Having spent years studying and teaching the Bible, theology, and apologetics both formally and informally and having worked in ministry specializing in countering heresies, I am siding in with Jmouse and fishtank on this one.
Copeland is a heretic.
Regarding speaking in tongues, I am rather ambivalent about it. The Bible is not clear what it is specifically (other languages or nonsense) and I have seen the ‘gift’ abused in many churches, misused as proof of salvation, and also ‘appear’ without interpretation (which is unbiblical).
It is not something I seek after and if God sees fit to give it to me than that is His doing, not mine. I do caution those I work with in getting directly involved in churches that emphasize tongues because of the misuse I have seen over the years.
Most folks I've seen with that
It is not something I seek after and if God sees fit to give it to me than that is His doing, not mine.
sort of stance . . . sort of are saying to God
OK, Big Daddy, If you want to unfold my arms, open my heart, mind and spirit with a crowbar and hit me over the head with it--I'll tolerate it.
God Holy Spirit is NOT about to do things that way. He's far too much of a Gentleman.
Tongues like everything else in life and Christianity are also a matter of FAITH: WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH, IS SIN.
AS The Lord walked me through some years ago . . . after the electric goosebumps leave; the anointed aura of electricity leave . . . God asked me how I'd become Saved through Christ's Blood?
Of course, by FAITH.
So, could I have FAITH that Holy Spirit was putting HIS MEANING to whatever sounds I made, or not?
By His Grace, I could. I haven't looked back.