Speaking in tongues?

[bodyofchrist32]

Are there any here who believe that speaking in tongues is a gift that the Holy Spirit still gives today? Why or why not?

 

[Todd W. White]

Yes there are.

They believe it because they do not understand:

1. The purpose the gift was originally given.

2. What is the true, biblical evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit.

and many of them do not understand:

3. That tongues are NOT for producing extra-biblical revelation.

With the completion of the canon of Scripture, there is NO extra-biblical revelation, and the moment that you believe that extra-biblical revelation even exists, you become a cult!

See my detailed explanation of the issue here:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=1350528&postcount=10

and here:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=1350954&postcount=18

and here:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=1351160&postcount=20

and here:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=1351663&postcount=24

 

[donnA]

I don't know if He does or not, but one thing I do know, if He does, we haven't seen biblical toungues used. Seems to me if the Holy Spirit still gave this gift we'd see biblical toungues, and we aren't seeing it.

 

[thegospelgeek]

I have heard stories of the Biblical use of tongues in rare instances, but can not confirm such. None has been a first hand experiance.

 

[Jim1999]

I speak in a tongue. It is called English.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[thomas15]

Are there any here who believe that speaking in tongues is a gift that the Holy Spirit still gives today? Why or why not?

Do you speak in tongues bodyofchrist32?

 

[Todd W. White]

No, he doesn't.

At least not biblically. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Marcia]

I have heard stories of the Biblical use of tongues in rare instances, but can not confirm such. None has been a first hand experiance.

I have heard these stories, too, and the two I read about I believe happened, but I also believe these are not the gift of speaking in tongues but simply a miraculous happening engineered by God.

I think the gift of speaking in tongues ceased once the canon of scripture was completed.

 

[thegospelgeek]

I have heard these stories, too, and the two I read about I believe happened, but I also believe these are not the gift of speaking in tongues but simply a miraculous happening engineered by God.

I think the gift of speaking in tongues ceased once the canon of scripture was completed.

One has paticuarly(sp) remained in my mind. I had a girl attend a youth group one night and we were talking after the service about various topics. It turned out that her dad was a missionary and she told a story about an encounter he had when he met a man in the jungle. The man he met told him the location of his tribe. When he went back into the town he gathered some people and they went to visit the village. They arrived and spoke with the villagers through some translators they had with them. When he saw the man he met in the jungle he discovered that the man spoke no english and of course the new missionary did not speak the language of the village.

Is this story true? I don't know, but the daughter of the man sure thought so.

It seamed to line up with the day of pentecost use of tounges. But like I said, I can not confirm it. Nor did I get it from the parties involved.

 

[Salty]

The rare instances listed above, may have been true.

However, most if not all of current speaking in tongues is unscriptural. First, there were very few instances before the AZUSA STREET REVIVAL in Los Angles in 1906 (precise info is about 1/2 way down on the link)

If a church follows ALL the rules, then I suppose it would be scriptural speaking in tongues:

1. must be done for edification
2. only 2 or at the most 3 may speak in tongues
3. of course only one at a time
4. it MUST be interpret by one
no interpreter - must keep silent
5. no speaking in tongues by women in church

But Paul puts it best in I Cor 14:19 "yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousands words in a tongue."

I believe those five words are "YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN"

Finally, verse 22 states "therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers"

:jesus:

 

[Jim1999]

Ended with the canon of scripture??? That gives them around 400 years to get the tongues out of their system!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Todd W. White]

Don't forget, Salt, that, in EVERY case in the NT where glossalalia was manifested, there were lost Jews present who had no way to receive the Gospel except verbally (via testimony), as the four Gospels had not yet been written.

So - another requirement or two would be:

* Lost Jew(s) present.
* No written Word available to translate.

 

[TCGreek]

I've been left unconvinced by modern day tongue-speakers.

 

[Marcia]

Ended with the canon of scripture??? That gives them around 400 years to get the tongues out of their system!

Cheers,

Jim

400 years? The canon was complete by around 100 A.D. and the early Christians were using scripture as scripture. I realize a few books were disputed for awhile, but they prettty much used all of the Bible as the Bible. Official pronouncements later were in response to heresies and false gospels.

 

[OldRegular]

Are there any here who believe that speaking in tongues is a gift that the Holy Spirit still gives today? Why or why not?

I speak English [Southern Style Of Course.] only. However I have a granddaughter who speaks French.

 

[John Toppass]

I have heard these stories, too, and the two I read about I believe happened, but I also believe these are not the gift of speaking in tongues but simply a miraculous happening engineered by God.

I think the gift of speaking in tongues ceased once the canon of scripture was completed.

What scripture backs up that speaking in toungues has ceased??

 

[Tom Butler]

What scripture backs up that speaking in toungues has ceased??

Some folks will cite I Corinthians 13:8, which says even though tongues, prophecies and knowledge cease, love won't. These are charismatic gifts which proponents claim still are in operation today. Cessationists say Paul is saying they will cease.

Further, they also cite vv 9-10, which speak of knowing in part and prophesying in part, but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. The cessationist interpretation is that the gifts of prophecy and knowledge (and the other gifts--tongues, healing, etc.) will stop when the canon (that which is perfect) is completed.

Whether or that "that which is perfect" is the completed Bible is for another thread.

 

[bodyofchrist32]

Do you speak in tongues bodyofchrist32?

No, I don't speak in tongues, and have never seen it. I have been to a pentecostal church, and seen some there "speaking in tongues", but, while it may have been real to them, I don't believe it was from te Spirit. The example we have from the day of Pentecost was of people speaking languages that were not known to them, but were known to those they were speaking to, and that was not what I witnessed. What I witnessed was confusion, and therefore could not have been from God. However, I do believe that the Holy Spirit may still give the gift today. I understand that the gift was for a sign, and I believe that if given then it is still for that purpose. I heard of an instance of a missionary wanting to witness to a tribe of people she came across, but she didn't know their language. She cried out to God to be able to share the gospel with them, and the next day when she woke up, she miraculously spoke that language, and was able to witness. I wasn't there, so I cannot verify this account, but neither do I dare deny it, for I believe it to be entirely possible. I can find no scriptural justification for believing it ceased with the closing of the canon of scripture. Most people say that "when that which is perfect is come" refers to the canon of scripture, but I believe it refers to the perfect kingdom of God. The fact that I have never personally seen the gift of tongues means nothing. The gift was never widespread. There were few who witnessed it on the day of Pentecost, and few who witnessed it from the Corinthians, but it existed nevertheless.

 

[thomas15]

Well said, bodyofchrist32.

 

[BigBossman]

Speaking in tongues isn't commonly used or seen in the Baptist churches I have been to. I have mostly seen that in the Pentecostal churches (Church of God & Assembly of God churches). I believe it is a gift still.

I don't believe is that everyone has that gift. I have attended some Pentecostal churches where they almost try to push the gift onto you. Almost as if to say, "you have to receive this gift".