The truth about tongues: a DIVISIVE force in Christianity today

  • 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.
S

Scribe

Guest
Actually Paul said that there was NO BENEFIT. Please note carefully:

BOTH MIND AND SPIRIT MUST BE ENGAGED IN PRAYER
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (1 Cor 14:15)
Did you read the comment from F.F. Bruce? Do you agree with the comment by F.F. Bruce? Can you find any biblical theologian scholar that supports your interpretation?
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
I don't think you can get that from what I said. However if you did, I agree with you that is not how it works.

Now as to the benefit Paul saw in praying in an unknown tongue when his spirit prayed but his understanding was unfruitful.

I don't think any of us can clearly explain the mystery behind prayer. Why we are asked to pray when God already knows what we need. We don't have to understand why we just do it because it is God's method and plan that we do it. We do not fully know what happens when we pray in the spirit but our understanding is unfruitful but we do it anyway.

If it is NOT because we are praying about things we do not understand needs to be prayed for, then it is for some other reason, that we do not understand. For one thing we can be certain of is that our understanding is unfruitful. Howbeit we do it anyway.
1 Cor 14: 14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:

Also, for the benefit of those who respect non pentecostal theologians like F.F. Bruce enough to have an open ear to hear what Paul was talking about please see the below excerpt from F.F. Bruce commentary on Romans 8.

26. The Spirit himself intercedes for us. He is called the disciples’ ‘advocate’ (paraklētos) in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 (see also note on verse 34, below). Cf. Ephesians 6:18, ‘Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.’ When believers pray ‘in the Spirit’, the Spirit himself intercedes on their behalf. (See p. 57.) With sighs too deep for words. ‘Through our inarticulate groans’ (NEB). The noun stenagmos, like the verb stenazō (used in verse 23), may denote either sighing or groaning. Speaking to God in the Spirit with ‘tongues’ (1 Cor. 14:2) may be included in this expression, but it covers those longings and aspirations which well up from the depths of the spirit and cannot be imprisoned within the confines of everyday words. In such prayer it is the indwelling Spirit who prays, and his mind is immediately read by the Father to whom the prayer is addressed (verse 27). Moreover, these ‘inarticulate groans’ cannot be dissociated from the groaning of verse 23, with which believers (together with all creation) express their longing for the coming resurrection-glory, which will consummate the answer to all their prayers. (See p. 58 with n. 77.)

Bruce, F. F.. Romans (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) (p. 175). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

So as you can see in the sentences in red that Bruce sees a connection between what Paul was referring to in praying in tongues and that separate subject of the groanings which cannot be uttered. They are not the same but the REASON might be the same. That just as the Spirit prays through us with groaning that cannot be uttered which in that context specifically says "because we know not what we should pray for as we ought" Bruce is saying that this praying in tongues that Paul did where his understanding was unfruitful was probably also for the same kind of purpose. Now many non pentecostals will agree with F. F. Bruce and I wanted to point out that he is intellectually honest about his interpretation of scripture even though he was not a pentecostal. He was far better at hermeneutics and interpretation of scriptures than anyone on these forumns including myself.

There is much benefit to praying in tongues and interceding in tongues. As a matter of fact all those who have recieved this gift and have prayed in tongues in private for thirty minutes have testimonies of experiencing a spiritual charging, and that when they get immediately into the study of the Word of God after such an intercession time they experience illumination that is beyond their normal bible study experience without praying in tongues for 30 minutes. It is obvious to those who experience these benefits that something awesome happens from praying in tongues that enables them to have understanding in the scriptures, a concentration, a quick recall of other scriptures that contribute to a sudden illumination of a theological concept that they realize was there all along but they had passed over it many times without the light turning on. Their heart burns within them as the see JESUS revealed in Old Testament scriptures and they KNOW it is a direct result of praying 30 minutes in tongues before they started their study.

I hesitate to share these precious benefits in a forum like this because afterwards I cringe at some of the statements that people will make as they proceed to trample on these precious pearls. Please don't be that guy. :)
ok maybe i misunderstood. lets go back to the example i provided:

two men at hospital, two sick wives, two men pray, one prayer in common language, one prayer in spirit language. please explain, from your point of view how the prayers are different, how the prayers are recieved and how they are answered.
 
