Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | When will I speak/pray in tongues? | Acts 2:6 | Reformer Joe | 27812 | ||
Tim: Good observations from 1 Cor 14! Here's my follow-up question: does it seem to you that the gift of tongues, then, was/is a gift intended primarily for the edification of the church, but has benefits for the individual believer as well? For example, I am edified by the gifts of discernment, knowledge, and teaching as I myself am taught. However, my gifts are best used in their God-ordained public context, where all of God's people benefit. There are several main concerns I have with the tongues movement today, and since I have not really seen this issue addressed in detail nearly as much as our favorite debate, perhaps this would be a good time to have some honest dialogue. Not all "tongues advocates" hold to all of these, of course, but all are quite widespread: 1. The idea that tongues as a prayer language is separate from the "public gift" of tongues. The verses you cited seem to indicate that God gave one gift of tongues to God's people. 2. The idea that all are able to speak in a tongue. Nowhere do I find that idea in Scripture, and Paul points out that "all do not speak in a tongue" when discussing the variation of spiritual gifts in believers. 3. The idea that tongues is a necessity or the single, distinguishing mark of a "second baptism." The idea that a Christian who does not speak in tongues is the spiritual equivalent of a lame man in a footrace smacks of arrogance and completely misses the mark of what true sanctification is all about. 4. The emphasis that "tongues-friendly" movements places on experience at the expense of sound doctrine. People who say, "I don't care about theology; just give me JEEEESUS!" betray their own ignorance about the things of God, and encurage others to do the same. The hard work of careful, thoughtful study of Scripture is replaced by the clamoring to hear the next (false) prophecy or the rush for the next outpouring of "the Latter Rain." What these people should really be saying is, "Don't give me Jesus; give me a magic show!" Now, again, all who hold to present-day tongues do not go to these un-biblical extremes. However, these ideas are so pervasive that they are sincerely destroying the evangelical movement in the United States. We have people placing feelings and sensations over sound doctrine, and the result is spiritual emptiness and lack of depth in our knowledge of God. The truth is not being proclaimed and defended because people care more about experience than truth. Now, people are going to respond and deny that this is the case, but simply saying that I am off-base on this does not mean that I am. People say all the time that they believe that the Bible is reliable and sufficient, but we see them scurrying off after the next "Prayer of Jabez" or "Bible Code" or "Left Behind" book when what they are really leaving behind is God's self-revelation, the only sufficient means of continuous sanctification. Sola Scriptura is considered the "formal argument" of the Reformation, because everything hinged on where one found one's authority. Many lives were lost to place God's Word at the center of Christian worship once again. Everyone: take a hard look at the church you attend. Where is the teaching of God's Word now? Likely, it is there somewhere, shuffled to the last 20 minutes or so of the morning service after the announcements, greetings, songs, skits, Christian juggling act, PowerPoint presentation, and offering. Until the proclamation of God's Word permeates every nook and cranny of our worship (which includes the songs and the prayers and everything else), we will continue this downward slide into irrelevancy. Where is your focus, tongues speakers? --Joe! |
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2 | When will I speak/pray in tongues? | Acts 2:6 | EdB | 27849 | ||
Joe May I very hesitantly step into this? I debated waiting until Tim responded since he does it more eloquently than me however it would like to say your right on a few points. Today in many churches the manifestations is far more important than anything else. People are seeking manifestation rather than God. Your also right in saying God’s word is being pushed out. Most anything is an acceptable substitute for God’s word and that has me the most concerned of all. You stated many people are driven by experience rather than God’s word. And again I agree totally. They mistakenly believe since they experienced thus and such it has to be right, however Satan can and will counterfeit experiences. That all said I view the manifestation of speaking in tongues as a further yielding of my will to the Holy Spirit’s. I do not see it as getting anymore of the Holy Spirit or being more saved but rather allowing the Holy Spirit to manifest through me. I think speaking in tongues and particularly praying in tongues is seriously abused, in most churches. It should never be done in public unless there is interpretation. And I think the message should be more than the grass is green and the sky is blue and God loves you. I believe a message should speak to each believer in the church and have a purpose. Also the practice of praying in tongues can make us into lazy Christians. We can lock out everything and allow the Holy Spirit pray through us and never advance in our prayer lives. I know and have experienced for myself where I could pray for hours in tongues and my mind was either on hold or thinking about other things. Looking back I see no benefit to either me or my spirit. In fact I came to a horrible realization that I really didn’t know how to pray. I would say a few words then allow the Holy Spirit to come in and then say a few closing words and that was my prayer time be it 5 minutes or 5 hours. God sat me down one day and said okay now you pray! I had to work long and hard to come up with anything to say longer than 5 minutes. However as I read the scripture and studied the word I learned to pray and now I feel I have a great prayer life one that includes only short intervals of prayer in tongues when I feel the need or I can't express the need correctly. That all said I await Tim’s response before I say anymore. EdB |
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3 | When will I speak/pray in tongues? | Acts 2:6 | retxar | 27859 | ||
You said that plenty eloquently for me, bro. Good word! What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.(1Co 14:15a) retxar |
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