Biblical tongues

[O'Dannyboy]

This has always been a touchy subject for me. When I was young I accompanied my stepbrother to church. The man at the podium began speaking gibberish. I asked my brother what he was doing and he said the man was speaking "tongues". I could not comprehend why someone who is speaking "in the spirit" would not be understandable. At the time I was not saved nor was I familiar with scripture. Even so I fully expected that someone who were "channeling" (for lack of a better word) the Holy Spirit or overcome by the spirit would be easier, not harder, to understand for the sake of edification.

Now, being more familiar with scripture and having been baptized in the spirit I am still asking the same question. When the people begin uttering gibberish from the pulpit I cannot understand what they expect to achieve. I can only surmise that they wish to convince the congregation that they posses some special or elevated status in the eyes of God. Such actions seem to me to show a lack of humility and are comparable to dancing with snakes.

This writing at PBC is by far the most detailed explanation of the gift of (many) tongues and its purpose. Even before I was saved I seemed to understand that such a gift would be for the sakes of the unbelievers and that the unbelievers would, and should, be able to understand what was being said.

Knowing this I can't help but be even more disgusted than I have in the past at what lengths some people in the church are willing to stoop to in order to glorify themselves. PBC even explains the false gift of tongues and the effect it is having.

Please read over both articles/writings and share what you think.

[OneLight]

I will read the links, but I felt led to give these verses first.

1 Corinthian 14:26-28

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

It was not clear to me if the pastor did this according to the above scripture or not. May I ask if he spoke in tongues n=more then two, or at most, three times during the service?

[OneLight]

The artical states that tongues have to be of another worldly language.

Now let's review the true gift of tongues that we may lay it alongside what we are seeing today:

1. First, the true gift of tongues is a normal language, spoken somewhere on earth, but not learned by the linguistic processes by which we ordinarily learn languages; yet it is clearly understandable by anyone who would happen to speak that language.

Here is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

If Paul speaks of tongues of angels, then your link is not in accordance with scripture. Correct me if I am incorrect, but there is nowhere on earth that speaks in an angelic language.

[O'Dannyboy]

It was long ago and the only reason I even remember is because it got under my skin. I believe he had two "episodes" during that service. The thing is that a "tongue" is a language, as these wittings indicate. I would not have to understand what was being said to be amazed. As the writings I linked to also indicated it's fairly easy to tell a language from random gibberish and stuttering. I suppose the thing that gets me is how offensive it is that someone would take me to be such a fool as to believe their ramblings were inspired or God given. As it has been said, if this person speaking in tongues were to do so it would be for the sake of the people around him that he would even do so. What glory would it be to God that this man/woman would speak in an unknown language in the presence of others and NOT allow them to understand what is being said? As I always understood it a person speaking tongues could be announcer at the Olympics and everyone listening would understand them. Such is the power of God. I never imagined gifts being more subtle than that.

[O'Dannyboy]

The artical states that tongues have to be of another worldly language.

Now let's review the true gift of tongues that we may lay it alongside what we are seeing today:

1. First, the true gift of tongues is a normal language, spoken somewhere on earth, but not learned by the linguistic processes by which we ordinarily learn languages; yet it is clearly understandable by anyone who would happen to speak that language.

Here is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

If Paul speaks of tongues of angels, then your link is not in accordance with scripture. Correct me if I am incorrect, but there is nowhere on earth that speaks in an angelic language.

Again, what purpose would it serve to speak the language of angels before men that they would not be allowed to understand? Especially if it were a manifestation of the spirit. Again, a language would vary greatly from gibberish. Take dolphins or monkeys for example. They have a language. Sounds that repeat and are combined to express a thought, emotion or idea for sake of communicating. There would, as the writer of the article alludes to, be a noticeable pattern or structure. All of what I have seen and witnessed of "tongues" are people uttering complete gibberish with no noticeable structure, pattern or "words".

[Abigailwc]

When the apostles were first filled with the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts, they began to speak in tongues. There was a crowd of people from many nations gathered nearby and they were amazed because they could understand what the apostles were saying as they were speaking their language. However, what did those who did not understand them? They mocked them and proclaimed that the apostles were drunk.

