(Taken last week.)
He's gladly given his whole life to be used of the Lord.
Posted on 03/04/2006 10:57:37 AM PST by Full Court
What the Bible Says About
SPEAKING IN TONGUESThe Bible says in I Corinthians 1:22 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom." "Signs" are required for the nation of Israel. The sign gifts are recorded in Mark.
- Mark 16:17,18
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
So what are tongues for? The Bible is very clear.
- I Corinthians 14:21,22b
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not...
The reference in verse 21 is to Isaiah 28:9-14 and both are speaking of known languages of other countries. Those verses are directed at the nation of Israel, and verse 22 says that they are a sign for that nation, specifically for unbelieving Jews.
Tongues are only spoken three times in the Bible. In Acts 2:4 the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost and begin to speak in other tongues. WHY? To fulfill the above scripture there must be unbelieving Jews present. Were there?
- Acts 2:5
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Those Jews were there for the feast days (Pentecost is a Jewish feast), and they were unbelieving because they had never even heard of Jesus. Peter was getting ready to preach and the disciples were getting ready to witness. The tongues they spoke (the actual languages of the visitors) was a "sign" that their message was true!
- Acts 2:7a,8a
And they were all amazed and marvelled...how hear we every man in our own tongue...?
Every tongue that was spoken that day was a known language. The tongues fulfilled two purposes. They were a sign, that the Jews required, to believe the message was true, and the means with which to tell them that truth.
The second case of speaking in tongues occurred in Acts 10. Peter went to an assembly of Gentiles who were ready to be saved and needed to hear the gospel. Gentiles had been scorned before this. Peter himself needed a special revelation from God so he would answer Cornelius' summons. (Acts 10:9-20) So Peter and "certain brethren" (v23) went to Cornelius, and he told them the good news.
- Acts 10:43b
...Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
- Acts 10:44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Cornelius and his household were saved while listening to Peter. They received the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 10:9,10a
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness...
Now Peter was the only one who had received the revelation that Gentiles were no longer unclean, but other saved Jewish brethren were with him. They needed a "sign" that these Gentiles had really gotten saved, or they wouldn't believe it!
- Acts 10:45,46a
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished ...because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Tongues was the proof those skeptical Jews needed to believe that the Gentiles had really gotten saved. When Peter had problems explaining to the brethren back in Judea (Acts11:1-18) he pointed to that "sign" saying that the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost in the same manner (with the tongues) as they themselves had. (v15)
The third instance of speaking in tongues occurred 22 years later at Ephesus. In Acts 18:24-28 Apollos had been preaching the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." He got saved and went his way preaching about Jesus.
Meanwhile Paul met some of Apollos' original disciples at Ephesus and asked:
- Acts 19:2
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.
The answer they gave tells any honest Bible student that these disciples of Apollos' couldn't possibly have been saved at that point.
- Romans 8:9b
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The men tell Paul they were baptized "Unto John's baptism."
- Acts 19:4
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus.
These disciples of Apollos were Jews who had followed the light they had been given thus far. Before Paul arrived they had never heard of Jesus or his sacrifice, but they had believed Apollos preaching and received John's baptism. Just as Apollos was taught about Jesus and "believed through grace," so did Paul teach Apollos' disciples. He told them they must "believe...on Christ Jesus."
Paul laid hands on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Does this final example conform to the Bible rules? Yes. These men were Jews who were hearing the gospel for the first time. Remember, "Jews require a sign." Not only that, but Paul was there to speak in a synagogue to unbelievers (v8,9). He had a "ready made" sign to show those unbelievers, by the tongues that were spoken by those newly saved men. This was like what happened with Peter in Acts 2.
These three cases are the only times tongues are spoken in the Bible. Their abuse is discussed at Corinth but this gift is mentioned no where else. This seems incredible if tongues are so important.
The gift of tongues was a Jewish sign gift that was in effect while God was dealing with the Hebrew nation. It is listed twice in I Corinthians 12:8-11 & 28-30. In Paul's later lists in Ephesians 4:8-12 & Romans 12:4-8 tongues are not mentioned at all. Neither are they a "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22,23. Paul tried to explain to the church at Corinth about the immediate future (at that time) of the gift of tongues.
