What is "Speaking in tongues"?

Question

How do you know that it's real, and not simply babbling? How do you know that the "words" coming from your mouth mean anything at all? In the New Testament, in Acts, those speaking in tongues were understood by those speaking the actual languages. In most pentacostal and charismatic churches, there is no-one to be preached to in these "languages", and most everyone I've heared has just been babbling sounds, and not speaking a recognizable language. Words, sounds and utterances were repetitious and non-sensical.

When you get this "gift", how do you go about verifying that it's a real language? Aren't Christians called to test things to insure they are for real and of God? Isn't it possible that a hypnotic frenzy of song and spirit can simply bring about a state where people will babble and think it's a language?

How many Christians have actually HAD THE EXPERIENCE of being able to minister to someone speaking a language they didn't know? Personal experience only.

Answer 1

* * * What a good question. * * *

The 120 disciples in the upper room at Pentecost in the year 33 CE were given the miraculous gift of tongues, that is speaking in a KNOWN language in order to witness to those from other areas who had traveled to Jerusalem for the festival days and did not speak Hebrew or Greek. (Please read Acts, Chapter 2.)

This gift was no longer needed after a time and was done away with. (1 Corinthians 13:8 - "...where there are TONGUES, they will CEASE...")

There is no reason today for a person to speak in tongues, as Bible literature is produced in hundreds of languages, and foreign speaking missionaries abound to spread the good news all over the earth, as foretold at Matthew 24:14. Those claiming that the "Lord" has given them the gift of speaking in tongues are dealing with demonic powers. Be careful.

PS - People will often tell you that their gift is for edifying themselves, or that it's a way to pray in the spirit. How does that afford a witness to others? (It doesn't.)

Answer 2

I was going to quote Acts 2:8. but since you understand this was languages spoken by man, then you must also understand that when they bible defines something then that is what it is unless the bible redifines it, which it does not. Those who defend the extactic utterances today as tongues quote paul in 1 Corthians 13, but they fail to realize Paul was making the point that love is greater than all and he he was bein hypothectical, because if you read 1 corinthians chapters 12, 13, and 14 in context, you will find Paul says God is not the author of confusion and he also says that what is spoken must be understood by the hearer, but those who worship tongues deny this and ignore those passages because they love their experience more than truth.

I know because I was in those churches a few years. I have seen., heard and spoken in the so called tongues and know it is from man.

In chapter 12 of first Corinthians Paul even asks those who speak in unintelligible words how do they know they are not cursing God when they mean to bless God.

Modern day tongue speaking is just gibberish and is not a heaven language, but a deception to decive those who practice it. I say this because of what Paul wrtes in 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10,11, 12.

Verse 11 says that God sends a strong delusion that they may believe a lie. What more powerful delusion than a gift that is so strong it causes the people to think they are speaking in an unkown language of angels?

Answer 3

Speaking in tongues is a manifestation of one of many gifts of the Holy Spirit that is practiced by whole denominations, such as the Pentacostal churches, and groups within churches.

It gets way too much attention, more than it deserves, because it is the least of the gifts.

It is true that sometimes some Christians will fake this gift because they are under the delusion that they will be held in higher esteem by those around them. This is no reason to trash the whole thing.

Strong leadership is always needed to keep this gift from becoming disorderly. Different communities have different ways of manifesting this gift. I have been in some prayer groups where it souds like a barnyard, and I have heard singing in the spirit that resembles a beautiful orchestra of praise, intensly musical and sweet sounding, and it comes to an abrupt end where people sit quietly and wait for a prophetic word. Try that with thousands of people without any practice.

This kind of spirituality is not for everybody. But if you really want to see an orderly, intelligent, thought provoking, educational event, attend a Catholic Charismatic Conference.

Here is a sane article on tongues:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ34.HTM
.

Answer 4

Well, from personal experience, this can be a very controversial issue. There are some people that speak in tongues, and it seems as though they are just babbling. Then, there are other people that are given the gift of tongues so that it can be used for prophecy. By that, you have someone that speaks something in tongues, and then, the interpretation is given so that everyone else knows what God is trying to speak to that group of people. I was raised in a Pentecostal church, and I've struggled with this same exact issue for a lot of my life. I know this probably sounds very cliche, but I'm sure that when you know, you know. Some people I think use it to talk to God when they are not able to form the words to actually speak what they need to say to God, and he is able to understand that. Personally, the only one that I think is credible is the prophecy. But on the flip side, are the tongues that are spoken supposed to be in another language that is already known on earth or what some call a heavenly language? I guess we'll never know till we get to heaven.

