If you speak in tongues at your congregation, just consider these questions for a moment--that's all I ask!
(1) Categorization: How do you differentiate the genuine gift of speaking in tongues from, say, a counterfeit (e.g. Satanic) version of speaking in tongues? I.E. what criteria do you use to make sure that speaking in tongues is not actually some sort of demonic influence?
(2) Causation: Are you aware that people are leaving because this gift is abused (e.g. when people speak more than one at a time--see 1 Cor. 14:27)? Do you care what happens to them?
Are you aware of the different types of tongues? Language of Men 1Cor 14:5-6 & 1Cor 14:22-23(Need interpretation, and one at a time) and Angelic Tongues 1Co14:2,1Cor 13:1 Rom 8:26-27(No interpretation needed, no order, one at a time, needed)See also Job 48:2-3 & Job 49:1-50:3
ReplyDelete1Cor 14:39 So, my brothers, eagerly seek to prophesy; and do not forbid speaking in tongues;
Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who do trust: in my name they will drive out demons, speak with new tongues,
So I think your question would have to be two parts!
Shalom Jesse (Judah's Brother)
Shalom Jesse!
DeleteThanks for visiting! I look up to your brother. He's a great guy.
About the tongues...
You are right that there are many aspects of tongues to consider. I'll leave that to the scholars. Because that's not my area of expertise.
However, I do have many years of experience evaluating how the gift of tongues is used in various congregations. And so, while a comprehensive look at tongues is beyond the scope of this post, I just wanted to focus on those two points of concern.
And my underlying concern, of course, is to ensure that Messianics can feel comfortable fellowshipping with other Messianics. It's so important for us all to come together in unity.
Blessings to you and your family!
Peter
In my opinion there exists no gift of tongues or any one of the other supernatural gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh nowadays, such as the gift of healing. These supernatural signs were operative in the situation of the Kingdom Offer to the nation of Israel, to bring them to national repentance, but we don't find them outside this context. The Kingdom Offer ceased — for the time being — with the verdict of Paul at the end of the Acts of the Apostles (view Acts 28:25-31).
ReplyDeletePossibly these gifts will return when the Kingdom will be re-offered on a national basis, in the end of the days, right before the Second Coming. But today there are no such things.
This is confirmed by the fact that in the Prison Epistles of Paul, written after the time-frame of the Acts, we no longer find any mention of these gifts.
WOW, WHOA! That's all I can say. I searched the scripture you referenced.
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