Open/Honest discussion on Speaking/Praying in 'Tongues'

[countmeworthy]

Hi all,
As members or former members of the LC, we were not persuaded to 'speak in tongues'. Some here who were Christians before hooking up with the LC came from 'tongue speaking/praying' denominations.

What I need is people's input and experience of 'praying/speaking' in tongues. I don't need scriptures for or against as much as I need people's experiences of experiencing praying in 'tongues' before, during or after the LC life.

It is very important to me because I am often around people who are strong advocates of 'tongue speaking'. They firmily believe [based on their pastor's teachings who of course quotes the scriptures] to enforce the importance of praying in tongues. I do not bring up the subject. They do.

Many claim a person is not filled with the Holy Spirit unless they pray in tongues. Many also believe one is not truly 'baptized in the Holy Spirit unless there is the evidence of 'speaking in tongues'. I disagree with them and tell them so. That is when all hell breaks lose!

Never mind most of the people I know who advocate speaking/praying in tongues don't know how to search the scriptures. Do not know the Power of the Blood of Jesus through personal and genuine experience. Few I know who are dogmatic about speaking/praying in tongues have led people to Christ.

By FAITH, I on occasion pray in tongues believing the Holy Spirit is praying through me. Those times are the times I do not know how to pray for a specific need, be it for myself or someone else.

I get bashed a lot because I am not an advocate of praying/speaking in tongues. I do not think people are stronger believers if they pray/speak in tongues of if they do not.

Imho, what makes us strong believers is our surrender to the Word of God, Jesus our Lord, addressing HIM when we speak (but not necessarily 'calling on the Lord' as we did in the LC.)

My personal experience that has made me a 'stronger' believer/follower in Christ is my relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, my prayer life which is 90% praying the Word of God back to the Lord, building up the Body of Christ as the Spirit leads and leading people to Christ again as the Spirit of God leads. I study topics prayerfully so I can be prepared to answer every person as we are encouraged to do in Colossians 4:5-6.

I find often times people (believers) respect and are amazed at how I share the Word uplifting them.

BUT... if I casually mention speaking/praying in tongues is not a big deal...oh boy. I will get lambasted for it. Same thing when I am asked 'what church' I belong to. Oh boy. After they have been so thankful for how I uplifted them, I will get a lecture for not attending 'church' regularly. "You need to find a 'home church'" I am told. Never mind they can't tell me what they're favorite scripture is.

So... my question is

do YOU pray/speak in tongues?

Why / why not?

What is your experience around those that do?

I assume most people who have left the LC and are on this forum do not pray in tongues because they never did while in the LC. If that is the reason you do not pray/speak, that is ok.

I really want to hear from those who DO pray/speak in tongues before/during/after the LC life. ...What your thoughts are. I need suggestions, advise and counsel. Thanks friends.

Blessings and Peace,
Carol G

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

I really want to hear from those who DO pray/speak in tongues before/during/after the LC life. ...What your thoughts are. I need suggestions, advise and counsel. Thanks friends.

"Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?" -- I Cor 12.30

As a lukewarm member of a moderately "pentecostal" congregation, I am one of the minority who do not pray or worship in tongues. I have not been privately coerced regarding tongues. It does bother me that every verse in scriptures that mentions being "in Spirit" -- e.g. John 4.23 -- is interpreted as speaking in tongues. More troubling are these occasional "outbursts" of an individual shouting in a tongue, which mandates an unequally necessary "interpretation." These are nearly always canned regurgitations of blessings upon "My People" from Amos, or Nahum, or Obadiah, or somewhere. I'm not sure where. But everyone applauds and I feel stupid for not believing in it all.

[countmeworthy]

Originally Posted by Ohio

"Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?" -- I Cor 12.30

As a lukewarm member of a moderately "pentecostal" congregation, I am one of the minority who do not pray or worship in tongues. I have not been privately coerced regarding tongues. It does bother me that every verse in scriptures that mentions being "in Spirit" -- e.g. John 4.23 -- is interpreted as speaking in tongues. More troubling are these occasional "outbursts" of an individual shouting in a tongue, which mandates an unequally necessary "interpretation." These are nearly always canned regurgitations of blessings upon "My People" from Amos, or Nahum, or Obadiah, or somewhere. I'm not sure where. But everyone applauds and I feel stupid for not believing in it all.

