Speaking in Tongues

  • 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.

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,156
5,723
113
It's called Christianity, guess what, the one it is named after even rose from the dead and while here, modeled how we are to live.:)(y):unsure::coffee:

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:30‬ ‭

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God the father annointed Jesus through the baptism of John when the time came to annoint him to preach the gospel

“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:17-19, 21‬ ‭

John was annointed by God from the womb

“For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:15‬ ‭

and was appointed to prepare the people for the messiah and the gospel. Part of it was to baptize Jesus and through this God annointed Jesus with the holy ghost to specifically preach the gospel

John and Jesus are where the law and prophets end and the gospel begins

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: ( john)

( Jesus )and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Which shall prepare thy way before thee.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:1-2,

Indeed John baptizing Jesus is when Jesus was annointed to preach the gospel chosen and appointed before creation and manifest and annointed at his baptism

“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:16‬

until John baptized Jesus and when he did this happened shortly afterwards

“Now after that John was put in prison,

Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬


They were foretelling a time ahead and now it has come forth when John baptized Jesus they were prophecies of Jesus and the gospel

“For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

definately God annointed Jesus through the baptism of John
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,115
1,744
113
How arrogant if you, especially when you don’t speak it. You speak out of your flesh.
They have a sort of superior, sympathy-filled attitude of pity towards us poor souls that just aren't faithful enough, or don't want it enough, or don't believe enough.... "oh, if you only had what I have...."
Again.... you heard it here first!
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,254
1,109
113
Regardless of how a person interprets this passage it doesn't change the fact that it says nothing to suggest that the gift of tongues is active today. If anything it shows it was given by Paul laying his hands on them. They weren't just ordinary individuals who prayed for tongues and received the gift.
What many fail to realize is the individuals in Acts 19:1-6 were not operating in the spiritual gift of tongues. The account is yet another confirmation that tongues spoken upon receiving God's GIFT; the Holy Ghost, differs from operating in the spiritual gift of tongues. We know this because receiving the Holy Ghost is a must for all. Whereas, not all are used in the spiritual gift of tongues. And that gift necessitates someone operating in the gift of interpretation.

The tongues that manifested, in the account, were the direct result of the Holy Ghost entering the bodies of the twelve individuals for the very first time. This can be understood through the details of the account. When asked, "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed? Their reply indicated that they had not. But that changed. When the Holy Ghost came to dwell in each of them the experience was confirmed through their speaking in tongues. There is much significance concerning the mention of their being 12 individuals. This speaks to the fact that no one was excluded from having the experience. The same can be said of the detailed records in at least 3 cases, and alluded to in the case of the Samaritans. (Acts 2:1-4; 38-41, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7)The scriptures are very specific that all experienced the same thing.

The accounts establish a truth that when realized will change lives forever both now and in eternity to come. (Rom. 8:9-11) Paul confirms those who continue in the biblical doctrine will both save themselves, AND those who hear them. (1 Tim. 4:12-16) This means that what was experienced by the apostles was recorded for the benefit of people in every generation, including ours. Upon hearing and obeying their doctrine everyone is given the opportunity to be saved just as the very first peoples were on the Day of Pentecost when the NT began.



Romans 8:9-11: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Tim. 4:16:
"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,156
5,723
113
What many fail to realize is the individuals in Acts 19:1-6 were not operating in the spiritual gift of tongues. The account is yet another confirmation that tongues spoken upon receiving God's GIFT; the Holy Ghost, differs from operating in the spiritual gift of tongues. We know this because receiving the Holy Ghost is a must for all. Whereas, not all are used in the spiritual gift of tongues. And that gift necessitates someone operating in the gift of interpretation.

The tongues that manifested, in the account, were the direct result of the Holy Ghost entering the bodies of the twelve individuals for the very first time. This can be understood through the details of the account. When asked, "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed? Their reply indicated that they had not. But that changed. When the Holy Ghost came to dwell in each of them the experience was confirmed through their speaking in tongues. There is much significance concerning the mention of their being 12 individuals. This speaks to the fact that no one was excluded from having the experience. The same can be said of the detailed records in at least 3 cases, and alluded to in the case of the Samaritans. (Acts 2:1-4; 38-41, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7)The scriptures are very specific that all experienced the same thing.

