Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
Regarding the matter of tongue-speaking among the Pentecostals, Witness Lee let me with two lasting conclusions ...
- All tongue-speaking is fake
- Those who play with these fake things will become immoral
I'm not saying I agree with this, only those are the conclusions I retained after hearing him speak for many years. I never heard anything positive about those who spoke in tongues. |
And that was all of our conclusions because he said so. There might be some closeted tongue speakers in the LSM but not for long or they did not continue in this practice. Peoples ways...whether in a church environment, home environment, or any group environment rub off on each other.
This is why we need to be careful who we hang with. Even the "world" gets it. Professional white collared people who make 6 figures and up ward are not going to hang out out with people who make less than 60,000 in principle.
So goes with tongue praying folks. I went to a tongue praying church for a few years. When I attended the Wednesday night prayer meetings, the pastor would set the agenda: 15 minutes for our country, 15 minutes for the church, 15 minutes for finances and 15 minutes for whatever... When the prayer service began, everyone prayed "in the spirit", tongues of course. After the 1st 15 minutes, he would tap his mik, so we could begin praying for the next subject..again in tongues. The tongues didn't change "language". After a while I stopped attending the prayer meetings and eventually I stopped going to 'church'
I noticed I would pray in tongues when everyone was praying. I did get tired and would pray in my English tongue. It was hard when everyone was babbling.
I think everyone I knew was the same way we knew each other in the LC..friendly but not too chummy..unless you somehow knew each other. On occasion I will be invited to a home fellowship.
My unchurched friends on the other hand and I hang out at each others houses and we let the Spirit flow. Please do not consider me arrogant with what I am about to say... I am more mature on Christ than they are so I am more insightful.
I sometimes have to correct them. I will correct them if they say things they ought not to say...if they disrespect the Lord's name, if they call some a name that is derogatory, things like that.
I know as their 'mentor', I can't stoop down to their level. For one, it is not in me, and 2 on the rare occasion I have, I have felt terrible afterwards, so I have had to repent for my conduct. And 3, I know that I know that I know they are watching my conduct!
Let's face it. How serious do you think they would take my ministering to them if I stooped to their level? Just so y'all understand, I have 2 childhood friends I am discipling. I have a different set of friends one religious friend who up to 6-7 months ago was a very bad backslider. I think something he did while on drugs finally sobered him up and he went back to his church..tongue speaking.
I have another childhood friend, (the one with the tat) who defends tongue speaking vehemently. She sarcastically asked me if I knew more than the pastor who has studied the bible all his life and had scriptures to back up tongue speaking. I did not want to argue w/her (she argues with everyone). And while I do not have the business experience of running a congregation, I probably could give him a run for his money.
I simply told her the Corinthians were the tongue speaking church who were very carnal...as she drank her beer.
Btw, I do not judge people (Chtistians) if they drink a beer now and then. I look at their character as a whole just as they look at mine.
One day a few months ago we had a very mini high school reunion. Check this out: 4 of us got together before the 5th person joined us. My friend who I'm discipline and my "tongue speaking" beer drinking friend plus our -guest- who we had not seen in 20 plus years hooked up at a restaurant. Our guest was throwing F bombs all over the place. My friend "E" responded by hugging her, telling her with a big smile not to talk like that. The girl was overkill with them F bombs!
At some point, I told our friend, the 3 of us were born again believers. "The 3 of you??!". Yes, I told her. Before I could say anything else, our beer drinking, tongue believing friend changed the subject as she didn't want us to say anything about the Lord. Then our 5th friend joined us who is Catholic but does not want to hear anything about God or "religion".
So your point is valid Ohio.
THanks for tour input everyone!
BLessings and Joy,
Carol