Speaking in Tongues

What's "speaking in tongues", Mike? Could you explain?

 

Mike, I'm probably the only Baptist on here who believes speaking in tongues exist today and did not cease. So if mostly Baptists vote in your poll, you will have only my 1 vote...but hey, my brother is an Assembly of God pastor. What can I say? LOL!

 

Thanks for the link . It says some people think that people who speak in tongues are 'demon-possessed'. Wow

So...if people do it today then it must 'exist', right?

Is your question, does God like it or not?

What happens to someone who speaks in tongues in your church, Mike? Or has it never happened publically, there?

Have you been in the presence of people doing it? Did you feel that evil spirits were present, directing it, rather than the Holy Spirit?

 

The 'tongues-movement' is not Biblical & is probably the greatest proof of what happens when one wrongly divides the Word of Truth instead of rightly dividing. Today's 'tongues' is a device of the devil, who is steadily luring our kind away from what's right. Satan has a plan and he has been operating that plan since the beginning...now he is running full strength!

"EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!"

 

Wow

The greatest proof?

Is it worse than what the Jehovah's Witnesses do, then?

What about the Mormons?

What about the Jesus Seminar [very liberal Christians (as it were) who don't believe Jesus was resurrected, etc]?

Are tongues-speaking Christians are further from the truth than all these other groups?

 

I used to be skeptical of 'tongues' as well...that is, until the following miracles happened in my life. While not about 'tongues' they do suggest that 'miracles' occur today.

Several years ago, I attended a 'Renewal Seminar' in a Church in Campbell, California. It was sponsored by church in my denomination. As a pastor, I went, primarily, because I needed a break from the routine. Entering the sanctuary, I found it to be filled with 300+ Christians of various denominations, contemporary praise music, and hands lifted up in praise. At this point, I wondered what I had gotten myself in to. But, I had already registered, and had already driven a couple of hours, so, I decided to stay. The teacher, a Rev. Mike Flynn, spoke that evening about the Holy Spirit, and primarily about 'words of knowledge'. I'm sure that when he mentioned this, my eyes rolled , and I took a deep breath. I'd heard of this before, and seen this on various TV minisries. My bias, at that point, was that these kind of miracles were 'purely psychological', that the people who 'saw visions' 'heard revelations' 'spoke in tongues' were self-deceived. (Not bad people, but certainly self-deceived). Anyway, I was respectful and listened to what Mike had to say. Later that evening, he prayed, and asked the Holy Spirit to fill the sanctuary, and 'speak' to us who were gathered. Almost immediately, people began to 'speak' words of knowledge...marriages, livers, backs healed. All kinds of maladies. Still, I was not convinced. But I did silently pray, "Lord, if this is real, please let me know." Into my thoughts came the word 'Larkspur'. Now this was not an audible outside voice, no, it was my 'own' thoughts. And I laughed to myself, (never had heard the word before)and thought that maybe, just maybe, if this was a 'word' from the Lord, that I misheard, and that maybe someone's bonespur was being healed. Nevertheless, for some time, I kept quiet, as I did not want to appear to be a fool. (sorry Mom, it's true). But eventually I found that I just could not keep it in any longer...I just HAD to know. So I stood up, and said, "Mike, I believe that the Lord has given me the word 'Larkspur'." I sat down. Frankly, if I could have exited gracefully at this point, I would have. I was so sure that I was self-deceived, so sure that I was going to be made out a fool. So Mike said, "Is there anyone here for whom the word "larkspur" means anything? Several rows behind me I heard "Yes Mike, it does." I was shocked! I turned around, and a young man stood up and said, "Mike, I am a Prebyterian pastor from San Jose. My wife and I just received a 'call' from a church in Larkspur, California, and we've been praying about this, wondering if we should go." At this point, my whole theological system underwent a major revision. It was clearly God speaking. This was not 'self-deception' or coincidence.

Sometime later, I was involved in an ecumenical Cursillo weekend. During our first team meeting, I (being male) was surrounded by about 30 women, 28 of whom I had never ever met before. (The 2 I had asked me to help lead the weekend). Anyway, during out initial meeting, during time of prayer, the word 'Angela' came into my mind. This was the same kind of 'sensation' that I'd had before. Again, I was afraid to speak at first. I was, after all, a pastor, and I didn't want to be 'wrong'. (sorry Mom). But again, I just had this feeling that I HAD to speak up, and so, I did. I said, "Is there anyone in this room named 'Angela'? I believe the Lord is telling me something is wrong" 6 or 7 chairs down from me, a young woman said, "yes, I'm Angela," and then began to cry deeply. She said, "My husband left me and divorced me, and I don't feel worthy to be here." The sobs continued. The meeting agenda suddenly changed. And we all ministered to this poor woman, and assured her that she was no-less worthy than anyone else.

I'm not really 'into' tongues. But I do believe they exist for some. But more than this, the same God we see in the Book of Acts, the Gospels, in fact in all the Bible is still God today. I don't see what prevents this God from doing whatever He wants to bring about healing/conversion/extending the Kingdom of God.
And this includes tongues, healings, and 'words of knowledge'.

 

Okay, have your fun with me, AITB, & pick apart everything people say, but it still don't make tongues, or those other false beliefs any more right. These teachings are all unscriptural since the Word of God ALONE is sufficient for ALL things

 

GrannyGumbo, honestly, I wasn't making fun of you...I hate when people do that!

I only wanted you to defend why you said it was the greatest proof.

When someone says those kinds of things about what other Christians do, is it unfair to ask for some back-up, or comparison?

