Sunday, October 08, 2006
Something inspired me to make this post... lol! :P A very long one that is rather religious...
The gift of tongues was a supernaturally endowed ability, given by the Holy Spirit to select Christians, enabling those believers to speak in previously unlearned human languages. The ideal use of the gift involved the translation of the message for the general edification of fellow believers or evangelism of unbelievers. This ability was not given to all Christians nor were they commanded to seek it. It was not considered the hallmark of the early church, nor is it ever highlighted as a normal part of the Christian experience.
Why am I typing all these? I’m just merely curious about this gift. It is indeed odd that so many people speak in tongues, yet there is nobody around who can interpret what is being said. Yes it is for God, but anything that is spoken on the pulpit or stage should be spoken one at a time and be interpreted for the edification of the church. Where are all the interpreters? That is what I m so curious about. So many with the gift of tongues yet, no interpreters?
Can anyone just answer me? Why? Where are these interpreters? Hmmmm. Very odd indeed. Nobody understands when somebody is supposed to if it is really the rare gift of tongues. *shivers down my spine*
Personally I have gone to 4 different churches in my entire life. First one was Faith Methodist Church at Queenstown. I wasn’t a true Christian back then. Too young I suppose. No speaking of tongues by anyone… Then I went to Revival Centre Church in Novena. There was speaking of tongues on the pulpit and congregation but no interpretation. But no interpretation. A strange phenomenon followed whereby members seemed to fall critically ill. When I left this church, about 4 people had died already. And these were normal working young adults, mind you. Something was not right…
And so I ended up in my current church, Bukit Batok Presbyterian Church. A more traditional type of service, with no speaking of tongues on stage. Well so far I haven’t heard any. The spirit of the lord still can be felt of cos. Thus I’ve been here since 1998, and now serving as head of communications for the youth. And preparing to serve more in drumming for worship as well.
Recently I went to City Harvest Church to take a look at how things are like there. I love their worship service… Very contemporary! ☺ More suited to the youths I guess… ☺ Perhaps I will join them regularly if I have the time to juggle 2 churches… lol. Just need someone to like explain why so many speak in tongues when its supposed to be a rare gift… LOL… Really supposed to be very rare lor… lol… And not supposed to be controlled as in u cant speak it just becos u want to, but only when the holy spirit decides to.
Hope I m not having doubts like Thomas la. I really do believe tt such gifts exist and of cos, that Jesus exists. Just answer tt question. Lol
The gift of tongues is to be exercised with restraint and in an orderly way. The regulations for its public use are simple and straightforward. The person who speaks in an unknown tongue is to pray that he may interpret (1 Cor 14:13). Or, someone else is to interpret what he says. Only two or three persons are to speak, with each having an interpretation of what he says. Each is also to speak in turn. If these criteria are not met, they are to remain silent (1 Cor 14:27-28). The gifts of speaking in tongues and their interpretation are to be Spirit-inspired. Paul also points out that tongues are a sign to unbelievers. This kinda applies to the fact that there were non believers around every time I heard the speaking of tongues.
If these guidelines are not observed, unbelievers who are present will conclude that the people of the church are out of their minds.
The phenomenon of speaking in tongues described in the New Testament is not some psychological arousal of human emotions that results in strange sounds. lol. This is a genuine work of the Holy Spirit.
What about the false gift of tongues that is inspired by the devil to deceive?
When the false gift occurs in a church, it invariably becomes a religious status symbol and the power of suggestion soon spreads it abroad throughout the church. When it appears to be a mark of special divine favor, some esoteric experience to which only a privileged few can attain, then it soon creates a very deep subconscious desire for the manifestation of this in other individuals' lives. When that desire becomes strong enough, as it certainly does when there is a group that accepts this as a mark of the Holy Spirit and therefore calms all fears about it, then such desire, burning deep in the heart, bypasses the conscious control of speech in the brain and the subconscious mind takes over the tongue and produces whatever is expected or strongly desired. Psychologists have described this as occurring with people who have no strong religious convictions at all. It is a known psychological phenomenon.
I don't imply by this that anyone who experiences this means to deceive. He doesn't. He is quite deceived himself and what he does is done honestly, but nevertheless it is not of the Spirit. That is the point. It is not the true, Biblical gift. Because this is a psychological phenomenon, some people by constitutional make-up are simply unable to respond and this creates a very unhappy situation. There are some wonderful, born again Christians, earnestly desirous of having everything that God wants them to have, wanting to go on with God, who are deceived into thinking that this is a mark of divine favor. They struggle to receive this gift but never get it, and eventually fall into despair. From this there come those terrible divisions that so frequently mark the appearance of tongues phenomenon in the churches today.
