ajg1959 said:
You keep ranting about a prayer language being a Christian liberty. and according to one's Christian conscience???????
Just what scripture teaches this?
The context of I Cor. chapters 12-14 supports the position.
And how are we who dont believe that there is a such thing as a private prayer language "holding the church to a higher standard"?
I didn't say you were "holding the church to a higher standard", I said some believers were holding other Christians than to a higher standard than scripture warrants.
I, personally, don't believe the estatic utterances are genuine communication with God. I, personally, don't believe that the Apostle Paul thought they were genuine communication with God.
But that does not change God's Word on the matter. God has seen fit to give us intructions on how we are to respond to those who are practicing the "estatic utterances".
The Apostle Paul did not prohibit the practice of "tongues" altogether. His concern was that such practices disrupted the church. He conceded the possibility that it was genuine communication with God when he told them "you are giving thanks well enough, but the other man does not understand." He gave instructions for its use, essentially limiting it to private speach between the person and God. That places it in the sphere of Christian Conscience and Christian liberty.
Since the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of Holy Spirit, wrote these things in God's Holy Word, why do so many refuse to accept what is taught? Why do you think the wisdom of men is better than the wisdom of God.
By this, I am specifically referring to the SBC which is requiring missionaries to sign a document saying they don't practice a "private prayer language".
It also refers to those who tell other Christians that if they practice a "private prayer language" to "go somewhere else, you are not welcome here".
It also refers to those who think they can see into another Christian's mind, heart and spirit and say things like "they know it is contrived and unscriptural....."
Its seems to me that the only standard that matters is the standard of God's Word. And I dont see any scripture that cites the things you are saying.
You are not looking very closely.
peace to you

raying: