what's the difference between speaking to god in tongues and speaking in english? if i speak my heart to god in english, isn't it just the same as speaking in tongue? i realize only some people can speak in tongues and some can't, but why is that? isnt it just pouring your heart out and speaking with god, but through gibberish? and what is the pentecost they talk about in Acts chapter 2? why do some people believe they can be saved because they can speak in tongues, as opposed to speaking in english?
2006-09-20 06:47:10 · 17 answers · asked by mighty_power7 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pentecost is a Jewish festival held 50 days after the Day of Atonement. At the festival following Jesus' ascenscion the Holy Spirit came upon all the believers present in a radically new way. Previously, the Spirit had been given only to certain people (the prophets) for specific purposes. At that point He came to everyone who believed in Christ. His coming was indicated by three external events: a great wind (Greek 'pneuma' can be translated as 'air', 'breath', 'wind' and 'spirit'), something with the appearance of flame resting on each believer (reminiscent of the pillar of fire that accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness, and of the burning bush), and the sudden ability to speak in other tongues.
Tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 12, I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4) given to unite the Church and enable its ministry. Not everyone gets the same gift(s) because each person has a different role within the Church.
Two Greek terms are translated as 'tongues' in English, and seem to indicate two types of this gift of the Spirit. One, ('heterais glossais") literally means other human languages. That this version of the gift was present on the day of Pentecost is indicated by the fact that bystanders heard the gospel in their native tongues from people who normally spoke Hebrew and Aramaic, perhaps a little Greek and Latin.
[I recently heard of a modern instance of this, tho the details escape me at the moment. A preacher was addressing an audience in a foreign country through a translator. Half-way through the message, the translator stopped -- becuase the preacher was speaking in the local language, although he had never learned it.]
The other ("glossolalia") is the so-called 'heavenly tongue' which sounds like gibberish. This is referred to in Romans 8:26-27 as the Spirit helping us pray when we don't know how or what. Praying in English (or whatever your native language) is great. Praying in tongues might be desireable when you don't know what to pray -- IF the Spirit gives you that gift. Pretending does no good at all, and there is pressure in some churches for everyone to pray in tongues.
Paul discusses the abuse of this spiritual gift in I Corinthians chapter 14. The heavenly tongue, he says, is for use in private prayer and benefits the one who prays. It should not be used in public worship unless there is someone present who can interpret, since the purpose of open worship is the benefit everyone present.
Some Pentecostals/charismatics hold that speaking in tongues is THE outward sign that a person has received salvation (haven't run into anyone who believes you are saved BY tongues, tho' I imagine there are some). This view comes from the fact that tongues was given as a sign several times in Acts. I hold (and most orthodox scholars agree) that this is an inappropriate interpretation of the events. In speaking about the gitts of the Spirit, Paul asks the rhetorical question "Do all speak in tongues?" (I Corinthians 12:30). In context, the answer is obviously 'no'. He does not question their salvation, only their attitude toward the gifts of the Spirit.
I have numerous friends who are strong in their Pentecostal belief. We disagree about that and try not to let it interfere with our fellowship. The key thing is that Jesus is the Christ, the Lord and the only Savior.
2006-09-20 07:45:29 · answer #1 · answered by r_moulton76 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you ever loved someone so much that there were not words in the English language to express your love for that person, like the word "love" just didn't cut it? Or have you ever been so upset that you didn't have words for that either. Well, when you speak in tongues, you are speaking to God words straight from the heart, words that no man could invent, words that are beyond meaning and are just emotions. That is what speaking in tongues is all about. I have done it before, and i assure you that I am not crazy. I had no control over my tongue either... also, I have never felt a greater happiness in my entire life than when I first spoke in tongues. Actually, that is the main reason why I believe in God as opposed to something else. When you have an experience like that, nothing in the universe could ever seem more real.
And by the way, no, tongues are not supposed to be interpreted by everyone. As a matter of fact, the only time tongues is ever supposed to be interpreted is when someone speaks in tongues over a congregation, in which case someone must interpret the meaning to everyone. If someone speaks in tongues over an entire congregation and no one receives an interpretation, then the person speaking in tongues is faking, which is blasphemy.
And speaking in tongues is not how you are saved, no one on earth will become saved by speaking in tongues. There is only one way to become saved, and that is to ask Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior and to repent from your sins.
