The GIFT of Languages

[Underwhosewings]

You are most welcome to disagree with the truth.

“keep an open mind”

 

[oyster67]

I'll bite the bullet on this one!
I confess to being a Cessationist, that is, I believe the sign and revelational gifts ceased with the death of the Apostles.

I have not always held this view.

I spent 20 years in the Pentecostal Movement, 7 of those years as a pastor. I have seen and experienced it all!

I left in disgust around the time of the Toronto Blessing. I just could not reconcile people rolling around the floor laughing and barking like dogs as being a 'move of God'.

From a study of Scripture I came to see that New Testament Tongues were in fact Human Languages ( Acts 2) not what
was on offer in Pentecostal Churches. I had to examine my own experience of speaking in tongues and came to the realisation that it was not the NT gift but rather a psychological imitation.

So for better or worse, I am now a Cessationist.

Peace

You have an interesting testimony. I too have been in Pentacostal circles and seen a lot of tomfoolery, but I am not ready to put any limits on what God might decide to do. I have seen things that I cannot explain. God does seem to work in ways that are mysterious to me at times.

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

Speaking in tongues edifies the person ------it builds faith ---so the person stands strong in their Faith ------very powerful gift ------

Glad to hear what you believe.

I pray to God in my own language, and I am edified, encouraged and built up In
God's Revelation Of The Mystery (Romans - Philemon), The Very Powerful Word =
God's Love Letters for us,Today, in the Body Of Christ, to stand strong in faith.

Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided (+ I and II)! + RICH Blessings

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

Modern tongues do not even pretend to be other human languages.

Not true. There are recorded instances where the "tongue" was understood by those hearing it, AND recorded cases where the "Common tongue has been heard in other languages. Also there aree instances in which the "tongue" was understood, and the subsequent "Interpretation" by one unfamiliar with the language was found to be accurate.

The 1 Cor 14 situation, however IS much more prevalent.

 

[Joelightening]

The gift of tongues is from the Holy Spirit. Don't speak negatively about it. On the other hand, there are many who only imitate that gift, but who don't really have it.

I once attended a church and in that church was an elderly lady who would always pass out during the service. She would fall flat out on the floor and not get up until the service was about over. She was imitating be slain in the Spirit.

We live in troubling times.

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

Is that scriptural?
There is only one church, one doctrine of Jesus Christ. In different locations.
As we see in the New Testament.

You apparently didn't notice that in the Bible, the church was already fragmenting, and denominationalizing in Paul's day.

 

[Underwhosewings]

You apparently didn't notice that in the Bible, the church was already fragmenting, and denominationalizing in Paul's day.

Now it’s being built.

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

Now it’s being built.

The TRUE "Church of Jesus Christ" has always existed, NEVER as a visible religio-political institution, but always as a SPIRITUAL BODY consisting of ONLY Born Again Believers, both physically alive and physically dead since the Ressurection of Jesus. THAT church is in schedule, and in budget, and will continue so until the end of the age.

 

[mustaphadrink]

Like so many topics here, we get taught by people who have no experience with the subject matter. All they are doing is repeating what they have been told to believe.

The best way to learn is to keep an open mind even when you are convinced about something as a new revelation may come up which needs our attention.

My origins were Baptist (no supernatural), then the Brethren (no supernatural), and then the charismatic Brethren (plenty of supernatural). I attended a Brethren Bible College and whilst there I did a study of revival. Last week I started reading another book on revival which listed all the revivals that have happened since Azuza Street.

If you believe what the book says and I do, it is very clear that each revival was accompanied by tongues ( languages) and people were speaking in languages they had not learned and people were hearing messages in their own native tongue the same as they did on the day of Pentecost.

Do we throw the baby out with the bathwater? Some do but I don't. Pentecost and the history of revival very clearly show people being given the ability to speak in a language they have not learned. If that is what God wants to do, that is fine with me.

That is Ok underwhosewings. I am used to people telling me I don't know what I am talking about.

 

[presidente]

I left in disgust around the time of the Toronto Blessing. I just could not reconcile people rolling around the floor laughing and barking like dogs as being a 'move of God'.

That wasn't really a part of Pentecostalism. I had some major concerns with that, too, since I was going to a Vineyard home meeting at the time. The flow of the spiritual gifts seemed to stop as people just prayed 'more more more' and 'fire fire fire' hoping to see the person they were praying for act in an unusual manner.