S

Scribe

Guest
ok maybe i misunderstood. lets go back to the example i provided:

two men at hospital, two sick wives, two men pray, one prayer in common language, one prayer in spirit language. please explain, from your point of view how the prayers are different, how the prayers are recieved and how they are answered.
My first reply was my reply. The one that has the Holy Spirit gift of speaking in tongues would not ONLY pray in tongues. He would pray both in his understanding and in tongues. One does not have to speak in tongues to pray for the sick. God hears them both. But that does not mean that tongues has no purpose. We don't have to know everything in regards to the purpose of praying in tongues to experience the benefits.

I can tell you that if I am the one who is sick I would appreciate every kind of prayer I can get from those with a heart of faith and I would particularly favor those prayers from people who expect me to get well. I can do without the prayers that ask God to keep me sick if it will teach me something. Those are often just unbelief prayers couched in religious platitudes. People are afraid to say "be healed in the name of Jesus" in case it does not work, so they pray about how Joni Eric Sontada learned so much by being paralyzed and other long winded sermon prayers. No thanks. Can someone else pray that has faith for me to get healed please?
 

bojack

Well-known member
Dec 16, 2019
2,309
1,006
113
ok maybe i misunderstood. lets go back to the example i provided:

two men at hospital, two sick wives, two men pray, one prayer in common language, one prayer in spirit language. please explain, from your point of view how the prayers are different, how the prayers are recieved and how they are answered.
Tongues are a gift , not all speak in tongues .. It does not make you more spiritual than the next guy .. In fact some may get caught up in pride thinking they are more spiritual .. That can happen to any Christian who gets the cart in front of the horse .. You fill yourself with Jesus and that's what comes out .. I'll take any prayer in Jesus name anytime ..
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,474
13,785
113
Actually Paul said that there was NO BENEFIT.
Just. Plain. Wrong.

Nowhere does Paul say there was "no benefit"; in fact, he says that when he is praying in tongues, his mind is "unfruitful". He says nothing whatsoever about praying in tongues being unfruitful.

Please note carefully:

BOTH MIND AND SPIRIT MUST BE ENGAGED IN PRAYER
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (1 Cor 14:15)
The words in bold are not Scripture, but only an interpretation. There is no "must" in the text; at best there is an implied "it's good to..." but there simply is no imperative statement.
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
My first reply was my reply. The one that has the Holy Spirit gift of speaking in tongues would not ONLY pray in tongues. He would pray both in his understanding and in tongues. One does not have to speak in tongues to pray for the sick. God hears them both. But that does not mean that tongues has no purpose. We don't have to know everything in regards to the purpose of praying in tongues to experience the benefits.

I can tell you that if I am the one who is sick I would appreciate every kind of prayer I can get from those with a heart of faith and I would particularly favor those prayers from people who expect me to get well. I can do without the prayers that ask God to keep me sick if it will teach me something. Those are often just unbelief prayers couched in religious platitudes. People are afraid to say "be healed in the name of Jesus" in case it does not work, so they pray about how Joni Eric Sontada learned so much by being paralyzed and other long winded sermon prayers. No thanks. Can someone else pray that has faith for me to get healed please?
so one prayer is no different than the other prayer?
 
S

Scribe

Guest
so one prayer is no different than the other prayer?
I believe a prayer of faith is better than a prayer of unbelief. And I assume that you agree.

Therefore I personally believe that those who have faith in what the Bible says about the gift of tongues and use it will experience the benefit God intended when they do. And those who do not will not experience the benefits.

I would much rather have someone pray over me in tongues for 30 minutes while I was in my sick bed than to pray in their understanding only. I will take both kinds of prayer, but if you ask me to choose (which would never be a real scenario) I would ask them to pray in tongues for 30 minutes or as long as the Holy Spirit leads them to. That is how much faith I have concerning the power and benefit of praying in tongues. That is why I am going to ask people to pray for me that I know have a revelation of the pentecostal doctrines.

