Should one exercise speaking in tongues?

[JLB]

Where does the Bible explicitly state that there are “tongues of angels” that believers can speak?

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 12:30-13:1

 

[Rodger]

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 20-21


Praying in your heavenly language is a blessing. One who has been baptized with the Holy Spirit has been given the grace, the God given ability to have a heavenly language (the tongues of men and angels) .

Speaking in tongues in a public setting for a Spirit led message of edification for a church body is a blessing, if their is an interpreter; someone who flows in the Holy Spirit gift of interpretation of tongues.

Would you agree that if a person out in the public began to speak in the manner that is seen in Churches and on TV with the gibberish, and no one interprets what is said......then that action would not be Christian in any way and maybe just the opposite.

Another one, if a Chaplin comes into a hospital room and prays over your mother and begins to speak in the same kind of gibberish, is that acceptable to you?

Now having said that.......in either situation, if another person stands up and says....I know what he is saying! He is speaking in Portuguese. He is saying that Jesus is the Christ and He did to pay for the sins of the world and then He rose from the dead 3 days later.........would you then say that this action is the acceptable method of "speaking in tongues"?

 

[Rodger]

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 12:30-13:1

This issue of tongues is always a matter of controversy and anger. As a result, let me state my intent that my intent is not to cause division but to simply inform and anyone and everyone is welcome to disagree.

The incidents in Acts 2 involves distinct languages, mutually unintelligible, rather than merely distinct dialects. When we read the Bible we clearly see that the main point is that the utterances in Acts were in natural human languages. We know that because hearers competent in the various languages were able to identify them.
Speaking in tongues potentially includes three subcategories:
1) known language;
(2) unknown language; and
(3) language-like utterance—an utterance consists of language-like sounds, gibberish, but does not belong to any actual human language.

For clarification, #3 above is what my comments are directed at.

Now, it should be considered that Pauls letters to the church in Corinth were letters of "Correction"!
The church that received this letter were debaucherous and immoral. Infighting was common, and they were quick to sue each other. They entertained false teachings and lacked spiritual maturity.
They brought the worship practices of the cult of Diania into the church.
The cult of Diana was located there ,and in it where "curious arts done as a matter of worship. Some of those were, necromancy, black art, prostitution, homosexuality and .....speaking in a maneer that amounted to gibberish that no one understood.
The Cult od Diania is translated as - "Queen of Witches". The worship of Artemis included a variety of methods: including music, ecstatic and orgiastic dances performed by the priestesses, recitations and chants.
Source: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1142&context=sss

Out of that came people who when presented the gospel...accepted Jesus but.....brought their worship practices with them to the Church. This is the reason why Paul wrote to them a letter of correction.

Now, having said that, when you read 1 Corinthians you will notice that chapter 12 - 14 focus on "Tongues" and in the end at chapter 14:34.......
"the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says".

IN chapter 12-14, Paul is giving a number of regulations for the proper use of the gift. In the midst of the regulations he orders women to keep silent. No other explanation for his order for women to keep silence makes sense – he must have been referring to speaking in tongues. Thus, the context favors this view.
Source:https://www.blueletterbible.org/Com...-were-women-told-to-keep-silent-in-church.cfm

Now if women are not allowed to speak in tongues in Church, there is then NO tongues spoken at all!

 

[hawkman]

I too was a Pentecostal and I Just wanted you to know when I am coming from.

And what was the proof that you were Pentecostal ?

 

[Free]

Interpretation of a tongues message is a gift of the Spirit that anyone can flow in if they desire and pray for it.

So, you are saying Paul is wrong, then. On what basis? You seem to be letting feelings and experience dictate what Scripture says, but that is not how to go about things.

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1 Corinthians 14:13-14

Speaking a message in tongues in a group setting for their edification must be interpreted if the group is to be benefitted.

Praying in tongues for personal edification is different.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself… 1 Corinthians 14:4

Yet, there is only one gift of tongues mentioned in the Bible and that is of speaking in known human languages.

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 12:30-13:1

Again, where does the Bible explicitly state that there are “tongues of angels” that believers can speak? This is classic proof-texting. Paul is speaking hyperbole.

