Is Speaking in Tongues Real?

Question

Or are the pentacostals just putting on a show.

Answer 1

If you read the Fourteenth Chapter of First Corinthians, according to Paul, it is a valid experience.
Whatever anyone else says for or against is of little consideration in my mind.
I speak in tongues.

Answer 2

I would say that the biblical gift of tongues referred to in the Book of Acts and I Corinthians is much different than what you see practiced today. I think where it really falls down is when people say it is a private prayer language. I don't believe there is a basis in scripture to support that--I can accept that the gifts still operate, but if the gifts like tongues operate they must operate as seen in the NT. Tongues must have interpretations always. Prophecy must be 100% accurate, and so on. Others can feel free to disagree with me. I don't think most pentacostals are putting on a show. I think they've just been led to believe that that is the gift of tongues. I think they are sincere, but likely incorrect.

Answer 3

Tongues did not cease after Pentecost as some might think.Remarks like that only show what little they know.
Peter went to Cornelius's house.There he found a room filled with gentiles.As he spoke the Word of God the Holy Ghost feel on them and they spoke with tongues, Acts 10.

Jesus said that tongues would be given as a sign to those that believe, Mark 16:17

We find that tongues are a gift given to the church in 1 Cr 12:1-14.

There are many scriptures in the old and new testament that uphold this gift.I know that there are those who misuse it but God will judge them one day right along with those who misuse Gods word and speak as if they know something when they don't.May God enlighten them and forgive them all.

Answer 4

Yes. It is real.
Sometimes people without a gift put on a show but there is a price for them.

Since you don't believe it is real, let me give you a clue. Tongues are most often given to testify to unbelievers, among a group of true believers, in a gospel meeting.

Here is your clue. If you ever hear the real thing it will stand the hair up on the back of your neck. If your base brain isn't that swift, it should really perk your attention. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 5

Yes it is!.....but the tongues that were spoken in the day of Pentecost were ''Cloven tongues'',...these tongues were able to be heard ( understood) by many different dialects when those tongues of fire were sent forth.......You must understand something hear!.....their are tongues like the day of Pentecost, then you have the tongues of Man which is the Gift of tongues being a linguist..........But this tongue of Pentecost all people understood from many dialects,.....''if this is not happening'' then it is confusion and the devil is the author of confusion,....it become evident that this is babel ( confusion) and the etymology of babel is the Hebrew verb balal, '''To confuse or confound''...The tower of Babel is a good example,''''''..so if you hear a bunch of babbling and it seems confusing,...then I'm sure we can all decide if it's from God or not..........God Speed Brother!

Answer 6

Tongues comes from The Book Of Acts in the bible. After the disciples of Jesus Christ went off spreading the Gospel, it was a great time of religious revival. God struck such a word on a group of people that they became overwhelmed and spoke in such.. tongues. The people around them thought that these people were simply drunk. If the Pente-costals truly are recieving such an overwhelming feeling of God's precense.. then it is real. Otherwise, it is hipocritic.

Answer 7

Wayne T posted the 'real' example of speaking in tongues. It is to be a language unknown to the speaker, and can be translated by the unbeliever, as the unbeliever will be hearing it in his/her own language. All the gobbledegook that the pentecostals do is against God and is blasphemy of the Holy spirit if it is not understood. There is a strict order to things, and the speaking in tongues is to be a FOREIGN language to UNBELIEVERS, just as it was in Acts at pentecost.

Answer 8

Its As Real As A $3.00 bill.....Those who think Christians should speak in “tongues” might be very surprised to read in the Bibles that many of them carry that the apostle Paul specifically said that miraculous speaking in tongues would not always continue. He wrote: “Whether there are tongues, they will cease.”—1 Cor. 13:8.
In fact, it seems that the congregation in Corinth was actually attaching too much importance to the matter of tongues. Paul wrote to them not to do so. He asked: “Brothers, if I should come speaking to you in tongues, what good would I do you . . . ?” unless he explained what he said in tongues in language they could understand. He said that, like musical instruments, the voice should not give “indistinct” sounds. We should not speak “into the air.” Speech should be “easily understood,” he said, so that those present would know “what is being spoken.”—1 Cor. 14:6-9.
Enough said..

Answer 9

First of all Don that was funny..

To answer your question. Who knows for sure. Who can prove its real or not. I can say that I believe by faith that it is real.
When I hear someone speaking in tongues usually I feel the spirit of God moving. And it is awesome. I don't feel speaking in tongues is really necesary. I think its a gift from God. I do my praying when Im cleaning and I really get into it and there have been times I was alone that I would be praying so hard and fast that I would not realize what I was saying and I believe it came from spending time with God.

Answer 10

I am quite sure it's just gibberish. I can do much the same as people I've seen doing it, and I am an atheist. Of course, people are free to worship in whatever way they want, so long as they aren't harming anyone.

This question's come up before on this webpage and I remember a Christian answerer saying that if someone was truly speaking in tongues everyone in the world would be able to understand them. Mind you that could just have been his opinion.

Answer 11

There is legitimate speaking in tongues / interpreting tongues. However, I am certain that some of what goes on is for show.

The Apostle Paul wrote that in order for speaking in tongues to be of any profit, there must be an interpreter present; otherwise it's just nonsense and confusion.