It IS trying to coerce someone into it.
I attended a Pentecostal church in Del Rio, by golly, Texas. I was a relatively new Christian, but had been well grounded in the word by the Navigators. There were some really fine Christian people there, but I had some profound disagreements about the so called spiritual gifts, (mostly tongues) I felt extremely uncomfortable, and since I knew God is not the author of confusion, I hit the road.
I was far more interested in evangelism than I was about different gifts.
Of course Paul said (1 Cor 12:31) But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you. From the Navigator's version. 😀😆(ASV). I prefer the most excellent way, with a heathy dose of evangelism. I just compare ministries. How many unregenerate sinners are being won to the Lord, using the most excellent way?
The whole tongues thing is so messed up.
We’re not to seek tongues and yet I know people by the score who seek for it.
It’s sign for unbelievers, not believers and yet Pentecostals tell others it shows that you’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit.
They claim everyone is supposed to have it and yet Scripture tells us that the SPIRIT gives them individually as HE wills.
They look to it to build themselves up and yet the gifts are given to build up the body. I actually had someone tell me that, yes but when they are built up as an individual, it IS building the body.
They tell us that it’s a *heavenly language* of which there is no reference in Scripture. On the contrary, tongues at Pentecost was known human languages.
They claim it makes prayer more powerful but in James what we are told makes prayer more powerful is righteousness.
There are so many claims about it that cannot be supported with Scripture but are all based on opinion and experience.
some people claim it’s necessary for casting out some demons when praying in English doesn’t work, but Jesus said that the tougher to cast out demons needed prayer and fasting. He never told anyone to speak in tongues to cast out demons.
The whole tongues thing is fraught with error from one end to the other.
When someone states that all gifts from GOD are supernatural and that you are not getting something from GOD if it is not supernatural, it does not good to show them the Word of GOD tells us that every good thing, like warm sunshine, cool water on a hot day, Spring rains for planted food crops, the smiles and love of happy children, and the companionship of our family pets are GIFTS FROM GOD. Their minds are shut off from reasoning things through because they have been snared by their 'experiences' which are so easily deceptions which they have no discerning spirit to detect!... And when the 'experiences' don't happen for 'some reason', their faith in God's Grace in Christ Jesus wanes quickly.
Are there real miracles? Oh yes! I have been blessed by such. BUT my faith in HIM is not founded in the gibmedat causemyfaithispure mentality. THAT would mean GOD is a respecter of persons. A sure sign that the experiencers are being deceived is the growing arrogance of their proclamations, the haughty airs of their assertions toward those they accuse of sagging faith that their god will not honor.