The accounts establish a truth that when realized will change lives forever both now and in eternity to come. (Rom. 8:9-11) Paul confirms those who continue in the biblical doctrine will both save themselves, AND those who hear them. (1 Tim. 4:12-16) This means that what was experienced by the apostles was recorded for the benefit of people in every generation, including ours. Upon hearing and obeying their doctrine everyone is given the opportunity to be saved just as the very first peoples were on the Day of Pentecost when the NT began.



Romans 8:9-11: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Tim. 4:16:
"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."
good post

“The tongues that manifested, in the account, were the direct result of the Holy Ghost entering the bodies of the twelve individuals for the very first time. This can be understood through the details of the account. When asked, "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed?”

they hadn’t heard about the Holy Ghost

“he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:2‬ ‭

you can’t receive something you haven’t heard about is the issue

“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the only reason they hadn’t received the soirit is they hadn’t heard the word of faith regarding the spirit they got baptized by John before Jesus was annointed and preached the gospel they hadn’t heard Jesus doctrine about receiving the holy spirit which was preached by Jesus after John they hadn’t heard bat bekievers in Jesus are given the holy ghost

Paul informs them of this d then they receive the spirit you can’t believe and receive anything you don’t hear is the idea

the Holy Ghost comes because we believe what we heard from Jesus regarding receiving his spirit

it’s only what we have heard about that we can believe and everything operates by faith in Christ including the holt ghost you have to hear the doctrine about receiving him before you will

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-17, 20-21, 23-26‬ ‭

but if someone tells you your baptized for remission of sins and the. You never hear about receiving the Holy Spirit you can’t have faith to receive it because faith comes by hearing

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So you have faith working based on what they hear

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ( if they didn’t hear that they couldn’t receive it )

For the promise ( you have to hear a promise to hope in it ) is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39, 41‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They accepted what Peter said “ get baptized for remission of sins in Jesus name and you will receive the Holy Ghost “
Those Paul questioned had never heard about the Holy Ghost so they had no faith to receive it we have to hear the word of God to receive the gifts therin for us
 
P

Polar

Guest
Weeell faith hope and love for a believer are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Christian faith hope and love is all together different to the worlds version.

Like when you are convicted in your heart by the Holy Spirit about something. Christian faith hope and love is unselfish. The world's version is self empowerment usually
instead of excuses, why don't you actually study scripture so you will know what you are on about?

the gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual in nature

the fruit of the Holy Spirit comes about through growth in Christ...our natures are changed

why do you change to comparing Christianity to the world? do you think we do not know that here?

the thread is about tongues, but there are other gifts and just dismissing that fact does no one any favor
 
Apr 15, 2022
255
54
28
Again.... you heard it here first!
I was baptized with the Holy Spirit in my home, right after I came from work. I was embraced by the love of God and spoke in tongues for the first time in my life. And you who know nothing about it are trying to convince me that is unbiblical? I'm sure that if God spoke to you , you'd think it's the devil.

Number one, this is not a doctrine, but an experience with God, number two, get your god out of the box and be set free from your unbelief and bondage, and number three, you need to prove that I, like millions of other believers who pray and speak in tongues in the privacy of our homes (without making much fanfare), that this is not of God. So, if Paul spoke in tongues, why can't I? Is the Lord a respecter of persons?

Deuteronomy 10:17 (NASB95)
“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe."

Acts 10:34 (NASB95)
"Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality."

Acts 19:5–7 (NASB95)
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
7 There were in all about twelve men."


You surely are calling the Lord a liar although He said in Heb. 13:8 and I quote: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever."
 
