talking in tongues...?

Question

I once joined a certain church (no names) and I would hear the pastor mumbling to himself during a prayer. I asked someone what this was all about and they told me the pastor was " talking in tongues ".

My question is :- If that is so, why was there no-one there to interpret what he was saying?

this is a serious question, but all answers welcome.

Answer 1

Glossalalia - what a concept... if you ever needed a better reason to be atheist, I can't think of one.... Oh wait, yes I can, Snake Handling - what the hell is up with THAT?

Answer 2

God gave me the gift of tongues when I asked, hadn't been a Christian long. It's simply that the spirit in me talks to the spirit of God, we don't know what is being said but if you pray in tongues often, things start to happen, good things. There is also a specific gift, where someone will be prompted by the Spirit to pray out loud in tongues, and then someone else will be prompted to bring the interpretation. I have never done this. The interpretation in these circumstances will always praise for God.

Some churches seem concerned about using this gift, but if it comes from God then it can only be good. All gifts are relevant for all time.

Answer 3

A serious answer to a serious question.

Some religions believe that they have God's holy spirit and that this spirit allows them to speak unitelligible words. However, the Bible says...

That "tongues" are languages, not uninteligible sounds (Acts 2:4, 6-11) The purpose of being able to speak in different tongues, or languages, was so that the newly formed Christian congregation could reach "the most distant parts of the earth" with the news about Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8) This could not be accomplished without the ability to miraculously speak in different languages.

The gift of tongues would later be done away with. Love would become the main identifying mark of the Christian congregation (1 Corinthians 13:8-10; John 13:35)

So why do some religions insist that speaking in uninteligible "tongues" is the identifying mark of a true Christian congregation? One reason, is because they base their belief on Mark 16:17, 18, which refer to Christ's followers performing signs that include speaking in tongues. The earliest known manuscripts do not include these verses and scholars agree that they are spurious (or, were added much later).

So, speaking in uninteligible "tongues" is not an identifying mark of true Christians. Jesus even warned about some who would perform "great signs" (Matthew 7:22, 23). True Christians are easily identified by their love for God and neighbor, and for living in accordance with God's righteous standards (Malachi 3:18; 1 John 5:3; Matthew 22:36-39)

I know that this was a somewhat lengthy answer, and I apologize. But in order for you to grasp the truth, I thought it necessary to explain in detail the difference between what some religions think about tongues and what the Bible actually says on the subject.

In all actuality, today God's people do speak in many tongues- not because of supernatural power, but because God's people can now be found in every nation (Revelation 7:9)- thanks to God helping the early Christian congregation by giving them a boost in their preaching activity! (Matthew 24:14).

Please, I urge you to read the scriptures quoted in my answer. We should always look to the Bible for guidance and I feel these scriptures hold the answers.

As for the pastor who was speaking in "tongues", I cannot judge what happened. But it could be that, like so many others, he was doing what Jesus described at Matthew 6:1. Of course, there are at times when a supernatural force is responsible for certain signs- 2 Thessalonians 2:9

Answer 4

I Corinthians 14 discusses speaking in tongues. And indeed it says that there should be interpretation. Sometimes the Lord gives a a prophetic messege to someone to speak out in tongues and gives the interpretation to someone else to bring to the congregation...but...sometimes the interpreter is not obediant to the Holy Spirit, for whatever reason--fear of speaking out, fear that he won't interpret it properly, whatever. On the other hand you say the Pastor was mumbling to himself during a prayer, he was probably praying "in the Spirit". Therefore he was correct in keeping it to himself because the Spirit was praying for him to the Lord for the situation at hand and NOT for the edification of the congregation. In that case he was completly in order.

Answer 5

If you read Mark 16, the last few verses, it says that all who believe in Jesus will speak in new tongues, lay hand on the sick and they will recover, cast out devils in His name, if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them, they shall take up snakes (which doesn't mean 'snake handling' like some have turned it into, just means if you happen upon a ssnake and it bites you it will not hurt you), there is more I don't have my Bible near me so you can read it for yourself. Every believer has a prayer language that only God can understand. The Bible says there are times we don't know how to pray, so the Spirit prays for us. Also when you pray in tongues the enemy doesn't know what you are praying. There is also the gift of tongues which is one of the gifts of the spirit(which can be found in Galatians, I believe the 5 chapter), if someone stands up in church out of the blue and starts speaking in tongues, this is the gift of tongues and there should be someone to interpret. But when you're praying, no one has to interpret but God. Be blessed.

Answer 6

If he was mumbling so that he could not be heard he was a charlatan. Speaking in tongues is the least of the gifts of the holy spirit and most people can do this. But... one person speaks and one person interprets, thats the way it goes.

I once belonged to an after church where the priest told us we were not leaving until everyone could do it. I was rather a head strong person and told him in no uncertain terms that that was sinful and NOT the way it was intended and perhaps he should revisit his bible.

I do hope that helps to clear it up for you.

Answer 7

if the prayer was said directly to god there is no need for interpretation it is the pastors spirit talking to God. If however the pastor prays aloud or address the congregation in tongues then there should be an interpretation.

Answer 8

May I give you a serious answer which is not really to the point of your question? My point is that tongues are languages. So a person "talking in tongues" is a person using a language to communicate. Right now, I'm talking in a tongue: English. And everybody I know talks in a tongue. So, if they told you he was talking in tongues, they either lied to you (because he was using no real language), or said something absolutely obvious (to which you should have said, "Oh, and so do I"). Either way, I wouldn't really pay much attention to them.

Answer 9

I think you know ethe answer....the Bible says someone must be there to interpret. It used to annoy me when 20 people would speak in tongues at once. How can there be any clarity in that? God says the lord of confusion (and lies) is the devil. So, now I know if it is not as it should be, it is not good.

Answer 10

monie99701 hit it right on the head. It's just a show, especially if they do it incessantly. And if no one was there to interpret it then nothing was said except a man making a fool aout of himself.