Do you really think that he could speak in all known languages, which is what is implied? Do you really think he could "understand all mysteries and all knowledge"? His whole point is that it doesn't matter what gifts or abilities one has if they don't have love. There is absolutely nothing in the verse or passage or anywhere in the NT to suggest that men can speak in "the tongues of angels."

 

[Rodger]

And what was the proof that you were Pentecostal ?

You are kidding me.....right? You do realize that you are insulting me......right?

What you are asking is classic Pentecostal thinking that I was taught.

We were taught to ask.....
"Are you a Christian. Are you born again with the evidence of speaking in tongues"!

That alone says that no one is saved unless they prove it by speaking in a gibberish no one understands.

As A 16 year old, when I asked about this, I was told that I needed to go to the speaking in tongues class to learn how to do it. That right there began my journey away from Pentecostalism because the Bible said that it was a gift.

 

[hawkman]

You are kidding me.....right? You do realize that you are insulting me......right?

Sorry but that was not my intention , I apologize if I have offended . Let me rephrase the question .

When you were attending church as Pentecostal and someone asked what does that mean to be Pentecostal ? What was your answer .

We were taught to ask.....
"Are you a Christian. Are you born again with the evidence of speaking in tongues"!

No , we are not taught to do that , not my denomination .

As A 16 year old, when I asked about this, I was told that I needed to go to the speaking in tongues class to learn how to do it. That right there began my journey away from Pentecostalism because the Bible said that it was a gift.

So , I guess you were in the Pentecostal church with family ?

No , lessons are not necessary to speak in tongues .

 

[JLB]

Would you agree that if a person out in the public began to speak in the manner that is seen in Churches and on TV with the gibberish, and no one interprets what is said......then that action would not be Christian in any way and maybe just the opposite.

Another one, if a Chaplin comes into a hospital room and prays over your mother and begins to speak in the same kind of gibberish, is that acceptable to you?

Now having said that.......in either situation, if another person stands up and says....I know what he is saying! He is speaking in Portuguese. He is saying that Jesus is the Christ and He did to pay for the sins of the world and then He rose from the dead 3 days later.........would you then say that this action is the acceptable method of "speaking in tongues"?

Speaking in tongues in public vs praying in tongues requires an interpreter.

 

[JLB]

So, you are saying Paul is wrong, then. On what basis? You seem to be letting feelings and experience dictate what Scripture says, but that is not how to go about things.

You have me mixed up with someone else.

I actually quoted Paul directly in my response to you.

Your claim that I said Paul is wrong makes no sense.

 

[JLB]

Yet, there is only one gift of tongues mentioned in the Bible and that is of speaking in known human languages.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1 Corinthians 14:14


If you had the baptism with the Spirit you would understand the difference in praying with your spirit in a spiritual language that your mind does not understand.

 

[for_his_glory]

Act 2:1-4; Romans 8:26; 1Corinthians 12:1-11; Chapter14 will help explain about praying in tongues.

Tongues is a Spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit for things we do not know how to pray for as the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and also for lifting up and edifying the body of Christ within the assembling of the congregation in whom the Holy Spirit speaks through certain people and gives the interpretation for others to give.

There are many false givings and interpretations that I have seen many times on TV and in the Church that are given without the Holy Spirit.

1. Praying in tongues allows you to speak directly to God, 1 Corinthians 14:2

2. Praying in tongues keeps you in tune with the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:4

3. Praying in tongues strengthens your Spirit, 1 Corinthians 14:4

4. Praying in tongues allows you to pray even when you do not know what to pray, Romans 8:26

5. Praying in tongues is a weapon against the works of the enemy, Mark 16:15-18

We are to embrace it and relish the strength it adds to your Spiritual life.

 

[Rodger]

Speaking in tongues in public vs praying in tongues requires an interpreter.

That is exactly my point and the fact that it is never done in churches is the problem I was referring to.

The extraordinary gift given to the ELEVEN apostles in Mark 16 made it possible for them to speak and share the gospel of God in a tongue in addition to their own so that men were saved.

