Tongues part 1

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
L

LawofLove

Guest
#1
Alot of people think they have a gift of tongues,Don't get me wrong I believe its a gift! But when I think of tongues I read( Act2:4-7 )KJV
Act2:6(last part) Every man heard them speak in his own language -
Use may naturally suppose that, as soon as any person presented himself to one of these disciples, he, the disciple, was immediately enabled to address him in his own language, however various this had been from the Jewish or Galilean dialects. If a Roman presented himself, the disciple was immediately enabled to address him in Latin - if a Grecian, in Greek - an Arab, in Arabic, and so of the rest.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar16:17(last part) they shall speak with new tongues: or languages, not such as were new made, and had never been heard and known before; but foreign languages, such as they had never learned, or were able to speak, or understood before; and this not only did the apostles on the day of pentecost, but even common believers at other times, Act_2:4 Act_10:45.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
2,111
113
51
#2
Good post law, and I agree. I'm just gonna sit back and wait for the pentecostal lynch mob come to town ;)

Run for you life lawoflove ;)

Phil
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#3
Alot of people think they have a gift of tongues,Don't get me wrong I believe its a gift! But when I think of tongues I read( Act2:4-7 )KJV
Act2:6(last part) Every man heard them speak in his own language - Use may naturally suppose that, as soon as any person presented himself to one of these disciples, he, the disciple, was immediately enabled to address him in his own language, however various this had been from the Jewish or Galilean dialects. If a Roman presented himself, the disciple was immediately enabled to address him in Latin - if a Grecian, in Greek - an Arab, in Arabic, and so of the rest.
Mar 16:17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar16:17(last part) they shall speak with new tongues: or languages, not such as were new made, and had never been heard and known before; but foreign languages, such as they had never learned, or were able to speak, or understood before; and this not only did the apostles on the day of pentecost, but even common believers at other times, Act_2:4Act_10:45.
It serves no purpose to speak in tongues unless someone understands what you are saying, does it?
 
M

machew

Guest
#4
It serves no purpose to speak in tongues unless someone understands what you are saying, does it?
This isn't always true. It serves no productive/edifying purpose when someone speaks in tongues towards another person(s) without an interpreter. If you are not speaking in tongues towards a crowd or someone else, then you are speaking to God. People think that speaking in tongues in a public setting is not biblical. This is only true if your intention is to speak to someone else around you and there is no interpreter. If you are up in front, in front of a congregation preaching, then it is better to not speak in tongues for everyone to hear. If the person must, then I feel it is prudent to not do it into the microphone, unless the person has initiated a time where everyone is praying to God. Often the best prayers are prayers in tongues when you have no idea what you should pray. As far as people in the congregation speaking in tongues, I feel this is fine as long as their intention is not to direct it towards someone else around them without an interpreter. There may be a few people sometimes trying to attract attention to themselves, but why let a few sour apples ruin a whole congregation's prayer time? If someone is intentionally being a distraction, then this person should be addressed, but we shouldn't stop what God may be doing within the congregation because of one attention seeker.

Blessings,

Machew
 
Last edited:
K

karuna

Guest
#5
It serves no purpose to speak in tongues unless someone understands what you are saying, does it?
There are other verses on tongues that answer these sorts of questions. For instance:

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
It has a use - it edifies the individual believer when he speaks to God (and God is certainly someone) in tongues. It would be better, though, to interpret so that the whole church might be edified. In any case, it's better to prophesy.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#6
This isn't always true. It serves no productive/edifying purpose when someone speaks in tongues towards another person(s) without an interpreter. If you are not speaking in tongues towards a crowd or someone else, then you are speaking to God. People think that speaking in tongues in a public setting is not biblical. This is only true if your intention is to speak to someone else around you and there is no interpreter. If you are up in front, in front of a congregation preaching, then it is better to not speak in tongues for everyone to hear. If the person must, then I feel it is prudent to not do it into the microphone, unless the person has initiated a time where everyone is praying to God. Often the best prayers are prayers in tongues when you have no idea what you should pray. As far as people in the congregation speaking in tongues, I feel this is fine as long as their intention is not to direct it towards someone else around them without an interpreter. There may be a few people sometimes trying to attract attention to themselves, but why let a few sour apples ruin a whole congregation's prayer time? If someone is intentionally being a distraction, then this person should be addressed, but we shouldn't stop what God may be doing within the congregation because of one attention seeker.

Blessings,

Machew
I think there are people who think they are speaking in tongues when actually they are not. I think for some people, it is an ego trip to say they are speaking in tongues, when actually they are only pretending to be speaking in tongues. I think in some churches it is a collective ego trip to say they all speak in tongues when actually they don’t’ speak in tongues—they speak jibberish and claim they are speaking in tongues. What do you think?
 