One more thing, if you are saved and you have not spoken in tongues, this doesn't mean that you are not saved, it just means that you haven't yet receieved the gift of the spirit. And don't worry, you don't have to have it to go to heaven.
2006-09-20 14:03:52 · answer #2 · answered by ToYkaT04 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Speaking in tongues has a two fold meaning, First if you pray to God in your own language, that is not speaking in tongues, Now If you pray to God & an annointing comes upon you & you speak in another language other then your own, That is speaking to God, Now we also have speaking in tongues in Church, That is a annointing that God puts in your to speak a message in a unknown tongue so one may interpretated the tongues, Or Prophecy what the tongues said, & a True Interpretation or prophecy will not be againts God's word. It is to Edifide the Church, You can find many of this in 1st Cor. Chapter 12 through 1st Cor. Chapter 14, & also many other scriptures, Sister, I know there will be many that will deny this,, But God's word is True, Yes a young convert, that has the Holy Ghost will have to learn to wait upon God & learn how to use these gifts. In my live, God annointed me to give messages in tongues & someone interpreatered it or gave a Prophecy , & I know when that annointing hits me, I feel something down in my soul building up untill it wants to explode., Once I yield to God, I get so weak because of the annoining, Jesus even said, who touch me, because he felt Virtue(Strenght) go out of him, I hope Sister this helps you. Don't listern to the religious world, follow truth at all price(NOT MONEY) price is yourself dedicated to God.
2006-09-20 14:16:12 · answer #3 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most people have a misconception of the term 'speaking in tongues'. It is not speaking in a language that no one knows. When the apostles spoke in tongues every one that heard them speak heard them (the apostles) in the dialect of the city that they grew up in. "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." Acts 2:6 see also Acts 2:4-11.
2006-09-20 13:57:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You speak in tongues through the holy ghost which is a gift given freely to anyone who asks and really wants it. Anyone can get the holy ghost you just have to pray to god that he will let you have it
2006-09-20 15:52:35 · answer #5 · answered by Candace111888 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don´t believe on it.
You can speak to God in whatever way you want, because He already knows what is in your heart, but it is better that you do it in your own language and in your own words, because it is more your essence reaching up to him and you will get a better spiritual communication that way.
Nobody is going to be saved because they speak in tongues, where do people get this stuff from?? Don´t! Just open your heart to God. Even though He already knows what you are about to say. Cool huh?
2006-09-20 13:51:24 · answer #6 · answered by copita 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
speaking in tongues is different than speaking in English to God from ones heart....here is a link with some info on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.....and you say it is only for some...but that is incorrect...it is for all who will receive it....all Gods children can be Baptized in the Holy Spirit...I am and I know many ,many , many others.......it is not for just a few......all one must do is believe and receive it.....and I know of no one who thinks that just because they speak in tongues gives them a free ride into heaven......that is not what the Word of God says...it says that if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord then we will be saved......just check out the link in your leisure......Hope you find understanding and receive....
http://ag.org/top/beliefs/index.cfm#H
2006-09-20 13:58:53 · answer #7 · answered by shiningon 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
speaking in tongues is just "emotional"gibberish..you can speak to god in any language and He will understand// the people, who think gibberish is a way to heaven ........don't really have their heart in the right place and "GOD" knows this..don't be intimidated by their reasoning..they have no reasoning..follow your heart..you are a good christian..never be afraid to question your thoughts...good luck and love....queen crystal1
2006-09-20 13:57:58 · answer #8 · answered by queen crystal 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know what you mean. Tongues are for the unbeliever, not the believer. People back in Jesus' time didn't have translators or translations of the bible, so the Holy Spirit dwelt in them and gave them abilities to speak in different languages that then didn't know to further spread the good news. If you speak to God through Jesus' name with your heart, He will hear you.
2006-09-20 13:50:29 · answer #9 · answered by Light Bringer 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
my friend is a Pentecostal and lots of ppl at her church can and do...I am Catholic and I find it scary. if I understand it properly...when a person is totally filled w/ the Holy Spirit they speak in tongues...she also has a man there that can translate what they are saying, but only when they are all filled at the same time. I say to each his own.
2006-09-20 13:51:30 · answer #10 · answered by sweetiepi 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