Answer 5

Speaking in tongues was a thing that might have had some logic in early Christian preachers when going out into strange land to spread the news as they like to say, but today that logic would not apply. So many people get hooked on religion as their port
of safe haven and it becomes paramount in their lives even to
the point of psychosis. We must always remember that to them
they are sincerely demonstrating their deep and sacred beliefs
and as such we should show respect and not judge them.

Answer 6

Speaking in your prayer language (speaking in tongues) is to edify your spirit and speak directly with God. It is not for others unless there is an interpreter.

For those that don't understand or are unbelievers, no matter what is said or explained...they will not understand. This is a spiritual matter, not a "natural" or flesh matter.

Speaking in tongues and or other languages is Biblical.

I know for a fact when it is from God, it can be interpreted. I've seen and experienced it first hand. There was no babbling involved, no falling on the floor and no chaos. Things of that nature are of the enemy, not God.

Only the interpreter can minister to those that hear what is spoken in the other language. God can and does speak directly through those that offer themselves as a willing vessel. The Holy Spirit will tell the interpreter and thus can be explained.

Chaos is unacceptable in a church setting when it comes to these matters as the Scriptures clearly state. There is a time and place for everything.

Answer 7

It's Glossoalia by hysteria...emotional upheaval so intense that they start running nonsense at the mouth. Glossolalia is fabricated, meaningless speech: Meaningless sounds. I once attended a service where a woman dropped to the floor and started rolling around. (I did the first thing I was trained to do...supported her head and told someone to call 911. She "miraculously" recovered".) Only the gullible think there's anything to it. Or fakery...there's plenty of that too.

I ran across a street preacher once who was going on some anti-government rant peppered with Bible quotes. A guy suddenly started trembling and babbling and the preacher pointed to him as "proof" that he was preaching the "Word of God". One of my companions came up behind the babbler, wrapped both arms around him and picked him up.

The babbler suddenly stopped babbling and his message came through loud and clear: "Get the **** off me! Get off me!" The guy was set down and the pair took off.

So much for that.

Answer 8

I have had the blessed oportunity to speak in tongues and it is an awesome experience. I have never personally had mine interpreted but i have been in a church when it happened. It's an awesome feeling and sends a chill throught your body. The language of speaking in tongues is between you and God. No one needs to understand and you don't even need to. God does and that is what is important. God gives many gifts. Tongues and the interpretation of that are just two of them. When you feel the spirit of God on you that is how you know it is real. Some say it is not but until you are there and have that experience there is no way of telling for sure. Some when the speak in tongue may even speak English if their primary language is something other than that. To each his own though i guess. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

You are right. Acts 2:4-11 says:

they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.

5 As it was, there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, reverent men, from every nation of those under heaven. 6 So, when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Indeed, they were astonished and began to wonder and say: “See here, all these who are speaking are Gal·i·le′ans, are they not? 8 And yet how is it we are hearing, each one of us, his own language in which we were born? 9 Par′thi·ans and Medes and E′lam·ites, and the inhabitants of Mes·o·po·ta′mi·a, and Ju·de′a and Cap·pa·do′ci·a, Pon′tus and the [district of] Asia, 10 and Phryg′i·a and Pam·phyl′i·a, Egypt and the parts of Lib′y·a, which is toward Cy·re′ne, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cre′tans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.”

1 Corinthians 13 indicated that this miraculous gift was to cease.

1 Corinthians 14:26-36 indicates this should be orderly thing, not speaking these foreign languages miraculously without a translator:

26 What is to be done, then, brothers? When YOU come together, one has a psalm, another has a teaching, another has a revelation, another has a tongue, another has an interpretation. Let all things take place for upbuilding. 27 And if someone speaks in a tongue, let it be limited to two or three at the most, and in turns; and let someone translate. 28 But if there be no translator, let him keep silent in the congregation and speak to himself and to God. 29 Further, let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern the meaning. 30 But if there is a revelation to another one while sitting there, let the first one keep silent. 31 For YOU can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be encouraged. 32 And [gifts of] the spirit of the prophets are to be controlled by the prophets. 33 For God is [a God], not of disorder, but of peace.

As in all the congregations of the holy ones, 34 let the women keep silent in the congregations, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but let them be in subjection, even as the Law says. 35 If, then, they want to learn something, let them question their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in a congregation.

Answer 10

I'm Pentecostal so we believe in speaking in tongues. I've never experienced it, but have seen it at Church and revivals and t.v. I get goose bumps. Its when people are so filled with joy from the Holy Spirit that a bunch of uncontrollable words come out of your mouth that only God understands...I think its awesome