question about pastor

[stevehut]

I guess sometimes if one is just full of the Holy Ghost... tongues sometimes bursts forth in praise or exultation

But a pastor, I think, is supposed to know better.

1 Corinthians 14:32

The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

If this is a genuine manifestation of the Spirit, it is within his control.

[Jedi4Yahweh]

i have a question, and i'd like some advice.

[Guest Called]

i have a question, and i'd like some advice.  i'm troubled by something that's happened at my church the past couple of sundays (2/3 sundays that i've been to this church since may). 

my pastor has spoken in tongues up on stage, in front of the whole congregation.  i thought that possibly last week he interpreted the tongues afterwards (although he had never operated in the gifts of tongues or interpretation before), so i didn't let it bother me that much.  it happened again this week, though.  this week there was definitely not an interpretation; he was praying and praising in tongues (not for an extended period, but for just a couple of seconds).  it didn't seem like an accident, like he just forgot to turn his mic off or something.  he was praying out loud towards the congregation at the time.  it seemed deliberate.  based on a reading of 1 corinthians 14, this worries me.

i've had a bad experience before with a church who abused the gift of tongues, and the experience really freaked me out and actually turned me off from the gifts of the Spirit.  i wouldn't want this to happen to any nonbeliever or new believer who visited our church.

what do you guys think?  do you think my worries are founded?  do you have any scripture that can help me out?  what do you think i should do about it?

thanks so much.

love in Christ, pam

I would not be worried.

Speaking of Tongues is not of the Devil. There is a difference between Praying in the Spirit and Giving a Message in Tongues. Ones is between you and God and one is message for the body which needs an interpretation to understand.

I pray in tongues at home in prayer that does not mean I understand what I am praying and it does not mean I was not praying in tongues.

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown language, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Like I said praying in tongues is between you and God not for others.

1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown language, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no man understandeth him; yet in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Notice he says that he is not speaking to men but to God.

I think too many people freak out when it comes to the spiritual things. It seems if someone does not understand they automatically say its not of God or of the Devil. This dangerous grounds to tread on.

God bless,

[pamjane]

I guess sometimes if one is just full of the Holy Ghost... tongues sometimes bursts forth in praise or exultation

But a pastor, I think, is supposed to know better.

1 Corinthians 14:32

The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

If this is a genuine manifestation of the Spirit, it is within his control.

that's what i was thinking to, steve.

1 corinthians 14:13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Jedi4Yahweh, i also pray in tongues. but if i'm in church and i pray in tongues, i pray under my breath, "to [my]self and God" (1 cor 14:28).

most of me thinks that my worries are founded, but there's a tiny part that thinks i'm just being over-sensitive because of my bad experience before.

[stevehut]

however, of course, if he was in prayer, he does not need an interpreter

Then he shouldn't be doing it in the church.

[Guest Called]

however, of course, if he was in prayer, he does not need an interpreter

Then he shouldn't be doing it in the church.

With all due respect Steve, you are giving advice on something that you do not understand. I will be happy to explain the gift of tongues in a PM with you, if you are interested!

God Bless!

Debbie

[Guest Called]

Jedi4Yahweh, i also pray in tongues. but if i'm in church and i pray in tongues, i pray under my breath, "to [my]self and God" (1 cor 14:28).

most of me thinks that my worries are founded, but there's a tiny part that thinks i'm just being over-sensitive because of my bad experience before.

If you are really concerned about it, I would go directly to the pastor, following gypc's advice about taking your husband or having the pastor's wife present. It is more than likely a misunderstanding. The pastor may have had the microphone to close to his mouth or he was just praying to himself. Let us know what happens!

God Bless!

Debbie

[stevehut]

With all due respect Steve, you are giving advice on something that you do not understand.  I will be happy to explain the gift of tongues

Oh, I understand plenty.

1 Corinthians 14:28

If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

1 Corinthians 14:19

But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

[Guest Called]

With all due respect Steve, you are giving advice on something that you do not understand.

[larryt]

With all due respect Steve, you are giving advice on something that you do not understand.  I will be happy to explain the gift of tongues

Oh, I understand plenty.

1 Corinthians 14:28

If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

1 Corinthians 14:19

But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

This is what the Word says.

LT