How do you almost receive a gift?

[Sasha]

I read something very disturbing from a friend of mine today. She was speaking about her children getting baptized when someone asked if her son received the Holy Ghost. Her reply was, "Not yet, but he almost did."

I've heard people say that many times in my life, but it never struck me like it did when I read that line. How does God almost give us a gift? Where is scripture that says someone "almost" received the Holy Ghost? Where did that come from and why did people start saying it?

[votivesoul]

It comes from people (and kids) who have stammering lips but have not (fully/at all) spoken in tongues. They were close, were almost about to, but then stopped for whatever reason, before the Spirit baptized them.

[kclee4jc]

Its not about His 'almost' giving a gift. But about the individual being almost yielded enough to receive it.

[Jermyn Davidson]

It's a religious colloquialism that is based on questionable theology, and that's me being careful and polite.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

It comes from people (and kids) who have stammering lips but have not (fully/at all) spoken in tongues. They were close, were almost about to, but then stopped for whatever reason, before the Spirit baptized them.

You are joking, right?

[Luke]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

It comes from people (and kids) who have stammering lips but have not (fully/at all) spoken in tongues. They were close, were almost about to, but then stopped for whatever reason, before the Spirit baptized them.

Exactly as I was going to put it.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Sasha

I read something very disturbing from a friend of mine today. She was speaking about her children getting baptized when someone asked if her son received the Holy Ghost. Her reply was, "Not yet, but he almost did."

I've heard people say that many times in my life, but it never struck me like it did when I read that line. How does God almost give us a gift? Where is scripture that says someone "almost" received the Holy Ghost? Where did that come from and why did people start saying it?

Good point! Never thought of that before.

[Dordrecht]

Lol….it's like: God was going to baptize in the Holy Ghost,
but at the last minute decided: "Hold on wait a minute, let's hold off a bit…maybe tomorrow…"

Where's that kind of stuff in scripture?
People make up all kinds of things.
It's almost comical if it was not such a serious issue.

[Pilgrum]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

It comes from people (and kids) who have stammering lips but have not (fully/at all) spoken in tongues. They were close, were almost about to, but then stopped for whatever reason, before the Spirit baptized them.

Not trying to impart any intent on your part but this seems to say to me that receiving the Holy Ghost is dependent on whether or not we yield to speaking in tongues. In other words, first you speak in tongues and then He will fill you with His Spirit. Seems a little odd. One can also ask, were in the Bible do we see the term or precedence for "yielding"?

[n david]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Lol….it's like: God was going to baptize in the Holy Ghost, but at the last minute decided: "Hold on wait a minute, let's hold off a bit…maybe tomorrow…"

Where's that kind of stuff in scripture?
People make up all kinds of things.
It's almost comical if it was not such a serious issue.

I've prayed for people who have had stammering lips, then became either embarrassed or afraid and did not continue praying until they spoke in tongues. It's not as you described, where God holds off the gift, nor is it something made up.