I schedule corporate prayer with people of like faith who also understand the power of praying in tongues and so my actions demonstrate that I do believe that such prayer is different than other types of praying.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
I believe a prayer of faith is better than a prayer of unbelief. And I assume that you agree.

Therefore I personally believe that those who have faith in what the Bible says about the gift of tongues and use it will experience the benefit God intended when they do. And those who do not will not experience the benefits.

I would much rather have someone pray over me in tongues for 30 minutes while I was in my sick bed than to pray in their understanding only. I will take both kinds of prayer, but if you ask me to choose (which would never be a real scenario) I would ask them to pray in tongues for 30 minutes or as long as the Holy Spirit leads them to. That is how much faith I have concerning the power and benefit of praying in tongues. That is why I am going to ask people to pray for me that I know have a revelation of the pentecostal doctrines.

I schedule corporate prayer with people of like faith who also understand the power of praying in tongues and so my actions demonstrate that I do believe that such prayer is different than other types of praying.
Spiritual gifts unseen yes. Sign gift seen, no . the two words are not used together as one thought. Rather we walk by faith after the unseen eternal

There only is only one type of prayer .One that expects a outcome. Not slain in the spirit .The spirit of judgement falling backward..(Genesis 49:16-17 )

Tongues is the prophecy of God spoken in many languages. The prayer of faith is the prayer of the tongue of God's prophecy .The prayer that speaks of the faith of Christ working in David in the Psalms'. like Psalm23 .

He teaches how to pray with understanding giving us the desires of our new born again hearts . There is no power in unknown wonderments. The hidden power is hid in parables they teach us how to walk by faith. The unseen eternal .We must lean how to rightly divide them if we desire to walk by faith . Not lying wonderments .

2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Not a gift of unknown self edifying wonderments. Where our heart is is where we find the treasure

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,474
13,785
113
Spiritual gifts unseen yes. Sign gift seen, no .
Question: Where in Scripture does it say that spiritual gifts are not seen?

Answer: Nowhere. You made that up all by yourself, and you're so convinced of your error that you argue with others over it.

There only is only one type of prayer .One that expects a outcome. Not slain in the spirit .
Why do you associate "slain in the spirit" with speaking in tongues, even though Paul does not associate them?

Tongues is the prophecy of God spoken in many languages. The prayer of faith is the prayer of the tongue of God's prophecy .
Question: Where in Scripture does it say that tongues is prophecy?

Answer: Nowhere. You can keep repeating your error, or you can accept that Scripture speaks about the two gifts as though they are separate.
 
S

Scribe

Guest
Spiritual gifts unseen yes. Sign gift seen, no . the two words are not used together as one thought. Rather we walk by faith after the unseen eternal

There only is only one type of prayer .One that expects a outcome. Not slain in the spirit .The spirit of judgement falling backward..(Genesis 49:16-17 )

Tongues is the prophecy of God spoken in many languages. The prayer of faith is the prayer of the tongue of God's prophecy .The prayer that speaks of the faith of Christ working in David in the Psalms'. like Psalm23 .

He teaches how to pray with understanding giving us the desires of our new born again hearts . There is no power in unknown wonderments. The hidden power is hid in parables they teach us how to walk by faith. The unseen eternal .We must lean how to rightly divide them if we desire to walk by faith . Not lying wonderments .

2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Not a gift of unknown self edifying wonderments. Where our heart is is where we find the treasure

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
.
I try not to sound unkind when I say anything in these posts so please understand I am only trying to help you be a better a communicator. I don't know what you are saying.

Maybe you meant to respond to someone else. Or maybe English is not your first language?

Who was talking about slain in the spirit and falling backwards?

I am not sure why, it is probably just me, but when you post I get the image in my mind of a tall thin person with a long purple robe sort of a a hippy like person walking tip toed in bare feet through their backyard garden and holding a flower in one hand picking petals off with the other and tossing them into the air letting them flutter to the ground while speaking unintelligible words about Wonderments and unseen eternals in a fake religious sounding voice using made up pseudo-spiritual phrases, linking scriptures together that don't belong and thinking they are saying something poetic but not realizing they sound weird to anyone who reads them. May I ask you...Do you have a garden?
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,005
8,373
113
If we all would just believe what we read in Acts and ask for the same things the first church received, there would be no division today.
Nobody asked for anything at the first instance of tongues occurring.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
Question: Where in Scripture does it say that spiritual gifts are not seen?

