Gift of Tongues or BS?

[Xenocrates]

Have you ever walked into a congregation and heard people babbling absolute and fantastically atrocious nonsense at the top of their voice? They claim it is "speaking in tongues" - as if we don't already do that.

Tell me, do you subscribe to the notion that much of this activity is genuine or even scripturally defensible? Let me hear your thoughts.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Have you ever walked into a congregation and heard people babbling absolute and fantastically atrocious nonsense at the top of their voice? They claim it is "speaking in tongues" - as if we don't already do that.

Tell me, do you subscribe to the notion that much of this activity is genuine or even scripturally defensible? Let me hear your thoughts.

According to I Corinthians 12, spritual gifts are given by God to men for a purpose. He grants the gift of "speaking in tongues" so that His word can be preached to persons who speak other languages. If everyone around speaks English, what use is it for a person in the congregation to get a gift to speak another language right there? Much more those scenarios in which people claim to be speaking some "Heavenly" language which is totally unintelligible to everybody.

[smiles]

I heard (although I dont believe) that there is a difference between speaking in tongues - communicating with God, and the gift of tongues - communicating with other tongues.

I communicate with God just fine.. we talk, laugh, argue, cry... never once did He say to me - "Debs next time you call, please use a tongue i understand".

Anywhoo, i'm with what BCK said. :sold:

[ramesh]

I thought God made people speak in tongues because they thought they were better than He...

[Xenocrates]

According to I Corinthians 12, spritual gifts are given by God to men for a purpose. He grants the gift of "speaking in tongues" so that His word can be preached to persons who speak other languages. If everyone around speaks English, what use is it for a person in the congregation to get a gift to speak another language right there? Much more those scenarios in which people claim to be speaking some "Heavenly" language which is totally unintelligible to everybody. - Lemme ask a pointed question: Do you think that everyone that does it is genuine?

[recursion]

- Lemme ask a pointed question: Do you think that everyone that does it is genuine?


Easy one......... nope.............

[bernie]

- Lemme ask a pointed question: Do you think that everyone that does it is genuine?

Certainly not! There will always be a carbon copy to everything. :cool:
Do I believe that speaking in tongues is mumbo-jumbo? no! It's quite legitimate according to the scriptures. However, many are fake. :rolleyes:

[Xenocrates]

So how do you know the fake ones from the real ones?

[ramesh]

None of them are real. God has no need to endow people with the gift of blabbering incoherently. If he wishes to say something to us he can do it directly, there is no reason for an intermediary.

[recursion]

I believe none of them are real. I think God has no need to endow people with the gift of blabbering incoherently. If I were GOD and I wished to say something , there is no reason for an intermediary.

But alas we know not the mind of GOD

1 cor 2 6-14

6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"—
10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned

[BlackCryptoKnight]

- Lemme ask a pointed question: Do you think that everyone that does it is genuine?
No. Not everyone who claims to speak in tongues is genuine. Some are fake.


So how do you know the fake ones from the real ones?


6Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

13For 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[e] 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.

20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21In the Law it is written:
"Through men of strange tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,"[f] says the Lord.

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand[g] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand[h]comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
1 Corinthians 14 6-22 NIV

[Manu]

I don't think the babbling and incoherent nonesense uttered by them is real. My God is an intelligent God and I refused to be believe that He would inspire people to speak in languages that are not discernable by anyone... includign themselves. THEY ARE ALL FALSE! No need to identify real from fake!

[Bahama Mama]

In certain branches of Pentecostalism, the speaking of tongues is mandated as the only sincere,external indicator of a true believer. It represents baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is touted as a necessity for receiving salvation. For those like myself that have never spoken in tongues or never even had an incline to do so, there can be the feeling of inadequacy as it relates to the faith.

Therefore there is a sort of pressure to affirm your faith in that manner, not only to yourself, but to other members of the church. Therefore many people will and do fake speaking in tongues. I have seen people do it on cue many times, especially as apart of a high energy sermon or testimony. It can even seem more genuine, if you are competent in a foreign language. That was displayed to me by a Pentecostal Pastor himself, who was speaking about those that fake the experience.

For most people that speak in tongues, its more likely psychological conditioning, cultivated by a charasmatic and highly emotional environment, as supposed to divine intervention. If anyone here has ever had the opportunity to attend a Pentecostal Church, the hallmark of most services is emotionally charged and adrenaline fueled praise and worship. This can go on for a majority of the service in fact. People crying, screaming, running laps around the hall, going into convulsion like states. The energy alone can get people into a frenzy, especially if they are burdened with sinful confessions or miraculous testimonies.

I feel the large majority of it is fake, especially since it is touted as the litmus test for true belief and reception of salvation.

[Bahama Mama]

So how do you know the fake ones from the real ones?

The utterances should be translatable to some kind of earthly language or dialect in theory. When the apostles spoke in tongues, those in the crowd were able to identify a myraid of languages or dialects, not native to those parts. Though this still is not a fool proof segregator.

[smiles]

LOL:dwl:How to speak in Tongues! (http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezab0vRXpXM&mode=related&search=)

I particularly liked the last 3 minutes, especially the part where he said: "God wont do ti for you, you got the vocals!" :D

[Xenocrates]

For most people that speak in tongues, its more likely psychological conditioning, cultivated by a charasmatic and highly emotional environment, as supposed to divine intervention. If anyone here has ever had the opportunity to attend a Pentecostal Church, the hallmark of most services is emotionally charged and adrenaline fueled praise and worship. This can go on for a majority of the service in fact. People crying, screaming, running laps around the hall, going into convulsion like states. The energy alone can get people into a frenzy, especially if they are burdened with sinful confessions or miraculous testimonies.

I feel the large majority of it is fake, especially since it is touted as the litmus test for true belief and reception of salvation.


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[icuucme]

i also have to agree with BM ....