I've heard different things from different people. what's with the whole speaking in tounge to God thing about? and is it a good thing, or a bad thing?
2007-03-09 01:37:35 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Speaking in tongues was used by the early Christians so that they could preach to someone of another language. What they said had meaning to people who knew those languages. (Acts 2: 4 & 8) Not all Christians did this back then. See 1 Cor. 12:13, 30 and 1 Cor. 14:5 In the first century, the Bible shows, congregations were to limit the speaking in tongues to two or three persons who might do that at any given meeting; they were to do it "each in turn" and if there was no interpreter present they were to be silent. 1 Cor. 14: 27 & 28
Is this what goes on today? Today, is it not true that speaking in tongues usually involves an ecstatic outburst of intelligible sounds.?
The bible showed that these gifts would cease. 1 Cor. 13: 1 & 8 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal. Love never fails. But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they wil be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease."
As a joint statement by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council admitted: "We are also aware that a similar phenomenon can occur under occult/demonic influence." The book Religious Movements in Comtemporary America reports that in Haiti speaking in tongues is characteristic of both Penecoastal and Voodoo religions.
It was a good thing in the past with the early Christians, but as the bible said it would cease. Those practicing speaking in tongues today, are not doing so with God's approval or holy spirit. So no, it would not be a good thing today.
2007-03-09 02:03:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Unclear if it's good or bad. Catholics feel sometimes it's an indication of evil possession, Pentacostals think it's required.
The Bible does say something about having an INTERPRETER around and indicates that the speaking is supposed to be in a valid language and not jibberish and usually a langage not known by the speaker.
2007-03-09 01:45:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Speaking in tongues is a spiritual language that's evidenced by one who has been filled with the Spirit of God. Tongues when used correctly can be a good thing. However when used incorrectly, can be a bad thing.
People can get confused, and begin speaking in false tongues and or get caught up in bad influences through others that are not of the household of faith.
Tongues can be used to communicate directly to GOD in a language that only He understands. And through and by His Spirit. (The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost).
Tongues are for a sign for those who don't believe and can be interpreted by another spirit-filled believer operating in his or her own spiritual gifts for edification.
A person that believes can prophesy in tongues and also in the understanding; of the English language that is in a dialect that can be fully understood.
A believer can can intercede on behalf of others by praying in tongues. They can also war in the Spirit realm by using warring tongues and they can prophesy in tongues as well in the understanding.
However in most churches a believer should pray quietly to his or herself in tongues unless the Spirit leads them to prophesy, and someone is standing by that can interpret what they have said. I hope this opened up your understanding a little more about tongues.
Peace,
Hope
2007-03-09 03:03:47 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dave Roberson talks about the various kinds of speaking in tongues in his free online book at www.daveroberson.org
He includes many bible references and personal experiences, and a very thorough analysis of the issue.
Basically he believes that praying in tongues for edification is a badly neglected gift, and encourages the believing reader to attain and use the gift.
2007-03-09 03:04:00 · answer #4 · answered by Cader and Glyder scrambler 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Acts 2:3-8
"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them. . . When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in this own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?"
Acts 10:44-46
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The cirumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the girt of the Holy spirit had beeen poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and prasing God."
Acts 19:4-7
"Pauls said, 'John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the peole to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' On hearing this, they were baptized in tothe name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and spoke in tonges and prophesied."
1 Corinthians 12: 8-11
"To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one just as he determines"
1 Corinthians 13:1
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resound gong or a clanging cymbal."
1 Corinthians 14:6-22
"Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unlesss I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of insturction. Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts that build up the church. For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. . . I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you But in the church I would rahter speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue . . . Tongues, then are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelivers; prophecy however, is for believers, not for unbelievers."
2007-03-09 02:12:12 · answer #5 · answered by gerafalop 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That it was a gift of the holy spirit but has now been done away with, along with prophecying and healing.
2007-03-09 01:41:28 · answer #6 · answered by Q&A Queen 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