- I Corinthians 13:8
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
"Prophecies" refers to the prophets who received direct and specific revelation from God to tell to the people. There are none but false prophets today who claim direct revelation from God. The Bible says:
- Revelation 19:10b
...the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
All Christians can prophecy today from the word of God. They can tell an individual about his eternal destiny or the future of the world from what the Bible says. God talks to people today through his word, and where a "prophet" disagrees with the Bible, he is a liar.
"Tongues...Shall cease" refers to "tongues as a sign gift" during God's dealing with the nation of Israel. If tongues are a gift today, why do missionaries spend years studying to the learn the language of their fields? God has temporarily put the nation of Israel aside and the gift of Tongues given to them has ceased!
"Knowledge...shall vanish away" refers to the partial knowledge that we have of God. In many places the Bible speaks of this knowledge, but it still can give us only very limited enlightenment.
- I Corinthians 13:9
For we know in part, and we prophecy in part.
At this point Christians only know what the Bible says about God and can only prophecy what the Bible says about the future. But in the future that partial knowledge shall be complete.
- I Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
When Paul said "but then face to face" he was referring to the Lord's return."Glass" is a reference to the word of God as in James 1:23. We see the Lord in the Bible but not clearly. When we see him at his coming it will be "face to face" (see II John 12) and with completed knowledge.
- I Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
"That which" is the same "that which" of I John 1:1 : Jesus Christ. John sums it up.
- I John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Now today Biblical tongues have ceased, but they had not yet done so when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Note some things about the church at Corinth.
2- there were divisions- I Corinthians 1:12
3- some were puffed up- I Corinthians 4:18-21
4- they ignored fornication in the church- I Corinthians 5:1-5
5- they went to law with each other- I Corinthians 6:1-8
6- there was promiscuity- I Corinthians 7
7- there was idolatry- I Corinthians 8
8- they doubted Paul's authority- I Corinthians 9
9- there were heresies- I Corinthians 11:19
These are only SOME of the problems Paul wrote about in this church. This is NOT a spiritual church! I Corinthians 14 is another chapter written to CORRECT a carnal people! This church is trying to ACT spiritual (when it wasn't) by imitating what happened on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given.
In the first six verses of I Corinthians 14 Paul said that prophecy is more edifying than tongues. He said that you were speaking into the air if your words were not understood, and that you sounded like a barbarian. In verse 12 you are to seek to edify the church (NOT seek tongues). Prophesying edifies the church according to verse 4. Paul would have rather spoken five words that could be understood than ten thousand that were not.
- I Corinthians 14:23-25
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you in truth.
If a church wants visitors to worship God TONGUES IS NOT THE WAY!!! Paul told the Corinthians the rules. In verses 27 & 28 he said that only three people may speak in tongues at any service and then only one at a time and with an interpreter! He told them there should be no emotional display and confusion in verses 32 & 33. No women were to speak in tongues. That's verse 34, and it sure knocks out a lot of the modern day movement! Lastly, if you wanted to be ignorant, go ahead!
Paul knew that he was writing to a carnal church full of spiritual babies. The ENTIRE epistle was written to rebuke them about their doctrine and practices! Why would any church want to be like this one?
Some Christians today say that tongues are for private or personal devotions and that it is a "heavenly" language that nobody understands. The Bible says:
2- The unknown tongues in I Corinthians 14 are in the church - not a private experience.
3- Tongues are ALWAYS a language that someone understands, and they can be interpreted and learned! Acts 2:4,6 & I Corinthians 14:13,16,23,27,27.
4- In the Bible "unknown" ALWAYS means "unknown by some yet known by others." Acts 17:23; II Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 1:22
5- The "tongues...of angels" (the language of heaven) is shown in the Bible to be Hebrew. Acts 26:14, Revelation 19:2,4. Alleluia is Hebrew. It means "praise ye Jehovah."
If tongues are so easily proven to be unscriptural why are so many Christians concerned with the subject? Since God has been ruled out there are three possible sources of the modern day tongues movement: Satan, psychological hype, and charlatans. All three make the movement what it is.
Tongues flourish where the Bible is not understood, or where people seek experiences and feelings rather than Bible truth.
- I Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
The Devil's realm is SPIRITUAL DECEPTION! And he uses signs!
- II Thessalonians 2:9
Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.
The Devil IMITATES the real thing to deceive people. His imitations are often so close that people can only tell the difference if they study God's word.
- II Corinthians 11:4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom ye have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
The Devil has his own religion.
- II Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.
Here you have counterfeit ministers with counterfeit signs! The Bible has a name for those who say they have the JEWISH APOSTOLIC gifts.
