What do you think of the pentecostal gibberish?

Question

I attended an Assembly of God church for awhile. It was a lapse of sanity. Those fanatics preach hate and bigotry from the pulpit while the congregation spouts off gibberish. Not all Christians are brainwashed but those people were really pathetic. Da da da dade da de de ded dede da da de. Is that an ancient unknown tongue? Maybe for ancient toddlers.

Answer 1

I was in the pentecostal movement, as well as being a member of the Assemblies of God for 12 years. The thing that bothered me the most about it was how emotions often took precedence over solid biblical doctrine. It also annoyed me when I often heard somebody say they had a "Word from the Lord" and, when it never came to past, it was simply blown off as, "Well, I guess I missed that one" Deuteronomy 18 makes it clear that this is not something you merely shrug your shoulders at.

They emphasized speaking in tongues to the point to where if somebody didn't do it, they were not, "Spirit filled Christians". Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5, and tongues is not listed. I also saw many people claim that they had been completely healed of a physical ailment, only to be in the hosptial for it not long afterwards. I do not deny that God heals today, but I also believe he does it when he wills, and his choosing not to do so is not necessiarly an indication of a lack of faith on our part.

I left the movement in 1994 after having visited a friend's church, where a guest speaker twisted scriptures, had people jumping through hoops, and used the common "Have a need, sow a seed" ditty to soak the people for money. I was so furious at this man for his misuse of the Word of God, that I sent him a letter where I outlined the passages he used in his sermon, along with giving him the proper context of what the Scripture said. He mailed my letter back to me, along with a letter from another woman who enjoyed his message, and mailed him a $100.00 check, along with saying how she had more faith then I did. He informed the pastor of my writing the letter, and I was asked never to return to the church again. (Interesting point though. That night he had everyone bring in their bills and he was going to "speak the word of anointing" over them. Anyone who reacted then on his "Have a need, sow a seed" principle, he guaranteed would be out of debt in another year. Most of the people I talked to who attend that church said that, even though they did "sow a seed" they were actuallyl deeper in debt then before. Yet, they still came out in droves the next time this guy was asked to guest speak in this church).

Sadly, looking back at it all, I would say that most of what I saw was merely emotional hype, or psychological mind control. I do not miss being in the movement.

Answer 2

I respect Pentecostals and do not want to offend them, but personally I dont buy into the talking in tongues thing. The biblical criteria for valid speaking-in-tongues involves speaking an actual language and having a translator there to translate the message to everyone present. Normally Pentecostals speak complete gibberish (not a language) and there are no translators present. I would not buy into this at all. Do they not follow their own sacred text's teachings? ( I cant remember the exact passage in the Bible, but If I find it Ill edit my question and post it up here).

Its confusing to me theologically, but no one should bash their beliefs in the slightest, as the person below me has stated.


Edit: I found one passage that deals with speaking in tongues. 1st Corinthians 14. Its rather lengthy so Ill post just a few of the things it says.
"Similarly, if you, because of speaking in tongues, do not utter intelligible speech, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be talking to the air. " ( 1 Corin 14:9)

"So if the whole church meets in one place and everyone speaks in tongues, and then uninstructed people or unbelievers should come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
But if everyone is prophesying, and an unbeliever or uninstructed person should come in, he will be convinced by everyone and judged by everyone, and the secrets of his heart will be disclosed, and so he will fall down and worship God, declaring, "God is really in your midst." " ( 1 Corin 14:24-26)
Hes speaking of the difference between prophecy and speaking in tongues.

"If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, and each in turn, and one should interpret. But if there is no interpreter, the person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God." ( I Corin 14: 27-28)

FYI I used an online Catholic Bible for the quotes as it was easiest to find the passage from a Catholic website, since they seem to not go along with the Pentecostal speaking in tongues.

So, once again, no disrespect toward Pentecostals, and I could be wrong, but it appears that their own sacred text does not align with some of their practices.

Answer 3

First of all let me start by saying that I am not a theologian. I do however believe that there are good and bad people in every church, faith and religion from the pulpit on down. Attending church is a sort of social networking of people with the same belief system. IT IS YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT WILL SUSTAIN YOU. If you are finding that the members of that church do not share your beliefs, keep searching and praying for God to lead you to the right one. I was once upon a time a member of a Pentecostal church; I could never grasp the concept of speaking in tongue either.

Answer 4

Almost one fifth of the world's Christians in virtually every denomination believe in or pray in tongues. It is a gift from God.
Acts 2;4, 4;8, 4;31, 9;17, 13;9, 8;17, 10;47, 19;2, Jude 1;20, Isaiah 28;11. Even after all this scriptural proof you still don't feel comfortable with tongues, I don't know what to tell you. Are you going to take these verses out of the Bible? All the disciples and the 120 in the upper room spoke in tongues... Why do Christians think they don't need this gift if the very first Christians sought it and received it.
I'm not saying it is requisite to salvation, NO. But why not accept all the blessings God has for His children.
I Cr 13;8a
10-30-6

Answer 5

I think that organized religion is about the need to believe in something more than you or I, everyone is seeking something different from it, so its bound to differ from denomination to denomination, or religion to religion. While I cant necessarily agree with the hatred or damnation or speaking in tongues, we just all have to realize that in some way we are all the same, all looking for the same thing, a greater being to show us that there really is more to all of this, and respect the views of others no matter how different or obsurd they may seem.

Answer 6

I agree, if you read and understand the scriptures when the disciples spoke in tongues it says that they were speaking to everyone that was there in their own language as everyone that was there did not speak the same language. If people are speaking in a tongue that they are familiar with or even know what they are saying how do they know for sure that they are glorifying God?

Answer 7

I know what you mean, I went to a church once where it was required that you speak in tongues. I was shocked!!
My understanding was that the spirit was supposed to overtake
you and make you speak in tongues but thats not what I experienced at this church. I think its utterly ridiculous.
Morgaine

Answer 8

Yes everyone has a voice, an everyone has two arm pits,
and they all stink.
I gather you were not into God while you were there?
I received that gibberish on my death bed, not any one in the room.
Just me and the Holy Spirit. I to this day will never forget where I got my gift of life, and the Holy Spirit teaching me, its a language of Heaven and no one understands it, not even Satan, I can have angles in my room at any time casting out evil,
I found the power from heaven, in gibberish. I know Satan knows who I am now, Ya, he trembles, but the greatest thing,
My name is written in the Lambs book of life.
I rejoice just for that reason, not my gibberish, but what Christ did on the cross for me.

Answer 9

I was answering that when it was removed! I wanted to point out to Doug that "god" didn't destroy the tower of babel - he supposedly mixed up the languages so that the tower to heaven couldn't be built. Christian claptrap at it's finest. Even this atheist knows that story - hope he's not spreading his misinformation around to make more Christians with...

Answer 10

I don't know if it is gibberish or not. Isn't it just as "fanatic" to bash those who have different beliefs from you? I would suggest praying on this and maybe a non-gibberish answer will be revealed to you.