What is the point of speaking in tongues? Why is this a gift?

[po18guy]

Apostolic times were a unique period rich with extraordinary and supernatural phenomena for the history of mankind.

True. However, the Charisms are still very useful to the Christian who desires to use them for the building up of the Body of Christ. Specifically, Paul mentions the gift of prophecy, which is greatly misunderstood. It is not so much concerned with future events. Its purpose is to encourage and edify the church. It is also used to call Christians into a deeper practice of their faith. It is infrequently used for admonishment and correction.

However, it must be initiated by God and must make a return to Him, otherwise it is of earthly origin. This is where many shy away. It requires discernment of spirits, which is not all that well known these days.

Tongues, if used without an interpreter, is not understood by those present and can appeal to the ego. This is uniformly bad, and can lead to such occurrences as you have encountered.

These gifts remain products of the Holy Spirit and have value only if the soul is humble enough to submit to God’s will. The Holy Spirit does indeed seem to be the forgotten member of the Holy Trinity. And that’s the shame of it, since all good on earth is accomplished through Him.

Christ’s peace.

 

[ryanoneil]

I don’t have anything against tongues and understand there are different aspects to it.

What do you all make of 1 Cor. 14:20-22? Is Paul teaches that a proliferation of tongue-speaking in a church might be a sign of unbelief and God’s ensuing judgment upon them?

Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. In respect to evil be like infants, but in your thinking be mature. It is written in the law: “By people speaking strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus, tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

Paul is quoting Isaiah 28:11-12

Yes, with stammering lips and in a strange language he will speak to this people to whom he said: This is the resting place, give rest to the weary; Here is repose-- but they would not listen.

To punish the apostate Jews in the 8th century B.C., God first allowed the Assyrians to speak in foreign tongues to them to confuse them before they were ultimately destroyed. This was prophesied seven centuries earlier in Deut. 28:49-50.

"The LORD will raise up against you a nation from afar, from the end of the earth, that swoops down like an eagle, a nation whose tongue you do not understand, a nation of stern visage, that shows neither respect for the aged nor pity for the young.

Is that why Paul was pointing out their abuses and giving them such strict parameters to follow when speaking in tongues? (to many people speaking in tongues, out of turn, without an interpreter, and for pride and not the edification of the church)

Peace,

Ryan

 

[JDSinSA]

I have always been somewhat indifferent to speaking in tongues, primarily because it has never crossed my path, so to speak. But my curiosity was piqued last week.

I was listening to Catholic radio in my car and was listening to a conversion story talk. It was very good, but was not able to finish. so I tracked it down and ordered it from St. Joseph Media. So, I started listening again, picked up where I left off and when I got to the end, they started praying together. I had no idea whatsoever that the speaker was going to start speaking in tongues, but then she started and I almost drove off the road. It was shocking, but not necessarily in a bad way. I really can’t explain it, though if I had to categorize it, it is the form of tongues that elevates prayer. It did not sound like a language per se, but series of somewhat musical 'la la la" and “da da da da” sounds. It was interspersed with 'Our Lady" several times which came through several times, and at some points it became outright musical, singing a melody, which was beautiful, I might add. She would stop, prayers of petition would be asked in plain English again, then the tongues would start again. These prayers and tongues that was at the conclusion of this talk went on for 7 minutes or so. I must tell you that after the shock of the tongues wore off, I found myself appreciating the depth of prayer they were engaging in. I was getting wrapped up in it myself.

So I just wanted to mention this in this thread. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been exposed to it suddenly and immediately ask, whoa, what is this?! Going to read more threads and study more where I can. It’s fascinating.

I left out the name of the speaker in the thread, because I want to respect the privacy of this speaker, but I will gladly provide it , and how to get the cd (it’s a great conversion story) in private message, just let me know.