Now this is not the way of faith. This is not the way of the Spirit. The Bible declares that the weakest believer in Jesus Christ has everything that the strongest saint ever had. You are complete in Christ! In Jesus Christ dwells "all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" {cf, Col 2:9 KJV}, and "you are complete in him" {cf, Col 2:10 KJV}, no exceptions. Therefore, it is possible for any believer by simply believing what God says, and acting on all that Christ is, to enter into the fullness that God has for him. This is true of any other saint in any other age. It does not depend on tarrying or waiting and pleading or some psychological make-up which either allows or does not allow the manifestation of such a gift.
Results of the false gift include the splitting of the church and the mad rush to attempt to learn or attain the ability to speak in tongues.
And now I shall end my long harangue here by warning that too much interest in this gift will result in a distraction of our attention from the true work of God the Spirit, which is the exaltation of Jesus Christ. They are so concerned with the gifts they forget the Giver and forget the outreach of the gospel and the need of hungry hearts around them. Even though this topic results in a greater interest of unsaved people, I have noticed that the interest is always focused on tongues, not upon the Lord, nor upon the gospel. This is a diversionary tactic to get us involved in some secondary thing rather than the primary, the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, I shall no longer probe into this matter. ☺
I do have a survey that helps determine what are your spiritual gifts tho. Interested pls msn me. Lol.
The haze has cleared up today! so happy. My sensitive nose can get a break. haha. Was coughing badly... My lungs are not tt strong since young... haha. Many things have happened recently. Will blog about them soon I guess.
Stuff that happened:
- Uncle's salvation before he died ( This is like the 3rd time this has happened la. Both my grandfathers also had salvation be4 they passed away. Phew. )
- Acceptance of Christ by my Aunt thks to my uncle's death. Soon to come my grandma will do so to. YAY./
- Photoshoots at NHHS
- School reopens on the 16th of October.
- Photoshoot on 13th October for NCC
- PIE at Nan Hua ( I m so broke la )
Yepp thanks for reading thru. Wad a long post sia. haha.
The gift of tongues was a supernaturally endowed ability, given by the Holy Spirit to select Christians, enabling those believers to speak in previously unlearned human languages. The ideal use of the gift involved the translation of the message for the general edification of fellow believers or evangelism of unbelievers. This ability was not given to all Christians nor were they commanded to seek it. It was not considered the hallmark of the early church, nor is it ever highlighted as a normal part of the Christian experience.
Why am I typing all these? I’m just merely curious about this gift. It is indeed odd that so many people speak in tongues, yet there is nobody around who can interpret what is being said. Yes it is for God, but anything that is spoken on the pulpit or stage should be spoken one at a time and be interpreted for the edification of the church. Where are all the interpreters? That is what I m so curious about. So many with the gift of tongues yet, no interpreters?
Can anyone just answer me? Why? Where are these interpreters? Hmmmm. Very odd indeed. Nobody understands when somebody is supposed to if it is really the rare gift of tongues. *shivers down my spine*
Personally I have gone to 4 different churches in my entire life. First one was Faith Methodist Church at Queenstown. I wasn’t a true Christian back then. Too young I suppose. No speaking of tongues by anyone… Then I went to Revival Centre Church in Novena. There was speaking of tongues on the pulpit and congregation but no interpretation. But no interpretation. A strange phenomenon followed whereby members seemed to fall critically ill. When I left this church, about 4 people had died already. And these were normal working young adults, mind you. Something was not right…
And so I ended up in my current church, Bukit Batok Presbyterian Church. A more traditional type of service, with no speaking of tongues on stage. Well so far I haven’t heard any. The spirit of the lord still can be felt of cos. Thus I’ve been here since 1998, and now serving as head of communications for the youth. And preparing to serve more in drumming for worship as well.
Recently I went to City Harvest Church to take a look at how things are like there. I love their worship service… Very contemporary! ☺ More suited to the youths I guess… ☺ Perhaps I will join them regularly if I have the time to juggle 2 churches… lol. Just need someone to like explain why so many speak in tongues when its supposed to be a rare gift… LOL… Really supposed to be very rare lor… lol… And not supposed to be controlled as in u cant speak it just becos u want to, but only when the holy spirit decides to.