Answer: Nowhere. You made that up all by yourself, and you're so convinced of your error that you argue with others over it.


Why do you associate "slain in the spirit" with speaking in tongues, even though Paul does not associate them?


Question: Where in Scripture does it say that tongues is prophecy?

Answer: Nowhere. You can keep repeating your error, or you can accept that Scripture speaks about the two gifts as though they are separate.
2 Corinthians 5:7(For we walk by faith, not by sight

Faith, the unseen eternal. Sight, after the temporal corrupted.

Spirits that work in us do not have a form. Marvel not but rather believe prophecy.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood or are we supported by the temporal corrupted things seen .

They are for those who seek after a signs and lying wonders. A false gospel before they believe.. Jesu calls them a evil generation (no faith) Like the sign gift seekers below. Making Jesus into a circus seal .

John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

What did Jesus say. Well done make a noise and edify oneself? Or did he call them faithless (not believe) ?

John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

The Holy Spirit not seen and not Paul seen associates the two references as one law .Many simply discard the foundation in favor of a wonderment .That they call wonderful fill-ups.

It would seem you like many disassociate the foundation of the law Isaiah 28 from the reminder 1 Corinthians 14:21-22.

It is clear tongues is prophecy spoken in the languages of the whole word. The unbelieving Jews would have nothing to do with prophecy in their own tongue Hebrew but loved their wonderments. Mocking God be them They surely would not believe it is it came in another language .Its not a trade off for .Hebrew is one of the many tongues.

Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not prophecy.

Who is the sign of tongues for? It a open book question. What does the tongue of God say?

It cannot mean tongues is a sign of useless sound to them that believe. Can't be both ways. Prophecy is tongues. It represents our new tongue the gospel it can drive our the spirit of error . like in the wonderment thing men seek after to get filled again and again and again

Can't cast out demons with a unintelligent sound. They would most likely wonder .

God uses prophecy to rebuke them . like as it is written it makes them flee

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Rather than seeking after things the peep and mutter a person should seek the living through prophecy .

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that
peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Isaiah 8:19

If you try and make tongues something different than prophecy. You end up with peeping and muttering. "senseless sounds"?

What does Isaiah 28 inform us, or do we disassociate it from the doctrine and continue to seek after a wonderment (the fill-ups.)?

Offer the scripture that shows us you do have a understanding from prophecy and not "senseless sounds"
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,474
13,785
113
2 Corinthians 5:7(For we walk by faith, not by sight

Faith, the unseen eternal. Sight, after the temporal corrupted.
The verse has nothing to do with manifestations of the Holy Spirit, and the rest of your words aren't Scripture.
 
Jul 23, 2018
12,199
2,775
113
Nobody asked for anything at the first instance of tongues occurring.
They tarried in the upper room.
Pentecost came in 50 days so they were in there over a month.
Tons of pressing in and discussion.

They certainly were asking for the promise,promised by Jesus.
The power.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
I try not to sound unkind when I say anything in these posts so please understand I am only trying to help you be a better a communicator. I don't know what you are saying.

Maybe you meant to respond to someone else. Or maybe English is not your first language?

Who was talking about slain in the spirit and falling backwards?

I am not sure why, it is probably just me, but when you post I get the image in my mind of a tall thin person with a long purple robe sort of a a hippy like person walking tip toed in bare feet through their backyard garden and holding a flower in one hand picking petals off with the other and tossing them into the air letting them flutter to the ground while speaking unintelligible words about Wonderments and unseen eternals in a fake religious sounding voice using made up pseudo-spiritual phrases, linking scriptures together that don't belong and thinking they are saying something poetic but not realizing they sound weird to anyone who reads them. May I ask you...Do you have a garden?
That's tiny Tim, tippy toeing through the Tulips. I am the short fat and old and ugly guy. LOl

Its the same thing. Have you looked as the foundation of the law found in Isiah 28 revisited in 1 Corinthians 14:?

