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NASB | 1 Corinthians 14:13 ¶ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 14:13 ¶ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translate or explain [what he says]. |
Bible Question: How relevant is speaking in tounges? Isnt this the most unimportant spiritual gift that you can recieve out of all of them? Is it not also supposed to be done in private or with an interpater? I was going to a church (a good size one) and the paster on mulitiple occassions asked the entire church to start speaking in tounges, and for those who couldnt to try to and to let the words pour out. Deep inside it just felt wrong to me. I have not gone back to the church since and I have not taken the time to ask this question yet. Also, to me, it seems like it would chase a lot of people away, especially if it was their first time attending church. I could easily see it freaking some people out. I know it made me feel uncomfortable. Can anyone help me with this? |
Bible Answer: Dear Gen...I'm convinced that the scourge of our time are these errant groups of people who attend a place that they call a church, and are taught whatever nutty ideas happen to pop into the empty head of some bird they call a preacher. The groups I've got in mind bear essentially no doctrinal resemblance to the New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ. If they use the Bible at all, it isn't to learn what Scripture teaches; it's something to twist around to make it appear to agree with their wacky ideas. If you think I'm exaggerating, tune in to some of these cable TV religious carnivals or listen to the wild ravings of some of these madmen on the radio. No more dire warning against false teachers can be found than that written by the apostle Paul to young Timothy. Listen: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:1-4). ....... Precious soul, find yourself an evangelical, Bible-teaching church, one that has not "turned unto fables." If indeed your description of the antics of the so-called pastor is accurate, and I have no reason to doubt its authenticity, this guy is asking his flock to do things that he cannot possibly justify scripturally. In such an environment where you are not being spiritually nourished on the word of God, you will be most unlikely to grow very much in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I'd "freak out" too in such a gathering as your describe. And, like you, I can assure you I'd feel most uncomfortable. So much so, in fact, that I would leave and never darken those doors again. Do, please, for your soul's health, seek out and attend a church that honors, believes and preaches the word of God; a church of "Bereans" who are so zealous of sound doctrine that they search the Scriptures daily to see whether the things they are being taught are in accord with God's truth as revealed in the Bible. Read about these noble Bereans in Acts 17:10-12. ...... GenerationBetrayed, I don't feel comfortable leaving you with merely a general suggestion to find yourself another church. I want to recommend that you go to the following web site, http://www.gotquestions.org/looking-church.html and read the article entitled "What Should I Be Looking For in a Church?" In it you will find what I truly believe will prove to be a number of valuable suggestions and guidelines. ..... If you have other concerns and questions about the subject at hand, please don't hesitate to communicate them to us. This Forum is blessed with a number of dedicated, knowledgeable and godly "regulars" who are very capable and will be happy to help. --Hank |