Speaking in Tounges

[Noelle1977]

I hope no one get's to upset but I'm going to post a reply that I gave on another topic just because I feel that it's worthy of disscussion.  The topic was on being bapized and someone said something about speaking in tounges and I couldn't hole my peace.  Please read the following and be blessed.

I agree patially with what was just said, I don't think that you have to speak in tounges to be changed, as a matter of fact If you read   1Corinthians Chapter 14 it deals specifically with that topic.  A "tounge" is just a lanuage, Engligh is a tounge, Spanish is a "tounge" "Portugeese" is a tounge.  I'm not judging anyone who speaks in tounges but the bible is cut and dry on that topic it does say that God is not an author of confusion, it acutually mentions that when " touunges are spoken there should be an interpreter so that all may understand what is being said. I know this is alot to read but like it was stated in another message we must share what we know or we are held accountable.  Please read the following verses from 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 and when you have time read the entire chapter and be blessed.

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.  

11": Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
13": Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

"14": For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

18": I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

"19": Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
22": Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

"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, everyone 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 God29": 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.

[Dredakyst]

You are in the right verse but after I re-read the verse.. verse 2 sticks out to me like a sore thumb

1 Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For if your gift is the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking to God but not to people, since they won't be able to understand you.  You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.

So my take is.. it is not for us to understand.. just like a silent prayer  it is between Them and God..

Therefore  i will scoot over to the side and let Peggy Sue or Alice Faye do their "victory war chants"... cause personally i think speaking in tongue is a victory/testimony chant.. it doesn't matter what they are saying as long as they are being delivered or in the process of being delivered out of whatever they are going through..

to me that is what "speaking in tongues" all about..

 i could be wrong.. but when i scored my first bucket my daddy was so "crunk" i didn't know what he was talking about all i knew that it was something to be excited about...

So when i get excited in the Lord... and the song/minister hit a chord in my heart.. who know what i might shout out... cause you just don't know like i know... " Cause... He picked me up.. Turned me around.. " you know how the rest go... just my two cents

hope i didn't respond rudely or come incorrectly

[Noelle1977]

No you were'nt rude at all, what I gather from verse 2 is this, yes speaking in tounges is something that is done between a person and God, and that's fine but it doesn't help anyone but you if you read on down to verse 3 is says he that speaks in tounges edifyith himself but he that prophesieth edifies the church.  Now I looked up "edify" and the definition is to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge.  The bible never said there was anything wrong with it, but verse 5 says:

"I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying."

My interepretation:  I would rahter you prophesied than speak in tounges unless there is someone there to interpret what your're saying otherwise no one else in the church belivers or unbelivers can recieve your enlightenment.
 
What  I gather from that is if you speak in tounges fine, but as Christians our goal is to share the gospel with others that they may be saved also and if they can't understand you then they can't recieve the spiritual enlightment that you already have.  

If the only person that can understand you is God, then maybe speaking in tounges is something that should be done in your private time with God.
Let me know if I'm way off base with this one.

I pray that I have not offended anyone.

[Noelle1977]

I guess the best way to explain where I'm coming from would be to give an example.  So here goes:  I am a Seventh Day Adventist but I have friends that are of all different denominations, so I've been to churches where people speak in tounges, now I know that they are praising God in theie own language but walk with me here.................let's say you were an unbeliever who said ok I'm gonna give church a shot and you go to this church. you're enjoying yourself and really feeling what the pastor is saying......then the person next to you or a few rows behind you starts speaking in tounges.....that would distract anybody who isn't spiritually prepared for it.  I think that 's why the bible says:

"5": I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.


If we are trying to save others and share God's message of love and salvation it has to be done in a manner that is intelligible to those that need to be saved.  It's kinda like if my best friend was a millionare and she and I went to a poor neighborhood in (let's jsut say Spain) now I'm in a room with all of these people who need money, I have access to the money because my friend is rich, I have gotten money from her before I know how good she is and that she will give these people what they need......but when I open my nouth I'm speaking in English and no one there understands me...what good am I to them?  yes I have the knowledge and I know how to obtain the money but what I'm saying although it priceless information is empty and it means nothing because no one can understand me.  Now if I have a interpreter there who can reley what I'm saying then that's fine because the message can be translated and the people can be helped.  I think that's why the Bible says:

13": Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

"14": For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

"15": What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

"16": Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

"17": For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

"18": I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

"19": Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.


Be blessed

[roz860]

Romans 10:9,10 says: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I'm no bible scholar but what this text is saying is that all you have to do is confess with your mouth that Jesus is risen and that he is your peosonal Saviour then you are saved

[ee_guy]

It happened to me once last summer and it has not happened since.  Kind of like a personal prayer language.

Some churches regard speaking in tounges as a sign of being saved, as in: if you don't, you aint saved.  I don't think that is true.

[thekeynote]

I'm no bible scholar either.  In my personal opinion, I feel speaking in tongues has become "fashionable".  Folk practice they shout dance, and I think folk practice they tongues too.  

In the Donald Lawrence & Tri-City Singers song "Bless Me" (Prayer Of Jabez), after they finish singing and the praise is getting on, the soloist utters a few tongues, then when she needs to start singing--honey, she cut that thing of and got right back on her spot to come in.