I want to hold my reservations for replying but I "CAN'T"!!! Bad-bad emotions!

See... this is why imho, as off the wall the LC was in many of their practices, while I did not understand what it really meant to walk in spirit or 'exercise our spirit' as we called it, over the years as I have grown in the Lord and in the Power of His Word and Spirit, I came to understand what it means to walk in spirit, " to exercise my spirit...which to me means praying the Word to the Lord a LOT and following the Spirit intuitively as a result of my prayer life). I know what it means to crucify the flesh, to be crucified in Christ. It is awesome ! Once you get it, that is the life we want to live! It does not mean the Lord does not want us to watch the Spurs play and beat the other teams! It does not mean we cannot watch TV, enjoy the finer things of this life. I look forward to walking and living IN Spirit 24/7! I will have a lot less problems then!!

When Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well, He told her they that worship God must worship Him IN Spirit and in Truth. She did not start speaking in tongues now did she?

I do not know if the other churches Paul spoke/wrote to spoke in tongues other than the Corinthian church but they are the church that spoke in tongues and were the most carnal bunch of them all. Every 'pastor' speaks of Corinth being carnal and most people use the 'tongue' scriptures found in the Corinthian letters. I think every one agrees that the tongues spoken of in Acts were not the babbling tongues of the charasmatic/pentecostal churches but rather languages. They spoke in an unknown tongue unto themselves but to those who spoke that language, it was understood.

I just don't get what the big hoopla is about tongue speaking and while I do not make an issue of it, I am often lectured on that to speak in tongues 'edifys oneself' to God. hmm... ok whatever. I know when I am praying IN SPIRIT, I get the same results if not better for I am praying the very WORD of God to GOD. So there!

I often ask: If you do not read the scriptures prayerfully or do not know the Word intimately (not referring to quoting scriptures) how do you know your tongue speaking is of the Holy Spirit.

Oh boy. There comes the backlash!! "It's not demonic babbling!! " I am told. I did not say it was. I am merely asking how they know it is from the Holy Spirit because I have never spontaneously 'spoken in tongues'! When I have, I force myself to 'babble' believing the Holy Spirit is praying through me. Of course, I usually 'babble' the same 'language' because I made it up. Nothing wrong with that either for we make up prayers in our own native tongue to the Lord that is not always praying the Word back to Him. So when I cannot find the words to pray in English, I will pray in 'tongues'. But it is far and few between. I am being honest here.

I explain that to them but it is not good enough.

After all. I am not smarter than a pastor am I? This is what I sometimes told. (Probably not...as 1) I am a woman 1) I am not ordained -by man-) But I AM A king and priest unto the Most High God! Revelation 1:6 and Revelation 5:10 says I am..as well as those who believe the Word. I believe it, receive it and walk in Spirit and in the Truth ! So there!!

What I do know is most true believers do not know what the scriptures mean when they read 'In Spirit' as you well pointed out Ohio my Spurs bud! Many know we are tri parted: spirit, soul and body.

Most however misquote 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and say body, soul and spirit.

I do know that those who I have led to the Lord and am discliping, teaching the Word are stronger in Christ (to the Glory and Praise of Almighty God) than those who go to 'church' and beat me over the head for not being ' tongue speaking filled'.

The reason I decided to try speaking in tongues is because I started frequenting tongue speaking churches inadvertantly. I did not join any Pentecostal or assembly of God congregations. I ended up frequenting charasmatic churches that had bands and 'a worship team'. I admit I was pressured to give in. However at the same time I was curious. I did not want to miss out on something that was from the Lord if tongues really was and I was holding back because I was taught it was not for today and the Corinthians who spoke in tongues were a very carnal church.

However there might be some here on the forum whose lives have been transformed for speaking/praying in tongues. I am quite open to hear their experiences.

Thanks Ohio!

Carol G

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

I just don't get what the big hoopla is about tongue speaking and while I do not make an issue of it, I am often lectured on that to speak in tongues 'edifys oneself' to God. hmm... ok whatever. I know when I am praying IN SPIRIT, I get the same results if not better for I am praying the very WORD of God to GOD. So there!

I often ask: If you do not read the scriptures prayerfully or do not know the Word intimately (not referring to quoting scriptures) how do you know your tongue speaking is of the Holy Spirit.

Regularly used also is Jude 20 "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit."

