Who else is completely turned off by "speaking in tongues"? Are these people crazy or what?

Answer 1

Most people don't understand what it is to speak in tongues. I have done it, but I AM NOT CRAZY. Go ahead and think what you like but at least hear me out before you scroll away and mutter 'Jesus freak.'

When I spoke in tongues, it was after a pm service at my church. It was not during the height of a song with everybody getting up and shouting and dancing. I was sitting down calmly amongst a group of friends and a few people I didn't know (I'm new to the church.) They gathered around me the best they could in the isle, laying their hands on me and praying for me, asking God to protect me and give me spiritual strength. I began to pray, saying 'hallelujah' over and over. At first, I thought, 'now just how is this going to turn into something else?' But I continued and spoke that word until I had to actively concentrate on getting my mouth to move the right way to form the word (kinda like if you've ever said one word over and over until it's just sound without meaning, like with the word 'stove' or 'apple.') I realized then that what I had to do was not to really say the word so much as feel it. I let my mouth do as it pleased and I knew what was coming out probably sounded all slurred and such, but I concentrated on sending the meaning of the word to God, not the sound.

Then it felt like a door or window had been opened and a great rush of wind hit me, tugging me upwards almost like a kite. My body stiffened slightly and I got the feeling of almost floating (though I wasn't, I was still safely in my chair.) I felt a slight tingling on my cheeks under my eyes, and suddenly my mouth stopped slurring the words but began to form something where the syllables came quickly and crisply. It didn't feel like I had complete control over my mouth, but after all isn't speaking in tongues supposed to be a gift that God bestows upon us so that we might speak as we cannot normally on our own? I was lucid at the time, mind you, not on the floor wiggling and babbling like a mental patient off their meds, but sitting still in my chair and speaking decisively.

And as the thought 'it's happening, it's actually happening, and I thought these people were crazy to think it could, at least up until a few minutes ago' passed through my head, I realized that it wasn't just tripping out and spewing forth something reminiscent to Klingon. At the time, I was more than a little shaken by the fact that it had actually happened and the only thing I dared to focus on for too long other that continued prayer was how my throat vibrated as I spoke (everybody's does when they speak, I'm just saying that I actually gave it thought instead of ignoring like we all do on any given day) and the feeling of my body having this upward tug. The words I spoke I repeated over and over, and each time, I could feel my mouth forming them the exact same way, working so quickly in the new way that it was hard to figure out exactly what it was doing (ever try to learn a foreign language and in the beginning find that native speakers are speaking it too fast for you to have time to decipher what they're saying? That was the feeling.)

The rush of realization that it was happening kept me from being able to concentrated on just what that which I was saying sounded like, so I can't say exactly what I spoke. I have yet to ask those who were around me if one was able to interpret what I said or at least identify the language, since I wanted to try to wrap my mind around what happened first and contemplate just what the ramifications of that might be. Next Sunday, though, I'm asking.

Like I said before, I'm new to the church and if you'd asked me about speaking in tongues a month ago, I'd have the same reaction as many people and say 'yeah, those people are crazy.' But it happened. Right before it did, I let go of the doubts and the thoughts of 'yeah right, it isn't gonna happen people', so understand, I was still carrying a note of cynicism right up to the end. Even now, I wonder off and on 'did it *actually* happen?' But as soon as these thoughts come, I brush them away, because I want to preserve the memory of what happened as it was, not cover it with doubts and cynical thoughts that will blur my recollection of it later.

So call me crazy if you like, but it happened. If anyone's taken Calculus I, then you know that feeling I'm talking about when I say I'm still trying to figure out how to best get my mind to understand what happened and how to deal with it (think about that first week you tried to understand limits.) And that's my story/near-rant. Longwinded, I know and I apologize, but I wanted to get my point across. Many people have misconceptions about speaking in tongues, and unless you experience it yourself, it's hard to grasp what's happening. In other words, I don't blame people for thinking the whole speaking in tongues thing is nonsense. I may not like that they hold that belief so strongly, but I understand the feeling and shared it for almost all my life.

Scroll away if you like, you're free to do so and I can't stop you, but at least give what I said some thought before you forget it in five minutes.

Answer 2

Speaking in tongues is one thing but now a big thing is holy laughter. It is usually done at the same time. People will jerk around, faint, start laughing and yelling gibberish, howling on the floor, and do all sorts of odd things after they get the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I've seen some pretty spectacular shows in big Pentecostal churches. Some of these strange things are documented below. People love to believe in this stuff.

For anyone who wants to know how it's done, the second link gives the answers.

Answer 3

Yep... crazy. It is a form of hysteria.

In the bible, speaking in tongues meant that when a person with the 'gift' was speaking, others would hear and understand him as if he were speaking in their own language. The effect is essentially identical to all the members of a crowd having a 'babblefish' stuck in their ear, as in Douglas Adams "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy."

Today, speaking in tongues seems to have come to mean 'rolling around on the floor and babbling incoherently'.

