Speaking In Tongues: Getting Beyond the Controversy

1. Charismatic/Pentecostal.
2. Conservative/Evangelical.


Honestly, the first "sect' is based on the initial filling of the holy spirit in Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6. Thousands of others are said to believe in Jesus, but nothing is mentioned about them being filled with the spirit. However, we are told that every believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14), but not every believer speaks in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). If we -believers in Christ Jesus- are not careful, we fall into admonition found in Titus to "abstain from foolish controversies and arguments over the Law, (or, as we know it applies to modern events) and the Scribes, for they are unprofitable and vain." This is truly for our good, because just like in 1 Cor, Paul had to chastise the church/people for arguing over who was holier than whom by the speaking in tongues! The gift of the holy spirit is . . . Him! The Holy Spirit is the Gift! Why, then, must we quarrel unprofitably among ourselves about this issue? The 3 instances referred to above were in regards to salvation-sanctification being poured out on the unbelievers, who were NOT Jews. That was such a HUGE point being made that it was brought up three times in Acts.


So, in essence, we are to pray on all accounts, fervently, for all sorts of petitions and requests and are charged to earnestly seek the greater gifts. Hmm . . . Prophecy is higher than tongues! So I say, personally, that when one is full of the Spirit -not just got Him as the gift from faith in Christ's work on the cross, but FULL of him-  then he will use any portion of himself within any one of us to meet the need at hand! After all, what then is tongues good for other than edifying either one's spirit or the Church, so long as there is interpretation? It just plain bugs me that someone who has never spoken in tongues but has cast out demons in others, or healed a sick man, is then accused of not having the gift (so often referred to as the baptism of  the Holy Spirit) of the Holy Spirit because the initial evidence of tongues wasn't heard! No wonder why Jesus said so often," . . Let him who has ears hear . . ." 


Are we as Christians really listening and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the mysteries from the throne room and filling our hear with His Truth? Well, how can one trust that he is getting this help from the Holy Spirit if he never spoke in tongues?! Golly. Poor fella may now question his entire salvation if he was truly forgiven or not. Or maybe he won't get into heaven or raptured or whatever the blank needs to be filled with that Satan will try to rob and steal this poor spirited, now back-slidden, maybe never-really-saved-without-evidence-of-tongues believer! 

Honestly, I just think that if you ask, you get it. Speaking in tongues is not the ONLY proof. There are many many many gifts. If I don't seem right, take it up with God.