I was saved when I was 5, but it wasn't until I was in my mid thirties that I heard anyone say that tongues and all the gifts are still in play today (mostly Lutheran/Baptist when we went to church). I checked into it and found that indeed, when done as the Bible says it does what the Bible says it will. But it wasn't until I came here to CC that I heard anyone say 'if you don't speak in tongues you're not saved'.
Be sure the poster, shrume, knows about that. I don't think he believes me that some are saying that here.
My understanding and experience is that tongues and the gifts are not a new outpouring of the Spirit. The Spirit indwells you when you are saved.
This is where I agree with you... but not in what you share next below.
Tongues and the gifts occur then when you open yourself up to allow the Spirit that is in you flow thru and out of you. It's like water behind a dam ... the water/spirit fills the space, but it's up to you to open the gate and let it flow out.
Brother, that is a new age mentality; a rudiment in the world; a spiritual methodology for opening oneself up to receiving spirits. God does not give gifts like that nor require any prep on our part in receiving any spiritual gift other than to ask at that throne of grace.
Were the believers prepped in the Book of Acts for preparing to receive the Holy Spirit and to speak in tongues at their salvation? No. They just preached the gospel. Okay then. Why is it that when it comes to spiritual gifts, only tongues is hyped for prepping a believer to open themselves up to receive? If none of the other spiritual gifts are hyped to be sought after in that way, then neither the actual God's gift of tongues which is of other men's lips to speak unto the people.
I just find it strange that for all of this mentality of opening oneself up, tongues is the only gift as notably received. One has to see the similarity of how mediums and wizards and voodooists consults with familiar spirits by opening themselves up for this "spiritual flow" to happen along with tongues that comes with no interpretation; see Isaiah 8:19
I honestly don't know what all the debate is about.
Remember; when you had first come here to CC, you said that was the first time you heard this 'if you don't speak in tongues, you are not saved'. It is about why believers are saying that because of that supernatural phenomenon.
Jesus said the things He did, we will do and even more.
Jesus had never spoken in tongues, but I know what you mean.
Paul clearly teaches us that place and time for the proper use of tongues is essential, and that he'd rather we didn't do it than do it wrong. He said he wished we all would do it, but acknowledged that not all of us would be so gifted.
And, above and beyond all that, Paul said...
and I can't stress this enough...
DO NOT FORBID SPEAKING IN TONGUES. (You all know where that's at).
It just doesn't get any clearer than that.
Let everything be done in decency and in order.
If they got tongues when in a group invoking the Holy Spirit to come and fall on them, causing them to fall backwards and stuff like that........... and that tongue is no different than the voodooists when they speak in tongue which is vain & profane babbling... and for those believers who claim they did not get tongues the way voodooists do, but yet they speak the same kind of tongue...... something is not right here, especially since we are to prove all things and abstain from all appearances of evil.
John 16:13 testifies that the Holy Spirit CANNOT speak for Himself, but speak what He hears and so He CANNOT use God's gift of tongues to speak unto the people ( 1 Corinthians 14:21 ) as a means for His own personal prayer language for Him to pray to God.
As much as tongue speakers are taking verses out of context to fit their kind of tongue which does not come with interpretation into 1 Corinthians 14th chapter wrongly, they are ignoring the plain truths in the scripture of John 16:13.
Tongues without interpretation is not being done in decency and in order and that is when tongues can be forbidden because it is not the actual God's gift of tongues in the first place.
Not that I can stop that nonsense, but I am sharing in the hopes that those who hear His voice, will stop following the stranger's voice ( which is apt description of tongues without interpretation ) to follow His voice in following Him.
A lot of believers are wounded when their kind of tongue that comes without interpretation is rejected, but they would not be if pride was NOT involved.
If Jesus Christ is their sole purpose in seeking His glory, then they would not be defending tongues without interpretation because there is no way they can defend it to glorify Jesus Christ and they know it. All it does is separate themselves from the other believers, and to only way to rectify that is not by preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified, but preaching to believers that do not have tongues to "open themselves up" and they will receive a gift or manifestation of the Spirit.
Nope. That is not how any one is to seek a spiritual gift from Jesus Christ in that way. It comes through the Holy Spirit in us as the credit and glory will go to Jesus Christ for answering that prayer. John 14:6,13-14 & John 16:13-15
When the gift comes, it will come from within; not from without, because that is how the world receives spirits after a sign. We will know the real Holy Spirit by Him dwelling within us; not by any other sign. John 14:16-17