P

Polar

Guest
Enlighten me. What does it say? When you consider these in total, which are all relevant and related, what do they say?
well, let's start with this other quote from you:

Yeah, I think he speaks in tongues for sure, the language of Babel, called babbling. And maybe a little gibberish too. Tongues, like the rest of the gifts listed in 1 Cor 12:8-10, that were of a miraculous nature, no longer exist nor needed as they were then.
with that attitude, you are going to wait a long time until someone bothers to 'enlighten' you. it appears you have chosen to mock rather than actually discuss.

however, there is plenty of information in this thread so that if a person were actually enquiring or wanting to understand, they could avail themself of the knowledge presented and the scripture posted to back up what is being said

let us know when you have acquired the manners to actually conduct a conversation without mocking

you have no idea how many times spiritual gifts and tongues in particular, have been presented in this forum as a topic in the BDF. you joined Oct 20 of this year. did you do so with the intention to become a valuable member, or did you have alienating people as your goal?
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,254
1,109
113
I did not make that broad a statement. I said that that instance was a one-off, since it was being used to try to "prove" that tongues are THE proof of the indwelling Spirit.
I have never said that nobody speaks/prays in tongues.
I totally disagree with the false belief that everyone (believers) has to speak in tongues to prove they are indwelt with the Spirit, which is what many of you on here are saying, or at least implying. Many of you are trying to say that if a believer doesn't have tongues, he/she is somehow not as in tune, or not as mature, or somehow their faith is lacking.... they are to be pitied as "lesser" Christians.

I can hear the outcry now.... " I never SAID that! I would never say that!" But you know as well as I do that most "tongue speakers" do look at non-speakers that way. "Oh, you just don't want the gift... Oh, if you would just ask for it in faith...." implying that somehow our faith is not strong enough.... or the extreme of "you just have not experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit... because if you had, you WOULD speak in tongues"....

I've been through this same discussion several times on this forum, and it's always the same...
I think what's very sad is that people, for the most part, are unable to accept that a person could actually be sharing hard truths out of pure love for someone other than themselves. And that condemnation is the further thing from their mind.

I, myself, have been presented with scripture that has altered what I had previously accepted as truth. And I didn't much like it at the time. However, it made me search the scriptures to see if what I was being told was true; and it was. I thank God because the truths shared have changed my life.
 
P

Polar

Guest
Number one, this is not a doctrine, but an experience with God, number two, get your god out of the box and be set free from your unbelief and bondage, and number three, you need to prove that I, like millions of other believers who pray and speak in tongues in the privacy of our homes (without making much fanfare), that this is not of God. So, if Paul spoke in tongues, why can't I? Is the Lord a respecter of persons?
oh not the 'god' inna box thing

how is tongues not a part of the doctrine of scripture? tongues as simply an experience equates with having feelings that can be good or bad or up and down as many people actually are in their 'experience

I'm glad you value tongues....so do I. but, they are far more than just an experience

well who am I to talk to you that way? just another person who was taught that tongues are not for today or worse, are satanic and who has heard, most likely, every argument for or against tongues. personally, I would be very turned off if I had not already received the gift of tongues if someone spoke to me as you are speaking above

smh
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,254
1,109
113
good post

“The tongues that manifested, in the account, were the direct result of the Holy Ghost entering the bodies of the twelve individuals for the very first time. This can be understood through the details of the account. When asked, "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed?”

they hadn’t heard about the Holy Ghost

“he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:2‬ ‭

you can’t receive something you haven’t heard about is the issue

“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the only reason they hadn’t received the soirit is they hadn’t heard the word of faith regarding the spirit they got baptized by John before Jesus was annointed and preached the gospel they hadn’t heard Jesus doctrine about receiving the holy spirit which was preached by Jesus after John they hadn’t heard bat bekievers in Jesus are given the holy ghost

Paul informs them of this d then they receive the spirit you can’t believe and receive anything you don’t hear is the idea

the Holy Ghost comes because we believe what we heard from Jesus regarding receiving his spirit

it’s only what we have heard about that we can believe and everything operates by faith in Christ including the holt ghost you have to hear the doctrine about receiving him before you will

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-17, 20-21, 23-26‬ ‭

but if someone tells you your baptized for remission of sins and the. You never hear about receiving the Holy Spirit you can’t have faith to receive it because faith comes by hearing

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So you have faith working based on what they hear

