Yeah, I thought I was pretty clear about that. Biblical maturity forces me to recognize that "praying in toungues" is exactly what Christ forbade and what Paul discourages.
and that you have decided in your infinite wisdom
I never said that I had infinite wisdom. Now who is ridiculing?
to label things you can't or don't want to understand as "ecstatic babblings".
As I said previously, I have studied the bible numerous times, both carefully and prayerfully. Why is it that you insist that I can't or won't understand something that I have admittedly studied very carefully. Is that you displaying your close-mindedness?You seem to really like that particular phrase.
I like it because it is accurate.
Good to know that you have such a "mature" understanding of scripture.
Sacasm. Ridiculing. Pot meet kettle.
Maybe you can hire yourself out to God as a consultant.
More of the same and without substance.
you're laughable.
1Cor.14:2 says, "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries."
Paul makes a distinction that speaking in tongues does not edify others. Only God can understand. But God being omniscient already understands. Paul is being sarcastic in this sentence. It is only logical.
You want to try and make the distinction between speaking and praying,
I make a distinction because Paul makes a distinction. The word says "speak", not "pray".
but when you pray to God, are you not speaking to Him?
Yes. but the word specifically says, "speaking in tongues, " not "praying in tongues" Why do you insist on changing God's word?
What do you think it is if not speaking to Him? Duuhhh!!
More of your own ridiculing? God is omniscient. He does not need you to babble incoherently. It does you, others and Him no good.
Just don't tell me about your "mature biblical understanding" when all you do is label, ridicule, name call, and display your close-mindedness. Again -- Pot meet kettle. You're laughable.
Yeah, you've got it all figured out.
If you are referring to the issues of "tongues" then yes I do. If you were more mature and less stubborn you would also.
Since you're so hung up on thinking that I've blurred the difference (a difference you want to make) between "speaking" in tongues, and "praying" in tongues, let's take a look at 1 Cor. 14:14-15: "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. What 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."
Paul is laying out his point in the classic style that he was well trained in; he lays out his case with all the sides, and then presents his question. He then goes on to provide the answer. This is the style. Paul does not use sarcasm, as you've wrongly asserted. He was trained as a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and studied not only under the best of the Jewish teachers, but he also was familiar with the classic style of debate since he was also a Roman citzen by birth and he received the benefits of a classical education as well.
So first, he acknowledges that when he prays in a tongue, it is his spirt praying. But he wants to point out that this, by itself, is insufficient - "...my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive." Then he poses the question, what am I to do?
Next, he lays out the answer: "I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also." Paul doesn't throw away praying in a tongue, he demonstrates the need for the complete package, that balance that provides the greatest benefit. He says we should do both.
Never in Paul's writing does he use sarcasm. You have wrongly interpreted his style as sarcasm because you don't understand (or don't want to) the classic style of presenting evidence for an arguement that Paul was so well trained in. You assert that "It's only logical."
As for my tone of sarcasm in responding to you? That was absolutely intended. You vainly imagine that I "unwittingly" got "caught" using the very thing I was accusing you of. It was completely intentional. I figured that it was the only way I might be able to get through the arrogance and pride that was oozing from your smug ramblings.
One last note: Christian maturity is self-evident, not self-proclaimed.