Discerning tongues

Timmy · #1 06-01-2007, 05:27 PM

Do you have the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Cor 12:10)? At least the spirits (holy, unholy, self, e.g.) that "give utterance"?

Can you discern when someone is giving a fake message in tongues, or is faking the initial evidence, or faking a prayer language?

Note, this is not the same as my previous survey on what should be done when a fake is discerned. From that discussion, it seems like of lot of us can tell when it happens. Can we? Always? Sometimes?

You can check more than one. Some combinations aren't really valid, though. A valid combination could be "I catch some fakes, but some may slip by" and "I can always tell when it's real." In other words, you sometimes (but maybe not always) call a fake a fake, but never accidentally call the real thing a fake. Or "Fakes never get by me" and "I may sometimes think the real thing is fake" would work. But if you check "I never make a judgement", it probably wouldn't make sense to check anything else.

Note also that I'm only talking about what you feel in your spirit (or mind, if that's how you discern), not necessarily that you necessarily do something about it, like call them down or report it to the pastor.

Of course you can explain your choices in posts, if you like.

OK. Too complicated? Nah. You can handle it! Now, get to voting!

Praxeas · #2 06-01-2007, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

Do you have the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Cor 12:10)? At least the spirits (holy, unholy, self, e.g.) that "give utterance"?

Can you discern when someone is giving a fake message in tongues, or is faking the initial evidence, or faking a prayer language?

Note, this is not the same as my previous survey on what should be done when a fake is discerned. From that discussion, it seems like of lot of us can tell when it happens. Can we? Always? Sometimes?

You can check more than one. Some combinations aren't really valid, though. A valid combination could be "I catch some fakes, but some may slip by" and "I can always tell when it's real." In other words, you sometimes (but maybe not always) call a fake a fake, but never accidentally call the real thing a fake. Or "Fakes never get by me" and "I may sometimes think the real thing is fake" would work. But if you check "I never make a judgement", it probably wouldn't make sense to check anything else.

Note also that I'm only talking about what you feel in your spirit (or mind, if that's how you discern), not necessarily that you necessarily do something about it, like call them down or report it to the pastor.

Of course you can explain your choices in posts, if you like.

OK. Too complicated? Nah. You can handle it! Now, get to voting!

Unless it's a devil, why would discerning of spirits be used to tell fake tongues?

Timmy · #3 06-01-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Unless it's a devil, why would discerning of spirits be used to tell fake tongues?

Does discernment of spirits always have to do with devils? Why not discern between the Holy Spirit (real tongues) and a human spirit (fake tongues)? Wouldn't it be a useful gift? If it's fake tongues, the person could be counseled and led into the true experience, no? Otherwise, he may have deceived even himself, and won't try to find the real thing. He'll miss out on that blessing (not to mention eternal life, I think, according to Apostolic doctrine).

OK, regardless, call it something other than discernment of spirits, if you prefer. Answer the poll (if you would like to) based on the ability to determine whether tongues are real or fake.

BTW, someone once told me of this exact thing happening to him. He was filled with the Spirit, or thought he was, and spoke in tongues. Someone stopped him, and guided him to the real thing.

Timmy · #4 06-01-2007, 09:30 PM

Come on you guys! 19 views and no votes? Don't be scared!

Timmy · #5 06-01-2007, 09:31 PM

Ah, a vote! Thanks, Daniel!

More, more!

Praxeas · #6 06-01-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

Does discernment of spirits always have to do with devils? Why not discern between the Holy Spirit (real tongues) and a human spirit (fake tongues)? Wouldn't it be a useful gift? If it's fake tongues, the person could be counseled and led into the true experience, no? Otherwise, he may have deceived even himself, and won't try to find the real thing. He'll miss out on that blessing (not to mention eternal life, I think, according to Apostolic doctrine).

OK, regardless, call it something other than discernment of spirits, if you prefer. Answer the poll (if you would like to) based on the ability to determine whether tongues are real or fake.

BTW, someone once told me of this exact thing happening to him. He was filled with the Spirit, or thought he was, and spoke in tongues. Someone stopped him, and guided him to the real thing.

Discerning of spirits is being able to know what sort of demonic spirit someone has I believe.

There is no "gift" that I know of that tells someone when someone is faking tongues or faking repentance or faking salvation or anything. Other than the Lord telling someone by the word of knowledge.

Timmy · #7 06-02-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Discerning of spirits is being able to know what sort of demonic spirit someone has I believe.

There is no "gift" that I know of that tells someone when someone is faking tongues or faking repentance or faking salvation or anything. Other than the Lord telling someone by the word of knowledge.

OK, that'll work!

Whatever the method, I suspect that most of us have seen/heard tongues (whether a message, a filling, or prayer/praise language) that just didn't seem right. Maybe it was a word of knowledge, maybe it was the look on their face (glancing around to see if anyone was watching, e.g.).

Then there are the times we say, "Wow! That's the Holy Ghost, for sure!"

Up to forty-five views, and just one vote. That's pitiful! Come on, folks, it's not that hard!

It has occurred to me that maybe you don't know how to answer. After all, you have no way of knowing if you're right or wrong about your discernings. That's OK. Give us your best guess as to how often you're right. Of course, if you feel that God always tells you if it's real or not, vote that way! (That would be checking the first and the third boxes.)

Maybe I should vote. I'm not setting a good example, am I?