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Amen brother, I'm with you all the way on this blog. It is one thing to communicate your understanding of Scripture but entirely another thing to try to tear apart someone else in what they believe.
Keep preaching my brother.
Blessings
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Posted 10/11/2008 07:36am
Author: literalword
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We must all understand that God does not take lightly those who question The Holy Spirit.
We also know that we are given gifts through this spirit. Clearly speaking in tongues is one of those gifts. Paul also speaks on this issue, he tells those who speak in tongues not to do so without an interperter.The reason he gives is precisley the reason you give. So you will not be discounted. Please, if God has given you this gift find your interperter. God is counting on it.
bubba
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Posted 10/11/2008 07:47am
Author: bubbavela
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That is a reasonable response, still we must have an interperter. I do admit however, I have been prayed over by someone who speaks in tongues, two of my favorite christians are my next door neighbors. They often speak in tongues, remember its not those who are of the choir you must convince. We all understand the speaking of the tongues. God has put those understandings in the hearts of those who no longer need to just drink milk. I say this because Paul has mentioned it, we must not give those who are still drinking the milk a reason to question The Holy Spirit. Please do not ever confuse a gift with a curse, the devil would relish in that.
bubba
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Posted 10/11/2008 08:51am
Author: bubbavela
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I just like to say that if we agree on the word of God we are going to be fine. If we digress from the instruction of the word then we have a problem. We must agree on what God says and not what we imagine or dream about or have a vision about. It there's someone prophesying in 'tongues' and he or she is not quoting the bible, he or she is not saying what God says, no matter how pious it sounds or inventive. As for the rapture, I look and look in my concordance and still cannot find it in the bible. We get into trouble inventing doctrines that someone just
pleasingly found fair to believe. As long as we talk bible we can have fellowship with each other and with God. May you have a good day. amen.
thbg
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Posted 10/11/2008 09:10am
Author: tohimbeglory
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Please remember there is all of ONE chapter in the New Testament devoted to this subject. 1 Corinthians 14 is just about the sum and total of all the specific information we have regarding tongues and interpretation of tongues. Please remember that when the manifestations of the spirit are listed in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians there are 9 of them mentioned in verses 8 through 10. One of the 9 is speaking in tongues and another of the 9 is interpretation of tongues.
There is a time for speaking in tongues w/out interpretation and a time when interpretation is vital. The difference is whether it is being done in one's private prayer life or in the church. What good is tongues in the church if no one understands? That is precisely what Paul says in chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians. Yet, Paul said he spoke in tongues more than everyone else. Obviously this is in reference to his personal prayer life.
Paul states in verse 2 of chapter 14 that speaking in tongues is speaking NOT to men but to GOD, for it is the spirit speaking mysteries. Verse 4 states that the person who speaks in tongues edifies himself. Speaking in tongues is first and foremost an intensely personal matter between a believer and God. When tongues are spoken in the church, they are to be interpreted so the end result will be the same as prophecy.
Thank You,
B2Y
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Posted 10/11/2008 09:18am
Author: blessings2you
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THBG
Where in the Bible is the word "trinity"? The word "rapture" is strictly a word used to describe an event mentioned in the Bible just as "trinity" is a term used to describe a theological belief. I only used the word "rapture" as a point of reference to a belief I hold. There is no "rapture" in the Bible per se, just as there is no trinity and many other theological terms invented to describe events, concepts or beliefs.
B2Y
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Posted 10/11/2008 09:23am
Author: blessings2you
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Ok if we are still arguing whether the speaking of tongues is a gift or not let us re-read the Bible. If someone prays over me while speaking in tongues, oh what a blessing this is for me. If we are actually questioning some ones gift, remember judge not that ye be judged. Lest we all lose our own gifts.
bubba
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Posted 10/11/2008 11:26am
Author: bubbavela
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B2Y, thank you for speaking so eloquently on defending your beleif/ecperience. I doutbt if I could have done as well. Unfortunatelty it is human nature to try to discredit what one is unsure of or uncomfortable with. But as for me and my house... we speak in tongues!
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Posted 10/11/2008 11:56am
Author: blackrose65
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B2Y, Amen and amen to your blog.
What puzzles me is why people ... even whole denominations ... make such an argument out of speaking in tongues but yet accept the gifts of teaching and knowledge and pastoring and faith and healing and, and, and, without arguing about those as well.
I personally, speak in tongues. Others in my church don't. One person I know has an amazing gift of hospitality. They make friends with everyone. I don't have that gift. Our pastor has the gift of words of knowledge. His insight in scripture is such a blessing to us. I don't have that gift either ... But my point is I'm glad someone in the body has those gifts and is willing to use them for the good of the body.
Thank you for sharing your convictions.
blessings,
Erin
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Posted 10/11/2008 02:36pm
Author: throughfaith
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To me the Word of God is very clear about the Spiritual gifts which are functioning in the body of Christ. I can find nothing saying any of them have been taken away. I speak in tongues and have for many years. Sometimes the gift of interpretation is manifested in me. The gift of prophecy flows through me. I won't carry on about this however other gifts are at work in my life such as the gift of healing and the working of miracles. Are all of them always in operation? No . . . The Holy Spirit manifests them at His will.
