Christians, explain speaking in tongues?

Question

Could someone explain the point of speaking in tongues? I do believe it is a gift, but why would God need you to speak in another language when he understands ours?

Are there words we cannot even come up with?

Answer 1

Because its a Heavenly prayer language just between you and God and not for everyone else to understand. Unless its the gift of speaking in tongues for the edifying of the body of Christ which is God speaking through someone like during a Church service with someone their having the gift to interpret what is being said for the whole body of the church to understand. In that case it is a Word from God himself to everyone. The gift of speaking to God himself in a Heavenly prayer language given to someone by God should be regarded as something very special to that individual. Not just anyone can talk directly to God.

Answer 2

First, Paul says it is the least of the gifts, and not to speak unless an interpreter is present.

Maybe it is the language of the Holy Spirit. Not meant for everyone to understand. Obviously, cause most don't.

Consider the whole deal. When someone is "born of the spirit", they become a new person, internally. Maybe the language comes with it.
There are "rules" so to speak. Paul warns not to speak it at inappropriate times, for you will be laughed at for your appearance of gibberish to those who cannot understand.

Silence is a language also. Peace between God and yourself, being around each other and not having to say a word, says a lot. Just like friends that share a peaceful moment.

No, the words just originate, like you know for some strange reason.. But the weird part, to me, is you do not really understand what your saying, at least I don't. And the sad thing is I went to a church that "speaking in tongues" was the sign you had been saved. It was in there doctrine pamphlet they gave me. I heard many that were making "gibberish" up (when they were all supposed to praise in tongues), my spirit told me that it was phony. I felt sorry for them. I thought it was pitiful what was expected of them. (Assembly of God, I think). That the least gift of all, was the most important one, deemed necessary to "prove" salvation. It was crazy. I never went back. (to that church).

Answer 3

In the beginning (Pentecost) this gift of the holy spirit was used to preach the good news of the kingdom to all the nations (in their own tongues). As Christianity prospered, the gifts were done away with (probably sometime after the death of the last Apostle).

Modern day "speaking in tongues" is a self-delusion.

When a recording of the "tongues" has been played privately for a number of "interpreters" it usually turns out to be "interpreted" in a myriad of different ways.

Linguists' analyses of different tapes of this "phenomenon" find that often it does not fit the pattern of a real language.

So there is no point in "speaking in tongues" other than for the "speakers" to inadvertently delude themselves into believing they are providing proof of their religious beliefS.

Answer 4

Consider that at the time of the Holy Spirit coming on those believers in the book of Acts, The whole known world at that time had come into Jerusalem. Many different languages were present at that time. I believe that is the purpose of tongues. For those of mixed languages so that they could be presented with the gospel. Jesus plus speaking tongues is a false teaching. We believe that Christ died for our sins and that our sins were worthy of such an awful death that Christ paid for. It is a free gift that cannot be earned and by believing that it was the blood of Christ that our sins are washed in order for us to have access to the thrown of The Almighty. Speaking in tongues is a gift just like the other gift's God gives us as individuals of the corporate body of believers(you and your church). We are all not pastors, missionary's or singers. As we take in God word throughout our life we pick up qualities described in Galatians 5:22," But the fruit of the spirit.) We come to relate to a lost world perhaps by our differences as believers. The scriptures talk about us being the body(arms, legs,eyes,ears,etc...making up the whole body).The speaking of tongues seems kinda useless if all of the believers there speak the same language. I am not saying I don't believe in tongues. I have never heard it done.

Answer 5

Speaking is tongues is about speaking languages you don't know. The idea is that the Holy Spirit fills you and you are able to speak to people that would not understand your native tongue. You still don't know the language, it's not like speed learning, but you are able to speak it for a time to convey a message.

Answer 6

"Speaking in tongues" happened only in the days when the gospel was being preached in the land. For example: Someone was preaching in his native tongue and listeners in different tongues still able to understand what was being preached...therefore, that preacher was speaking in tongues.

But that "gift" was long ago. The Bible has long been translated into thousands of "tongues" so everyone can understand.

The modern day "speaking in tongues" is only one of the many "selling attractions" of many denominations these days.
They promote it to lure away people from the TRUTH.

Remember, you can still find God right in your own tongue...right in your own backyard. It is your honest desire that count most.

God bless...
GH

Answer 7

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NLT)

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to SPEAK IN UNKNOWN LANGUAGES, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Romans 8:25-27 (New King James Version)

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[a] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Answer 8

I am LDS, and the way I have always understood speaking in tongues is that you have to be understood for it to be speaking in tongues. Like at the day of pentacost, there were people gathered in from all different lands, and they heard in their native tongue. This is what the gift of tongues is. Not random babbling when you get over excited.

Answer 9

Well it is a tool when you are trying to preach the Gospel to another who does not understand your language. God gave this to the disciples of jesus so they could effiectively spread the Gospel to all nations of different speking languages.

Answer 10

Most people who speak in tongues, believe they are speaking the heavenly language..HOWEVER! when people are speaking in tongues in a church, there is supposed to be an interpreter, or they are to be quiet! It is a gift of the Spirit,but it helps the speaker to edify(build up) themselves..I've never seen an interpreter in any tongue talking church! And to a new convert, it is more hurtful than helpful in a church setting...and I'm talking about psycho babble!