Bible Question:
Hi Debbie, It is interesting to hear your description of tongues, b/c I also attend a pentecostal church. However, many times people in my church, including elders, speak in tongues without giving any interpretation. I think the general idea is that when you speak in tongues you are praying directly to God, without your mind getting in the way essentially, so you are always praying the will of God. So praying in tongues is seen as almost better than praying "regularly". Is this a sin? I keep going back to the portion of 1 Corinthians which gives guidelines for speaking in tongues in church. Also, my church believes in the speaking of tongues as the sign that you have been "baptized with the Holy Spirit". I have never fully understood this, because I believe that the Holy Spirit comes into a person at salvation. I would love to hear your views and comments on these issues! Thanks and God bless, Derek |
Bible Answer: Derek: when you are born again you receive the Holy Spirit inside of you. When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, He comes upon you (like the day Jesus was baptized). Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit but was baptized with it and annointed him to preach the gospel to the poor, etc. You can find that in the New Testament. One of the evidences of being baptized in the HS is speaking in tongues, speaking in tongues edifies you, also gives you power. But most important of all is being filled with Spirit and show forth the fruit which manifests as love, joye, peace, etc (Galatians 5:22). |