Pretty much every verse that Scripture talks about regarding tongues is evidence that it is speaking TO God and not people. And it's not understandable. The ONE place that people can understand it, we see it's because they were able to hear what disciples were speaking to God in their own language.
A few things for you to pray about:
What is praying in the Spirit?
Why does Scripture say the Spirit prays through us?
Why did Acts 2 focus on Every Man being able to hear what the disciples were praising God about?
Why did Paul contrast tongues and prophesy?
And why do people say we are reading into the text? We are addressing the text as WHOLE (the ENTIRE chapter) and also addressing EVERY verse that addresses tongues not quoting any humanistic research for our explanations. Don't you think it's a little unfair to say we are reading into the text when no one else here has explained IN CONTEXT what each of these Scriptures mean? While we have sought to. Continually.
1 Co 13:8 clearly is talking about love, but we are reading into it Scripture?
1 Co 14, clearly says no one can understand, but God. But we are reading into the Scripture?
1 Co 14, clearly says Paul doesn't even know what he is saying, but we are reading into it?
1 Co 14, clearly says we need an interpreter for tongues, but tongues is our interpretation engine?
Instead of addressing these Scriptures head on, the reply is (because it's the only one left), oh Paul wasn't being serious.
Yeah okay.
And Jesus wasn't either when He said we would speak in new tongues? Oh that was just for those days. I guess Jesus forgot to mention that, when He said ALL WHO BELIEVE IN ME will speak in new tongues. So now we are changing what Paul said AND what Jesus said to fit a theology, scary stuff.
And why? Because it's not "normal". Either was the dead being raised. Or demons being cast out. You call yourself believers, but what do you really believe? "Well I believe IN Jesus brother." That's great. But do you BELIEVE Jesus? Big difference. Jesus said we were to heal the sick, speak in new tongues, and even raise the dead. I haven't raised the dead, but I've prayed for few and one day I believe I will because Jesus said I would. And I believe Him. I'm a believer. But when people believe these things, do you support them? Or do you immediately say oh no, oh no, that's not for today! You can't believe what He said. Scary stuff.
And what happened when Jesus showed those around Him there was more to God than they currently understood? People attacked Jesus for it. You cast out demons by the power of demons they told Him. Hmm, sounds like what some extremists are telling people who speak in tongues and heal the sick today. Hmm, very scary stuff.
And these are the people who think they are so right and these other "foolish people" are so wrong. Because they are not "learned" in their traditions. How dare they simply believe Scripture without understanding TRADITIONAL context interpretation? But let me ask you this. Didn't God say He would confound the wise with foolish things?
But that's not even the real core here. The real core here is love. And that's the focus of Paul writing 1 Co 12-14.
Those of who DO speak in tongues agree, yes, tongues are between us and God. But when we are around others we need to build them up, love them, and encourage them. Yes, when we are around others there should be some form of interpretation. So others may be built up as well. We have clearly shown to those who have open hearts that we seek love in this way. Just as we have been guided by in 1 Co 12-14 which addresses this VERY topic.
Yet those who do not, can NOT say the same things. You do not seek prophesy. Yet Paul says to seek it. So, it us who follows Scripture completely, but not you. If you're not earnestly desiring spiritual gifts. You are not following the letter that you say you so diligently want to follow.
But, WE, we seek ALL things that Scripture says to seek and to do so in a place of love. And when we share our experiences to those who are unbelievers in this area, we are told we are deceived. Maybe it is YOU who are deceived? Scary thought to consider I know.
Let's inspect the fruit to see: Are you ignoring Scripture that is clear? Are you seeking to prove yourselves Right? Are you seeking to correct others with insulting remarks? Do you feel you are superior? Are you clinging to a tradition instead of the spiritual ways of God? Are you seeking to encourage or discourage those who's faith is STILL in the spiritual things of God? And if you ARE doing even just one of these things. Ask yourself why. Is it because it doesn't make sense to your logical mind? It doesn't fit your theology box? Who's side are you really on in this matter? I suggest you examine yourselves.
And for those who can hear what I'm about to say next, this is to you.
If you don't want to pray in tongues - fine. That's between you and God, but don't tell people it's not from God. You're not God. You're not Paul. And your Bible interpretations, like everyone's, are biased. You have been shown that people who are praying in tongues are INDEED following Scripture. This is what they believe. And this is what they have been shown by God. We give you the freedom to believe tongues are not for you. Give us the freedom to believe tongues are for us.
I believe Holy Spirit will guide us all in this matter, but we should not forbid tongues in ANY of it's forms. But even more we should seek prophesy so that we might build each other up.
The mere fact that we can show you several different sides of Scripture supporting tongues should cause you to think, hmm, maybe I shouldn't be quite so confident about this tongues don't exist idea. Maybe I should consider myself a little foolish in this area so I can grow myself.
Or I guess you can keep doing what you're doing. But, I truly believe in my heart. If you're a true believer, you are lead by the Spirit, and if you are lead by the Spirit seek Him about these things. And see what He says. At the end of the day, it's not about how well you know your Bible, or what I say, but it's truly about your relationship with HIM. He is your Savior and Lord.