T

tryingtofindhim

Guest
#7
I believe tongues is a language that God made up and the people in the spirit can understand it. That's why there were some people who didn't understand what they were saying because they weren't in the spirit. Oh yah I'm also pentecostal so I might be biased lol. :)
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#8
There are other verses on tongues that answer these sorts of questions. For instance:



It has a use - it edifies the individual believer when he speaks to God (and God is certainly someone) in tongues. It would be better, though, to interpret so that the whole church might be edified. In any case, it's better to prophesy.
Paul also said this:

Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 1 Cor 14:6 RSV
 
T

tryingtofindhim

Guest
#9
I think there are people who think they are speaking in tongues when actually they are not. I think for some people, it is an ego trip to say they are speaking in tongues, when actually they are only pretending to be speaking in tongues. I think in some churches it is a collective ego trip to say they all speak in tongues when actually they don’t’ speak in tongues—they speak jibberish and claim they are speaking in tongues. What do you think?

Yah, our pastor was speaking about that. It used to be that speaking in tongues was such a big deal. His quote was "We think more of the gift than the giver". Which is so true, our church holds that if a person starts speaking in tongues 2 or 3 others have to interpret it that same. :) Yah some people do it for ego. There's a fine line.
 
T

tryingtofindhim

Guest
#10
Act 2: 1-13
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. 5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.

This is where I drew the conclusion only those in the spirit could understand which makes me think its not a known language.
 
S

Shwagga

Guest
#11
1 Corinthians 14
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
 
K

karuna

Guest
#12
Paul also said this:

Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 1 Cor 14:6 RSV
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make with the verse. You had asked:

It serves no purpose to speak in tongues unless someone understands what you are saying, does it?
I responded with a verse that talked about the edifying private use of tongues between the believer and God. So yes, it can serve a purpose. The verse you quoted here seems to back up that point - if Paul had tried to use it in the improper setting, it wouldn't have served its purpose. This is by no means a statement that Paul would have found no use for tongues.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#13
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make with the verse. You had asked:



I responded with a verse that talked about the edifying private use of tongues between the believer and God. So yes, it can serve a purpose. The verse you quoted here seems to back up that point - if Paul had tried to use it in the improper setting, it wouldn't have served its purpose. This is by no means a statement that Paul would have found no use for tongues.
When a church looks down their nose at a person because they don’t “speak in tongues,” then I think there is something very evil going on in that church.
 
K

karuna

Guest
#14
When a church looks down their nose at a person because they don’t “speak in tongues,” then I think there is something very evil going on in that church.
I agree, but if you were responding to me, as it appeared, I'm not sure what this means in the context of our conversation.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#15
I agree, but if you were responding to me, as it appeared, I'm not sure what this means in the context of our conversation.
I think that when you say something, but don’t know the meaning of what you said, then you are not speaking in tongues. How can it be edifying if you don’t know what you said?
 
K

karuna

Guest
#16
How can it be edifying if you don’t know what you said?
Putting the details aside for a moment, do we believe Paul was being sarcastic when he said someone speaking in tongues edifies himself?
 

VW

Banned
Dec 22, 2009
4,579
9
0
#17
I pray in tongues. I don't speak in tongues to others, but I pray in tongues all the time. I know that when I pray in tongues it is in a heavenly language, which is known to God, and not to me. It is from the spirit man, and what I pray in not something which comes from my mind, but from my heart, from the new man which I am in Christ.

I do this because my mind is many times wrong about what it thinks about things or people. I would not want to pray what I thought was right, because I am most often wrong. I would rather pray what the Father wants me to pray than what I think I should pray, and I believe that they are almost never the same. In prayer with my mind, I always try to never let my judgment reflect in my prayers, and rather lift up what or who I am praying for to our Father, for Him to do as He knows best.

Something I think we need to learn is that what we think is almost never what God thinks. This is why He has given us His Spirit.

In His love,
vic
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#18
[27] If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.
[28] But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God.
1 Cor 14:27-28 RSV
 
K

karuna

Guest
#19
[27] If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.
[28] But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God.
1 Cor 14:27-28 RSV
This is, again, an instruction on the proper use of tongues. Let him keep silence in church, not completely. Elsewhere, he is supposed to speak to himself and to God. Again, though, do you think Paul was being sarcastic when he indicated that the uninterpreted practice of tongues edified the individual?
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#20
This is, again, an instruction on the proper use of tongues. Let him keep silence in church, not completely. Elsewhere, he is supposed to speak to himself and to God. Again, though, do you think Paul was being sarcastic when he indicated that the uninterpreted practice of tongues edified the individual?
I don’t think he was being sarcastic. I do not deny tongues are spoken—the Bible proves that they were. However, I think for a lot of people, tongues is just an ego trip, and that these people don’t speak in tongues at all. They just speak jibberish and claim they are speaking in tongues. I guess it would do no harm, but when a church starts looking down at people because they DON’T speak in tongues, then harm IS being done.