I have always believed in the Rapture (catching away) and I'm not going to allow anyone to talk me out of it regardless of their elegance of speech. I believe the Rapture will be pre-trib. However, I can see how many differ on the timing.
Most of the things I read opposing Spiritual gifts are coming from highly educated people who have an overload of book knowledge speaking of things they do not understand.
Spirit filled people are no better than any other Christian. The gifts of God are irrevocable. If they are irrevocable than they cannot be taken away. We are to pursue love and desire Spiritual gifts but especially that we may prophesy.
God said it, I believe it, end of story.
This is an excellent blog brother. Keep up the good work.
Blessings
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Posted 10/11/2008 03:06pm
Author: tchable
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Some of the comments on tongues are getting away from the main point of the blog and are starting to defeat its purpose. The point here is not tongues or the rapture, but how we behave towards those who have different beliefs on these subjects. I have beliefs on these subjects that probably do not agree with B2Y, but I agree with his point that we must not ridicule or belittle our brothers and sisters in Christ who hold different views on these or any other points of doctrine. B2Y mentions how Paul writes about tongues in 1 Cor. 12 and 14. The one undeniable fact about these chapters is this subject was causing as much controversy in the church then as it is now. I feel compelled to point out that between chapters 12 and 14 is chapter 13, the chapter of love.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." (1 Cor 13:1,2).
Tongues, whatever you may believe it to be, is clearly a spiritual gift. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to be used as tools to communicate the gospel. The gospel is all about God's love for man. But when we bicker and argue over these gifts, we defeat the purpose for which they are given. You cannot ridicule or belittle anyone out of a motivation of love. And if love is not your motivation, then your actions cannot be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
We all as Christians have a basic desire to lead everyone to the truth. But do not let Satan use that desire to trick you into destructive arguments and controversies. I believe that unless it is a clear matter of salvation, it is better to remain silent than to try to "correct" someone you believe to be in error. I have read many blogs expressing views that frankly drive me nuts. I only respond if after prayer and meditation, God gives me a scripture to respond with. I always choose my words carefully to be respectful and avoid offence. We should remember that the salvation of souls is the work of God. While we have a roll to play in His work, we must remember the work is His, not ours. We must state the truth in love when prompted by God. But do not be frustrated if they do not accept it immediately. Let the Holy Spirit do its work on the heart. Remember someone screaming hell-fire and brimstone in your face did not win you to Christ. You will not win anyone by doing the same. In fact, you will probably drive folks away.
"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." 2 Tim. 2:24-26
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Posted 10/11/2008 04:55pm
Author: truthlover
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Thank you "truthlover" for the very wise and wonderful way of putting this all into perspective. As said, the chapter in between 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians is the greatest chapter on love in the Bible. That chapter begins with "thou I speak with the tongues of men or angles but have not love it profits me nothing..."
Unless love is manifested, all the external manifestations of the spirit and power of God are for naught. As stated, the purpose of this post was to remind all of us that just because we may not agree on matters we must strive to be respectful of each other as fellow members of the Body of Christ. Love demands that we do this, not me or any other person.
I am, believe it or not, an extremely patient person and I have a fuse a mile long on most matters. But, there are certain things I will not tolerate and one of them is belittling what a believer does in his/her personal relationship with God. If a person wants to count beads, burn candles, sing praise songs, speak in tongues or recite Bible verses; whatever they do is between them and God. No one has the right to judge, condemn or mock another believer's fellowship with God.
Thank all of you for your input and comments.
B2Y
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Posted 10/11/2008 08:26pm
Author: blessings2you
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B2Y,
Thank you for posting this blog. This is a topic near and dear to my heart as well and lately I've felt like... well, my mind went back to when I was teenager standing at the site of the Shearer Schoolhouse in North Carolina. For those of you who aren't familiar with that place, there was a revival there in 1896. People began to speak in tongues and actually the oldest Pentecostal denomination in the United States traces it's roots back to that revival.
Do you know what happened? The people were severely persecuted and the schoolhouse was deliberately burned down by people who professed to be Christians despite the fact that many were coming to Christ and lives were changed. Is this the unity Christ prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemene when he prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one? Is this what we really want? Do we want to be attacking each other and tearing each other apart?
I think we would do well to remember this conversation between John and Jesus:
Instead of spending our energy tearing one another down, let's strengthen and uplift each other. Isn't that what Christianblog.com is all about?
May we never cease asking God to draw our brothers and sisters as well as ourselves further in and higher up!
K 
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Posted 10/11/2008 09:24pm
Author: kreynolds
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B2Y
Thank you for an awesome blog. Where I get lost is how people can take something that is clearly written in the bible and Paul even sais he spoke more in tongues than any other, and then explain it away in some way to themselves to the point where they can argue that it does not exist.
Having read the replies I can see that many of us agree with you as I do.
Warm regards
Pierre
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Posted 10/12/2008 03:27pm
Author: pierre
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