- Revelation 2:2
Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.
If you have been deceived by a non-Christian experience of speaking in tongues don't be discouraged. So have many other Christians. You have to determine now whether you will follow your own feelings, or whether you will yield to God's word. The choice is yours.
- I Corinthians 14:37,38
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Written by
D.J. Root
Pensacola, FLorida, USA
The King James Bible is the final authority for all doctrine,
faith, and practice. Any deviation from the text is purely inadvertent.
Since I'm not a youngun' any longer I guess I have to let that comment go about "idealistic youth."
Also, the person who wrote the article is a mature adult, older than even I and probably you, who has served the Lord for many years.
The person who wrote the second article (based I might add on Scripture and not "feelings") is a missionary to Nepal, one of the only missionaries in that region who lives there full time. He and his wife have started 19 churches and a Bible College. He's also written many well received books.
My purpose here is not to condemn anyone, but to warn others about a doctrinal error I believe is harming the body of Christ, and that is speaking in tongues and related charismatic practices.
I did that as a teenaged hellion. "Oh, so and so is a hypocrite therefore I condemn the entire congregation or denomination"......that was my excuse for not being terribly faithful till I realized I was just looking for excuses for myself.
I can't speak for you or your faithfulness, but I will tell you that my all consuming desire towards the Lord is to be found faithful. In word, deed and doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:6 ¶If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
You may ask, why is doctrine that important?
1 Timothy 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.
It's very important.
Evangelicals support Hinn too.....
Most people who support Benny Hinn are Charismatic. They enable him.
I have been right next to someone erupting into tongues right after 30 minutes of praise and I believe they felt
what they uttered as well as I believe
whoever felt compelled to interpret felt it too.
Personally, I would be very suspicious of any music motivated eruption and any thing based on "feelings", your feelings can and often will be wrong.
Music often motivates estatic utterances, as mentioned already on this thread by Zero.
And you have to remember, tongues were not given to the Gentiles, they were not unknown gibberish languages and they were not for the church, they were for a sign to unsaved Jews.
And they were a known language.
....folks are there to be fed....not just preached to (which is fine).
Brother, preaching is the food. The praise and worship is supposed to be for God, not for you.
And let me tell you.....there is no nuance or ambivalence in a southern Pentecost church about right and wrong...
at one of the largest Pentalcostal churches in this area, it's quite common for the preacher to tell parents that they ought to just go ahead let their kids live like the world because if they don't, the kid will rebel anyway.
Now that's pretty stupid.
I'm glad you offered us your opinion on this thread. I believe you mean well, but I believe you are incorrect.
I hope you come back and discuss more religious topics with us.
Amen. We are fed by the praise we give to Him.
"I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high." -- Psalm 7:17
Odd how religious threads demonstrate some pretty divergent views.....last one I went on was an Osteen thread....I was negative about him btw.
I do agree with you about most Pentacostals. They are so much more conservative than most Charismatics.
I too remember them from years back. You couldjust about always beg them in K-Mart. Dresses, hair in a pun, men in long sleeved shirts.
It's funny how life has changed.
I used to be the rebel who lived rock and roll and now I'm the lady in Walmart, 44 years old with a baby on my hip, in a skirt. :-)
I personally had never heard of Benny Hinn until a year ago. What I heard was sufficient to write him off as a deceiver.
**Also, the person who wrote the article is a mature adult, older than even I and probably you, who has served the Lord for many years.**
To him I would say, "Art thou a master of Christianity and experienced not these things?" and "we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness".
**The person who wrote the second article (based I might add on Scripture and not "feelings") is a missionary to Nepal, one of the only missionaries in that region who lives there full time. He and his wife have started 19 churches and a Bible College. He's also written many well received books.**
Is it possible to travel extensively, winning converts, and not have the truth? Jesus, talking to very religious, very devout, alms giving people, said: "..for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte.." Matt. 23:13
**I can't speak for you or your faithfulness, but I will tell you that my all consuming desire towards the Lord is to be found faithful. In word, deed and doctrine.**
Saul (a man who knew his OT, lemmee tell ya) and some likeminded sidekicks, on their way to Damascus, was equally consumed with faithfulness to the doctrine of that old covenant. With the religious elite giving him authority, he was in attack mode, against what he felt was false doctrine.
You see, Full Court, an extensive theological education, crowds of followers, big recognition among likeminded people, do not guarantee one to be right.
