Or the mature Christian.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Some of us are of the opinion that HOLY SPIRIT simply CANNOT give gifts which are
Of NO importance to the mature Christian.
By definition, ALL HOLY SPIRIT DOES AND GIVES IS WORTHWHILE AND IMPORTANT FOR MATURE CHRISTIANS.
Folks who disagree can argue with Holy Spirit about it.
27 All of you together are Christs body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. 1 Corinthians 14 Tongues and Prophecy 5 I wish you could ALL speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. 6 Dear brothers and sisters,[l] if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language,[m] how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler doesnt sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? 9 Its the same for you. If you speak to people in words they dont understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. 10 There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11 But if I dont understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church. 13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I PRAY IN TONGUES, my spirit is praying, but I dont understand what I am saying. 15 Well then, what shall I do? I WILL pray in the spirit,[n] and I will ALSO pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will ALSO sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who dont understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they dont understand what you are saying? 17 You WILL BE giving thanks VERY WELL, but it wont strengthen the people who hear you. 18 I THANK GOD that I speak in tongues MORE THAN any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. 20 Dear brothers and sisters, dont be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures[o]: I will speak to my own people 22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or people who dont understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who dont understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, God is truly here among you. A Call to Orderly Worship 26 Well, my brothers and sisters, lets summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. 27 No more than two or three SHOULD speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28 But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately. 29 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30 But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31 In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32 Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of Gods holy people.[q] . . . 35 If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.[r] . . .
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, I dont need you. The head cant say to the feet, I dont need you.
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
1 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit givesespecially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,[j] you will be talking only to God, since people wont be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,[k] but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues IS strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,
[p] says the LORD.
39 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and DON'T FORBID speaking in tongues. 40 But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
I trust St Paul's words of SCRIPTURE to be MUCH MORE ACCURATE about God's priorities for MATURE CHRISTIANS and for churches in the whole of the church era . . . than I do 10,000 personal opinions contrary to said Scripture.
For those given to throwing away those verses and/or sentences . . . if they would mangle and trash Scripture, there's no end of mayhem they'll continue to do with my poor words. That'll have to be between them and God. I don't care to contribute unnecessarily to futile dialogue with such perspectives, attitudes and habits.
Thank you. Agreed. The speaking in tongues served a valuable purpose in establishing the Christian church but was one of those gifts to pass away.