Tongues and Interpretation T&T

[Amos]

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

For almost four hundred years the King James Version of the Holy Bible has been God's Word in the English speaking world, and in most Oneness Pentecostal churches, it continues to be the Word of God. Why would it be any surprise that people in conveying God's word would use the language in which they have received God's word for their whole life?

It may be in vogue in the "relevant" churches to use a Bible that makes God sound like He smoked too much Mary Jane in His early years, but when the King James Bible falls into complete disuse, we will be the less for our dumbing down of God's Word.

Exactly. I always get amused when this particular jeer comes across.

[Bro-Larry]

I was standing on the platform next to Bro J T Pugh, at V Arlen Guidroz' church, in 1981, when someone gave out a tongue. I immediately recieved the interpretation, but while I hesitated, wanting to be sure, Bro Pugh came out with the interpretation, and it was verbatum.

A learning experience for me.

[Sam]

My opinion

Prophecy is words to edify (build up), exhort (stir up), or comfort (cheer up or lift up) people. Prophecy is spoken in the language that is understood by the hearers. Prophecy is better for the hearers than tongues, unless the tongues are interpreted, then prophecy is equal to tongues and interpretation. In other words T + I = P (Tongues plus Interpretation equals Prophecy.

When a person prophesies or interprets an utterance in tongues, he/she is speaking out to people and giving them what he/she thinks God would say to them at that time. We have some times made it too "magical" or too "spooky" or too "spiritual." Often the person just speaks from their heart without "planning" what they are going to say. Consequently it is spoken in the same way the person usually speaks (as far as grammer, pronunciation, local slang, etc.). Because the person feels like they are speaking for God they often "dress it up" in KJV English because: 1) they think God talks that way, and 2) it is expected by the hearers.

Now, please don't take this as a putdown of tongues, interpretation, and prophecy. As the person yields and speaks out by faith, God can and some times does, get some things out there that would not have been spoken under ordinary circumstances. Some things may be revealed that would have been otherwise unknown. But, usually, the person speaking is saying something to build up, stir up, and cheer up or lift up the hearers, so it is often about: God knowing what we are going through; God's promise of His presence with us at all times; encouragement to hold on if prayer is not answered as soon as we would like it to be; encouragement to be faithful to God; a move of God just around the corner; the rapture which is the hope of the saints; etc. We all could stand to hear those things every once in a while.

[Sam]

I made this a separate post because the other one was getting long.

Two incidents:
Several years ago there was a message in tongues at a UPC where I was a member. A woman, who was not very intelligent, gave the interpretation. She actually used words that you would not expect to hear from her and alluded to some things that were going on that she would not have ordinarily known about. The pastor confirmed what she said and that this was from God because she spoke of things that were beyond her knowledge. Well, after that, if there was a message, even if she was back in the nursery, she would run out to give an interpretation and it just wasn't the same as that one time. She became repetitious and fell into the rut of saying the regular old stuff that we hear over and over. Were these genuine gifts? I would say yes. She knew that she had been used by God and she was saying what was on her heart to build up, stir up, and cheer up or lift up the saints.

Another story I heard when I was a teenager in a UPC in Wisconsin. Sis. Geneva Bailey was a missionary in Africa associated with Sis. Gruse. That was before the airplane was available and she had to walk quite a distance even fording some rivers. She had rubbed a blister on her foot, it had broken, and she had blood poisoning. She felt like she could go no farther. She sat down and asked God to place her on some body's heart to pray for her because she just couldn't pray for herself any more. At that same time (this was confirmed later by checking dates and taking into account the time difference) there was a message in tongues and interpretation in Texas that Sis. Bailey was dying from poisoning. The folks in Texas interceded until they felt like God had heard and answered. They had heard of the poisoning but they didn't realize it was blood poison. They thought someone had poisoned her. It's been many years since I heard Sis. Bailey tell this story and I may not have it 100 percent accurate.

[Amos]

I knew Sister Bailey and her friend Sister Stewart well. They attended our church for a couple of years after they retired.

Precious ladies.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

This was mentioned in another thread.

I have been in awesome services and we all know the enviroment, things get intense, then someone starts speaking in tongues, we all lay our heads on the floor and close our eyes really tight asking the Lord to speak.

I have honestly been waiting at the edge of my seat, excited with the thick cloud of expectation that the Lord is going to speak then the message comes out more often than not something like this...

Behold!... but seriously...

Behold, if MY people who are called by my name...

If my people humble themselves and pray...

Look to the Hills from when cometh thy help....

Do not be seekers of pleasure...

Listen to the voice of the Lord...

I am just curious these messages are so obvious, I have a tendency to wonder if the Lord is really speaking in what the bible would call the gift of Prophesy having to do with tongues. While these messages are inspiring, and even to an extent admonitions, and exhortations, they aren't even close to being prohetical.

I am curious. Has anyone ever heard a message in tongues that was truly prophetic? Or am I off base questioning this?

Tongues and Interpretation are not meant to be prophetic....that is why there is the gift of prophecy.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Tongues and Interpretation are not meant to be prophetic....that is why there is the gift of prophecy.

good answer

[jediwill83]

About the same thing over and over....just seems like it is too general sometimes....not poking holes cause its only happened to me personally one time...I had the interpretation but I thought it was me...took someone coming to me and telling me to give the message.Was specific...scared me though cause it had never happened before.

[StillStanding]

There are times when I feel that the interpretation of tongues is from God, and other times when I doubt!

I have found that the King James English in interpretations is cultural. The practice has been parroted down through generations at some churches. More and more churches are using modern English these days.

[RevDWW]

The unction is the Spirits the voice is the speakers. The greatest authority in many church folks lives is the KVJ, so it doesn't seem to odd that the speaker would bring forth the interpretation with the most authority they know.

With different versions of the Word being published in more modern English I'd imagine that the interpretation would be coming forth in more modern English.

Sometimes folks might be more in the flesh then in the Spirit and speak out things that don't seem to jive with our spirit.


Caution: Tread lightly. Mocking T&I is an area to be avoided. [This is not to anyone specifically, but in general]