Answer 4

boughahondawhenishouldaboughtahyundai!
boughahondawhenishouldaboughtahyundai!
boughahondawhenishouldaboughtahyandai!
hyundai

When I was living in the Mission bum I was at this service where everybody was kinda eyeballing each other out of the corner of their eyes to see how fervently the person next to them was scrunching up their eyes, making faces, and waving at the ceiling.

I think a lot of it is acting.
Like the people at a football game.

The guy with the big painted belly and wearing horns .
Sloshed and screaming at the top of his lungs
ain't like that all the time.

Some kind of mass psychology/group dynamics thing.

And show biz....

Those people that Benny Hinn claims to heal are SHILLS

A shill is an associate of a person selling goods or services who pretends no association to the seller and assumes the air of an enthusiastic customer. The intention of the shill is, using crowd psychology, to encourage other potential customers unaware of the set-up to purchase said goods or services. Shills are often employed by confidence artists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shill

I describe myself as agnostic with Buddhist leanings.

Answer 5

speaking in tongues was nothing but speaking in diffirent languages, see for yourself;
Ac 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Ac 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Ac 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Ac 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Ac 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Ac 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Ac 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Ac 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Answer 6

I agree. When I first heard of this idea, my jaw dropped to the floor. I couldn't believe people believe this.

However, I will say, that speaking in tongues(languages) is in the Bible. The way charismatic churches are developing this idea is incorrect. The purpose of any gift of the HOLY SPIRIT is to help others understand the word of GOD.

Think about this, before Jesus left, HE told HIS disciples to spread the Gospel throughout the world. They needed the tools to be able to accomplish this task. That is where the Gifts of the SPIRIT comes in.

Answer 7

I would like to hear someone speak without the use of a tongue.

Answer 8

I had to work to learn languages of France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan and the Philippines. No backwoods ignoramuses can talk in any coherent language without studying some. If one recorded what they said, he'd find only meaningless gibberish. I fail to see any point in such nonsense at churches. This is just one more bit of nonsense at them, so I don't attend them, even more sophisticated ones.

Answer 9

Speaking in Tongues: Paul's Instructions to the Church

Speaking in tongues is addressed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14. The church in Corinth was experiencing problems with tongues becoming a disturbance. Many believers spoke in tongues freely during public worship, but since no one understood what was being said, many people were being stumbled (vs. 23). In chapter 14, Paul instructs the church on the proper use of tongues. Though many Christian teachers disagree on the proper interpretation of this passage, there are several points Paul makes about tongues that are clearly evident:

Speaking in tongues is a legitimate gift of the Holy Spirit and can be distinctive communication with God (vs. 2).

Speaking in tongues is edifying to a believer's private life (vs. 4).

Public speaking of tongues must be done by no more than two or three people at the same time, and tongues must be interpreted so as to edify others (vs. 27-28).

Discerning people must weigh the validity of what's spoken (vs.29).

Praying in tongues should be accompanied by praying with the mind (vs. 14-15).

Speaking in tongues can be a stumbling block for non-christians if done carelessly (vs. 23).


Speaking in Tongues: Christian Viewpoints

Speaking in tongues is an issue that has been widely debated within the Christian community. Many credible "non-charismatic" Christians hold to the view that this spiritual gift ceased after the apostolic age. They believe that speaking in tongues mainly served as a sign for unbelievers and edified believers at the start of the church. They point to Hebrews 2:1-4, in which the writer uses past tense when he declared that God had confirmed the apostolic church age with "signs and wonders" and "gifts." Since we now have the Bible as God's revelation and guide there is no longer a need for tongues. Also, church historians have not found evidence of speaking in tongues in the writings of the church fathers during the 2nd century. However, most will also readily admit that the Bible never explicitly claims that tongues will cease after the apostolic age.

The Pentecostal movement of the last century is credited for the resurgence of tongues today. Many of these credible "charismatic" Christians believe that a genuine revival in the church is happening, part of which the Holy Spirit is revealing Himself and blessing believers through the gift of tongues. They encourage Christians to seek this gift as a resource for prayer and praise. Some more extreme groups believe that speaking in tongues is required evidence of one's salvation, but this viewpoint is opposed by most Christians, and finds no credible biblical support (see 1 Corinthians 12:27-31).


Speaking in Tongues: What Does This Mean to Me?

Speaking in tongues is a spiritual matter that requires prayer and discernment, but keep in mind that speaking in tongues is not necessary for salvation, neither is it a sign of spiritual maturity or immaturity. In Acts, what was important wasn't so much that the believers spoke in tongues, but that the event marked the coming of the Holy Spirit upon every believer. The Holy Spirit resides in us to guide us, convict us, and comfort us in our Christian walk. Ultimately, what truly matters is that we have welcomed the Holy Spirit into our heart by committing our lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

Speaking in tongues is a Gift - and it is Biblical. Don't make fun of something that you don't understand. Read your Bible.

Answer 11

I Love it, and I do it all the Time (when nobody is Looking) it makes me STRONG against the Devil and Personally, if I could Kill the Devil I would!
But JESUS has Reserved that Right for Himself.
Hey, If I Killed the Devil, everybody connected to him(the LOST) would cease to exist too.
Have a Good Day.
Im Strong!
Ditto....................