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.
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.
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Actually that is exactly what God did to bring me out of Mormonism. I was hit over the head spiritually by the Holy Spirit and that is what opened my eyes. I have also seen similar things in conversions of friends from Atheism to Christ. But that isn’t what I am saying here.
The Bible says we are not to seek after signs (Matthew 12).
In 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Paul says that not everyone will have every gift. Which means speaking in tongues is not proof of salvation or spirituality. He also considers it a lower not greater gift.
1 Corinthians 14:14-19 states “But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. “
It is not a matter of faith, it is a gift that the precise meaning of is unclear. Because I have not spoken in tongues or sought to (since we are not to seek signs) it does not mean I have faith.
I have friends who have spoken in tongues, I have friends who have not. I have been in churches with interpreters present and some where there were no interpreters (unbiblical btw).
Sadly what I am seeing from you is that you are puting way more emphasis on something that is open to interpretation (both in English and in the Greek) and is not a theological hill to die on.