Hope I m not having doubts like Thomas la. I really do believe tt such gifts exist and of cos, that Jesus exists. Just answer tt question. Lol
The gift of tongues is to be exercised with restraint and in an orderly way. The regulations for its public use are simple and straightforward. The person who speaks in an unknown tongue is to pray that he may interpret (1 Cor 14:13). Or, someone else is to interpret what he says. Only two or three persons are to speak, with each having an interpretation of what he says. Each is also to speak in turn. If these criteria are not met, they are to remain silent (1 Cor 14:27-28). The gifts of speaking in tongues and their interpretation are to be Spirit-inspired. Paul also points out that tongues are a sign to unbelievers. This kinda applies to the fact that there were non believers around every time I heard the speaking of tongues.
If these guidelines are not observed, unbelievers who are present will conclude that the people of the church are out of their minds.
The phenomenon of speaking in tongues described in the New Testament is not some psychological arousal of human emotions that results in strange sounds. lol. This is a genuine work of the Holy Spirit.
What about the false gift of tongues that is inspired by the devil to deceive?
When the false gift occurs in a church, it invariably becomes a religious status symbol and the power of suggestion soon spreads it abroad throughout the church. When it appears to be a mark of special divine favor, some esoteric experience to which only a privileged few can attain, then it soon creates a very deep subconscious desire for the manifestation of this in other individuals' lives. When that desire becomes strong enough, as it certainly does when there is a group that accepts this as a mark of the Holy Spirit and therefore calms all fears about it, then such desire, burning deep in the heart, bypasses the conscious control of speech in the brain and the subconscious mind takes over the tongue and produces whatever is expected or strongly desired. Psychologists have described this as occurring with people who have no strong religious convictions at all. It is a known psychological phenomenon.
I don't imply by this that anyone who experiences this means to deceive. He doesn't. He is quite deceived himself and what he does is done honestly, but nevertheless it is not of the Spirit. That is the point. It is not the true, Biblical gift. Because this is a psychological phenomenon, some people by constitutional make-up are simply unable to respond and this creates a very unhappy situation. There are some wonderful, born again Christians, earnestly desirous of having everything that God wants them to have, wanting to go on with God, who are deceived into thinking that this is a mark of divine favor. They struggle to receive this gift but never get it, and eventually fall into despair. From this there come those terrible divisions that so frequently mark the appearance of tongues phenomenon in the churches today.
Now this is not the way of faith. This is not the way of the Spirit. The Bible declares that the weakest believer in Jesus Christ has everything that the strongest saint ever had. You are complete in Christ! In Jesus Christ dwells "all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" {cf, Col 2:9 KJV}, and "you are complete in him" {cf, Col 2:10 KJV}, no exceptions. Therefore, it is possible for any believer by simply believing what God says, and acting on all that Christ is, to enter into the fullness that God has for him. This is true of any other saint in any other age. It does not depend on tarrying or waiting and pleading or some psychological make-up which either allows or does not allow the manifestation of such a gift.
Results of the false gift include the splitting of the church and the mad rush to attempt to learn or attain the ability to speak in tongues.
And now I shall end my long harangue here by warning that too much interest in this gift will result in a distraction of our attention from the true work of God the Spirit, which is the exaltation of Jesus Christ. They are so concerned with the gifts they forget the Giver and forget the outreach of the gospel and the need of hungry hearts around them. Even though this topic results in a greater interest of unsaved people, I have noticed that the interest is always focused on tongues, not upon the Lord, nor upon the gospel. This is a diversionary tactic to get us involved in some secondary thing rather than the primary, the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, I shall no longer probe into this matter. ☺
I do have a survey that helps determine what are your spiritual gifts tho. Interested pls msn me. Lol.
The haze has cleared up today! so happy. My sensitive nose can get a break. haha. Was coughing badly... My lungs are not tt strong since young... haha. Many things have happened recently. Will blog about them soon I guess.
Stuff that happened:
- Uncle's salvation before he died ( This is like the 3rd time this has happened la. Both my grandfathers also had salvation be4 they passed away. Phew. )
- Acceptance of Christ by my Aunt thks to my uncle's death. Soon to come my grandma will do so to. YAY./
- Photoshoots at NHHS
- School reopens on the 16th of October.
- Photoshoot on 13th October for NCC
- PIE at Nan Hua ( I m so broke la )
Yepp thanks for reading thru. Wad a long post sia. haha.
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