Speaking in 'Tongues'?

Question

Does the Holy Spirit anable 'glossolalia'/speaking in tongues in the modern church?

Thanks in advance to all atheists for their 'fairy tale' and 'pink pixie' comments -

If your church says no, what is the Biblical argument?

Answer 1

yes. but some denominations do not believe that its for everyone. the argument given is usually based on what Paul said, "do all speak with tongues?" with the answer in text to be understood as "no".

however, in that text Paul was speaking of the ministry gifts, and not of personal tongues. so Paul was not actually saying that not all will speak in tongues. but he was saying, not all will be used in public ministry giftings.

in chapt. 14:5 Paul says, "i would that you all spake in tongues." to me that means that its possible that all could if they so believed.

in verses 15-17 Paul allows (in a gifted assembly) for singing, blessing, and giving of thanks in the spirit/tongues.

and when with the ungifted - mixed assembly, refrain. unless there follows an interpretation. - verses 12-13

in verses 15, 28 Paul allows in mixed assembly for praying in the spirit/tongues in a quiet basis, unless their follows an interpretation.

in other verses of chapter 14 Paul states that all the gifts can be in operation in a mixed assembly as long as interpretation is always in operation.. to edify the entire church.
.

Answer 2

My father is a minister of a non denominational church and he said something about the gift of tongues speaking ending in the biblical times and resuming in the end times because of a prophecy in the book of Job. The Bible does allow for tongues speaking, but only under specific circumstances.
Look at 1 Corinthians 14 if you want to know more. Paul tells the Corinthians that if someone speaks in tongues A) only one or two may speak at once, B) there must be an interpreter to explain what they are saying and C) tongues speaking is to build up the church and glorify God, not the person that is speaking.
I have been to churches that do believe in glossolalia, however, they have everyone speaking at once, sometimes 500 people at a time, no interpreters, and use it as a sign of how holy they are. I.E. "I am filled with the holy spirit and you are not" as a way to feel superior to other believers.
Paul warns against this in Corinthians as well, saying that all spiritual gifts are equal. I believe that the gift of tongues is legitimate, but is not being practiced according to biblical standards. I personally do not do it, but do not look down on those who do, as long as they are aware that pagan cults in the biblical time also had glossolalia, so it may not be a unique gift from the holy spirit, and also that when Peter spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost he was speaking his own language and those that heard were hearing him in their native languages, they were not all speaking "the language of angels" to each other.

Answer 3

The gift of tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and I have witnessed this phenomenon in various christian denominations. The New Testament clearly delineates the gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of tongues.

I am a Catholic, and many catholic charismatics possess this gift. It is a mystery to me, but I do not question the authenticity of speaking in tongues. Some are charlatans, while others I suppose are genuine. That is for God to decide.

Answer 4

What is 1 Corinthians 13:8 about ? well I speak in Tongues and interpret so let's ask the Spirit? Spirit :Israel is what this is referring to.....they will give up....The end of Apparition (Ashley Greene) Demonic Oppression.

Answer 5

Our church is an Evangelical Methodist we do believe that it is possible if God so chooses. But we do not hold it to be the primary evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Just a possible evidence.
Edit: I personally have prayed in the Spirit, but not in tongues. I have witnessed what I believe to be praying in tongues and I have witnessed those I believe to be charlatan.
I have not seen anyone do it as described in Acts 2, but have been told of it by people I trust implicitly.

Answer 6

Absolutely- its biblical and its a means to talk directly with God and the devil not being able to hear what your saying. Even when we pray the HS is speaking prayers on our behalf to God (even without tongues). I am not sure if my church believes or doesn't. No one there has ever spoken tongues. It has never been denounced at our church. We are pretty biblically based though. I don't speak in tongues.

Answer 7

The presence of the Holy Spirit is being poured out all over the country in all different kinds of churches--speaking in tongues is one of those ways--especially in these last days we should be absorbed in the presence.

Answer 8

No.

We read in 1 Corinthians 13:8: "Love never fails. But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with."

The miraculous gift of tongues attended the outpouring of God’s spirit at Pentecost, 33 C.E. The approximately 120 disciples assembled in an upper room (possibly near the temple) were thereby enabled to speak about “the magnificent things of God” in the native tongues of the Jews and proselytes who had come to Jerusalem from faraway places for the observance of the festival. This fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy proved that God was using the new Christian congregation and no longer the Jewish congregation. In order to receive the free gift of the holy spirit, the Jews and proselytes had to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name.—Acts 1:13-15; 2:1-47.

The gift of tongues proved very helpful to first-century Christians in preaching to those who spoke other languages. It was actually a sign to unbelievers. However, Paul, in writing to the Christian congregation at Corinth, directed that when meeting together, not all should speak in tongues, as strangers and unbelievers entering and not understanding would conclude that they were mad. He also recommended that the speaking in tongues “be limited to two or three at the most, and in turns.” However, if no one could translate, then the person speaking in a tongue was to remain silent in the congregation, speaking to himself and to God. (1Corinthians 14:22-33) If no translating took place, his speaking in a tongue would not result in upbuilding others, for no one would listen to his speech because it would be meaningless to those unable to understand it.—1Corinthians 14:2, 4.

If the person speaking in a tongue was unable to translate, then he did not understand what he himself was saying nor would others who were not familiar with that tongue, or language. Hence, Paul encouraged those having the gift of tongues to pray that they might also translate and thereby edify all listeners. From the foregoing, it can readily be seen why Paul, under inspiration, ranked speaking in tongues as a lesser gift and pointed out that in a congregation he would rather speak five words with his mind (understanding) than 10,000 words in a tongue.—1Corinthians 14:11, 13-19.

Answer 9

Dear Superbobo:
The gift in tongues was prophesied to end.
1 Corinthians 13:8 says so.
The first-century christians were granted this ability because they had a huge territory to preach to, in very little time.
No time for language courses.
BTW The speaking in tongues had a purpose:
". . .we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God. . " Acts 2:11
The speaking in tongues these days is usually alot of jibberish.
It can't compare to "magnificent things of God."
Finally, Jesus said the outstanding identifying mark of christians would not be tongues, but ....John 13:34,35

Answer 10

Where did you get "pink" from? That's just extra crazy.

Sure, speaking in tongues thing: Cogito Ergo Dubito

Maybe you are mixing up the Invisible Pink Unicorn with Magic Sky Pixies. I mean they are the same thing, but let's not mix them up more than need be.