Mark 16:14-15......
"Later He appeared to the ELEVEN as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

The ELEVEN were given the "Sign Gifts". They were the Apostles and they SAW Jesus for 3 and 1/2 years and they were alive when He rose from the dead. That is the qualification to be an Apostle and NO ONE today can be an Apostle so NO ONE today has the sign gifts.

2 Corinthians 12:12...........
"The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works."

Without a doubt, speaking in tongues is one of the most sensitive and arbitrary points between believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why?

#1.
Because we all want to be right! We like what we know even if what we know is not Biblical. It is all about change and no one likes change!

Now there is an unfortunate tendency for speaking in tongues to be abused and misused for the purpose of hype, and the misuse of tongues has been associated with emotional hysteria.

I can not speak for you or anyone else and I know that you personally will not agree for one reason...
See #1 above.

However, in every instance of tongues spoken in a church gathering, what I personally observed was not Biblical! No one ever interpreted the gibberish uttered.
There was always several people, many, many speaking all at the same time!
Almost always it was women doing the speaking.

Now, I am not debating this so as to stop anyone from doing it. IF that is what you think you need to do then do it.

My only goal is to educate what the Bible actually says and not what men tell us it says.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:19..........
“but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue” = In A Tongue.

Then Paul comes to his point in verse 33-34 where the one who assumed women would prophesy three chapters earlier and who had been telling all his readers that he wanted them all to prophecy, writes this: “the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says. If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.”

Context here demands that Paul is telling women to "Not speak in tongues in Church"!

 

[Rodger]

Act 2:1-4; Romans 8:26; 1Corinthians 12:1-11; Chapter14 will help explain about praying in tongues.

Tongues is a Spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit for things we do not know how to pray for as the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and also for lifting up and edifying the body of Christ within the assembling of the congregation in whom the Holy Spirit speaks through certain people and gives the interpretation for others to give.

There are many false givings and interpretations that I have seen many times on TV and in the Church that are given without the Holy Spirit.

1. Praying in tongues allows you to speak directly to God, 1 Corinthians 14:2

2. Praying in tongues keeps you in tune with the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:4

3. Praying in tongues strengthens your Spirit, 1 Corinthians 14:4

4. Praying in tongues allows you to pray even when you do not know what to pray, Romans 8:26

5. Praying in tongues is a weapon against the works of the enemy, Mark 16:15-18

We are to embrace it and relish the strength it adds to your Spiritual life.

From you comments, I feel like I need to say to you that it's critical to recognize that when the Bible uses the term "tongue," in every Biblical example it refers to normal, spoken language (e.g., English, Spanish, French, etc.).

The word "tongue" does not mean a strange, non-human sound or utterances or gibberish that we all see being done today.

A "tongue" is a real, understandable human language, and therefore the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues always involves speaking a real, human language, complete with syntax, vocabulary, and sentence structure and always, always able to be interpreted.

We can debate this all day but what does the Bible say in 1 Corinthians 12:22.....
"tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe."

That being the Bible fact, the question then must be.....Are all of the people gathered in a church serve lost?
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=00bb...nMvMTQvMS1Db3JpbnRoaWFucy0xNC0yMi5odG1s&ntb=1

 

[Rodger]

Sorry but that was not my intention , I apologize if I have offended . Let me rephrase the question .

When you were attending church as Pentecostal and someone asked what does that mean to be Pentecostal ? What was your answer .

No , we are not taught to do that , not my denomination .

So , I guess you were in the Pentecostal church with family ?

No , lessons are not necessary to speak in tongues .

No problems brother. I do not take things said as personal.

No one ever asked me what it meant to be a Pentecostal. As a child, It was just an accepted thing to do as my parents told me. So to answer you......I had not answer.

I am referring to the Assembly of God denomination.

I now know that lessons are not needed, however it was what was said and it was what prompted me to dig deeper and investigate what God actually did say and not what a man has said.

 

[JLB]

Context here demands that Paul is telling women to "Not speak in tongues in Church"!

Paul seems to be referring to women interrupting the flow of the Spirit in the meeting by asking questions, thus hindering what the Spirit is wanting to accomplish.

