All of the gifts are alive and well... Holy Spirit does not take back gifts. He is the giver of gifts.
What the problem seems to be is that people are a little familiar with the theology in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 but not all of it.
Much of what surrounds the teaching on the gifts and tongues in particular, is outright unscriptural.
Paul teaches that the Holy Spirit apportions the gifts as HE will. The churches teach (and I've heard it myself) that tongues is for ALL believers.
Paul tells the church to seek not to speak in tongues but rather to prophesy, and the whole emphasis these days to to *get* the gift of tongues for various unscriptural reasons. People are seeking after tongues in disobedience to the clear teaching of Scripture.
Paul states that tongues are a sign for unbelievers, not believers, and yet believers everywhere are told that tongues is THE *evidence* of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecostals in general seem to be unwilling to accept that someone can be filled with the Holy Spirit and not have spoken in tongues. And that tongues can be faked and sometimes is.
“Pentecostals in general seem to be unwilling to accept that someone can be filled with the Holy Spirit and not have spoken in tongues. And that tongues can be faked and sometimes is.”
That is another true statement and a bad doctrine from Pentecostals.
Every believer speakes in tongues. The Holy Spirit speaks in words and groans that cannot be understood. Pentecostals just amplify what He is saying. :)
Tongues spoken in a church setting is a different matter. They are words to edify the body of Christ.
John Wimber, Christy Wimber, Carol Wimber in these two books articulate the truly Biblical perspective better than any I’ve read:
THE WAY IN IS THE WAY ON
and
EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY
well, this pentcostal doesn't accept that and I think that it is a mischaracterization by a few. One only needs to look at a Billy Graham to see that he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
It is more correct to understand that pentcostals I'm with understand that with salvation the believer is filled with the Holy Spirit, conditioned only by salvation. Clearly the charismatic gifts represent a release of the Holy Spirit to act within our lives with our cooperation and surrender(1 Cor).
Doctrinally, I don't know of pentecostal doctrine that denies the fact that there are satanic and fleshly conterfeits. But I will agree that there are too many who will accept ANY manifestation as being from the Holy Spirit when it is apparent that it isn't based upon scripture (ie 'barking'). Perhaps that is where some confusion lies.
Very well written. You hit the nail on the head. I have Sky Angel tv. I also remember going to charismatic churches. There is a lot of abuse and misunderstanding. A great article and reply. Thanks for posting.