More and more just in the last 2 years, I've noticed that t.v. ministries are doing it constantly.  Anything they want to convince you of (right or wrong) is emphasized by tongues.

Just my opinion  :wink:
Lisa

[Dredakyst]

I concur Keynote.. it does seem like the new thing to do.. but who knows their hearts.. only God.. so that is what gets me through the service.. especially if it seems like it is a well timed "shout out"  

For some people i think it is the cool thing to do..

[SisterT]

1Corinthians Chapter 14 it deals specifically with that topic.  A "tounge" is just a lanuage, Engligh is a tounge, Spanish is a "tounge" "Portugeese" is a tounge.  

I am not going to give my opinion on the subject, however, I am going to stand on the Word of God.

Lets look at I Corinthians 14:
 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speakth not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandth him..."

Paul says an "unknown tongue" which "no man understand". Do not confuse this with another language. Saying that a tongue, implied from I Corn. 14, is just another language is in error. This is a heavenly language, in which God has blessed some with the gift of interpretation to understand (I Corn 14:27).

In Acts 2:1-13, the Day of Pentecost, the tongue mentioned in these verses was indeed other languages, for in verses 7-8, the multitude was amazed because they heard the disciples supernaturally speaking in their own native language. Note, they understood the disciples, not because they (the crowd) had the gift of interpretation, but becasue it was their native language.

For Lisa, and others who don't understand the turning on and off of the gift....the person with the gift of speaking in tongues has control of their gift, it is not a spiritual impulse. That is why Paul is telling the church at Corinth to keep silence in the church if an interpreter is not present (I Corn. 14:28)

Now, I do not understand how churches today are not heeding to the Word of God. How a church can allow the gift of tongues to be abused during a worship service is beyond my understanding. The Word of God has no exceptions to the rule.

My husband has the gift of speaking in tongues. He exercises his gift during his prayer time. I don't have the gift. He is not more saved than me!!

[dwalls]

Mark 16:17 - And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  

I Corinthians 14:32 - And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  


I do agree that there are those who fake tongues, but I do believe that to be saved you should speak with other tongues.

The singer on Donald Lawrence & Tri-City Singers song "Bless Me" could very well have been faking tongues but just because she stopped and started singing doesn't prove she was faking. As Cor. 14:32 says you can control your tongues.

[gezuskid]

i am 17 and have spoke in toungs before. the holy sprite dose not force you to do any thing and so what i learned is that you can stop and start when you want to.  i also preach and when i preache i some time fill like i am about to start speaking in them but i don't cause thats for me and my talk with God . but they have come out when i have preached before. so you must fill to Know the truth. :lol:

[gospelqueen]

i know i'm a little late on this topic but when it comes to speakin in tounges that is just the manefestaion of the HolyGhost, and the whole,"if any man speaks in tounges then there must be an intepretation"(i'm paraphrasin') i believe that deals w/someone who is speaking in prophecy. But other than that anyone who truly has the HolyGhost does not need and intepretion it's like any other language those who speak french or spanish it comes to them naturally they don't need an intepretaion from someone else cuz they understand it for themselves. speakin in tounges is a communication or prayer 2 God.It is the ONLY language that satan can not undertstand or translate.Correct me if i'm wrong. I just believe that when the HolyGhost do come in someone's life or if the holyGhost ia speakin thru someone it's gonna tuch somebody.like it says in Acts when the HolyGhost fell in the upper room  all who were in there were filled w/power which is the HolyGhost and they spoke w/an unknown tounge and the people n the city thought they were drunk they didn't need an interp. of what the apostles said all they needed to know that  was the HolyGhost manesfesting itself.  [/b]

[SisterT]

"if any man speaks in tounges then there must be an intepretation"(i'm paraphrasin') i believe that deals w/someone who is speaking in prophecy.  [/b]

If the Bible says "if any man speaks in an unknown tounge then there must be an intepreter", wouldn't that mean exactly what it says? Why would someone need an interpreter for a prophetic message?

Correct me if i'm wrong.....like it says in Acts when the HolyGhost fell in the upper room  all who were in there were filled w/power which is the HolyGhost and they spoke w/an unknown tounge

Just for clarification, in Acts it does not say unknown tongues, but other tonges. There is a difference.

Acts 2 says:
4   And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5   And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6   Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7   And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8   And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?


I do not have the gift of speaking in tongues, but I know that I'm saved, because I am saved by grace and not By my works!

God has blessed me with many spiritual gifts, to include, teaching, administration, discernment. I ain't made 'cause he didn't give me the gift of speaking in tongues... read 1 Corinthians 12. God didn't gift all of his children with the gift of speaking in tongues. Highlighting verses 4 & 30

4   Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
30   Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

No opinion, no debating, just standing on the Word of God!

[dwalls]

I could be wrong, but I believe everyone who is saved has the gift of speaking tongues. maybe some just haven't taped into it. In Mark 16 the bible says:
 
          And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the  
          gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall
          be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
      17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name  
          shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

So I believe that every one has the gift some just don't use it.  For ex: I wouldn't be one to cast out any devils, but I believe that I could do it. Of course I don't belive I am prepared for that.

