What do you believe on the subject of speaking in tongues?

Question

So far I gather that there are a few viewpoints.
1. It only happened once at pentacost.
2. It is a gift that some have some don't.
3. It is a sign of the Holy Spirit.
4. It is a sign of the Holy Spirit and it is required for salvation. Please pick one and tell me why you believe it to be true, or tell me if you have another view.

Answer 1

Why pick one? None of them are correct. You have created a 'false dilemma'. (You might want the Google for that.)

Christians seem to think that 'Speaking in Tongues' means babbling incoherently. It is actually a kind of induced hysteria.

In the bible, the 'gift of tongues' meant that anyone could understand your speech, no matter what language they spoke. For example, someone who had the 'gift of tongues' could be speaking to a crowd in Greek, and people who DID NOT UNDERSTAND Greek would hear and understand the speaker as if he were speaking in their own language... just like the 'babblefish' in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Of course, just like the 'babblefish', this is pure horseshit. It was horseshit in biblical times... it is horseshit now.

Answer 2

Acts Chapter 2 gives the account of the pouring out of holy spirit on the 120 Christians that were gathered in an upper room to worship.

These people suddenly began to speak in foreign languages, REAL languages, so that they could spread the good news to others by speaking in their native language or "tongue". It also showed that God's favor had transferred from the Jewish religious system to the Christian arrangement.

Paul said that this 'gift' would cease at a later date - 1 Corinthians 13:8

Answer 3

The prophesies of the prophet Joel was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. It says they spoke in other tongues (languages). Those who were speaking in other languages did not know what they were saying, but those who spoke various languages understood what they were saying in their own native language. What was being proclaimed was the good news of the gospel of Christ. Remember the New Testament was not written at that time. This was how God spread the good news to those of other languages. Tongues were for the non-believers, not the believers. Later the Gentiles spoke in other languages and this was for the Jews to realize that the promises were for the Jew and gentile alike. Tongues diminished after the completion of the bible. God still could use a person to speak in another language if there was no other way for the person to hear the gospel. However, that would be very rare since few in the world had not already heard the gospel.

So, this does not fit any of the categories you posted. It WAS a sign that the Holy Spirit came. It only occurred a few times after Pentecost for the reasons I stated. It is a gift for anybody if it were the will of God and were needed as explained. Today, I would be extremely cautious of it being a sign of the Holy Spirit since many cults also claim to speak in tongues. Nope, speaking in tongues has nothing to do with salvation.

Answer 4

#2 and #3 are correct. But let me qualify #3 - It is evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit can be likened to a gas tank being filled with gas. On a full tank, the car can go quite a distance and at top speed if necessary. But it will eventually need to be refueled. This is the same for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. (I speak in tongues, and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the same hour that I was born again.)

Here are some scriptures to support viewpoint #2:

1Cor 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:

1Cor 12:28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1Cor 12:30
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1Cor 14:18
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:



Here are some scriptures that support viewpoint #3:

Mark 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Eph 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

There are many more, but this is a basis. And some people attempt to deny the reality of speaking in tongues just because they do not want to believe it, or because they can't explain it for lack of understanding. Hope this clears up any misconceptions.

Answer 5

There are two types of "Tongues".
One is a sign of the infilling of the Holy Ghost, and the other is the "Gift of Tongues".

God has not called the Church from the earth as of yet, and until He does, His Spirit will continue to fall with the evidence of speaking in Tongues.

Answer 6

I can relate to your question on this topic as it seems that tongues is the most claimed gift of today. The gift of tongues was given as a means of preaching the Gospel to unbelieving Jews and for no other reason and is therefore the most abused aspect of some claiming to have this gift today. I was the ability of the speaker to preach the Gospel to an unbelieving Jew in his own language without ever having learned the language. This is why it is refered to as "unknown tongues" meaning that it is unknown to the speaker but the hearer understood perfectly what was being said. The interpreter was there to tell the Church what was being said and this gift was only to be used when there was an unbelieving Jew present and was a "sign not to them that believed but to them that believed not" Yet today the so called tongues movements will tell you that because they can babble in some ecstatic gibberish which is unknown to be any language on earth that they have the gift. We are warned in the Bible not to believe everything which appears to be a miracle as even Satan has the power to perform them. I personally find this practice to be totally against what is written in the scriptures and conclude that what is being claimed to be the gift of tongues is not!

Answer 7

It is rarely manifest today because the gospel has been translated into many languages. If the word had not yet spread to over 50% of the world there might be a chance of them being manifest but not so much today. They are not required for salvation. They happened more then just on Pentecost. Any proclamation of the Word of God is a sign the Holy Spirit is present.

Answer 8

I personally do speak in tongues. It is a spiritual gift that some receive and some do not. It is not a requirement by any means. You don't have to speak in tongues to be saved or anything else.

The Bible talks about it in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.

Acts Chapter 2 also describes a specific account of people speaking in tongues. This is significant because this is the first time it happens.

Answer 9

It is believed by highly emotional people who like to get themselves worked into a state of excitement, and then they will do whatever they are told. If that means falling "under the power", they will do it. Or, babbling nonsense and believing it is the Holy Ghost. Or, having someone else pretend to know what is being said and speaking an interpretation of the babbling.

The link below shows many documented examples of this with video clips. These were done in churches of highly respected ministers, such as Benny Hinn, Ken Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, all promoting speaking in tongues (and gifts of healing).

Answer 10

Tongues is a gift from the Holy Spirit. But because one person a can and another cannot means nothing. Tongues do not make you more devout or more worthy of God's love and salvation.

Answer 11

I believe that tongues at one time existed, but the reason they existed to begin with was to carry out the gospel message. the disciples could speak to a person without knowing the language of the person they were speaking to, yet speak in their own tongue. today we have the Bible translated into every language. the gift of tongues no longer exist.