It doesn't seem to me that 'speaking in tongues' can be as seriously 'wrong' - since it is other Christians who speak in tongues - as beliefs which we consider heretical enough that those who hold them cannot be considered Christians.

Am I wrong?

I wanted clarification on how 'bad' it is to speak in tongues, from those who think it's wrong.

 

I DO NOT believe that speaking in tounges is a relevent thing for today. It was done in Bible times, but it was understood in other languages. Tounges, in Bible times were understandable languages,unlike todays' gibber jabber or whatever you want to call it! Also, what bothers me is that some pentecostals {yes it's a divided issue} believe that you recive the holy spirit by speaking in tounges, or something to that effect. But I just want to say, the day I got saved, was the day I recieved the Holy Ghost. And let me tell you, I didn't yell and scream,or roll around in the floor like some church's I've seen! My philosophy is, if you feel the Spirit moves you to swing from a chandeler in church, that's fine. But when you hit that floor, you better be talking right.
Yes, I think it's just as bad as Mormans and Jehovah's {false} Wittness'. It's false doctrine, and therefore, it needs to be avoided. God is not the author of confussion, and you all know who the only other candidate for confusion is...
Remember, the devil can apear as an angel of light, but it's still just as mixed up and false as anything else.
I love all people. Tounge speakers included, and I want everyone to hear the gospel of Christ and be saved,but since you asked the question, I felt I should give my opinion. I have tried to say this all in the nicest way possible, and I hope no one is angrey with me, but my stand is still the same. This is what I believe, and you can take it or you can leave it. I DO NOT want to start a Biblical debate on this. I feel that our time is better spent serving God, rather that arguing.
IMHO,
Abby

 

Here's my two cents worth
Has God made His people so powerless that the psycics and spiritists have more "gifts" then God's people do?
We hear about all the evil "manifestations" of demonic power, yet there are never any manifestations of the Holy Spirit?
How could the gifts cease? Then on the same premise (according to the scripture) knowledge would have ceased also.
I believe God does manifest His power at times. I also believe that there are also people who create things to happen that would make them appear more spiritual. The bible states it is by their fruit that you will know they are His. Not by their "gifts". We should keep in mind that if one speaks in tongues, that does not mean they are developing more fruit. I have known people who do speak in tongues that are more of an immature christian than the ones who do not. I have also known those who do not speak in tongues, that remain worldly and carnal as well.
I do not think it would be wise to place the ones who do speak in tongues in a box, and say they are deceived. I have witnessed many things, and I would not want to be in a place where I said, "God will only do it this way, or that way!" He is God, we are not.
Big mistake to put God in a box....
*remember* God is not dead! He is very much alive and well! The gifts are for edification of the saints, and edification of our spirits, and a sign for the unbeliever. Not my words, it is all in the bible!
God Bless,
Naomi
Naomi

 

Good point

 

My 2 half-brothers, a half-sister, and my stepmom
was in big with this tongue thing. Years ago, when I had just returned "from the world", so to speak, they had wanted to convert me from being Baptist to Full-Gospel.
They called Baptists "stiff" people, who want to put God in a box and limit Him in His abilities to do what He did in the past, here in the present.
Much like the arguments I read today.
So, several times I went with them to their "worship" services which was everything but
worship. You had emotion being hyped up with music, and the drums, oh, my goodness, those awful, awful , drums.
Then they would start to speak all those gibberish and unlike Jude the poster here I felt absolutely nothing, zilch.
I may have been just back from backsliding, and everyone of them were very kindly and in couched
words saying that I needed to be saved again, but,
I knew my Bible and the guidelines Paul had laid for speaking in tongues.
Every one of those guidelines were violated, no exceptions as they are violated in the majority of tongues speaking churches.
Women spoke, no interpreter, despite the absence of interpreters those who felt they had something to say in their "heavenly" tongues spoke, the main goal was to be able to speak in tongues instead of to preach, it was, as Paul said, confusion, and contrary to the command "Let all things be done decently, and in order....(1Corinthians 14:40). Can't be of and from God.
Not all things that appear to be of God are of God, and not all things that appear to be holy are holy. Remember the Bible says that "even Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" and we ought to "be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
(2 Cor. 11:14 and 1 Peter 5:8).

 

Yes, but I don't like certain kinds of music either. Yet I don't say it's of the devil, just because I don't like it.

How do you know your reaction was not simply an emotional dislike/discomfort regarding what was happening there - as opposed to the leading of the Spirit?

 

I will say it again & again & again; as long as I have breath...today's 'tongues' is NOT from the KJBible. Biblical tongues have passed away. Just because you HEAR someone speak-in-tongues, don't make it so! I have yet to meet a TRUE Baptist who speaks in 'tongues'. I don't presume to place God in a box, but I just know what the Scriptures say & God don't lie.

Today's 'tongues' is one of the most dangerous errors of these perilous times & many good folk are being deluded by it; so yes, we should continue to warn against it every chance we get.

 

How do I know ?
I went with them with the honest intent of wanting to worship.
I was in my 30's and knew what I was doing, and have been thru a lot of "dangers and snares", as the song goes, to know what I was feeling.
What I felt was not anger, nor disgust, but rejection of their way, and sadness in my heart.
I'm glad to say, in the Lord, that one of my brothers, and my stepmom, have joined the Baptist church.

 

They don't have gifts, or abilities except the ability to doop people out of their money.

It's not called putting God in a box, it's called understanding scripture in context.

 

You have obviously never been to Africa!
Naomi