I'm still waiting for the refutation, from the "no unknown tongues crowd", to 1Cor. 14:2
"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries".
Goodnight,
Zuriel
The people I spoke of who wrote those articles do not have large followings nor do they seek the praise of men. They just teach and preach the Bible.
They are not well known and probably would not want to be.
But God has found them faithful, that I know.
One other thought: My missionary friend has made far more than one convert, but he'd certainly never brag on it. And he lives in Nepal among the people he ministers to.
(Taken last week.) He's gladly given his whole life to be used of the Lord.
Ping to recent photo of Bro. CLoud
You seem to imply that one can't know what is doctrinally pure and what is in error. You compare an unsaved man (Saul) to born again Bible believers and insinuate that they are wrong because of what Saul was doing.
You are so far off base it's sad.
LOL. The perfect laugh to end the night. 8~)
You are talking in circles. You said the disciples spoke their native tongue, but the hearers heard it in their own tongue. Well, the same would apply to the Diciples. The Holy Spirit enabled the Diciples to understand what they were speaking when speaking in a foreign tongue as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. What part of "AS the Holy Spirit gave them utterance" don't you seem to understand?
I already DO. I do it as I drive to work everyday.
That having been said, however, I believe that what was recorded in the Acts of the Apostles is still open to interpretation. I do not believe they suddenly began to speak and comprehend another language but that people who were present heard them in their own languages and determined that they must be speaking in their own languages (the languages of the visitors). If the Holy Spirit ever causes me to speak in another language I will admit I was wrong and humbly seek your forgiveness.
Friends I've had who do 'Speak in Tongues' seldom seem to understand what they are saying but believe it is the direction of the Holy Spirit that they are speaking some 'other' language (and that that is OK because it is at the prompting of the Holy Spirit). I don't mind if they speak or pray 'in Tongue' and I will not criticize them but neither I will speak or pray in any but a coherent and understandable language - I will not speak a language unless I understand and comprehend what I'm saying!
Am I saying your examples of faithful service are wrong about everything? No. The topic here is tongues. I say they are in error concerning their teaching about it.
**You seem to imply that one can't know what is doctrinally pure and what is in error. You compare an unsaved man (Saul) to born again Bible believers and insinuate that they are wrong because of what Saul was doing.**
Another example then, OK? Acts 18:24-26
"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly".
Eloquent? Mighty in the scriptures? Fervent in the spirit? But needed to be shown the way more perfectly by a who? Plain folk. A married couple that were tentmakers. Consider the humbleness of Apollos, that as gifted as he was, he was open to a witness from them.
In Acts 19:1-7 we find 'certain disciples' that appear to be some of Apollos converts from before his meeting Aquila and Priscilla. They were shown the way more perfectly by Paul, and were rebaptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. They also received the Holy Ghost speaking with tongues.
**You are so far off base it's sad.**
Yes, lowly me, just a ordinary guy with a testamony. Obey Acts 2:38; you won't regret it. You've been told. Politely. I've done my job.
Goodnight
"You are so far off base it's sad."
Are you as interested in winning souls for the Lord, as you appear to be in winning arguments for yourself?
It's not about an argument regarding me, it's about comments a poster made implying that a missionary was somewhat lacking by using a quote from Jesus.
"Is it possible to travel extensively, winning converts, and not have the truth? Jesus, talking to very religious, very devout, alms giving people, said: "..for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte.." Matt. 23:13"
The man doesn't even know the missionary or his way of life. He lives in Nepal with his wife, they raised their children there, who are all in full time ministry themselves now.
They have founded 19 churches and a Bible college. For many years, they were the only missionaries in Nepal full time and devoted their lives to the people of Nepal.
There was no reason for him to cast aspersion upon the missionary, just because he didn't agree with the article posted.
If you go back a page you can see his photo, taken by a friend of mine, who went to Nepal 2 weeks ago to help set up a radio station so they could broadcast the Gospel.
My defense is not of myself, but of a man I know to be as good a person who ever walked the earth.
It's not some unknown gibberish spoken by overly emotional woemn who are all hyped up by music from a 45 minutes "praise and worship the praise team" type service.
You can keep that mess, because it's all out of order and that isn't of God.
I say that you will have to prove your case from Scripture as they have both already done.
Since tongues were given for a sign to the unsaved Jews, how many are riding along to work with you?
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