A while ago I learned that approx. 50% of evangelicals speak in tongues. I was surprised. And their number is growing faster than those who do not speak in tongues. What that told me is this -- tongues was the great divide -- half do and half don't -- among those who are genuine children of God.

CMW, how do they know their tongue speaking is of the Holy Spirit? Why would you ask that question? Of course, it is! It has to be! They are speaking the heavenly prayer language! It is the gift of the Spirit! Shame on you for even asking!

My wife genuinely (she says) spoke in tongues years ago, before the LC, and has not since. She gets upset when others (like me) say anything negatively about speaking in tongues. Her point is actually good -- tongues is in the Bible, and they are a gift of the Holy Spirit. End of discussion. To my knowledge, her not speaking in tongues has never been an issue with all her friends there.

We did meet with the Church of Christ for a while. One day after the meeting, out of the blue the minister starts off telling me his little spiel about "tongues have ceased." My wife started walking our way, and I indicated to him that this was not a good topic to discuss in front of her. He decided to disregard my word. She never went back. Later the minister apologized, but the damage was done. As a reaction to our former LC days, once anyone decides to critique other believers, she smells pride and, since she has a very sensitive nose, it stinks.

[countmeworthy]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Regularly used also is Jude 20 "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit."

A while ago I learned that approx. 50% of evangelicals speak in tongues. I was surprised. And their number is growing faster than those who do not speak in tongues. What that told me is this -- tongues was the great divide -- half do and half don't -- among those who are genuine children of God.

CMW, how do they know their tongue speaking is of the Holy Spirit? Why would you ask that question? Of course, it is! It has to be! They are speaking the heavenly prayer language! It is the gift of the Spirit! Shame on you for even asking!

My wife genuinely (she says) spoke in tongues years ago, before the LC, and has not since. She gets upset when others (like me) say anything negatively about speaking in tongues. Her point is actually good -- tongues is in the Bible, and they are a gift of the Holy Spirit. End of discussion. To my knowledge, her not speaking in tongues has never been an issue with all her friends there.

We did meet with the Church of Christ for a while. One day after the meeting, out of the blue the minister starts off telling me his little spiel about "tongues have ceased." My wife started walking our way, and I indicated to him that this was not a good topic to discuss in front of her. He decided to disregard my word. She never went back. Later the minister apologized, but the damage was done. As a reaction to our former LC days, once anyone decides to critique other believers, she smells pride and, since she has a very sensitive nose, it stinks.

Amigos and amigas in Christ,

First off...remember on occasion I pray in tongues. I learned to pray in tongues being around my charasmatic Christian friends. Many have experienced a spontaneous outburst of praying in tongues when asked if they wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit or be baptized in the Holy Spirit with fire. I never experienced that.

To your question why would I ask the question if a person's tongue speaking is the Holy Spirit praying through them when it is scriptural:


1) Just like we had people in the LC who called on the Lord, used the same LC tone and were not filled with the Spirit of Christ or His Word, and WE COULD TELL, I have been in prayer meetings (tongue prayer meetings) where people are walking around praying out loud in tongues. No English words just tongues. I could often tell when a person was truly in spirit praying in the Spirit. Others had no presence of the Lord. It was just vain babbling.

2) Is it not true that not all "believers" are born again? Just because they 'believe' in God and they pray to God, does not constitute them as born again, regenerated believers right? I used to be one of them and I more than certain I am not alone on this board with that experience.

We even have some people here who used to be in the LC, believed in God and now they don't. Really? How can a person truly have a relationship with their Creator and then deny Him. Well. I suppose if Judas Iscariot denied Jesus as his Lord, it has to still be true today. Thank God we have a very Patient and Merciful God....for right now anyway.

Is it not true that many people who pray in tongues are not filled with the Spirit but they think they are? And just as many are people who do not pray in tongues but are born again are also not filled with the Spirit? How many times have we heard people pray at the table or wherever and their prayers are just plain dead! Emotional prayers or the lack does not constitute praying -in spirit-. There has to be a deep connection to our Creator while praying. And believe me. I am not always praying in spirit when I am in prayer! Sometimes I pray from my mind or my emotions. I do try to catch myself otherwise the Holy Spirit will correct me. He's good about doing that.

