TONGUES false teaching.

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SophieT

Guest
What were you able to say in tongues? Did you understand what you were saying? Did anybody else understand what you said? What language were you speaking and to whom?

Speaking in tongues I do believe is the God given miracle of preaching the actual gospel in a language you do not know and haven't studied to people who's language actually is the language you are speaking. Anything else, incoherent mumbling, is a farce and likely the instigation of Satan and his demons. in my opinion!
Ah the demons have now been suggested. I suggest that those who oppose the gifts and the teaching of the Holy Spirit as He walks us through the word, are the ones troubled by demons.

The denial of what the Bible plainly teaches is the incoherent mumbling and a farce. Just as the gifts can be and are abused, so also are those who believe they have the gift of teaching when what they really do, is to spread a false gospel and preach the doctrines of demons. That is what scripture calls it anyway.
 

calibob

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You are welcome to your opinion, but don't make the mistake of thinking that your opinion is consistent with the teaching of Scripture. You have completely overlooked the manifestation called interpretation of tongues. You have also overlooked the case of Cornelius in Acts 10.

If a person is preaching in the local language by the power of the Holy Spirit, no interpretation is needed. If a person has learned the local language, that is not a manifestation of the Holy Spirit (as even unbelievers can do that). Paul said not to speak in tongues unless there was an interpretation. Your version has no need of interpretation.
I've found so far;
NASB 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
 

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
May 29, 2018
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Ah the demons have now been suggested. I suggest that those who oppose the gifts and the teaching of the Holy Spirit as He walks us through the word, are the ones troubled by demons.

The denial of what the Bible plainly teaches is the incoherent mumbling and a farce. Just as the gifts can be and are abused, so also are those who believe they have the gift of teaching when what they really do, is to spread a false gospel and preach the doctrines of demons. That is what scripture calls it anyway.
I was taught that very sincere people can be sincerely mistaken.
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
Ah the demons have now been suggested. I suggest that those who oppose the gifts and the teaching of the Holy Spirit as He walks us through the word, are the ones troubled by demons.

The denial of what the Bible plainly teaches is the incoherent mumbling and a farce. Just as the gifts can be and are abused, so also are those who believe they have the gift of teaching when what they really do, is to spread a false gospel and preach the doctrines of demons. That is what scripture calls it anyway.

I've told this before but worth another telling. Years ago when I was in ministry, we traveled in all denominations, we had a friend join us to play bass guitar. He was dead set against tongues and attended a church that felt the same way. One morning we were in a church where someone spoke out in tongues and another gave the interpretation. When the service was over and we went out to eat we all were worried about his reaction. We began to try and explain and he stopped us and said " I knew". Then he said when he heard the tongues, he knew what the interpretation would be before it was given. Needless to say we were all surprised. He continued to travel with us a few years. I don't know whether he ever looked deeper into the issue but every time I heard people talking about tongues he would tell the story of that morning. It certainly changed his mind.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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I've told this before but worth another telling. Years ago when I was in ministry, we traveled in all denominations, we had a friend join us to play bass guitar. He was dead set against tongues and attended a church that felt the same way. One morning we were in a church where someone spoke out in tongues and another gave the interpretation. When the service was over and we went out to eat we all were worried about his reaction. We began to try and explain and he stopped us and said " I knew". Then he said when he heard the tongues, he knew what the interpretation would be before it was given. Needless to say we were all surprised. He continued to travel with us a few years. I don't know whether he ever looked deeper into the issue but every time I heard people talking about tongues he would tell the story of that morning. It certainly changed his mind.
wow that is an amazing story thank you for sharing your testimony
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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If you have attended as many Pentecostal church meetings as I have you will agree that what is seen in all of them is the habit of "SPEAKING" in Tongues.

It is a method of speaking in such a way that no one understands what is said.
No one interprets what is muttered.
Women it seems are the ones who do most of the "Tongues" noises.

Now, allow me to say that I have been there and done that. However as I grew older and actually READ what the Bible says it becmae very clear that what is seen today is NOT BIBLICAL tongues as recorded in the Bible.
Pentecostalism is a movement, and there are a number of Pentecostal denominations. There is some variety in how Pentecostal churches handle speaking in tongues. There are churches where everyone speaks in tongues at the same time. In some of the churches, everyone prays in English at the same time. This seems to be more common-praying at the same time-- in denominations that have roots in the Holiness movement in the Southeast or the Appalachian mountains.

