Speaking in tongues

harleygirl · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 47 Location: Northern Ireland

Hi everyone

I hope you are all well. Just wanted to ask what you thought of 'speaking in tongues'. If you are a born again Christian should you have this gift and how do you know that you have it. A lot of Christian's I know have this gift and to be honest I sometimes feel as if God has left me out because I havn't received it. I would really appreciate your feed back on this.

Thanks

God bless
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bobbyc · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1324

Hello harleygirl, is that a reference to harley davidson motorcycles? If you search diligently (on the internet and in good Christian bookshops) you'll find that some Christians approve of speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts such as prophesying and healing ministries but others think they only properly belonged to apostolic times.

The part of scripture that deals in greatest depth with speaking in tongues is Paul's first letter to the Corinthians and he is at pains to point out that only some would get the gift of tongues. I would be very wary of any church or fellowship that insisted that a person had to speak in tongues as though that was the only proof of being a Christian. My question to you would be why do you think this gift is so vital? Will you be a lesser Christian if you don't speak in tongues? Just because other Christians you know claim this power/ability doesn't mean that you have to mimic them does it?

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1448 Location: second childhood

Nice to agree Bobby.

I do not belive that the "gifts" have ceased. But I do not belive that tongues is antmore important than the other ones.

By the way don't forget the gift of "helps" one of the undervalued of all the spiritual gifts.
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Eddie c · Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 685 Location: Manchester

I am one of those who believes that the `gift` of speaking in languages you have not learnt(Tongues) has ceased.

Even if we accept that the gift is available today it is as Bobby says not for all christians.,and is not a measure of ones spirituality.
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crystal · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 308

My concern about tongues is that I have heard it 2 or 3 times when someone has interpretted. But how do I know that the interpretation is real?
I am not trying to incite problems but if you have not had the interpretation how can you know that the person is right? This is a genuine question.

Covenanter · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1446

keepingthefaith · Guest

Was it Tongues you asked about Harley Girl? Icon_biggrin

Here is what I believe
http://www.webtruth.org/sermons.php
Scroll down to the second last sermon and have a listen. A lot better than ever I can explain Icon_biggrin

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1448 Location: second childhood

It is undesirable to start an arguement so I will just give my opinion and let it rest there.

I believe that all the gifts of the Spirit are still available.
I believe that the church is not using them as it should. And is neglecting them.
I believe that hysteria and false manifestations are too common.
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crystal · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 308

keepingthefaith · Guest

harleygirl · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 47 Location: Northern Ireland

Thanks guys

That has cleared it up for me. It is not a gift that I have personally desired, but all my christian friends have this gift and to be honest I sort of felt out a wee bit. I have always had the attitude (whether right or wrong) that God will give me whatever He feels is right and in His own good time Icon_640

. I just wanted to hear other christian's point of view who where outside my circle of friends. It is not something that is practiced or talked about in our Church most of my friends belonged to a penticostal church, so I believe this is where it was received.

Now I have another question. Do you believe that if you dwell on a gift such as tongues and make it your top priority that it could come from the other side ie the devil.

Just to let bobby know my name is Nichola Harley and my mother in laws maiden name is davison not davidson (funny) hence harleygirl.

p.s. the forum is doing really well Anne keep up the good work Icon_happythumbsup

God bless xx
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Jesus want to know YOU!

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1448 Location: second childhood

It is my feeling that one should ask God for the gift He has for you.
Tongues is not the most useful one.

The abilty to help or discern or prophesy (pass on God's message) are much more valuable.

And Paul does say that "LOVE" is the most valuable. Not only a gift but a part of the fruit of the Spirit.

For myself I received Tongues unsought. Spontaneously but entirely under control. It does say that one is in control of ones gift.
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The effectiveness of a posting is inversely proportional to its length.
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Paul · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 50

When the apostle Paul asks "Do all speak in tongues?", we can learn two things from the question.

1. Some people clearly do speak in tongues. This thoroughly refutes the cessationist position - i.e. the unbiblical idea that tongues have ceased.

2. The clear implication is that not everyone should speak in tongues. This thoroughly refutes the classical pentecostal view that tongues is a necessary sign of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

I meet people who say we should not divide on this issue. The answer to that is - well, yes and no. Clearly someone who does not hold to the position which I am expounding can be a Christian. However, to have true fellowship with me, the cessationist and the classical pentecostal will have to face two problems. You see, I have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, and at that time I was granted the gift of prophecy, but not the gift of tongues. So the cessationist has to look me in the eyes and tell me that my experience is wrong. I will look him in the eyes and show him all the passages of scripture that teach the experience, but he will say that such things ceased when scripture closed, even though many today attest that the experiences have not ceased. To take such a position, the cessationist has to twist scripture - usually doing great damage to the meaning of the word "perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13. Similarly, the classical pentecostal has to look me in the eyes and tell me that my experience is inadequate because I did not speak in tongues when I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Yet, that is my experience, and I can point to scripture passages, such as Paul's question above. All the classical pentecostal can point to is again a twisting of scripture, usually a twisting of Acts 2.

In what way can I therefore have good fellowship with either of these people, both of whom believe my experience to be in error, although my experience accords with scripture. Why should I worry about it? I don't! My experience is in accord with scripture, and if it doesn't fit with their unbiblical theologies, then that is their problem to worry about.

BTW - I am a member of an Assemblies of God Pentecostal Church, which ought to take a classical position, according to the national AOG statement of faith, but in practice, the pastors agree with me that tongues are not necessary. Having said that, God has very recently granted me the gift of tongues, some 25 years after I was baptised in the Spirit.

Covenanter · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1446

keepingthefaith · Guest