[gospelqueen]

point well taken.
like the scripture says in Acts 2:6-8 says:
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
 these men heard their own language and understood thru the apostle speakin in tounges. they didn't need an interpretaion.
 question answered we don't need an interpreter for speaking in tounges. God will reveal himself to those who are willing to have an ear to hear.i understand why the Bible says that if any man speaks in an unknown tounge then it needs to be interpreted. that talks about to those who don't want to have an ear to hear what God is trying to say. i said that if it's a prohetic message then yes the intepretation is needed because then God is talkin to one or more than one person about something that only HE and that other person or group needs to know.  i hope i'm makin sense out here

[Noelle1977]

If you read the 14th Chapter of Corinthians the bible differentiates
between prophesey and speaking in tounges.



5": I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

I'm not saying you shouldn't speak it if you have the gift, but from that chapter I what I get is this:  First of all to edify means to learn or be enlightened spiritually or religiously, now the following comes straight from the word:

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:

There is a difference between the two if you are speaking in tounges only God can understand you and that does nothing to furthur his messgae or help get anyone saved, but prophecy, when you're speaking to people in language they understand and can relate to can possibly lead to someone giving their life to Christ.

That's why Paul said:  If you don't have an interpreter be silent because you edifyith not the church. He says Let all things be done unto edifying. We are supposed to be helping and educating the unlearned and unbelievers,  he goes on to say:

"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 God29": Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
 
The prophets in this case are not the same people who are speaking in tounges.

I guess it's kinda like "there is a time an place for everything" type of deal.

Paul says he speaks in tounges, more than any of us ever could but in the church he would rather speak five words of understanding that others may be taught than to speak ten thousand in an unknown tounge:

18": I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

"19": Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

If you really read 1 Corinthians 14 it's breaks it down cut and dry.

Someone else read this Chapter and give me your take on it.
Remember I'm not saying that speaking in tounges is wrong or should'nt be done, but to me this verse simply says unless you have someone with you to interpret to those who are unlearned or unblievers, it doesn't belong in the church.  It ends with God is not a author of confusion, and in my opinion where there is misunderstanding there is definietly confusion.

Be blessed

[ee_guy]

My husband has the gift of speaking in tongues. He exercises his gift during his prayer time. I don't have the gift. He is not more saved than me!!

Sister T, I love you!

 

[thekeynote]

1Corinthians Chapter 14 it deals specifically with that topic.  A "tounge" is just a lanuage, Engligh is a tounge, Spanish is a "tounge" "Portugeese" is a tounge.  

I am not going to give my opinion on the subject, however, I am going to stand on the Word of God.

Lets look at I Corinthians 14:
 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speakth not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandth him..."

Paul says an "unknown tongue" which "no man understand". Do not confuse this with another language. Saying that a tongue, implied from I Corn. 14, is just another language is in error. This is a heavenly language, in which God has blessed some with the gift of interpretation to understand (I Corn 14:27).

In Acts 2:1-13, the Day of Pentecost, the tongue mentioned in these verses was indeed other languages, for in verses 7-8, the multitude was amazed because they heard the disciples supernaturally speaking in their own native language. Note, they understood the disciples, not because they (the crowd) had the gift of interpretation, but becasue it was their native language.

For Lisa, and others who don't understand the turning on and off of the gift....the person with the gift of speaking in tongues has control of their gift, it is not a spiritual impulse. That is why Paul is telling the church at Corinth to keep silence in the church if an interpreter is not present (I Corn. 14:28)

Now, I do not understand how churches today are not heeding to the Word of God. How a church can allow the gift of tongues to be abused during a worship service is beyond my understanding. The Word of God has no exceptions to the rule.

My husband has the gift of speaking in tongues. He exercises his gift during his prayer time. I don't have the gift. He is not more saved than me!!

Roline, this makes perfect sense!!
Love ya!
Lisa

[Noelle1977]

I feel you, but when you're standing on the word you have to use both feet, don't just pick out verse 2 read the entire chapter or at least the first 5 verses this is what it says:

[1] Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.[2] For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
[3] But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
[4] He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.[5] I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

In short it's saying speaking in tounges is a spritual gift no doubt, but greater is he that prophesey because he is helping to lift up educate and enlighten the church(that's what edification is) greater is her that prophisieth than he that speaketh in tounges, except he interpret so that the church may recieve edifying.   If you read on down it even says if you have no interpreter keep silent in the church. Don't take my word for it...READ the entire 14th chapter.

[SisterT]

...but when you're standing on the word you have to use both feet...READ the entire 14th chapter.

Noelle1977, EXCUSE ME!! Sweetie, you have crossed a line. I'm feeling somewhat offended, so please clarify EXACTLY what you mean by "but when you're standing on the word you have to use both feet".

I only addressed verse 2 beacuse I was speaking of the tongue. Of course I KNOW what verse one and the entire chapter says, but that is not what I was dealing with in my response. So, go back and re-read my post.

Your quoted comment above was rude.