There are other Pentecostal churches in which one person speaks in tongues, directed to the congregation, and someone else interprets. Some churches teach against preaching in tongues 'en masse' like that without interpretation.

Some Pentecostals argue that the instructions Paul gives in I Corinthians 14:27-28 are about a message in tongues directed at the congregation, not prayer. That does not make much sense to me as I Corinthians 14 treats tongues for prayer and interpreted tongues as the same phenomenon.

So then, instead of just accepting what we have been told or doing what we WANT to do, shall we actually see what the Bible does it fact say??????

Acts 2:7-11............
"And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."
Speaking in tongues is speaking in tongues whether those present understand it or not. The scenario Paul addressed was speaking in tongues in the congregation where those present do NOT understand the language.

I Corinthians 14
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Arguing that speaking in tongues is not real unless people present understand contradicts I Corinthians 14. Both scenarios can happen.

Most US Pentecostal churches have some sort of historical connection to Azusa Street. There were at least three Pentecostal revivals going on at the same time at the start of the movement. One was in India and is written up in the Azusa Street newsletter. There are many accounts in this newsletter __The Apostolic Faith___ of people hearing speaking in tongues and recognizing it as their own language or people speaking in tongues and others identifying the language, for example Armenian or a Canadian first nation's language. Prior to that in 1901, Agnes Ozman spoke in tongues and others identified the language as Bohemian. There are also cases of people recognizing both the tongue and confirming the interpretation. Val Dez wrote about this happening at Azusa Street in 'Fire on Azusa Street.' The Comforter Has Come tells of someone recognizing a message in 'tongues' at Azusa Street. One of the recently deceased professor Vincent Synan's interviews in the 1960's or '70's with individuals who were children at the revival shows a woman saying that what drew so many people to the revival were other people hearing their own languages there, Japanese, etc.

I have interacted with a number of people, online and in person, who either heard speaking in tongues in their own language or had a tongue they spoke identified as a foreign language someone else' knew.

Historically, the idea of speaking in an actual language is a Pentecostal belief, and it still is.

Notice the phrase in Acts 2:11, "our tongues." The crowds heard the Apostles preach in their own native tongues, not some unknown heavenly jibber jabber. There was NEVER any heavenly languages spoken that no one understood and required an interpreter.
Paul suggests the possibility of speaking in tongues of men and of angels in I Corinthians 13:1.

The "speaking in tongues" which the Pentecostals foolishly practice are UNKNOWN tongues, not anything found on earth.
That's not what 'unknown' means in that verse, and I do not know of any Pentecostals who tried to argue that the italicised KJV addition 'unknown' means that. This is a straw man. If you are going to disagree with a group, address their real arguments instead of making some up.

Supposedly, those unknown tongues can only be interpreted by ONE spirit-filled member of the congregation.
Who says that? Sometimes two people get the same interpretation. I have never interpreted tongues in the congregation, but I can think of three people who have talked about getting the interpretation someone else got, but the other person gave it first. The same thing happens with prophecies. I've gotten words of knowledge about people that someone else prophesied soon thereafter.

I know of no Pentecostals who teach that only one person will ever be able to interpret in a congregation. Again, please desist with the straw man arguments. Engage with what people really teach and believe. If someone went to a Pentecostal church and told you these things, they aren't representative of the movement.

The Apostle Paul speaks common sense to us Corinthians 14:19...
"Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."
Is there a reason you quoted this devoid of context? Let us look at verses before it.

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Paul was writing about praying in tongues, specifically giving thanks in tongues. He said he spoke in tongues more than them all, but in the church he would rather speak five words wiht the understanding than 10,000 in an unknown tongues.

Let's look at the overarching message in the passage. Paul is trying to convince the Corinthians that only the speaker is edified if he speaks in tongues unless the messages is interpreted, because other people in the church need to understand to be edified. In church, all things are to be done unto edifying (v. 26.) Then he gives instructions requiring interpretation of tongues (v. 27-28.)

