Are there still churches today that...?

Question

...Practice and ecourage 'speaking in tongues'?
I find this to be unbelieveable and scary.
What are your thoughts about the matter?

Answer 1

The Bible foretold false religion would try to mislead many. Remember the apostles speaking in tongues was so that other people from other languages could understand them. If the only language an audience understands is english, what good is talking in a different language?

In some of the few cases where someone COULD hear and understand, what they were saying was the most blasphemious, vulgar words. Clearly not something from the true God!

Answer 2

They do not "practice and encourage". They hypnotize people into believing that making funny noises is speaking in tongues. The hypnotized is so grateful, (and fooled too) that he will recompense the church with some dough. But the Bible clearly says that speaking in tongues is speaking a language known to someone in the world, not what is called "glossolalia", an expression of some mental illnesses. Someone in the congregation must be able to traduce, otherwise, as the Bible says, it is useless and someone new coming in may think that people there are crazy.

Answer 3

Yes there are churches today that practice specking in tongues. I attend one. I personally believe that it is a gift and not everyone is blessed with it. I wasn't, but I also believe that most of the people that I have witness speaking in tongues was not sincere. (they're faking), but some people believe that is what will get them to heaven. I don't!

Answer 4

To speak in tongues means that the "speaker" is actually talking in a language he is totally ignorant of. Here it is used by the Holy Spirit to assist in proselytizing in assistance to a foreigner to teach "the way". There has to be two witnesses to translate what is being said by the speaker so that those who are listening as well will know the conversation.
For example. Let's suppose you are a devout Christian trying so very hard to express your faith in Christ to a Russian from the steppes of Russia. He wants very much to hear what you have to say, you want very much to make yourself understood. The both of you understand that this is a pivotal moment in both your lives. You because your words can reach his heart, and he because he believes you have something of great value to impart. Here's the problem. He doesn't speak English, and you don't even know Russian, never mind the certain dialect this man knows from his part of the country.
It looks like a stalemate. If you two part without knowledge being passed then someone is going to lose immensely.
So you are in this group of people at a stalemate for lack of communication.
Exasperated and frustrated you blurt out words that come out of the blue, words you've never heard before in a language you never understood. It is a certain Russian dialect that the man knows as his mothertongue! !
The Holy Spirit came into you to pass the knowledge to the man seeking God, the Christ, a sense of purity that he can base his life on. You are speaking in a tongue you've never spoken in all of your life. Others around you wonder how? Some are amazed. But the man you are trying to communicate with understands you completely after two hours of frustrating communications that wasn't working you are speaking his dialect of Russian!
This is speaking in toungues.
The gibbering rantings and ravings of those who flap their lips for unintelligable noise are not a reflection of the Holy Ghost, God, nor our Lord Jesus the Christ. When a believer speaks in toungues all must be able to understand what you are saying. And if all cannot understand then there has to be a translator for the rest.
This is the true meaning of "speaking in tongues" not the crazed noise of the wannabe's.

Answer 5

http://www.midcry.org/tongues.htm

Midnight Cry Ministries
TONGUES: MY TESTIMONY
by C. Parker Thomas

WHY I SOUGHT TONGUES
When I began to learn these things I had a desire to teach God's people the truth. For that reason I knew it would be good if I had the gift of speaking in other tongues, so no one could say the reason I didn't believe in tongues was because I had never spoken in tongues.

Motivated by this desire I asked God to give me the gift of tongues, and he did. However, I do not encourage people to seek this gift because of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.

PROPHECY GREATER
1 Corinthians 14:5: "I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." My desire is to edify God's people, by and through the gift of prophecy. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, "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. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." And I repeat verse 29 and 30 "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" Obviously the answer to all these questions is an emphatic NO!

Sometimes the gift of tongues is given to some believers to strengthen them because they are weak in the faith. For example, Bro. Andrew Bureau was driving back to North Carolina from a car sale in Florida and his wife Jolene was following him in another car. She had a cassette tape of one of our services playing in the car. She was worshipping the Lord when suddenly she began speaking in other tongues. She wasn't thinking about tongues and certainly wasn't seeking tongues.

