speaking in tongues??

Question

I was raised Baptist, so I never was exposed to anyone speaking in tongues, nor did I think it was still even an available gift.

The verse in the Bible that talks about how only 3 spiritual gifts will be left (Faith, Hope, and Love) is the basis of our anti-tongue theory. We think they were gone when the Bible was completed (since the whole reason for tongues in the first place was to spread the word in all kinds of languages. ANd now that "that which is perfect has come" we don't need tongues anymore..)

Anyway, aside from denominational doctrine, I have seen many of my friends (who wouldn't just make it up) speak in tongues.

SO..my question is...IS it still around? I am a saved child of God and I would love to know if I am missing out on this gift which so many people I know seem to cherish.

Answer 1

I appreciate your very politely worded question - a good example for all of us.

One thing about tongue speaking today is that it is usually unintelligable. In the first century, it was clearly speaking in foreign languages that anyone could understand

Acts 2:6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

So, while many people today speak in what they believe to be tongues, that is not what scripture refers to.

Answer 2

Yes the gift of tongues is still around!

Although not as in the Pentecostal church's idea of babbling non-sense and rolling on the floor.

There are still places in the world where the word has NOT been spread!

There are still people who do not know the word, therefore the gift of tongues is a MUCH NEEDED gift!

The Bible was never talked about by the disciples, nor Jesus, nor the early apostles! The bible was made by the Roman Catholic Church in (somewhere around) 400 AD.

The way we get the gift of tongues by the Holy Spirit is when we're spreading the word with people who do not speak your native language. When you're about to start talking in Spanish or French(for example) when you've never studied them, or did not study much (like if you know the basics "where is the bathroom", "I'm hungry", etc.).

It's a great thing to see.

Answer 3

The New Testament describes two kinds of "speaking in tongues." In Acts 2:4-13, the disciples are shown speaking in different languages, which they did not know, so that people from other countries could understand them. In 1 Cor 14:1-11, Paul describes "tongues" as being unintelligible to other people,.understood only by God, and therefore one of the lesser spiritual gifts.
I have heard many people speaking in tongues in the latter sense, but none in the former. In fact, the use of a spiritual prayer tongue given by God and understood only by God, does seem to me a pretty ordinary occurrence, similar to a lot of other personal experiences of God.
Are you missing out? I don't know. As Paul implied, this gift of tongues is wonderful, but other gifts are more wonderful; The Holy Spirit works in an infinite variety of ways.

Answer 4

Speaking as a baptist-grown individual, I never believed in such nonsense. It was right up there with drinking poison and holding snakes, even though I had never witnessed any of the above. But, then, I found myself at an alter being filled with the holy spirit, and started speaking in tongues. The thing is, at the time, I really had no contact with the expression or it's use...so my first real experience with...myself! It was very hard for me to deny what I was was feeling and speaking. God is a wonderful giver of the truth.

Answer 5

Yes, it is for today...I keep saying this over and over but when people have been told by their preacher,,exactly what you have been told,,,they are hard headed about,,,reading it for themselves....Read Chapter ten and find out what happned to the first Gentile converts..this is what you want to happen to you..it is the infilling of the Holy Ghost...

I want you to read this very carefully....forget you preacher told you it was only for spreading the gospel...in different languags,,,that is just not true....this is not the gift of tongues..that gift is used in the chuch only...for edification of the church..this is the tongue, Paul referred to when he said he spoke in tongues more than them all...keep in mind,,these people below are believers just like you:;;;


While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

How did they know, they had received the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit? THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK IN TONGUES AND MAGNIFY GOD...... Don't you want to recieve the Holy Spirit...without it....you are none of his....read it again....ask God to fill you with his Holy spirit......

Answer 6

If it's still around, I'm convinced that neither you nor I are missing out on anything. Just listen to the didactic tone of pentecostal, neo-pentecostal, and non-denominational sermons and you'll see that the same old problems of being human are still being addressed. Speaking in tongues is no
safety valve. I have no ill will towards these groups: I honestly did try speaking in tongues and nothing happened.

