Subject: tongues: are there 2 kinds? |
Bible Note: Hello Charis, I appreciate your response. You are keeping me on my toes! I type all of this in the Spirit of Love. When you respond, scripture helps me to better understand. That is what I have done here to clarify some of my points. You mentioned that my first point should read: "In the Spirit does not *necessarily* mean tongues." Let's take a look: The phrase "in the S(s)pirit" occurs 7 times in the New Testament(NIV): **Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah." **Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. **Colossians 1:8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. **Revelation 1:10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard ... **Revelation 4:2 At once I was in the Spirit, and .... **Revelation 17:3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. **Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain... Granted These are all in the NIV version, There are some additions in the NASB, but I will list only some as many are repeats: **1 Corinthians 14:16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the ""Amen'' at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? **Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, ... **1 Peter 4:6 For the gospel has for this purpose ... they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. Ephesians 6:18 would seem to fit into this category, but 1 Cor 14:14 "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful." Which means you don't know what you are praying about. If you pray in tongues you cannot make specific requests as it says to do in Ephesians 6:18. Instead I would think the scripture says praying in the Spirit means making various requests before God. 1 Cor 14:6 in the NASB is the only one that *could* apply to your statement, but there could be other possibilities besides the meaning of tongues. Which other scriptures link "in the Spirit" and "tongues"? I would be interested to study them. I do, by the way, have many wonderful Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Pentecostal movement and Baptist Movements. I do not knock them, but even they admit, sometimes people get carried away. I suppose the "too bad you don't have it" gift "idealolgy" is based on experience than scripture. I guess I have heard too many stories of manipulation to get people to speak in tongues. I hear more people brag about speaking in tongues than any of the other gifts. I have yet to hear "Wow! we really had someone tonight who could really TEACH!" I suppose they have used the term "annointed" speaker though. Does this mean the same thing? I guess I think it gets too much spotlight. I think this is also the reason why Paul has such a good set of guidelines for its use [tongues]. Maybe they had the same problems back then. You mentioned also, "...and true, because you pray may not necessarily mean you shall receive this gift, but to 'give up' on it, or any other gift is irresponsible." When do you recieve the gifts of the Spirit? Does scripture support praying for them? It appears that God gives them according to His plan, not our prayers:Hebrews 2:4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (NIV) You mentioned,"...but don't stop desiring all the gifts of God!" Keep in mind: 1 Cor 12:29-31 "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?Do all interpret? (this is a rhetorical question whose answer is no.) But eagerly desire the greater gifts. NIV (paranthetical added) When then do we stop asking for more and more gifts? God already has told us that we will not have all the Gifts of the Spirit. I do believe in the active use of ALL of the Gifts of the Spirit (Corporately not individually). We will all be active in different parts. That is what makes us individual and different and all part of one body with different things to do. (see I Cor 12:14-27) Because we are of that one body there should be no division. Why? Because until Jesus gets here we are in this big mess together, Charis! Instead let us discuss scripture and rejoice in knowing Him! None of what is discussed above should be dividing points. I do, however, believe in backing what I say with scripture. I hope I have done that. In God's Wonderful Grace, Lewis. |