Regarding tongues, I am still waiting for a revelation as to whether or not they stopped 1800 years ago, or not. I've read much, but still nto convinced in my heart. I do not debate current day tongues as to whether or not they are genuine languages (though I do study this as well).
Rather, my desire is to once and for all learn if the Spirit gifts ceased a long time ago as is taught in not too few Christian denominations. Here's a Reformed teaching example I just read :
"If tongues are merely the gibberish one encounters in Charismatic churches and not real languages, then tongues are not a sign to unbelievers, as Paul clearly asserts."
What, exactly, was Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 ?
1 Corinthians 14:20-25
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
First, Paul says tongues are a sign to unbelievers. Unbelieving Jews required a sign, not Gentiles. But be that as it may, let's move on here ...
Then, Paul goes on to says: "prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers, but for believers."
Then Paul says: "If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?"
First question: If the tongues Paul said are a sign are for unbelievers, why does Paul tell the church to not speak tongues if an unbeliever comes into the church?
Second question: If prophecy is a sign for believers why does Paul tell the church to use prophecy to convict the unbeliever?
Rather, my desire is to once and for all learn if the Spirit gifts ceased a long time ago as is taught in not too few Christian denominations. Here's a Reformed teaching example I just read :
"If tongues are merely the gibberish one encounters in Charismatic churches and not real languages, then tongues are not a sign to unbelievers, as Paul clearly asserts."
What, exactly, was Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 ?
1 Corinthians 14:20-25
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
First, Paul says tongues are a sign to unbelievers. Unbelieving Jews required a sign, not Gentiles. But be that as it may, let's move on here ...
Then, Paul goes on to says: "prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers, but for believers."
Then Paul says: "If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?"
First question: If the tongues Paul said are a sign are for unbelievers, why does Paul tell the church to not speak tongues if an unbeliever comes into the church?
Second question: If prophecy is a sign for believers why does Paul tell the church to use prophecy to convict the unbeliever?