But if you're a believer in theology only. And you're not lead by the Spirit of God, but only by your traditional interpretations? Well, then I believe you have bigger problems to worry about then those who choose to pray with an unknown language to their God.
C.
A few things for you to pray about:
What is praying in the Spirit?
Why does Scripture say the Spirit prays through us?
Why did Acts 2 focus on Every Man being able to hear what the disciples were praising God about?
Why did Paul contrast tongues and prophesy?
And why do people say we are reading into the text? We are addressing the text as WHOLE (the ENTIRE chapter) and also addressing EVERY verse that addresses tongues not quoting any humanistic research for our explanations. Don't you think it's a little unfair to say we are reading into the text when no one else here has explained IN CONTEXT what each of these Scriptures mean? While we have sought to. Continually.
1 Co 13:8 clearly is talking about love, but we are reading into it Scripture?
1 Co 14, clearly says no one can understand, but God. But we are reading into the Scripture?
1 Co 14, clearly says Paul doesn't even know what he is saying, but we are reading into it?
1 Co 14, clearly says we need an interpreter for tongues, but tongues is our interpretation engine?
Instead of addressing these Scriptures head on, the reply is (because it's the only one left), oh Paul wasn't being serious.
Yeah okay.
And Jesus wasn't either when He said we would speak in new tongues? Oh that was just for those days. I guess Jesus forgot to mention that, when He said ALL WHO BELIEVE IN ME will speak in new tongues. So now we are changing what Paul said AND what Jesus said to fit a theology, scary stuff.
And why? Because it's not "normal". Either was the dead being raised. Or demons being cast out. You call yourself believers, but what do you really believe? "Well I believe IN Jesus brother." That's great. But do you BELIEVE Jesus? Big difference. Jesus said we were to heal the sick, speak in new tongues, and even raise the dead. I haven't raised the dead, but I've prayed for few and one day I believe I will because Jesus said I would. And I believe Him. I'm a believer. But when people believe these things, do you support them? Or do you immediately say oh no, oh no, that's not for today! You can't believe what He said. Scary stuff.
And what happened when Jesus showed those around Him there was more to God than they currently understood? People attacked Jesus for it. You cast out demons by the power of demons they told Him. Hmm, sounds like what some extremists are telling people who speak in tongues and heal the sick today. Hmm, very scary stuff.
And these are the people who think they are so right and these other "foolish people" are so wrong. Because they are not "learned" in their traditions. How dare they simply believe Scripture without understanding TRADITIONAL context interpretation? But let me ask you this. Didn't God say He would confound the wise with foolish things?
But that's not even the real core here. The real core here is love. And that's the focus of Paul writing 1 Co 12-14.
Those of who DO speak in tongues agree, yes, tongues are between us and God. But when we are around others we need to build them up, love them, and encourage them. Yes, when we are around others there should be some form of interpretation. So others may be built up as well. We have clearly shown to those who have open hearts that we seek love in this way. Just as we have been guided by in 1 Co 12-14 which addresses this VERY topic.
Yet those who do not, can NOT say the same things. You do not seek prophesy. Yet Paul says to seek it. So, it us who follows Scripture completely, but not you. If you're not earnestly desiring spiritual gifts. You are not following the letter that you say you so diligently want to follow.
But, WE, we seek ALL things that Scripture says to seek and to do so in a place of love. And when we share our experiences to those who are unbelievers in this area, we are told we are deceived. Maybe it is YOU who are deceived? Scary thought to consider I know.
Let's inspect the fruit to see: Are you ignoring Scripture that is clear? Are you seeking to prove yourselves Right? Are you seeking to correct others with insulting remarks? Do you feel you are superior? Are you clinging to a tradition instead of the spiritual ways of God? Are you seeking to encourage or discourage those who's faith is STILL in the spiritual things of God? And if you ARE doing even just one of these things. Ask yourself why. Is it because it doesn't make sense to your logical mind? It doesn't fit your theology box? Who's side are you really on in this matter? I suggest you examine yourselves.
And for those who can hear what I'm about to say next, this is to you.
If you don't want to pray in tongues - fine. That's between you and God, but don't tell people it's not from God. You're not God. You're not Paul. And your Bible interpretations, like everyone's, are biased. You have been shown that people who are praying in tongues are INDEED following Scripture. This is what they believe. And this is what they have been shown by God. We give you the freedom to believe tongues are not for you. Give us the freedom to believe tongues are for us.
I believe Holy Spirit will guide us all in this matter, but we should not forbid tongues in ANY of it's forms. But even more we should seek prophesy so that we might build each other up.
The mere fact that we can show you several different sides of Scripture supporting tongues should cause you to think, hmm, maybe I shouldn't be quite so confident about this tongues don't exist idea. Maybe I should consider myself a little foolish in this area so I can grow myself.
Or I guess you can keep doing what you're doing. But, I truly believe in my heart. If you're a true believer, you are lead by the Spirit, and if you are lead by the Spirit seek Him about these things. And see what He says. At the end of the day, it's not about how well you know your Bible, or what I say, but it's truly about your relationship with HIM. He is your Savior and Lord.
But if you're a believer in theology only. And you're not lead by the Spirit of God, but only by your traditional interpretations? Well, then I believe you have bigger problems to worry about then those who choose to pray with an unknown language to their God.
C.