you have posted this story numerous times and the thread is not raging any more than any other thread where people disagree
how do we get to know God? there are many ways and the entire Bible is full of experiences people had while getting to know God or coming to believe in Him
how about Paul when he was still Saul? he sure had quite an experience when Jesus introduced Himself
how about any one of the disciples that Jesus picked by hand and how we see their personalities and the way they came to know Jesus both as a teacher and then as their risen Savior
how about when Peter stood up after the Holy Spirit had fallen and over 3000 came to salvation....the Bible states those people were 'pricked to the heart' when the Holy Spirit gave Peter the words and the power to be a witness
and literally hundreds of examples
when someone has a bad experience, they have to deal with it
God knows I have had to deal with a few myself
however, that does not change either the reality or the truth of the Bible in either testament
I would say sorry you suffered all that but I already have at least 6 times
I am not saying we do not have an experience when we come to Christ. I know I certainly did. God spoke to me in no uncertain terms, telling me he was the Saviour of the world, to follow him, and to repent of my evil ways, including drinking.
The problem, (if this becomes our spiritual walk - speaking in tongues),is 5, 10 or 15 years later, all we have are a few experiences, and we have not matured into the image of Christ. That happens by really digging deep in the Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to CHANGE and TRANSFORM us. That is the Scriptural progression from justification to sanctification.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2
Romans is the plan of salvation, from sinner through to worker for Christ. Not once is tongues mentioned. Instead, Paul emphasizes, like in other places, that we need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, not by raving in unknown tongues, but rather by RENEWING OUR MINDS!
How do we renew our minds? By reading the Word, by studying the Word, and also by prayer, fellowship with our brothers and sisters, and certainly service to Christ. He is the King, there is no where in Scripture that suggests one chapter, or worse, one verse Acts 2:38 is the gospel. That is starting point, it is not the Christian walk.
I actually feel pity for people who are just stuck in this dead end where tongues are the be all and all. (I'm not saying this of every person who speaks in tongues, Gordon Fee certainly puts that myth to bed), but the majority of tongue speakers are just stuck, and it is so sad.
One thing that God did tell me, when he called me by name, was to read the Bible daily. I've always tried to keep to that - as well as studying the Bible, learning the original languages and hermeneutics. And the Holy Spirit is always there to lead and guide me. But he leads and guides me in the Word! Not in experiences.
There is nothing wrong with feeling joy in the Lord, or peace, or any other feeling. But, if these experiences become the end goal, then I believe Satan has won his battle. Anything that keeps you away from transforming your mind, and being transformed into the image of Christ, or till Christ is formed in you, is not from God.
"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you," Gal. 4:19
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18
We do not transform our minds by speaking in tongues, but rather, by studying, memorizing and reading the Word. The lie I am fighting has left people dead while shouting at the top of their lungs utter nonsense. God wants everyone to find their gifts, as per Romans 12:3-8. The fruits of the Spirit are given though the Holy Spirit, but not by standing around patting themselves on the back that all they need to do is speak in tongues. Instead, the Holy Spirit wants us serving God, and one another. The Holy Spirit wants us to be on mission with God, spreading the REAL gospel, the one in 1 Corinthians.
"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1 Cor. 15:1-8
If you believe that you need to be baptized in water to be saved, or speak in tongues to be saved, or even to experience the fullness of God, you have not been reading what Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles wrote above. The witness is to the cross and the resurrection, not to speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost. That is a false gospel. Tongues were given as a sign that the Holy Spirit would accompany each believer from that day first. It was the promise fulfilled that Jesus would send the Paraclete, and the church would be born. Anything else is adding to the gospel.
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