Has anyone ever heard anything meaningful during the hysteria of "speaking in tongues"?

Question

I will never forget when I tripped upon the orgy of tongue-speaking. Im agnostic now, but a friend wanted to check out this church, and i tagged along...holy cow!

I grew-up in a multi-lingual home. Ive travelled and heard many dialects. I tell you now, not one single babbler was doing anything but babbling?

Whats the purpose anyway? Whats God getting out of this insanity?

Answer 1

you should also note that different churches have their own "speaking in tongues vernacular" mosly, the pattern is copied from a pastor. it's all just a fabrication with no holy spirit guiding them... not that i believe in the holy spirit anyway.

insanity is just about the right description for it...

they just want to sound like bible people. and fool themselves into beliving that they are doing what the bible says to guarantee a place in heaven.

Answer 2

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at a church. I hope you don't let it speak for all Christians and especially not for God.

Ernest77h gave a pretty thorough biblical answer. It's undeniable that these were known languages. People said they heard them speaking in their own languages. Some people claim that another kind of tongues exists; a language understood only by God unless the Holy Spirit interprets it through someone. Some claim even a 3rd kind of tongues exist;a prayer language. This is not to be interpreted, but only understood by God. The theory is that the prayer cannot be understood and intercepted by Satan, and that it edifies the pray-er.

Paul said in I Corinthians 14:10 that "There are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning." I did an in depth study on the subject with a totally open mind when I was earnestly seeking the truth on the subject. I believe the bible tells us that the gift of tongues was for the use of spreading the gospel to a world of many languages. It was to make the word of God understood. It seems that some would do just the opposite by making unintelligible sounds that are not understood. Paul spoke in tongues a lot because he was a missionary to the gentiles who were of many languages. But he said in a church he would rather speak 5 words that could be understood than 10,000 words that could not be understood.

I pray that you seek God. The Bible tells us that if you want Him to reveal Himself to you, that He will. Just ask Him. So much evidence exists that God is real and that Jesus is who He claimed to be.

Answer 3

that babbling has nothing to do with God at all!! Babbling is not speaking in tongues!! if you read the account in Acts chapter 2 you will see that none of the people that were speaking in tongues were babbling, they were speaking in a known language that they did not speak before, yet others in the crowd understood what was being said and came to Christ as a result. To speak in a Tongue simply means a language. God would not have people walking around babbling things just for the sake of babbling. Everything that God does has a Davine purpose. People have so corrupted the tongue thing it is ridiculous!!

Answer 4

All i have ever heard is jibberish, this is not the gift of tongues. On the day of pentacost the people were amazed that they all heard what was being said in their own language wherein they were born. read Acts chapter 2. God wanted all to hear the good news and understand it, not just the ones who spoke Hebrew and Greek.

think of it this way if these so called tongue talkers have the gift of tongues, why do they need a translater when travel to a forein land.

Answer 5

Speaking in tongues is not meant for you to understand. When I speak in tongues which I do, The Holy Spirit speaks mysteries through me, according to the Bible, and I dont even know what Im saying but His Spirit prays through me. I have prayed in tongues since I was 10 yrs old. I am 48 and dont know what I would do without this wonderful gift. I pray you find it out for yourself. God Bless You

Answer 6

it is the Holy Spirit speaking thru us to God,He tells the Father what we need[spiritually]

Answer 7

In fact speaking in tongues for real is only speaking in other languages of this world. the babbling is just that babbling!!

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
other G2087 heteros (het'-er-os) Of uncertain affinity; (an-, the) other or different: - altered, else, next (day), one, (an-) other, some, strange.
tongues G1100 glossa (gloce'-sah) Of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally unacquired): - tongue.
They began to speak in different kind of languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:5-6 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 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.
language G1258 dialektos (dee-al'-ek-tos) From G1256; a (mode of) discourse, that is, “dialect”: - language, tongue.
Every man heard them speak in his own dialect.
Acts 2:7-8 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
tongue G1258 dialektos (dee-al'-ek-tos) From G1256; a (mode of) discourse, that is, “dialect”: - language, tongue.
How hear we every man in our own dialect, wherein we were born?
Acts 2:9-11 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
tongues G1100 glossa
At the same time, men from different places did hear them speak in their language, the wonderful works of God.
Acts 2:12-15 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.