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ( if they didn’t hear that they couldn’t receive it )

For the promise ( you have to hear a promise to hope in it ) is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39, 41‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They accepted what Peter said “ get baptized for remission of sins in Jesus name and you will receive the Holy Ghost “
Those Paul questioned had never heard about the Holy Ghost so they had no faith to receive it we have to hear the word of God to receive the gifts therin for us
I agree someone must hear the gospel in order to receive Holy Ghost. But take a step back and think about Paul's question and what it reveals. His initial question addressed something he knew. There were times when people believed the gospel message yet did not receive the Holy Ghost right away. An example of this is seen in the Samaritans' experience. They did not receive the indwelling of the Holy Ghost until days after they believed the gospel message and were baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:12-18)

Why is this so important? Because people are being told that the Holy Ghost comes to dwell within them the moment they hear and believe the gospel message. The presented scriptures say otherwise. And scripture is the final word on any subject.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,115
1,744
113
I was baptized with the Holy Spirit in my home, right after I came from work. I was embraced by the love of God and spoke in tongues for the first time in my life. And you who know nothing about it are trying to convince me that is unbiblical? I'm sure that if God spoke to you , you'd think it's the devil.

Number one, this is not a doctrine, but an experience with God, number two, get your god out of the box and be set free from your unbelief and bondage, and number three, you need to prove that I, like millions of other believers who pray and speak in tongues in the privacy of our homes (without making much fanfare), that this is not of God. So, if Paul spoke in tongues, why can't I? Is the Lord a respecter of persons?

Deuteronomy 10:17 (NASB95)
“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe."


Acts 10:34 (NASB95)
"Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality."


Acts 19:5–7 (NASB95)
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
7 There were in all about twelve men."


You surely are calling the Lord a liar although He said in Heb. 13:8 and I quote: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever."
I suspect that reading comprehension is not your strong suit. Go back and read my previous posts before you go off on a tirade about what I do and do not believe.
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
3,236
1,130
113
New Zealand
You've also got individual indwelling of the Holy Spirit and then a group being come upon. Different roles of the Holy Spirit.

If a group receives the Holy Spirit, is that eternal salvation or believers being empowered ?

All.thru Acts there are groups of already converted believers who receive the Holy Spirit.

This affects connecting salvation to speaking in tongues. If they are already converted, speaking in tongues when the Holy Spirit comes upon is different to salvation
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,254
1,109
113
...
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your [l]heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?...
Notice the gift Jesus is speaking of is the Holy Spirit. He says those who ask the heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit will have their prayer answered.
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
One of the biggest problems with tongue speaking denominations is they elevate one thing (tongues or other miraculous sign gifts) above everything else. Tongue speaking has become to these sects what the Sabbath is to Seventh-Day Adventists.
reminds me of the homosexual actor from southern usa, leslie jordan, who created the drama skit and book [[Southern Baptist Sissies]] where many homosexuals in the Southern Baptist Churches believe OSAS is Saving them from being Sodomites.

i don't know of any Church who believes in Speaking in Tongues is elevating it to a level you claim. i think because you oppose Speaking in Tongues, it just seems to be that way from your viewpoint.
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
So, you're saying that tongues are necessary? Would you elaborate on that for us? Thank you.

If Tongues are necessary, what am I missing? How am I incomplete? What do those who speak in Tongues have that I do not have?
i would say, since you did like my Sequence, that your Gifts are more than enough to suffice you. but for those who do Speak in Tongues, they need the Holy Spirit to intercede on their behalf. i did go through and show [[how]] the Holy Spirit searches the Believer and God, then initiates the Utterance, Tongues or Groaning takes place, only God understands, and what the Believer needed is provided.

Personally, i like it in Spiritual Warfare.
the enemy has no clue because only God understands and i have witnessed great victories due to it.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,313
3,618
113
i think because you oppose Speaking in Tongues, it just seems to be that way from your viewpoint.
I don't oppose speaking in tongues. I've said before I think it's little more than a carnival act. But carnivals entertain a lot of people; let them have their fun, but people who see it for what it is shouldn't be afraid to speak up.