He's leading up to instructions on how tongues are to be used in church. This passage encourages participants in a church meeting to sing, teach, speak in tongues, interpret tongues, and give prophesyings in a way that edifies other members of the body of Christ. Btw, does that description of a Biblical church meeting look like a church meeting you would want to attend? When Paul writes, 'Let all things be done decently and in order.', he is writing about this verse 'charismatic' order in which someone in the assembly can speak in tongues and another may interpret, which allows for prophesying and has a prophet be quiet if another receives a revelation, a meeting in which 'ye may all prophesy one by one.'

Now before replying to this post from an "Emotional" response, and actually that is what speaking in tongues is, an EMOTIONAL event, take the time to do the work first.
Speaking in tongues does not necessarily have to be more emotional than speaking in one's native language. Some people pray or preach in English rather emotionally. The Bible does not forbid that. There are times when it is appropriate to mourn or rejoice.
 

presidente

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May 29, 2013
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@echoChrist Speaking in tongues is a well known phenomena. Not only to Christians. It is perhaps most commonly in Paganism, Shamanism, and other mediumistic religious practices. In Japan, the God Light Association believed that glossolalia (speaking in tongues) could cause adherents to recall past lives.
These are likely only very superficial similarities. There was a paranormal article about someone doing some forbidden ritual who allegedly spoke in a recognized foreign language. Demons may be able to imitate even genuine xenoglossic glossalalia.

The Oracle's of Delphi allegedly spoke in tongues while under the influence of a type of fume or gas released by fermented mixture of fossil methane and magma, released thru a vent. That's where their temple was built.
That is a theory based on some loose evidence, but Plutarch worked there as a priest in the first century, and he defended the oracle for speaking in regular prose rather than the high poetry some of the visitors expected. This argues against those who would argue that the idea of some sort of pagan gibberish was used there at the time.

It is far different that what occurred on the day of Pentacost. It was in known languages spoken by people who did not know the language that they were speaking.. When all else fails the most simple explanation is most often correct. It was supernatural.
Yes, but in I Corinthians 14, it is a language which no one present represents. A tongue is a tongue whether others present understand or those present do not understand and it has to be interpreted by a gift of interpretation to edify the congregation. Paul's instructions for church meetings seem to rely on the assumption that those present will not understand without interpretation (I Corinthians 14:27-28.)

But thats different like Prophecy vs. prophesy. one means predictions generally and the other means spiritual utterances.
They mean that to whom? The difference between prophecy and prophesy is that the former is a noun and the latter is a verb. Then there is a 'secular' definition where both refer to predictions, and a more Biblical understanding which allows for spiritual utterances.

Yes the utterances can be faked or natural but, they both can be supernatural. If a prophet makes a prophesy that dosn't come true, scripture demands the he be stoned to death. Simple prophetic utterances may simply just be a healthy way of releasing feelings that we can't explain.
Do you think Gentile nations are required to stone false prophets this day and age? What about adulterers and those who engage in male same-sex sex acts? Do you specifically feel obligated to perform the stoning yourself? Has that gotten you into any trouble with the law?
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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A few questions to ponder. Philip though being filled with the Holy Spirit and out preaching and making disciples, did not confer the gifts to anyone, but rather it wasn't until Peter and John came and layed hands on some that the gifts were them passed to the disciples of Philip, also you see that this isn't written about as part of the encounter with the Ethiopian.

What exactly is your question? I also notice that Annanias was a disciple. He went to Saul of Tarsus that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. He laid hands on Saul of Tarsus, and there is no record of anyone else doing so. I Corinthians 14:13 may indicate that one may receive a gift in response to prayer.

Not even concerning healing, but rather you see a different instruction given to Timothy. He is told that of there are sick among you bring them to the elders of the church who will annoint them with oil and the prayer of faith will save the sick.
This is in James, which might be a very early epistle.

Now I have a question concerning this practice, why does no one, practice this as per the instructions in the bible? Even the so called spirit filled churches do not do it this way.
You see a lot of stuff more resembling the benny hinn type of practice, which is not written of in the text at all.
I grew up in Pentecostal churches, and the pastors frequently anoint the sick with oil. The one difference is that usually when I saw it, they'd invite people up for prayer and anoint them when they prayed for those who were sick. But my understanding is when they are called for, they do this in hospital rooms if 'call for the elders of the church' is the issue that you are concerned with.

