Subject: 1Corinthians questions: Gifts and women |
Bible Note: I've read your posting back and forth (thanx for the correction of "Him" and not "it", oversight on my part). Also, my capitalization of life was not scripture based; I was trying to get a sense of urgency across that Jesus should be the focus of our life. Anyway, from what I've encountered (and please remember, my witnessing of tongues is shaky at best), the people I've come across believe that they are filled with the Holy Spirit when they are speaking another language foreign to them; however, the desire (and the ability) to speak in tongues must not be confused with wanting to "leap out" and try to "create" a conversation with God in front of a congregation, using emotion as the engine (one way that tongues are misused; example of five people in a circle speaking gibberish to each other with no translator, breaking the law of verse 27). When speaking in tongues in public, edification of the church is important. Your point about our spirit praying is also reiterated later in verse 14. As far as tongues are concerned, though, 1 Corinthians 2:4 states: "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church". Also, I don't know what the men in Acts 2 said, but for them to be able to speak a language coherantly without ever hearing it or being subject to it before is a sign of the power of the Holy Spirit. Even then they were inclined to believe that the speakers were drunk rather than filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter then revealed to them what was true: about Jesus' death and resurrection. Maybe Peter was translating what was being said? (Not sure, help is appreciated) In Acts 4:31, my versions have Holy Spirit capitalized (specifically the KJV), and it mentions that they spoke boldly, in the same manner that Peter had spoken to the high ranking officials earlier (Acts 4:8). The Holy Spirit makes normal (and every other) man do things that are beyond our comprehension. The men in Acts 2 speaking in the languages of the unbelievers. Peter boldly standing up (without a formal education, Acts 4:13) and defying officials. Timid Jeremiah. The list goes on. Right now I may not fully believe that speaking in tongues is real (having seen it abused), but knowing what the Spirit can do, I'm inclined to believe it, and pray that I can fully believe it. Don't get it twisted, tho: I do agree with just about everything that you've pointed out, and your statements have given me a greater hunger to read up and make sure I try not to respond with foolishness, so I thank you for that. Hopefully my response does not stir up any ill feelings (and it shouldn't, cuz we're all in the same race). |