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What do you think is the purpose of that gift? Does it exist today? IF you believe it exist, how can someone get it?
If you have it, what is it like? How does it feel or manifest itself?
If you don't believe in that gift or its existance, WHY?
I believe in a gift that allows the truth of God's word to be articulated.
I remember the 1st service I attended ( as a guest ), when in the middle of the pastors sermon, someone in the rear of this very small church started babbling. The pastor stopped until the babbling stopped, then proceeded with the sermon.
No explanation, no comments, nothing. As I understand it, Paul states that there is also the gift of interpreting "tongues", that must accompany the person speaking in tongues.
That, I have not as yet witnessed.
Do I believe the Apostle Paul when he referred to these gifts? Yes.
Do I know exactly what it means? No.
But I'd like to know. Not by explanation, but by experience.
What do you think is the purpose of that gift? Does it exist today? IF you believe it exist, how can someone get it?
If you have it, what is it like? How does it feel or manifest itself?
If you don't believe in that gift or its existance, WHY?
As a charismatic Christian, I do believe that the gift of tongues exists today.
I think you receive it by first being a believer and then asking for it. Or if you like, someone else can lay hands on you and pray for you to receive it.
I think the gift of tongues in your own prayer life is for your spiritual edification. In a church service, it should be accompanied by interpretation. I believe scripture says in this case it is as a "sign" to unbelievers. Obviously also, it conveys a message to the congregation as would prophecy.
Yes, I have received what charismatics term "the baptism in the Holy Spirit" and yes, I speak in tongues. How does it feel? Just like speaking in your own language except you don't understand it. (You decide to exercise the gift, it doesn't just come on you uncontrollably! That's why Paul gave instructions about how and when to exercise the gift.)
For anyone that's truly interested and not just wishing to debate about it, I would recommend the book by Don Basham, Handbook of the Holy Spirit. It is an old book but it can still be obtained on amazon.com and in some Christian bookstores.
What do you think is the purpose of that gift? Does it exist today? IF you believe it exist, how can someone get it?
If you have it, what is it like? How does it feel or manifest itself?
If you don't believe in that gift or its existance, WHY?
Yeah. But I think it's overused quite a bit today. Many people like to play to the crowd and pretend like they have the gift when they do not. The same goes for faith healing prophecy, discernment, and other spiritual gifts.
Every single time I have heard someone claim that the Holy Spirit has seized their body and was using it to communicate, it sounded more like they were having an epileptic attack... o___o;;
Every single time I have heard someone claim that the Holy Spirit has seized their body and was using it to communicate, it sounded more like they were having an epileptic attack... o___o;;
Hmmm...I've been a Christian since 1968, and have been able to pray in tongues since 1971, and have never heard anyone claim that the Holy Spirit had "seized" their body. Everybody I know of who can speak, or pray, in tongues...it's always been voluntary...nobody "forces them" to speak in tongues...not even God. When it happens, it's wonderful...but you don't HAVE TO experience it...because the Holy Spirit is a gentleman...He won't force it on anyone....
It's a gift...it's there...but you don't have to take it...
While I too have this gift (I think) I believe by what I have observed that most practice gibberish.
Tradition teaches us to pray and suggests that when we do not know what to say the Spirit intercedes on our behalf in groanings.
I seldom exercise the gift anymore as I believe that the Father resides in my heart, I can talk/think in English, I no longer believe we need a language we ourselves cannot understand. Prophesy in tongues IMO is also overrated as why if God wants to talk to us does He need first to bring it in an unknown tongue and then require another to interpret. As the gift of prophesy flows w/o the mind in control, so too can it come in a language we all understand.
IMO tongues is or maybe for the young in Christ but we outgrow it or should.
The scripture is clear about vain babblings in prayer, I guess some folk see a foreign language as more anointed
I have heard of testimonies where a tongue was brought and members understood exactly w/o interpretation as it was their own native language. I also heard of a foreign preacher that went to the USA and could not speak English. An interpreter was not found and he delivered his sermon in a tongue, English.
To me the real tongues is not:
kara bara baba shala bas da kara bah cole.
Anyone can learn/make up that crap. If I can anyone can. BTW, I had no goosebumps when I typed that.
Maybe if the anointing comes upon you interpret that for me
While I too have this gift (I think) I believe by what I have observed that most practice gibberish.
Tradition teaches us to pray and suggests that when we do not know what to say the Spirit intercedes on our behalf in groanings.
I seldom exercise the gift anymore as I believe that the Father resides in my heart, I can talk/think in English, I no longer believe we need a language we ourselves cannot understand. Prophesy in tongues IMO is also overrated as why if God wants to talk to us does He need first to bring it in an unknown tongue and then require another to interpret. As the gift of prophesy flows w/o the mind in control, so too can it come in a language we all understand.
IMO tongues is or maybe for the young in Christ but we outgrow it or should.
I respect your right to your opinion, of course, but I would ask you to consider the fact that Paul said he spoke any tongues "more than any of you" (to the Corinthians) and he was hardly a "young believer."
Last edited by kaykay; 01-25-2008 at 07:17 AM..
Reason: too early in the morning to be spelling correctly!!
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That's why Paul gave instructions about how and when to exercise the gift.)