I hear some Baptists also anoint the sick with oil. I am not sure how widespread that is, but I think it was practiced fairly early on in the colonial New Light Baptist movement in the Sandy Creek/Shubel Stearns era or soon thereafter if memory serves me correctly.

The Bible also mentions laying hands on this. Pentecostals do this also.
 

presidente

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I don't think that Paul is saying that there is a specific angelic language. I think he is making a rhetorical point. That if you could speak in such a language, that without love you are just making noise. So this text doesn't prove or disprove an angelic heaven language.
Since Paul wrote, "If I speak in the tongues of 'men and of angels'" would you say that he did not speak in the tongues of men, either when he spoke in tongues?

Isn't he suggesting either possibility might be the case, speaking in the tongues of men, or of angels?
 

presidente

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Jesus was already here and the passage does not say when Jesus returns but when the scriptures are complete is the point of the three gifts cited being changed according to the sovereign will of God. If you study Joel 2 you will see the completion of Peters message at Pentecost. It is the Jews who show forth the gifts not Gentiles.
Peter said the promise of the Spirit was for them that are afar off. Some chapters later, Gentiles spoke in tongues also. Peter referred back to the events of Acts 2 when describing what happened to the Gentiles.

Paul is speaking of the completion of the NT in 1 Cor 13 not the return of Jesus.
Your knowledge is incomplete in this area.
 

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
May 29, 2018
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How did you miss my points? I didn't say whether or not these things are natural, supernatural, demonic, psychotic or chemically induced for sure or not. I tried to make it absolutely clear that the tern speaking in tongues has different meanings to different people and often it's difficult to distinguish all of the possible causes. Only the gift of discernment that also comes from the Holy Spirit can possibly know and share the difference, Discernment is another Gift of the Holy Spirit. People that dont have it can easily be deceived or think that we're either phonies or nuts. Hasn't anyone ever declined going to church with you for that reason?
 
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SophieT

Guest
I've told this before but worth another telling. Years ago when I was in ministry, we traveled in all denominations, we had a friend join us to play bass guitar. He was dead set against tongues and attended a church that felt the same way. One morning we were in a church where someone spoke out in tongues and another gave the interpretation. When the service was over and we went out to eat we all were worried about his reaction. We began to try and explain and he stopped us and said " I knew". Then he said when he heard the tongues, he knew what the interpretation would be before it was given. Needless to say we were all surprised. He continued to travel with us a few years. I don't know whether he ever looked deeper into the issue but every time I heard people talking about tongues he would tell the story of that morning. It certainly changed his mind.
When you read about tongues in the NT, everything just follows naturally. It was not debated and argued about. It was a part of the experience of Christianity. Sure people needed instruction. They still do.

Pretty interesting how that worked out for you.
 
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SophieT

Guest
There's no, 'and'. Well meaning, honest people make mistakes too. They share bad opinions, give bad advice, wrong directions etc. While trying to help with good intentions. That's all.
Oh you mean like telling people who speak in tongues that it is a demon speaking through them.

Yes. Very helpful and great you pointed it out. You think I don't know that? I'll pass on the so called good intentions thank you very much.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
Since Paul wrote, "If I speak in the tongues of 'men and of angels'" would you say that he did not speak in the tongues of men, either when he spoke in tongues?

Isn't he suggesting either possibility might be the case, speaking in the tongues of men, or of angels?
"If" has meaning, in the context he also says, "but have not love" was he speaking of his own love?
No he was making a rhetorical point concerning love. Not his personal giftings or his personal love.
 
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SophieT

Guest
Since Paul wrote, "If I speak in the tongues of 'men and of angels'" would you say that he did not speak in the tongues of men, either when he spoke in tongues?

Isn't he suggesting either possibility might be the case, speaking in the tongues of men, or of angels?
"If" I am not mistaken, isn't that the only reference to 'tongues of angels' in the Bible? I have seen (or heard) some people, including pastors, run off with that and make a doctrine out of it and I don't think it is. A doctrine.

Paul did alot of teaching on tongues (obviously not all in letter form as we have it) so who knows

He also wrote that people were familiar with the wiles of the devil. Gee Paul. Couldn't you have said more about that?

Just some thoughts. The dangers of a public forum.