A young bible college student once wrote and told me how the college she attends has been teaching that "speaking in tongues" is the sole evidence that one is filled with the Spirit and that no one Was filled with the Spirit Unless they've spoken in tongues. Apparently, that didn't sit well with her and she wanted my opinion.
Let me begin by stating that I'm well aware that not all subscribers to these eMail broadcasts designate to the confidence that "tongues" are for today. The focus of this treatise is not to argue that point, one way or the other. Suffice it to say that I'm hoping we have all read (or Will read) the Scriptures enough to recognize: (A) what "speaking in tongues" is, and (B) that many in The Body of Christ, over denominational lines, make claim that they have received this gift. In this eMinistry, I've heard from people of virtually all mainline denominations who've claimed to have received the gift of tongues, any out of concern that they would be excommunicated or disfellowshipped if they were ever found out.
Marine Corps Ranks
Tongues In The Bible
The Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges and Insignia of the United States Army: World War II to Present Best
Rate This Product :
The Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges and Insignia of the United States Army: World War II to Present Overview
8 x 11 The most complete guide to United States Army medals, ribbons, rank, insignia, and patches from WW II to the present day. Each medal and insignia shown in full color. Includes listing of respective criteria and campaigns. Medals of America Press
Customer Reviews
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 04, 2012 20:54:35
The gift of tongues was apparently prominent enough that God used this manifestation to "jump-start" the Church (Acts 2). Logicallyspeaking, why would He have stopped there? Fact is, the gift of tongues is mentioned after Pentecost as well. Once again, no logical conjecture why they should have ceased, humanly speaking.
Jesus made only one recorded reference to speaking in tongues. In Mark 16:17, speaking of all those who would follow as His disciples, He said, "In my name you will cast out devils, you will speak with new tongues... ." That's it? That's All He had to say?! And we make such a Big deal of the issue! He spoke much more of Sonship and Discipleship than He spoke of speaking in tongues. Strange how I rarely hear people argue about the "casting out devils" part. Is it because too few are doing that ... Even within the tongue-talking camps?
Just a thought.
I see no biblical evidence that the dunamis (from whence we get our word "dynamite") power of the early apostles would have been withdrawn from the Church before the King returns. I personally cannot believe there's anything who can scripturally prove, without a doubt, that speaking in tongues is the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Neither do I believe there's anything who can scripturally prove that this gift (or any other) has been eliminated from the Christian arsenal. I Am safe bet that Both those Christians would argue all day about the subject. The promise, we must remember, was not "you shall receive tongues when the Holy Ghost comes upon you." It was "you shall receive Power!"
Not tongues of fire.
Not rushing, great winds.
Power!
Question: what miracles did the apostles do After Pentecost that they hadn't done Before? They were already curative the sick and casting out devils prior to the Upper Room experience. Jesus said, "...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," (Acts 1:8).
Witnesses? In Greek, the word is martyr. In essence: "You shall receive power to lay your life down for the Kingdom's sake; for the cause of Christ!" Did the power they received enable these simple, unlearned men to raise the dead, preach with convincing eloquence, undergo torturous beatings, forsake all and every person in which they had ever previously taken comfort, and write anointed epistles, too? Absolutely. It changed them. Any other need for power, other than what is required for Kingdom-building, focuses our attentiveness squarely on "self" and increases the danger of humanism raising its ugly head amidst the things of God. There's already too much of that. As I've stated in the past, Christianity isn't about Us.
Spirit Or Flesh?
Back to tongue-talking, undoubtedly we know it can be faked. Let's consider that. I had an unchurched neighbor who was mocking his Pentecostal wife one day and he sounded ... Well, quite legitimate! But if we're going to appoint anything to judge whose tongues are "of the flesh" and which are "of the Spirit," why not go all the way and have those same appointed people whip out their Flesh-O-Meters and resolve who is singing, preaching, or even tithing in the church out of carnality as well?
Selah.
Not all tongues could maybe be legitimate. That's naturally inconceivable. I've been exposed to enough foreign languages to know when I've heard "tongues" that had a safe bet Spanish, German, African or American Indian flavor to them. I've heard those who were naturally speaking a broken dialect of a second language they already possessed, having slight to do with God's miraculous gift; they were merely praying in this second "tongue" of theirs. Nothing wrong with that - I'm glad to see Christians pray at all, whenever. It just doesn't "classify" as legitimate tongue-talking in most Pentecostal circles. Neither does the insertion of an occasional phrase in Spanish, etc. In deliverance ministry, demonic tongues may be heard on occasion which most Pentecostals would envy. But bear this in mind: one's desire for more of God Must be commended, never ridiculed or scorned, real tongues or not! Such things are too often used as a source of contention and branch in the Church.
I could tell some of the most expected stories of people who spoke in tongues, were overheard, and understood, by man around ... And it ministered to them. To Them, mind you ... To the people who overheard. That's dreadful because this Kingdom is not about you and me. If we are sons of the house, our efforts should be geared toward construction the house, tending to the house, filling the house, increasing the house, guarding the house.
