Posted on 10/19/2006 5:44:54 PM PDT by split
FORT WORTH, Texas - After a Baptist pastor said in a chapel service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary that he sometimes speaks in tongues when he prays, seminary trustees adopted a resolution Tuesday that states the institution will not tolerate the promotion of the practice of speaking in tongues.
The resolution: "Southwestern will not knowingly endorse in any way, advertise, or commend the conclusions of the contemporary charismatic movement including private prayer language. Neither will Southwestern knowingly employ professors or administrators who promote such practices."
Speaking in tongues is described in the Bible as a spiritual gift from God that empowers humans to speak in other languages. But many contemporary theologians teach that the practice was distinctly for first-century Christians. However, in the past century, Pentecostal and charismatic Christians have contended that speaking in tongues should be practiced in today's churches.
Patterson said he has consistently maintained a different view.
"I have opposed (speaking in tongues) for all of these years because I think it's an erroneous interpretation of the Bible," he said. "Southern Baptists traditionally have stood against what we feel like are the excesses of the charismatic movement. All we're doing is restating where we've always been."
Baptists are "the most intense advocates of religious liberty," Patterson said, defending the right of other Christians to believe in speaking in tongues. "But don't wear a Yankee uniform when you play for the Mets."
"We interpret the Scriptures in such a way that we do not see room for a private prayer language and we're saying we will not waver on that," Redmond said.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Ah...Paul might seem to contradict himself, and in the same chapter of I Corinthians. Read the entire chapter, though, and you'll see that there is no contradiction.
Paul doesn't forbid glossolalia...he merely says that it is not required of Christians. There is a big difference.
Some denominations believe that glossolalia is proof of salvation. Others dismiss it as nonsense. Paul, on the other hand, admits that it is a valid expression, but not required of Christians.
Quoting out of contex is rarely useful.
Corinthians 14:23
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?
Tongues is confusion in today's "tongues". When the Apostles spoke in tongues in the Bible, others understood. Today it is a big show for self gratification.
Be careful not to take scripture out of context. Paul set very specific conditions for the speaking of tongues...
Check v. 27
I know and I know the whole chapter inside and out. I'm not talking about incoherent babble but the real thing. Verse 40 says that all needs to be done in order.
1Corinthians 14
14Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their building up and encouragement and consolation. 4Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. 5Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers and sisters,* if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played? 8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound. 11If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. 15What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also. 16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying? 17For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 19nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers and sisters,* do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults. 21In the law it is written,
‘By people of strange tongues
and by the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people;
yet even then they will not listen to me,’
says the Lord. 22Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, ‘God is really among you.’
26 What should be done then, my friends?* When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. 28But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30If a revelation is made to someone else sitting nearby, let the first person be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged. 32And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33for God is a God not of disorder but of peace.
(As in all the churches of the saints, 34women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. 35If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.* 36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?)
37 Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. 38Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized. 39So, my friends,* be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; 40but all things should be done decently and in order.
...The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations.... which is now disclosed...
...The glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
--Colossians 1:26-27 (excerpted /paraphrased)
I come from a Catholic, then Lutheran, then Presbyterian, and now Baptist Church. In each church there were those I truly believe will meet me on the other side of Glory. In none of these churches did anyone speak in tongues.
Why does it only happen in certain churches? Is it because the Good Lord just doesn't think we needed it? Or will some claim that we were not truly followers of Christ and not given this gift?
What is said in by the people given this gift? Has there been prophecy that was not fulfilled or does not hold to Biblical scrutiny?
Indeed, it is commanded that it be included in church services. 1 Cor 14:37 is the concluding commandment (of the Lord) for what is to be included in a church service (26-36). Let those who nullify the New Testament commands of God, do so at their own risk.
First Corinthians 14:5 is often quoted to prove that the gift of tongues is still operative today: "Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying." Why do some put the emphasis on tongues when Paul said that he had a greater desire for the people to prophesy? I do not have anyone coming around to my door saying that I need to get the gift of prophecy, but I have people praying that I will get the gift of tongues. Paul is saying that he would like them to have all the gifts, but he would rather that they have the greater gifts. Paul is not saying that tongues is the gift they should have. If they should have any, it should be the greater gift of prophecy. The gift of tongues was the least important of all the spiritual gifts. It was last on the list (see 1 Cor. 12:28).
Don't pee facing into the wind...
I've never interpreted before, but that's what I got out of it...
Speaking as a member of the Assemblies of God (one of the must tongue-speaking Churches there is).......LOL!
I'll bet you also think the statement, "Don't put on a Yankees uniform if you play for the Mets." a relavent statement also don't you? ROFLMAO
These gifts were gifts to the Apostles and early believers.
That's not tounges durasell, that's giberish, and it's not what the Bible, nor those who have performed the feat are describing. Those who speak in toungs acutally speak another language, without having any knowledge of the language whatsoever. It has been recoreded, and the content of the language is as literate as if it were spoken in the persons native tounge. So, if you're such a skeptic and cynic, so be it, but it has happened, and it is referenced in the Bible.
Why does everyone focus so much on tongues? What about the other gifts of the Spirit? Prophecy, Healing, miracles, discerning spirits, etc.
My guess is Tongues is the only one of the above you can fake and not easily disprove.
I am a cynic, but it was a joke. Whether it is an actual language or not is pretty much a moot point -- it's not nice to make jokes about someone's belief system. And, I did apologize.
I thought it was pretty funny.
We live in a politically correct age. Jokes about religion aren't welcome in most places.
That really sucks for us non-politacally correct types.
There's always Mel Brooks and his protege Dave Chappelle --imagine Mel Brooks trying to make his 1960s/1970s movies today.
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