This has always been an extremely interesting topic to me. Both sides of the issue fascinate me.
Have I ever spoken or sang in tongues? Nope.
Will I ever? Only God knows if
HE will have that need of me. (I believe I absolutely would
if God needs it or desires it in my life for
His glory)
Will I forbid the speaking of tongues (or use any other "excuse why its 'not for today'")? How dare you tell the hand that it isn't part of the body!
Am I "not saved" or "not His child" because I have never had this gift? How dare you tell the foot that it isn't part of the body!
I have only made a few posts around here, so many may not know of my "simplification" methodology. (There have been many before me...I am not the originator
) May I make a couple suggestions/observations for your perusal? Again, they will be overly simplistic, but sometimes the overly simple needs to be stated.
1. The "speaking in tongues" discussion begins back in 1 Corinthians 12. (told ya...simple :) ) A couple of observations: Best case...you get "several" gifts (vs 11). Notice that God doesn't state that everyone gets all gifts. I used to say that if everyone in your church had the gift of tongues, then someone was wrong or faking. I am left to wonder though....has the church so split itself over stupid fights like this one....that maybe everyone in a particular church does have the gift? Have we torn the body so far apart.....all we have is a bunch of hands in that church....toes over there.....eyeballs on main st....and on the opposite corner (likely counting cars to see if we beat the eyeballs this week) we have the elbows. Meh....I digress. In other words, Is it possible that all the members of the body that have been blessed with that gift....have been forced into worshiping together without other members blessed with other gifts? (I don't really need an answer...this is for your thinking)
How dare you tell me that I am not part of the body....simply because I do not currently have a gift that God didn't say everyone would have?! Are you kidding me?! Seriously?! (As you may be able to tell....I have been told this in the past :blink: ) Not everyone gets the gift of tongues...period. I do have other gifts though. We also need the feet Mr Pentecostal man.
2. The verse you can not get fundamentalists to even acknowledge.....You just don't get too much more simple than a good ole plain "Do not forbid the speaking of tongues". Wow...some of the best dancing I have seen in my life comes from a good "Independent Baptist" preacher trying to dance his way around that one. (and I believe we all know how the baptists feel about dancing :mellow: )
How dare you tell someone that there is an expiration date on the bible?! "Don't forbid" even comes after the "ace in the hole" of "when perfection comes" (13:10). If the speaking in tongues was gonna end....why in the world did God tell us to not forbid it? How dare you tell someone that they are not a member of the body
and often times even worse.....that they are being used by satan?! Good grief! We also need the hands Mr Baptist man.
Which brings me to my last point:
3. I have not yet (unfortunately) walked into a church where the very first criteria for the gift was being met. You see, all members of the body who have the gift of tongues always want to throw in our faces to not "forbid", but I notice they miss the verse right after it? (Admit it....you had to look) I have never walked into a church practicing the speaking of tongues where I thought, "Well now that was a well ordered service....and done very decently". The services always seem to be one short step from mayhem. This is not to say that those churches do not exist, just that I have not found one.....
yet.
I could go on and on, but instead will tell you....if anything I have written here has made you re-think anything, please go and open God's word and re-read 1 Corinthians 12-14 with an open heart toward God and His body in Christ (and no agenda), and please...take it at face value.
For all the Pentecostals that I have offended, you can tell me what I don't understand later, because by the grace of God....I am what I am.
For all you Baptists that I have offended, you can tell me what i don't understand later, because by the grace of God....I am what I am.
Now what are we all waiting for! Don't we have a church to split over this somewhere?!
