Bible Question:
Is tongues a gift, that if a new Christian were isolated and left alone, with only a Bible, would this person speak in tongues with out being taught, or observation of others speaking in tongues? Thank you for honest answers. justme |
Bible Answer: I have a hard time believing in any of the modern practice of miracles such as speaking in tongues and supernatural healing from another human being. However, I'm certainly NOT saying I don't believe in miracles such as the miracle of child birth or the remission of cancer or some other form of disease. I believe those kinds of miracles are relayed directly from God, our Father directly to the recipient, sometimes with the encouragement of prayer from us, His children and sometimes without. This whole topic has to be studied thoroughly by each individual but if we hold to the standards set by the NT, then miracles are the replacement of body parts, or raising of the dead after a few days of confirmed death, enabling the lame to walk immediately after a lifetime of NOT walking, etc. Healing of backpains and headaches or the mumblings of incoherent syllables which doesn't communicate any known language are examples of someone being deceived. But again, these conclusions have to be drawn after much individual study. But this one thing about speaking tongues is fairly easily arrived at: 1 Cor 14 teaches us if the speaking of tongues is not specifically communicating a message to be understood by the audience, then that person should remain silent. Another factor that can be easily proven through the study of history on this topic is the concept of a "speaking in tongues" as depicted in the NT. This simply meant someone was suddenly enabled to speak in a language known throughout a nation or a large group of people. He or she was enabled in this manner without any special efforts on their part in learning this language. This gift and all the other miraclous powers bestowed upon the select few by the laying of hands was manifested for the spreading of the gospel since they didn't have God's word to confirm their message of salvation. After the Apostles and the ones receiving these miraclous gifts died, the Gospel didn't need kind of sign because of the advent of the Bible and the fact everyone knew of this history. This was also predicted by Paul in 1 Cor 13. |