Answer 7

Yes I believe scripturally it is a legitimate & active gift. I too was raised (southern) Baptist & did not experience this gift in
my spiritual environment. I think it's too bad that it isn't more embraced in conservative traditional protestant faiths aside from the charismatic. It is a form of worship in addition to any other purpose it may have originally served. I believe you should talk to your friends and maybe even their clergy (since they are more in the know about this gift) and of course pray with faith and maybe you too will one day speak in tongues if it's something you really want. I too have been curious but have never sought it out for myself.

Answer 8

All of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are alive and well. Some denominations tend to put God in a box, but the orthodoxy not only quenches the Holy Spirit outright, but lends to spiritual pride wherein winning souls becomes nearly impossible. I like reading the Book of Acts and pretending I am right there, and nothing is impossible with God, and He gets to decide how things unfold (as powerful prayers go up continually).

Answer 9

I am so glad you asked this question because you are SO missing out!

First, tongues DO still exist and I have many reasons to why and how. The second that you need to know is WHY we need tongues. What is it all for?

Basically the "in the end' which was written in the bible means at the end of time. That hasn't occurred yet, although it would be nice if that was all that we needed now. But as it is so obvious, Spiritual Gifts are still so necessary now, Look at the world! There is still so much pain and sorrow in it, so much sin and so much of discouragement and sickness. How can the spiritual gifts of God not be needed now? The gift of healing to heal people, the gift of discerning of evil spirits inside of people to cast them out, the gift of prophesy to let God speak through you to encourage people and guide them to Him......etc.. and the gift of tongues, to speak the words of God to existence. That language that we speak is indeed a language of God, for the Holy Spirit Himself says these words through us.

The most important reason for the Gift of Tongues is to help us intercede. I know so many people who have testified how this gift have helped them to pray for a loved one and they didn't even know at the time that they were praying for them.

Imagine that your best friend got into a big problem while she was away and couldn't reach you to tell you (not having a phone) or that it was so personal that she just couldn't open up to you about it. You have no idea what's going on and think that everything's ok while your best friend is suffering miserably from this problem of her's. You start praying at home in tongues just because you love it right? Now the Holy Spirit knows every problem and loves her, as well as knows that You love her. The Holy Ghost inside of you starts praying for this girl Himself- while you have no clue! While you pray and proclaim the spiritual words into the spirit realm your friend's problem gets resolved.

Another reason why tongues are so important is that it helps you to just spend time with God. You can open your intire heart to Him, listen to Him and learn from His word, but when you have nothing left to say, but you still long to be with Him what do you do? You pray in tongues and the Spirit also prays for you and you start growing in the knowledge of God, because God lets your mind open up because of it. - sounds confusing, but is actually very simple.

Answer 10

I believe God nonetheless indicates folks matters (prophesy) and I believe there are folks who talk in tongues (languages) whilst beneath the impact of the Holy Spirit. The hindrance I have along with your mom, from what you let us know, is that she brags approximately those matters. Pride is a sin. And she sounds prideful or potentially she demands concentration, I have no idea. If she is studying your diary and looking you in church (whilst she must be concentrating on worshiping God) then she could also be incorrect and manipulative. Speaking in tongues and prophesy/visions had been one of the crucial presents of the Spirit Jesus promised we could have. Unfortunately, those matters had been misused by means of folks till they have got a terrible connotation for so much folks. But there are the ones with natural explanations and hearts just about God who nonetheless have those presents!! Thank God for that....((Hugs))

Answer 11

yes, it very real
I too was Baptist and they taught me the same thing
until I read the word for myself and found out it was for today
I never knew why they did that
It is one of the nine gift's and is only the beginning of all the others
It is awesome! Paul said I speak in tongues more that all of you and I have the understanding also
so some gifts bring in more than we know of
Acts 2: is the pouring out of this in the beginning
you will learn that it is all over the earth in many churches
that is what the Church is founded on
they just explain it away.......................
see for yourself and taste and see that the Lord is good
oh it taste like honey in the rock
:)