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

When the Spirit is moving in a meeting then it’s best to make room or allow the Spirit to flow and operate through each person severally as He wills.

Example:

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:1-3


Honestly, I’m sure the culture of that day, dictated certain measures that the Spirit led Paul to deal with among the Gentiles, where the women behaved differently that the Hebrew women.

 

[RandyK]

Any evidence over the last 100 years when a born again believer starts speaking in a known language foreign to them prior to the regeneration? For example, someone who has never spoken ancient Greek prior to being born again starts speaking it perfectly once regenerated?

Personally, I wish God gave me the ability to speak ancient Greek after being regenerated. That did not happen.

This question is not meant to downplay speaking in tongues. Every now and often I get the urge to break into a pattern of sound and utterances which was an unknown phenomenon to me prior to regeneration but then I cool down.

From 1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Speaking in tongues is associated with a heightened excited psychological state and one can never be sure that opens the door to a Satanic attack.

Lastly, and most importantly speaking in tongues can be a social equilibrium too in a church setting where some try to appear regenerated by just babbling incoherently. I say this for the true indicator of the Holy Spirit in a faithful in Christ are the fruits produced and Paul has told us what they are.

I'm a Pentecostal who was taught to "blab" and believe God filled the "blab" with His Spirit and a foreign tongue. I felt like a hypocrite and retired to a back room where I poured out my concern to God. Amazingly, my prayer turned into the most beautiful English and led me to believe God can inspire some to speak in tongues and others not.

 

[for_his_glory]

From you comments, I feel like I need to say to you that it's critical to recognize that when the Bible uses the term "tongue," in every Biblical example it refers to normal, spoken language (e.g., English, Spanish, French, etc.).

The word "tongue" does not mean a strange, non-human sound or utterances or gibberish that we all see being done today.

A "tongue" is a real, understandable human language, and therefore the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues always involves speaking a real, human language, complete with syntax, vocabulary, and sentence structure and always, always able to be interpreted.

We can debate this all day but what does the Bible say in 1 Corinthians 12:22.....
"tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe."

That being the Bible fact, the question then must be.....Are all of the people gathered in a church serve lost?
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=00bb6ccf7cf954623962f94bc772fea55ad632553e6b190c5a56dae0faff59efJmltdHM9MTc0MjQyODgwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=3e2e85c8-8301-665a-2e0c-907d82706736&psq=1+Corinthians+14+:22&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlibGVyZWYuY29tLzEtQ29yaW50aGlhbnMvMTQvMS1Db3JpbnRoaWFucy0xNC0yMi5odG1s&ntb=1

1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues

Everything I posted is straight from the word of God. If you do not want to believe that which has already been written then that is your choice. My prayer language is very Spiritual to me that brings me closer to my relationship with Christ Jesus.

 

[for_his_glory]

That is exactly my point and the fact that it is never done in churches is the problem I was referring to.

It might not be done in your church, but I have been in many church's where this Spiritual gift is exercised for the lifting up and edifying of the body of Christ and also in my private prayer time.

 

[for_his_glory]

So many go by whatever the doctrine is of the various types of church's that are out there, but yet neglect the true doctrine of Jesus as they would rather believe what their church believes. Why do people believe that the Spiritual gifts were only given to the Apostles?

1Cor 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

 

[Rodger]

Paul seems to be referring to women interrupting the flow of the Spirit in the meeting by asking questions, thus hindering what the Spirit is wanting to accomplish.

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

When the Spirit is moving in a meeting then it’s best to make room or allow the Spirit to flow and operate through each person severally as He wills.

Example:

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:1-3


Honestly, I’m sure the culture of that day, dictated certain measures that the Spirit led Paul to deal with among the Gentiles, where the women behaved differently that the Hebrew women.

I respect your position but I can not agree with it.

I think that if you investigate a little, you will see that the letters to the church in Corinth were "corrective".

That being the case, then in 1 Corinthians 12 -14, the Context is Paul "correcting" the church on the use of tongues. It is out of that "Context" that he says....."And you women keep silent in church."