Speaking in tongues (ritual, prophecy, pray, Holy Spirit, spiritual)

[Surrealgurl]

Some Christians believe that speaking in tongues is evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. I'm interested in knowing what everyones opinion is on this. I have a few questions. (I might come up with more questions later...)

1. Do you believe it's a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?

2. Is it a real language (or languages)?

3. Do other religions speak in tongues?

4. What other explanations are there for it?

[Lightkeeper]

I don't know a lot about it, but I have witnessed some of it. Some think it is a hysterical reaction. In other words some people get themselves into a real frenzy and is most likely not the Holy Spirit.

[Green Gaia]

Well, I don't know much about it, and certainly have never witnessed it first hand. But being me, I would tend to be very skeptical that it was anything other than a self-induced fit.

[Ronald]

Originally Posted by Surrealgurl

Some Christians believe that speaking in tongues is evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. I'm interested in knowing what everyones opinion is on this. I have a few questions. (I might come up with more questions later...)

1. Do you believe it's a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?

2. Is it a real language (or languages)?

3. Do other religions speak in tongues?

4. What other explanations are there for it?

#1. Yes and No! Yes, without the Spirit of God, no-one gets any of the gifts.
No, not all get the gift of tongues!
#2. Someone with the gift of tongues, it is a real language of someone. Not an UnKnown tongue/precepts of man.
#3. These gifts are from the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. So only given to those that are his.
I do not have the gift of tongues.

[Mr Spinkles]

Well I've never witnessed this, but I did see something interesting in the first few days of college.

There was this hypnotist who came and hypnotized a bunch of the freshmen in the audience. He told this one girl that when she woke up, she would be an alien speaking another language. She started babbling words that really did sound like some alien language...I was pretty amazed, as was the audience.

[true blood]

1 Corinthians 12:10: Speaking in tongues, Numbered among the manifestational gifts of the holy spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:28: One gift among many different gifts and callings

1 Cor 13:1: Tongues of men or angels, useless without love

1 Cor 14:2: The one who speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God.

1 Cor 14:4 He who speaks in tongues edifies himself

1 Cor 14:5 Paul wants us all to speak in tongues, but more to prophecy unless there is interpretation.

1 Cor 14:6-12: The need for interpretation if tongues is used among the body of Christ

1 Cor 14:18-19: Paul is thankful that he speaks in tongues more than any of the rest of the Corinthians, but among the body of Christ he would rather speak a language all can understand.

1 Cor 14:27: There should be order. Two, or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret when among the body of Christ.

1 Cor 14:28: In public worship, if there is no one to interpret the tongues, the gift should not be exercised publicly. (Perfect chance to actually know if you're among real true Christians)

1 Cor 14:39-40: Desire to prophesy, but all things should be done decently and in order.

Speaking in Tongues is an actual foreign language. Tongues is also a prayer language, its actually perfect prayer. Some receive this gift spontaneously others receive as an act of the will. In receiving all gifts, one must respond in obedience to to the prompting of the holy spirit, Acts 2:4

It is not the only sign that one is filled with the spirit from God. It simply is one among many. It is a useful gift for prayer and communication with God, available to all his Sons. The purpose of this gift is to edify up the person but ultimately for the edifying of the body of Christ. It can be an act of the will by opening the mouth and speaking in words you do not know at the prompting of the spirit of God within a true son of God. It isn't a feeling at all but God works in the power when one obeys. Interpretation is a bit more complex of a matter I will not discuss because its for the body of christ and many people have been hurt because of misusing and misunderstanding this gift. If you ever hear a bunch of self proclaimed christians all speaking in tongues together it is not of God. The gift is suppose to be used with extreme order rather than confusing. God is not the author of confusion, satan however is.

Ron- Yes all true christians can recieve the gift of tongues. But I suppose that is dependant on the "mature level, of spiritual understanding".

Originally Posted by Surrealgurl

Some Christians believe that speaking in tongues is evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. I'm interested in knowing what everyones opinion is on this. I have a few questions. (I might come up with more questions later...)

1. Do you believe it's a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?

2. Is it a real language (or languages)?

3. Do other religions speak in tongues?

4. What other explanations are there for it?

1. Yes and No. Paul, who spoke in tongues very much, did it as an act of will, not at his baptism in the holy spirit.

2. Yes it is a language of men or it is a language of the angels (this includes devil spirits)

3. Satanic religions can so I would agree other "religions" can.

[Ronald]

Yeah Right! All True Christians can speak in tongues. This certainly is a litmus test!
"When you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with B.S."
You're of the Way! Not Christian! So, Ron you can't speak in tongues! HOG WASH!

[true blood]

lol I don't affiliate myself with any religion or denomination maybe I should say all true christians "should" be able to speak in tongues. but really, why do you think not everyone is given the gift of tongues? I'm curious... didn't paul speak in tongues from an act of will? the other apostles did it spontaniously however Paul did not, and Paul was the guy given the revelation. So why do you think you can't? Just because you might be 52 years old, you can still be just a babe in christ hehe.

[Ronald]

There are many gifts of the spirit, not anyone possess all all of them. If they did they would surely boast the fact at some time and put to shame one who is a foot.

[Ardhanariswar]

lol. mr. sprinkles. even i can speak in alien. it would be more believable if the hypnotist made her speak a shanghai dialect of mandarin.