What is it like to speak in tongues?

Question

I am really intrigued by this. I started attending a Pentecostal based Bible study and the subject has come up. I was just like really curious for those of you that have done it. How do you feel like right before you do it, like how do you know you are going to?
No rude comments please!

Answer 1

Very few understand what you are asking Rachel.

I have emailed you.

Answer 2

I've personally been around alot of Christians who babble on during worship & use it to put the focus on themselves. It should be a real and intelligible language (1 Corinthians 14:10), it should be for the purpose of communicating God's Word with a person of another language (Acts 2:6-12) and if you speak in tongues, someone must interpret, if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet and speak to God alone (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).

Answer 3

You don't know when GOD is agonna use you to deliver a message in a meeting Till HE does!
But, you can choose to speak (pray) in Tongues anytime, or anywhere you want to.
You can access GOD doing this and get Answers to problems.
A commanding officer in Vietnam (American) found out how to get his men out of a trap by praying in Tongues.
The Star that led the Wise Men rose up in the EAST.
The guy on the other end of the Radio (in the trap) knew what direction for his men to run in when the Americans started shelling the Enemy.
Everybody got out alive. The transmission (radio) didn't mention EAST because the Enemy was listening in and the Americans knew it.
The American commander only said to Run in the Direction of the Star of Bethleham when we start shelling.

GOD is Good. GOD (wisdom, knowledge and understanding) can be accessed by Praying in Tongues.
Ditto................

Answer 4

If you understand what a tongue is, then you will know that it is only another language that you have not learned. Our native tongue here in the US is English. If a Spaniard walks up to you and starts speaking Spanish to you, you will not understand him unless you have learned Spanish also. That's all it is, nothing else.

Answer 5

MY TAKE ON TONGUES

What you should be aware of before accepting that every occurrence of speaking in tongues is of God, is that the Encyclopedia Britannica also explans that the phenomenon, called "glossolalia" in Biblical greek, was also experienced in pagan worship. It says, "Glossolalia occurred in some of the ancient Greek religions and in various primitive religions." (Just look up "tongues" or "gift of tongues" for the complete reference.)

My friends at work claim (and the Pentecostal church teaches) that speaking in tongues is "the first initial sign of the filling of the Holy Spirit." I tell them that I am filled with the Holy Spirit just as they are but I have never spoken in tongues. I tried to think of someone who I felt was the most filled with the Holy Spirit that I can imagine and the reverend Billy Graham came to my mind. I thought, "Now if there was ever a man filled with the Holy Spirit, this is the guy! I mean he has completely devoted his life to the Lord and has for decades held crusades all over the world where thousands have received Jesus Christ into their hearts. Surely, if speaking in tongues is "the first initial sign of the filling of the Holy Spirit" as my Pentecostal friends claim, then Mr. Graham would have experienced it, right?" But in his excellent book, "The Holy Spirit" he reveals that he has never spoken in tongues. And after praying about it and doing some research on the subject here is my own personal conclusion:

The gift of tongues is often counterfeit brought about by peer pressure. Even my Pentecostal friends admit this. But there is also the genuine gift which is real. People who speak in tongues seem to think that everyone filled with the Holy Spirit does so and this is where the confusion lies. I disagree with them and in 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 Paul clearly points out that not all will possess the gift of tongues. It says,
"28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." (KJV)

The gift of tongues is simply given to people who need a sign. This is clearly illustrated in the New Testament when the disciple, Thomas, doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus offered Thomas his nail peirced hands to touch as a 'sign' to help his unbelief. To those of us who are fully convinced of the reality of Jesus and His saving work, no 'sign' is needed. Why offer a jury more evidence if they've already accepted the truth? So, contrary to the popular belief of many of our friends who speak in tongues, speaking in tongues doesn't mean you are more spiritual (the Corinthian church spoke in tongues and they were the most corrupt church in the New Testament!). If anything, it means your lack of faith needed an extra boost and God was gracious enough to give it to you. This is why we read in 1 Corinthians 14:22,"...tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not..." (KJV).

Now, doesn't that make the most sense?

The answerer above screen named "me" is correct. Biblically, for tongues to be genuine, it must be interpreted for the benefit of the hearers in the church. But in today's Pentecostal churches, there is rarely an interpretation by anyone. In fact, I know of one instance where a Hebrew student went to a Pentecostal service, stood up and recited the Lord's Prayer in Hebrew (just to see if it would be "interpreted") and an "interpreter" stood up and "interpreted" it as being a warning from God about drug use among the young church members!

So, if you're going to buy into all this speaking in tongues stuff..."buyer beware!"

Answer 6

Kind of like making up nonsensical gibberish off the top of your head and having everybody applaud you for rolling around on the ground gibbering like an idiot. Strike that, it's exactly like that.

Answer 7

You decide to - its not being out of control.
When I speak in tongues, my spirit is built up.
It is when I come to a place where my words cannot reach what I want to express in my spirit.

Answer 8

Just listen to a toddler before it is able to speak pronounceable words.

Answer 9

Rachel listen to god and no one else pray to him for your answer he will give it too you just be Patience god bless you

Answer 10

my mom and her friends does..
sometimes i think im an atheist.