Seminary leaders cite distinction between belief and advocacy (Tounges)

SBTexan ^ | October 23, 2006 | Tammi Reed Ledbetter,

[Rightly Biased]

The issue that just will not die

I say this issue takes away from what we are supposed to be doing. Winning Souls

[Rightly Biased]

More Here

http://www.sbtexas.com/default.asp?action=article&aid=3273&issue=10/26/2006

[Rightly Biased]

Baptist ping

[JamesP81]

The issue that just will not die

I recently suffered something of annoyance due to this very thing.

The majority of my friends practice a private prayer language whereas I do not. I recently got to know a nice young lady and became friends with her, and I think that maybe she may've been looking for something more than that. I considered this to be a good thing.

However, it never went anywhere due to tongues. She also practiced a private prayer language. This didn't bother me at all, and it wasn't a problem for me in any way. But the fact that I don't practice a private prayer language was a problem for her.

[Blogger]

The "haves and have nots" mentality is rarely discussed. Tongues is lifted up as a super gift, when in reality, Paul did refer to it somewhat as a lesser gift.

[Blogger]

And NOT for everyone

[jkl1122]

Do you believe that speaking in tongues is available to Christians today?

[JamesP81]

I believe that all gifts of the spirit Paul spoke of are available. What I don't believe is the charismatic belief that speaking in tongues represents being filled with the Holy Spirit as an act of grace apart from Salvation, and that this is required in order for a Christian to live his life to fullest in God.

God does not play favorites among His children.

The gift of tongues may manifest itself in a situation where it is useful for a believer to be able to speak a language he does not know. I've met people whom this has happened to. It's not common, but not unheard of either.

What it doesn't represent is an opportunity for a believer to loudly speak in a language unknown during church services when there is no interpretation. Otherwise the believer is, as Paul stated, praying without knowing his own prayer, which is fruitless.

[jkl1122]

The gift of tongues may manifest itself in a situation where it is useful for a believer to be able to speak a language he does not know. I've met people whom this has happened to. It's not common, but not unheard of either.

Please describe the situation to which you are referring here in more detail. I am not sure I am following what kind of situation you are speaking about.

[JamesP81]

Please describe the situation to which you are referring here in more detail. I am not sure I am following what kind of situation you are speaking about.

There isn't any one situation where it's useful for a believer to speak another language, but there are some common ones. In some instances, a believer is given the gift to speak the language of someone who does not speak the believer's language, which facilitates a presentation of the gospel to someone who otherwise wouldn't have heard it. This is essentially what happened in Acts 2.

Tongues were also used a sign to the Jews to prove that God's spirit was upon the Gentiles as well.

I have a friend that experienced the gift of tongues once, and unlike the common charismatic theme of 'speaking out in faith' but not knowing what you were saying, he remembers specifically meaning to say something, thinking it in his head in English, but having it come out as some other language. To make sure it was authentic, he said the same thing over about three times and all three times it came out the same in whatever language God had empowered him to speak in. He tells me that he doesn't know what language it was, however, but it was definitely a language with consistent syntax and grammar.

That's about the extent of my practical knowledge on the subject. Not surprisingly, it lines up exactly with what Paul was saying should happen in Corinthians and what was recorded in Acts.

[jkl1122]

I have a friend that experienced the gift of tongues once, and unlike the common charismatic theme of 'speaking out in faith' but not knowing what you were saying, he remembers specifically meaning to say something, thinking it in his head in English, but having it come out as some other language. To make sure it was authentic, he said the same thing over about three times and all three times it came out the same in whatever language God had empowered him to speak in. He tells me that he doesn't know what language it was, however, but it was definitely a language with consistent syntax and grammar.

Was the language in which your friend spoke understood by anyone around them?

[JamesP81]

Was the language in which your friend spoke understood by anyone around them?

He wasn't sure. I asked, but there were a lot of people there. Although, there were quite a few from overseas so it is a distinct possibility.

[jkl1122]

I believe that the Bible teaches that miraculous gifts such as speaking in tongues are no longer available today. In the New Testament, these gifts were passed on by the laying on of hands by the Apostles. How does one receive such gifts today?

[Quix]

Nice to see some folks with a sane perspective and some balance vs just meat axe naysaying.

Praying in tongues has enhanced my soul winning immeasurably, thanks.

[jkl1122]

Where did you get this gift of praying in tongues?

[Rightly Biased]

Quix
Please do not misinterpet me

What I meant was argueing about this issue takes away from what we are supposed to be doing.

If you have a private prayer language then I say keep it private and win souls

We are told in proverbs that "one who wins souls is wise"

I long to be wise.

RB<><

[Quix]

In church as a very young teen.

I Cor 12 explains the rest of the where from.

[Quix]

I certainly agree about avoiding grandstanding or any other unfitting thing in terms of praying in tongues.

And about wisely winning souls.

[jkl1122]

In the 1st century, miraculous gifts were given to members of the body of Christ when the Apostles laid their hands on them.

[Quix]

Yes, that occurred,

in my case.