.If not you have some home work .Then we can be on the same page in the same garden . . and have you looked at the doctrine that reveals the usage of the "spirit of judgement" . Falling backward slain in the spirit calling down fire or breaking the neck?.

It helps us understand who needs to hear the tongue of the gospel of Christ .He lives in these bodies of death . Why seek after a out of the body experience and call it a "sign gift" .Self edifying, I did it?

Yes wonderments are used to fake that a person has a understanding. Can't wonder all day and call that believing God. That's for 12 years boys. (Air heads LOL) .Jesus said marvel not but rather believe for some reason? Why do you think he said that, or does it make you wonder?

Why mock the spirit of judgement?

Genesis 49:16Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

Poison represent false doctrine as oral traditions of men (brood of vipers) ' The spirit of judgment is shown working in many places. Old as well as new testament. . to fall back or backward is used also in referring to breaking one neck and bowels coming out like in hanging. Both cases are used with Judas. It teaches men to get off of there high horse. Before they fall backward and break their neck. The redeemed do not have that concern they hear prophecy and do not add oral traditions making prophecy the words of understanding without effect.

Other metaphors in parables are used to represent those in unbelief. The spirit of judgement falling backward. They are bringing fire down from heaven. Quite few used to represent the spirit of judgment with those who mock prophecy the tongue of God

Jeremiah 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

Exodus 13:13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem

Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, (at breakneck speed )he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

John 18:5-6 (KJV)
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

He did not even need to touch them. He did not teach that kind of sign as a wonderment starter or finisher. No one their.
to catch them or call 911 if they missed. .


How are men being filled today with the pandemic making every one equal. Are they running on fumes?

A couple more that express the spirit of judgement falling back , fire form heaven break neck that you can research.

Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination (wonderments) of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

1 Samuel 4 :18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

Isaiah 28:13 So the Lord’s words will be senseless sounds to them: “Saw lasaw saw lasaw. Qaw laqaw qaw laqaw. Ze’er sham ze’er sham.” When the people try to walk, they will fall backwards. They will be defeated, trapped, and captured.

Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

I would say the evidence is overwhelming. Unless one turns a blind eye towards wonderment.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
The verse has nothing to do with manifestations of the Holy Spirit, and the rest of your words aren't Scripture.
Faith that comes by hearing the Spirit of faith has nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. What kind of spirit then? The spirit of peep and mutter?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,474
13,785
113
Faith that comes by hearing the Spirit of faith has nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. What kind of spirit then? The spirit of peep and mutter?
More irrelevant incoherence.
 

SoulWeaver

Senior Member
Oct 25, 2014
4,889
2,534
113
It makes me glad that we have fixed all the problems in the world and delivered the Gospel to every corner, only tongue speakers are now the issue, and it's time to carry out personal vendetta wars because we like some gifts like teaching and preaching but need to eliminate other gifts now that don't sit with us. In fact let me eliminate every gift I don't have because if I don't have it, and some people abuse it, that proves that it definitely can't be of God and doesn't exist :rolleyes:
 
S

Scribe

Guest
They tarried in the upper room.
Pentecost came in 50 days so they were in there over a month.
Tons of pressing in and discussion.

They certainly were asking for the promise,promised by Jesus.
The power.
Jesus appeared to them for 40 days so it would be 10 days in the upper room
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
It makes me glad that we have fixed all the problems in the world and delivered the Gospel to every corner, only tongue speakers are now the issue, and it's time to carry out personal vendetta wars because we like some gifts like teaching and preaching but need to eliminate other gifts now that don't sit with us. In fact let me eliminate every gift I don't have because if I don't have it, and some people abuse it, that proves that it definitely can't be of God and doesn't exist :rolleyes:
No one is eliminating gifts. No such thing as a sign gift as a wonderment. The spiritual gift of preaching our new tongue the gospel. yes.

Mocking the spirit of judgment is not a gift. Its mocking the spirit of judgment.

The weekly self edifying fill-up. Must be running of fumes today with the Pandemic.