Disturbing Trends or Christian Maturity?

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

How could anyone be so foolish who have recieved the genuine experience to think you could speak in tongues at will or on command.

I agree. I believe the concept of those who do this is that if you are filled with the Holy Ghost that speaking in tongues is a natural "overflow" of the Holy Ghost within you and that all you have to do is "tap into it" or "let it go" any time, at will, and you will speak in tongues.

I don't see any biblical basis for this thought. We have no New Testament example of this kind of behaviour.

Personally speaking in tongues is a very sacrad and special thing that I am in awe of. It happens in special times when there is a special connection of my mind, spirit, and soul with the Holy Spirit of God and the presence of God is so strong speaking in tongues seems a way of releasing the pent up "fullness" of the Holy Spirit.

I just cannot view it as something you switch on and off at will regardless of your frame of mind, etc.

[Sherri]

I don't agree with this...sorry. I can speak in tongues as naturally as I can speak in English. If you walk in the Spirit, it can flow out of you like a second language. I pray in tongues and I pray with the understanding; I think that's what Paul meant.

Just like learning to move in the giftings is a little difficult when you first do it (tongues & interpretation, prophecy, etc.), it becomes more natural the more you do it. It's the same with with praying in tongues. Some on here like to say there's no validity to a "prayer language" and say it's a charismatic term, but I would differ with that. I even heard one old time con on here use the term "prayer language". It's a very natural flow.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Sherri

I don't agree with this...sorry. I can speak in tongues as naturally as I can speak in English. If you walk in the Spirit, it can flow out of you like a second language. I pray in tongues and I pray with the understanding; I think that's what Paul meant.

Just like learning to move in the giftings is a little difficult when you first do it (tongues & interpretation, prophecy, etc.), it becomes more natural the more you do it. It's the same with with praying in tongues. Some on here like to say there's no validity to a "prayer language" and say it's a charismatic term, but I would differ with that. I even heard one old time con on here use the term "prayer language". It's a very natural flow.

Sherri,

The point is (I think) that it is not something that you command. It is the flowing of the Holy Ghost giving utterance through you. I would have a raised Eyebrow toward anyone that says they can speak in tongues any time they want to. It would be obvious that it was no longer the Spirit giving the utterance, but the person has just "learned" to talk in tongues from THEIR spirit.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Sherri,

The point is (I think) that it is not something that you command. It is the flowing of the Holy Ghost giving utterance through you. I would have a raised Eyebrow toward anyone that says they can speak in tongues any time they want to. It would be obvious that it was no longer the Spirit giving the utterance, but the person has just "learned" to talk in tongues from THEIR spirit.

Correct.

[Rico]

If one can stop the Holy Ghost tongue talking then one can start the Holy Ghost tongue talking. To get it started one just needs to yield to Him. To stop it, one needs to unyield, deyield, or whatever one wants to call it. What's so hard about that to figure out?

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Sherri,

The point is (I think) that it is not something that you command. It is the flowing of the Holy Ghost giving utterance through you. I would have a raised Eyebrow toward anyone that says they can speak in tongues any time they want to. It would be obvious that it was no longer the Spirit giving the utterance, but the person has just "learned" to talk in tongues from THEIR spirit.

Wrong again!
He's a part of me and will flow through me at any time. "He" being the Spirit of God.

[Hoovie]

I did expect posters to be on both sides of this, hence the thread title --

Disturbing Trends or Christian Maturity?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I did expect posters to be on both sides of this, hence the thread title --

Disturbing Trends or Christian Maturity?

That was probably a mature thing to do on your part. Anticipate the differences.

I remember reading an article where people either spoke in tongues or prayed "normally" while a CAT scan was running. They actually identified a part of the brain that was very active when people spoke or prayed "normally" and then when speaking in tongues that area went off.

It seems that the phenomena of speaking in tongues isn't related to the language "control center" in the brain. And, given the uniqueness of each individual's brain patterns and processes, it probably is the case that some people will perceive the phenomena differently than others; even within their own mind.

For myself I'm kind of put off when someone seems to be saying, "Turn God on, now turn God off..." My feelings probably wrap more around motivation than the phenomenon itself. I mean no direspect to those who might be saying, "Speak in tongues..." and such. They may be simply trying to pull the minds of a group of fuzzy headed strangers into the same room. No harm there, I suppose. It just can feel like an odd way to get everybody on the same page, at least to many people.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Theophilus

1 Cor 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

I suppose that this concept has gone largely unnoticed.

This is what is really being said:

"Ok everybody, hear from the man of God, all at once now.....disobey Paul's archaic teaching from 1 Corinthians 14. He was inspired by the old Holy Ghost...we are of the New!”

“Ready…set…Go!”

This is largely my own position; with the exception of congregational speaking in tongues for personal benefit (this is done quietly or silently), and out loud by two or three - for the benefit of the body through interpretation, it should not be happening in a public assembly of believers. It seems quite clear.

I am in minority on this - I know - yet I have heard no other sensical interpretation of scripture, and that is the primary consideration.

It's important to match our experience to the scriptures - not vice versa. It seems on this topic people will often describe their experience and what happened in some particular instance... with all due respect, that is of little interest, we already know that believers can and do misuse the gifts - there is biblical precident for that.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by CC1

I agree. I believe the concept of those who do this is that if you are filled with the Holy Ghost that speaking in tongues is a natural "overflow" of the Holy Ghost within you and that all you have to do is "tap into it" or "let it go" any time, at will, and you will speak in tongues.

I don't see any biblical basis for this thought. We have no New Testament example of this kind of behaviour.

Personally speaking in tongues is a very sacrad and special thing that I am in awe of. It happens in special times when there is a special connection of my mind, spirit, and soul with the Holy Spirit of God and the presence of God is so strong speaking in tongues seems a way of releasing the pent up "fullness" of the Holy Spirit.

I just cannot view it as something you switch on and off at will regardless of your frame of mind, etc.

I agree CC1.