it reduced me to tears and had me arguing with my family etc..........

I hope I never get into that situation again, I'm faithful of my conversion, but that really left a nasty taste in my mouth.

Click to expand...

Truely unfortunate!

Know that everyone who has called upon the name of the Lord is saved.
Rom 10:13

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God
1 John 5:1

Blindfaith · Mar 25, 2003

Gordi,  there's so much focus on speaking in tongues, and I think it's because it is the most "controversial" so to speak. (no pun intended ).

Everyone here recognizes though that there are many other gifts of the Spirit though.  I'll start a new thread so we can discuss these.  I don't want to hijack this thread.

Peace in Christ!

sbbqb7n16 · Mar 25, 2003

Today at 09:47 AM Quaffer said this in Post #26 
... But because I was a woman and wear pants, he could only criticizise me and tell me I did not really know God because I was wearing pants.   
...

And here I was thinking that all along "that (we) love one another" would be the sign of who was a disciple... not pants...

I know you are a loving person Quaff

I do think that many people's (who act like that) actions contradict the whole "I desire mercy not sacrifice" speech which is touched on often in Matthew's gospel. Also "neglecting the more important aspects of the law" Matthew 23:23

Ohh I wish Jesus would come back really soon!

AChildOfGodWithIronFaith · Mar 25, 2003

any gift from God is precious and none are "least important" in my eyes!

SpiritPsalmist · Mar 25, 2003

Today at 04:45 PM sbbqb7n16 said this in Post #30

And here I was thinking that all along "that (we) love one another" would be the sign of who was a disciple... not pants...

I know you are a loving person Quaff

I do think that many people's (who act like that) actions contradict the whole "I desire mercy not sacrifice" speech which is touched on often in Matthew's gospel. Also "neglecting the more important aspects of the law" Matthew 23:23

Ohh I wish Jesus would come back really soon!

Me too Paul. 

SpiritPsalmist · Mar 25, 2003

Today at 04:55 PM AChildOfGodWithIronFaith said this in Post #31

any gift from God is precious and none are "least important" in my eyes!

Good for you honey.  I can say honey cause I'm so much older than you

And none should be considered least important.  As you've said, "every gift from God is precious" and should be treated as such.

Thanks,

Quaffer

JesusServant · Mar 25, 2003

21st March 2003 at 04:32 PM Quaffer said this in Post #13

Thank you.    I'm in central Florida. . .where are you?

I'm in Nashville, TN, but I was talking about further into the future.   But hey, you never know!

JesusServant · Mar 25, 2003

23rd March 2003 at 05:10 PM sbbqb7n16 said this in Post #19

My thought:

I'd rather have the least gift, than no gift at all

Good thread... JesusServant that must have taken a while to type up that whole chapter. Thank you for your great time and effort Have a great day!

Copy and paste my friend, copy and paste.  I had just had this discussion with some friends just before I saw another thread on tongues and knew how vital that chapter is on understanding tongues.  Thank you for the thanks and you're most certainly welcome!

For those I don't have time to reply to, we all know that love/charity is the most important of all gifts (even though it is actually a fruit) but that doesn't make tongues any less special to those who use it as a tool of worship and praise and even prophecy in some cases.

JesusServant · Mar 25, 2003

Yesterday at 08:23 PM Gordi said this in Post #21

Only a few days after I was saved and felt the Holy Spirit come into my presence, I met people from a certain revival fellowship (not all revival fellowships are the same btw).

I had been healed from my addictions by the Holy Spirit and was over the moon with joy, but that was not enough for these people as they said speaking in tongues was a necessary sign of salvation.

They didn't even regard me as a Christian and said I still needed to recieve the Holy Spirit for salvation.

Needless to say it reduced me to tears and had me arguing with my family etc..........

I hope I never get into that situation again, I'm faithful of my conversion, but that really left a nasty taste in my mouth.

It's really this simple...

Did Elizabeth speak in tongues when her baby (John the Baptist) lept in her womb when the Holy Spirit came over her when Mary told her the news about Gabriel's visit?  Then apparently tongues does not always follow the Holy Spirit. 

I'm sorry that you went through that anguish and people should be more careful about their necessity for signs and wonders (especially those that are Holy Spirit filled).  They caused you grief and stole your joy and I hope you have prayed for them and forgiven them as they know not what they did.  God bless you my friend!

Andrew · Mar 25, 2003

andrew? baby out with the bath water? you mean like the reformation did??

no, but since you brought it up, yes, thank God the reformation through out much of the dirty bathwater but kept the baby.

God is doing some amazing things in/with me, because I am trusting him, just as He instructed Abraham to do. It's not because I'm speaking a different language.

It was a simple question blindfaith, and you didnt have to side-step it. God can certainly bless us in other ways but there's no need to put down tongues just becos of some -ve experiences or by saying it's overemphasised. This is the topic of discussion in this thread afterall.

Gordi · Mar 26, 2003

Andrew I like your website!

I always love having a look at what other Christians are doing around the world

That beach looks lovely!

SpiritPsalmist · Mar 26, 2003

Yesterday at 11:36 PM JesusServant said this in Post #34

I'm in Nashville, TN, but I was talking about further into the future.   But hey, you never know!

You mean like. . .in heaven?    I knew you did not mean today. . .but you never know about tomorrow   I was just wondering where you were located.  You're not all that far . . .I have close friends in Smyrna. . .so you really do never know.  And of course, if you ever bring your family down to visit Mickey

God bless!

Quaffer

MissytheButterfly · Mar 26, 2003

20th March 2003 at 02:45 PM Br. Max said this in Post #5

andrew: too many people and churches base their "salvation" upon the gift of tongues. To say that we must have it or will have this gift is silly. I know many people who have manifested other gifts of the spirit and have never manifested Tongues.

It is the LEAST of the gifts and even if it were not - I will still say so what if you have it - or do not have it - This gift is not something to get hung up on. What right do we have to worry and judge over what GIFTS God gives or does not give? If God gives you the gift of the Midas touch - so what. Does that mean he loves you more or me less? We hae no right to take pride in or glroy from God given gifts.

This is indeed a rare occassion for me to agree with Br. Max but I must say I couldn't have stated his words better on my own. He is absolutely correct in saying that to many people and churches base their "salvation" upon the gift of tongues.

Many churches believe if you don't exhibit speaking in tongues after immersion baptism one isn't saved. Which is obviously ridiculous since the bible does state not everyone will have the gift and it doesn't say salvation or lack of it is base on one's ability to speak in tongues.

I also agree with Br. Max, if you have it.. SO WHAT ? Thank God for it and move on.. there are tons of gifts that God gives. Be thankful for it, don't gloat and use it for his glory. And I am not sorry in saying this but I have actually seen with my own two eyes professed Christians judging and actually telling someone they are going to hell because they don't speak in tongues, that they haven't "left" the world behind, and even that that person's salvation is not valid. And frankly, people that say this..I have a hard time believing they really do speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues is as easy as pie to fake, so who know's who's speaking it or not unless one has a very trained spiritual eye. And honestly, it's a VERY RARE BREED of people that actually do have a trained spiritual eye although many claim to have it or discernment of the Spirit.

And I have to say right on Br. Max.. we have no right to take pride in gifts. That's what I like about the Apostle Paul.. he never bragged but's it's obvious he was a true man of God that could truthfully have had bragging rights. I say some should take a lesson from his example..

Missy

 

The Truth about Tongues - Once and for All

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