From a study of Scripture I came to see that New Testament Tongues were in fact Human Languages ( Acts 2) not what
was on offer in Pentecostal Churches.

Are you unaware that Pentecostalism has generally held that much of 'speaking in tongues' is human languages, although there is room for 'tongues of angels' if God so allows? That's the historical understanding, and The Apostolic Faith newsletter records many examples of others hearing 'tongues' in languages they knew, and there were testimonies of this from the Azusa Street Revival.

So for better or worse, I am now a Cessationist.

This feels a bit like a nonsequitur because your post didn't provide support for that position.

 

[presidente]

It should also be noted that nowhere in Scripture -- whether on earth or in Heaven -- do angels speak in another language (which could be labeled as "the tongues of angels").

You should look at I Corinthians 13:1 where Paul says if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels.

The idea of tongues of angels also shows up in intertestamental literature-- the Testiment of Job, or something like that. There might be another reference.

But the idea is in the Bible.

Whenever they spoke it was in a human language, and even when Paul was in the third heaven (in Paradise) he heard things which he could understand, but was forbidden to disclose them. So Paul was being hyperbolic to make a point.

This passage about 'a man' caught up into the third heaven does not mention speaking in tongues.

What we should always keep in mind is that he viewed prophecy as far more beneficial than tongues. He also ranks the spiritual gifts in the order of their importance.

Paul says that greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interpret.

Not everyone has every gift. Do you prophesy? Some people prophesy, some teach, and many people have other gifts. Tongues and interpretation edifies the body, and the Bible teaches the church to allow it.

 

[Nehemiah6]

You should look at I Corinthians 13:1 where Paul says if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels.

That is just hyperbole. There is no record in Scripture about tongues of angels. The always spoke human languages (Hebrew or Aramaic, possibly Greek).

 

[presidente]

That is just hyperbole. There is no record in Scripture about tongues of angels. The always spoke human languages (Hebrew or Aramaic, possibly Greek).

Looks like gaslighting.

You assume it is hyperbole to fit your preconceived notions. There are 'extreme possibilities' in this argument. It is possible to give one's body to be burned.

 

[Aussie52]

Not true. There are recorded instances where the "tongue" was understood by those hearing it, AND recorded cases where the "Common tongue has been heard in other languages. Also there aree instances in which the "tongue" was understood, and the subsequent "Interpretation" by one unfamiliar with the language was found to be accurate.

The 1 Cor 14 situation, however IS much more prevalent.

I am reminded of an incident in New Zealand at a Pentecostal Tent Meeting.. There was an utterance in tongues followed by an interpretation. A local Māori who was present said that the tongues message was a cursing of Jesus.
, in a Maori dialect.
Just because it is supernatural, does not mean it is from God.

 

[Joelightening]

I have the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues. If you want to say languages, that is ok, so long as you realize this is a gift of speaking in an unknown language. The language is unknown to the speaker. In some cases it may be known to some person or persons hearing the speaking.

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

Just because it is supernatural, does not mean it is from God.

Agreed, satan can and does produce lying miracles also, and "Speaking in a tongue" CAN ABSOLUTELY BE the result of demonization. OR more simply can simply be a person Speaking gibberish (which anybody can do with a little practice. Sid Caesar used to do it as a comedy routine).

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

I have the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues. If you want to say languages, that is ok, so long as you realize this is a gift of speaking in an unknown language. The language is unknown to the speaker. In some cases it may be known to some person or persons hearing the speaking.

True. many cases on record.

 

[Evmur]

Agreed, satan can and does produce lying miracles also, and "Speaking in a tongue" CAN ABSOLUTELY BE the result of demonization. OR more simply can simply be a person Speaking gibberish (which anybody can do with a little practice. Sid Caesar used to do it as a comedy routine).

There must be the true in order for there to be a counterfeit.

Prayer can be counterfeit, preaching, works of charity, everything can be copied. The servants of Pharoah were able to emulate the miracles of Moses [to a point]

What then shall we stop?

The devil cannot emulate LIFE, that he can't do. We need to be sure the life of the Spirit is flowing with the gifts. i.e the unction. People walking in the Spirit can tell the difference.