In fact, they were not thinking about tongues or seeking tongues on the day of Pentecost, nor were the people at the household of Cornelius. The same is true of the twelve disciples that Paul ministered to in Acts 19:1-7.

Beyond doubt, demons are responsible for the tongues that many people speak. However, there is a true tongue as well as demonic inspired tongues.

Another great mistake that some make is in teaching that there are two different kinds of tongues, one being the evidence variety and the other the gift of tongues. This is not true. It is simply a way of confirming the false concept of tongues evidence.

Some of the phenomena that are being experienced today -- barking like dogs, growling like animals, shaking uncontrollably and uncontrollable laughter breaking out -- I question very seriously!

I am not anti-tongues nor anti-healing, but there is such excess in what is going on that it has brought about much confusion. Our Number 1 priority in the ministry should be to preach the gospel in such a way that the elect will hear it and be saved. Paul the apostle says in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

However, everyone, including the cults, Baptists, Pentecostals, Mormons, etc., says they have the gospel. The only safe thing I can tell you is to will to do the will of God and he will lead you to the truth.

Answer 6

There are still some churches that practice speaking in tongues. Most Pentecostal churches.
I believe that speaking in tongues was something that happened shortly after Christ ascended into heaven, and that speaking in tongues has for the most part ceased. But even then, they had interpreters.
Speaking in tongues is not THE evidence that the Holy Spirit has indwelt that individual.

Answer 7

Yes there are, and I am one that belives in these things. YOu may not understand them, but God talks about them and its real and very Biblical. Tho many that get into this, can also go down the wrong path, for when God gives us something, the devil tries to ruin it with lies.
But, it is Biblical. God speaks to us thru tongues, and brings much revelation. Its Biblical, so why does that scare you? Once you understand it you wont feel that way> There was a time years ago, that I felt as you did, had been raised to not believe it and heard horror stories. Yes , some ppl do act like they have it and its really just nonsense. Not all is real. But, you know when it is real, and it glorifies God. He not only gives us revelation, He uses this for many reasons. People today say its all done with, but if they read the passage where it says all that, it is saying knowledge will cease also, and it says when the perfect shall come. That means when Jesus comes, this will all no longer be needed. And Jesus isnt here yet, but He is coming soon.
If we are following only Gods precious word, staying in study and prayer, we will find all of the truths God gives to us and know whats real and what isnt. Tongues are very real and its very Biblical and there are many reasons for it. Is it still here today? Yep, all over the world.
I am a full gospel Christian, pretty much Pentacostal, and I believe in all of the Bible and obeying what God says. Since God says He gives us tongues, then I wont fear it. But I wanted to know more and undersatnd it. Years of study got me there. I pray you will begin to study this too, and know that for every light, devil sends darness. For every light of God the devil sends darness. So, does every person claming to have this gift, really get it from GOD. ??? NOPE. BUt, you arent to concern yourself with that You just concern yourself with what God tells you and gives to you, and use it for His purposes. Doesnt matter what others do. andyou not ony wont be afriad, you will count it all as joy.
God tells us the devil cant read minds. And he cant understand heavenly language So if I pray in tongues, the devil has no idewa what I prayed about, and then when God gives me the answers in tongues, devil still doesnt know. Makes prayer very private and personal. and much revelation comes there. Once you have that gift, you would never give it up. God is sooo good, all the time He is good.

Answer 8

Many Churches encourage it. If you read in the bible, it is a gift to speak in tongues. It's away to communicate with God while no one can interpret the conversation, not even the devil. Now I don't believe that anyone should force you to speak in tongues, that happened to me an it was awful. I think it is a personal gift that one should ask God to have, but on their on time; not where people are just looking at you and screaming. It can be scary but when you ask for the gift, it is a beautiful experience.

Answer 9

There are still churches that speak in tongues but according to the Word of God, churches must have someone who interprets or they are to keep quiet and only speak in tongues in there private worship.

Answer 10

I saw this women at a flea market, praying and talking what sounded like tongues, and thought how easy it was to fake it, and get all that attention. Still I would refrain from dismissing the God Given spirit. You just never know.