We need to be careful about placing judgment on someone because we do not understand what they are doing or why they are doing it.

Acts 2:4-13

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians

[OneLight]

The thing is that a "tongue" is a language, as these wittings indicate.

Yes, tongues are a language. But it does not have to be an earthly language. It can be an angelic language.

I would not have to understand what was being said to be amazed. As the writings I linked to also indicated it's fairly easy to tell a language from random gibberish and stuttering.

Yes. The Holy Spirit will show us what the truth is. I have heard "tongues" that have left my spirit uneasy. To me, this is the Spirit telling me that they were not from Him.

I suppose the thing that gets me is how offensive it is that someone would take me to be such a fool as to believe their ramblings were inspired or God given. As it has been said, if this person speaking in tongues were to do so it would be for the sake of the people around him that he would even do so. What glory would it be to God that this man/woman would speak in an unknown language in the presence of others and NOT allow them to understand what is being said? As I always understood it a person speaking tongues could be announcer at the Olympics and everyone listening would understand them. Such is the power of God. I never imagined gifts being more subtle than that.

The message in tongues that is meant for the church needs interpretation. If the one who is to interpret decides not to do so, then the one speaking in tongues is to cease. This is not the fault of the one speaking, but the one with the interpretation. Yet, if the one speaking in tongues is false, then there will never be an interpretation and is not of God. Allow His Spirit to show you if it is of Him or not.

[Grace1479]

The thing is that a "tongue" is a language, as these wittings indicate.

Yes, tongues are a language. But it does not have to be an earthly language. It can be an angelic language.

I would not have to understand what was being said to be amazed. As the writings I linked to also indicated it's fairly easy to tell a language from random gibberish and stuttering.

Yes. The Holy Spirit will show us what the truth is. I have heard "tongues" that have left my spirit uneasy. To me, this is the Spirit telling me that they were not from Him.

I suppose the thing that gets me is how offensive it is that someone would take me to be such a fool as to believe their ramblings were inspired or God given. As it has been said, if this person speaking in tongues were to do so it would be for the sake of the people around him that he would even do so. What glory would it be to God that this man/woman would speak in an unknown language in the presence of others and NOT allow them to understand what is being said? As I always understood it a person speaking tongues could be announcer at the Olympics and everyone listening would understand them. Such is the power of God. I never imagined gifts being more subtle than that.

The message in tongues that is meant for the church needs interpretation. If the one who is to interpret decides not to do so, then the one speaking in tongues is to cease. This is not the fault of the one speaking, but the one with the interpretation. Yet, if the one speaking in tongues is false, then there will never be an interpretation and is not of God. Allow His Spirit to show you if it is of Him or not.

I totally agree with all your statements One.

I heard people speak in tongues which I felt uneased about, and then other times I just knew it's from God. And everytime when it was from God, there was interpretations. My hubby sometimes prayed in tongues, but where only the immediate persons sitting next to him, could hear. I know he was in very deep worship, cause I could here it, and it sounded so beautiful, even though I did not understand what he was praying. I wish with all my heart I could pray in tongues.

[OneLight]

I wish with all my heart I could pray in tongues.

Every believer has the ability to allow the Holy Spirit to pray for them when we know not what to pray for.

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

This is different then the Gift of Tongues. This is a personal manifestation of the Holy Spirit in intercession for us, not the body. He may be praying for others on our behalf, or He may be praying for us. There will be no interpretation in these cases, only faith in Him that He will act on our behalf. You only have to allow the Holy Spirit to do so for you, and He will.

[Grace1479]

I wish with all my heart I could pray in tongues.

Every believer has the ability to allow the Holy Spirit to pray for them when we know not what to pray for.

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

This is different then the Gift of Tongues. This is a personal manifestation of the Holy Spirit in intercession for us, not the body. He may be praying for others on our behalf, or He may be praying for us. There will be no interpretation in these cases, only faith in Him that He will act on our behalf. You only have to allow the Holy Spirit to do so for you, and He will.