No Tongues in 13 Years (long, sorry!)

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

Hi All,

I just wanted to say a couple of things about this.  Sorry it's so long!
:-)

First, let me just put forth my disclaimer:
I am not a pastor, nor am I trying to "preach".  I am just sharing my
personal conviction on this matter.  If I am incorrect by scriptural
standards, feel free to rectify the situation, but *please remember the
spirit with which I am writing when you reply*.

Re: Church behavior:
Paul says in I Cor. 14 many things concerning speaking in tongues (not that
they should be eliminated, but especially in church--they should be
controlled for many reasons).

Reason #1-->
I Cor. 14:2, 4, 5, 12  (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. (4)He that speaketh in an unknown
tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth *the church.* 
(5)I would that ye 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. (12)Even so ye,
forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to
the edifying of the church.

Paul is speaking about things that happen *in church*.  Church is a place
where we receive edifying.  We should seek to edify the church first,
ourselves next (last).

Reason #2-->
I Cor. 14:18-19 (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.

Paul is saying it is better to be able to teach others (in native tongue)
than to edify yourself all the time.

Reason #3-->
I Cor. 14:22-24 (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
chruch 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.

Paul says that tongues occur as a sign to the unbeliever and prophesy
*serves* believers.  Uncontrolled, unministering (lacking interp.) tongues
will only make unbelievers think we're crazy.  (Personal comment...One of
my friends will not come to church with me, even though she knows my Spirit
is truly of the Lord, because she went to a Pentecostal church once where
the whole place was talking in tongues at once and she was REALLY turned
off and thought they were crazy.)

Reason #4-->
I Cor. 14:26-28 (26)How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every
one 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
himslef, and to God.
I Cor. 14:40 (40)Let all things be done decently and in order.

Paul is saying that there should be order in church, not constant
interruptions and chaos because that prevents edifying.  It is very hard to
have continuity toward understanding in a service with people constantly
interrupting the flow of the service.
(BTW, whenever I've seen tongues and interp. at a service, it is usually
right before the sermon begins or immediately after.  I have never seen
tongues and interp. interrupt the pastor.  After all, why would God need to
interrupt himself?)

So, it seems to me that Paul is saying that at least *while you are in the
church*, or are "come together", there should be decency and order in the
service for 4 reasons:
1. For the edifying of the church (strengthening).
2. So others can be taught without interruption.
3. So visitors will be more apt to receive the message than be put off by
uncontrolled tongues.
4. So there is order in the service instead of chaos.

Re: Private prayer:

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to put anyone down, just trying to show that it
*may not be* absolutely necessary by scriptural standards to speak in
tongues daily to preserve your anointing.  Also, I am always open to
refutation of my statements (as long as it can be proven 100% by
scripture:-)).  But rather we must seek to show the fruits of our Spirit
daily, because in doing that, we feel the Spirit within us (or at least I
do).

There is no scripture that says we must "speak in tongues on a daily basis
or else we've lost the anointing," (at least none that I've found).  

Many refer to I Cor. 15:31, where Paul says "I protest by your rejoicing
which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, *I die daily*", to support the
"daily tongues" conviction.

But from what I recall, according to the "analogy" we all like to draw
between Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and our salvation experience,
"death" corresponds to "repentence" and "resurrection" refers to
"receiving" the Holy Ghost.  So, IMHO, it is fallacious to say that Paul is
referring to daily tongue-speaking in prayer when he refers to "I die
daily"...but rather, he means he "repents" or "asks forgiveness" daily for
whatever he might have done to displease God.

Referring again to I Cor 14, verse 14 "For if I pray in an unknown tongue
my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful."  This statement is
not to say that if we are *NOT* speaking in tongues, then it must follow
that we are not then praying with our spirits.  There are other ways of
praying "in the spirit".

Someone mentioned before that if they didn't "pray through" in tongues for
a couple of days that it would "scare them to death".  Since when does God
bring about the spirit of fear???  Someone has obviously put fear
(scaredness, not reverent "fear") into them to make them think that God
would leave them over a couple of days.  Besides, as long as you are still
seeking holiness and Godly perfection, exhibiting the fruits of the spirit,
etc. as well as daily "dying" (repentence, coming under subjection), as far
as I am aware, that is all the scripture demands.  Panic over tongues or
lack thereof (after you've had the initial infilling) is not Spiritually
healthy in my opinion.  They will come when they come.  

If you have found yourself giving in to temptations, lacking holiness in
speech or actions, in other words, no longer displaying the fruits of God's
Spirit, *then* I would wonder about my "spiritual barometer".  If that
happens to you on a daily basis, then I would wonder (just me personally)
if I had backslidden in my heart and didn't realize it.  It happened to
King Saul.  He "whist not that the Spirit had departed from him".  But this
does not mean we should have the panic attack every day.

*The following is personal experiences.  Lord, search my heart and know I
am not trying to put forth a "holier than thou" attitude.*
I personally do not speak in tongues daily, I do occasionally during prayer
times at church or during Ladies' prayer night.  When I do, however, I know
that such things are between me and God (I do not have the "gift of
tongues"), so I make sure to do so in private.  Since I am not edifying the
body of the congregation, I am not obtuse.  Either I kneel at the altar or
at a pew, and I cover my face (just a personal preference).  I do lift my
hands and my voice when praying in English.  Sometimes I feel compelled to
pray with another person, and then I may speak with tongues, but it is not
often.  Even though I agree 100% with the doctrine of tongues and letting
"God have his way", I doubt "His way" means distracting people around you
who are also trying to reach God by sitting two feet away and beating on
the altar, for example.  If you feel like beating, beat away, just be
conscientious of those around you and find a less distracting place to do
it.  God is everywhere, not just "concentrated" at the front of the church!


*I am going to quit now (having typed for over an hour :-) ). If I am
incorrect by scriptural teaching, please feel free to let me know.  But
when you do, again, remember the spirit with which I gave this post and the
spirit with which I ask correction.*


Anneliese