Gift Of Tongues In Context
Understanding Sonship in the Kingdom of God must be put within the context of Stewardship and Servanthood. This brings us to the reality that we are witnesses (martyrs; serving unto death) to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and not rulers. If it were all about Us being made rulers, then the focus of Christianity is all about us and what We get when if we sign-on. Do we get tongues? Great! But wait ... If tongues edifies no one but ourselves, there's no focus on manufacture disciples, right? See, the gift of tongues, when undoubtedly manifested, is for the strengthening of one's self (1 Cor 14:4-5,12). It rarely, but not always, does anything for any person else, especially the way we see it being demonstrated in most cases today. Sadly, I've seen tongues become a measuring stick of one's spirituality, creating a "have vs. Have-not" ungodly caste system in the Church, bright dissension into the ranks. Even frustrating and discouraging those who had not "received" the gift of tongues. So, we must ask ourselves, in our desire for the gift of tongues, what is our Real motivation?
If you were being attacked by a bear, would you prefer a rifle or the gift of tongues? Well, the gift of tongues is seemingly allembracing in the Western Church, but the fact that our house is in such disarray reveals that we could use the manifested Fruits of the Spirit much more than we need the Gift of tongues right now. This is valuable because Pentecostalism is currently the fastest-growing segment of Christianity in the Western Church and its leadership must be keen to this lack of fruit. Jesus said, "By their fruits you will know them," (Mat 7:16-20).
Not "by their tongues."
How do I know you're a Christian? Because you Say so? With that logic, if you say you're a book because you stand in a library, should I believe you? How do you know I'm a Christian? You don't. Saints, we will be known by our fruit.
Go ahead, judge me. Some gasp, "But we're not Supposed to judge!" (There we go with the rule-keeping again!) Yes, I know... Scripture says, "Do not judge, or you, too, will be judged... ." But the verse continues, "... For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the part you use, it will be measured to you."In other words, if you evaluate my lifestyle and comprehend me to be evil, and even bring up the issue to others, you should only dare to do so (A) for my benefit; out of love for me, and (B) if you are ready to undergo the same scrutiny of your own life. Fact is, Scripture exhorts us repeatedly to judge people and things (1 Cor 5:9; 2 Cor 11:15; Phil 3:2; 1 Jn 4:1), and instructs us to "test everything" (1 Th 5:21).
Enough about that. Point is, you'll know I'm a Christian when I exhibit the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22. Do I love unconditionally? Am I joyful, or does my happiness rise and fall with my circumstances? Do I exhibit peace in the midst of strife? Am I patient? Kind? Good to others? Filled with faith in God? Gentle, practicing self-control?
Personally, I wish we in the Church would speak in tongues all day long. This might eliminate some of the back-stabbing, murmuring, commentary and gossip that that is generated from that tiny part of our anatomy. It would be especially beneficial in the car before and after church meetings, agreed? (That was today's exertion at humor.)
They"Ll Know We'Re Christians By Our...Tongues?
One final thought: Early on, I was taught that there is a natural example of all that takes place in the spiritual. This as proven to be true time and time again. Well, since we are soldiers in the Lord's army, engaged in a spiritual war (Eph 6), wouldn't it be wise to enlist a "secret code" language for use in prayer, in case the enemy was listening? After all, we're snared by the words of our mouths (Prov 6:2). Ridiculous? Tell it to the U.S. Marines!
In World War Ii, Navajo "code talkers" took part in every attack the Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. They served in all six maritime divisions, maritime Raider battalions and maritime parachute units, transmitting messages by telephone and radio in their native language; a code the Japanese never broke.
By the way, the idea to use Navajo for get communications came from a man named Philip Johnston, son of a Christian missionary to the Navajos and one of the few non-Navajos who spoke the language fluently. As a follow of his efforts, the Marines recruited 200 Navajos which, throughout the war were praised for their skill, speed and accuracy. Major Howard Connor declared, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima." Connor had six Navajo code talkers working around the clock during the first two days of the battle. Those six sent and received over 800 messages, all without error. The Japanese, skilled code breakers, were baffled by the Navajo language. Their chief of brain later said that while they were able to decipher the codes used by the U.S. Army and Army Air Corps, they never cracked the code used by the Marines.
Something to consider?
Following are some things Jesus had to say about Sonship and Discipleship. Notice, "speaking in tongues" is nowhere to be found. Let us stress what the Lord stressed and eliminate the stress over the "tongues" issue.
Read 'Em And Reap!
Mat 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God"
Mat 5:44,45 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for he makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
Mat 13:38 "...the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the Kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one..."
Mat 28:19-20 "Therefore, go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to survey all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Joh 8:31 "If you remain in My Word, then you are truly My disciples.
Joh 13:35 "By this every person will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Joh 15:8 "In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be My disciples."
Need pastoral counseling and prayer? Write or Im me at team1min@aol.com
Every blessing!
Speaking of Speaking in TonguesPart 3 - Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad (Chs 13-19) Video Clips. Duration : 124.52 Mins.Part 3. Classic Literature VideoBook with synchronized text, interactive transcript, and closed captions in multiple languages. Audio courtesy of Librivox. Read by Stewart Wills. Playlist for Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad: www.youtube.com
Keywords: audiobook, audio, book, prose, classic, literature, cc, ccprose, cc prose, synchronized, text, closed, captions, captioning, subtitles, subs, esl, free, entire, full, complete, foreign, language, translate, translation, video, videobook, mini, minibook, reading, read, learn, english, novel, librivox
No comments:
Post a Comment