3) I remember reading there are other religions whose congregants pray 'in tongues' too. Mormons, Catholic Charasmatics who still say the "Hail Mary" and pray the rosary also speak in tongues.

I just found this on a google search:

Charles R. Smith says on pages 20-22 of his book, Tongues in Biblical Perspective:

IN NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS.--Tongues occupied a significant place in ancient Greek religion. The seeress at Delphi, not far from Corinth, spoke in tongues. [ MY insert here: Perhaps that is where the Corinthians picked up speaking in tongues? Maybe huh? -]

According to Plutarch (A.D. 44-117), interpreters were kept in attendance to explain her incoherent utterances. Many scholars have stated that tongues were experienced in the mystery religions (Osirius, Mithra, Eleusinian, Dionsyian, and Orphic cults). Some have concluded that the unintelligible lists of "words" in the "magical papyri" and in certain Gnostic "prayers" are records of ecstatic utterances. About A.D. 180 Celsus reported ecstatic utterances among the Gnostics. Lucian of Samosata (A.D. 120-198) described tongues speaking as it was practiced by the devotees of the Syrian goddess, Juno.

Today shamans (witch doctors, priests, or medicine men) in Haiti, Greenland, Micronesia, and countries of Africa, Australia, Asia, and North and South America speak in tongues. Several groups use drugs to aid in inducing the ecstatic state and utterances. Voodoo practitioners speak in tongues. Buddhist and Shinto priest have been heard speaking in tongues. Moslems have spoken in tongues, and an ancient tradition even reports that Mohammed himself spoke in tongues. According to his own account, after his ecstatic experiences he found it difficult to return to "logical and intelligible speech" (Kelsey, p. 143).

And the Lord also says in Matthew 7:

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you whoare workers of iniquities’

So is it not possible people who speak in tongues might suffer the same condemnation as these people noted in Matthew 7?


So while I am not saying Speaking in Tongues is not in the scriptures, I wonder why it is one of the great divides among the believers in Christ? I do not care if people pray / speak in tongues. I don't think anyone here does either. But many of those people believe the only way to be filled with the Spirit or be baptized in the Spirit is by the evidence of speaking in 'tongues'. I told a friend yesterday there is no evidence when Jesus Himself was Filled with the Holy Spirit after John baptized Him, He prayed in tongues for 40 days and nights! He rebuked Satan with the Word of God. But my friend wanted to argue with me. No biggie to me. We've been friends since first grade...and we are approaching 60 yrs young. UGH!


When I tell them I was filled with the Spirit when I got saved and did not speak in tongues I am told I was NOT filled with the Holy Spirit. Imagine that!

While I also know not everyone who gets saved is initially filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is in them when they got saved, if they truly got saved because The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of JESUS and is GOD Himself. I know I was because of my immediate transformation.

That is a judgmental attitude taken towards me. I do not criticize them for speaking/praying in tongues. I do not think either 'camp' should criticize each other for speaking in tongues or not. As true believers, we ought to build one another's Faith in The Word so they can be strong in the Lord and lead people to Christ themselves. Is that not what Jesus instructed us ALL to do when He said " Go out and disciple the nations" ?

If people speak in tongues, fine. If they do not fine too.

So my next question to you Ohio, my good friend... is why does your wife not speak in tongues now that you have left the LC and attend a tongue speaking church? I am not judging her or you. I am simply curious!

I hope others ex Lcrs or current LCrs or anyone who is a lurker will chime in too because I want to hear and learn from their experiences.

Blessings everyone!

Carol G

[OBW]

Interesting topic.

Until just before I turned 18, I was part of the Assemblies of God (AOG), one of the original, but somewhat mainstream among charismatics. We attended one of the larger assemblies in town, so it was not hell-fire and brimstone preaching all the time. More like Pentecostal Baptists. (Not saying anything bad about Baptists.)

In my last year there, I had become somewhat disheartened that there was really so little supporting the miraculous gifts. Not that they were not there. But just not so prominent.

My memories were of things that were somewhat forced, sprinkled with events that seemed quite spontaneous and even possibly God-driven. But almost all of it was surrounding speaking in tongues. Never anything I knew to be any actual healing or other miracles.

And, now that I have read 1 Corinthians many times without the Pentecostal overlay, I can say that I do not clearly agree with the cessationists (tongues will simply cease) but cannot support the extreme push that is found in so many charismatic assemblies. None of the gifts were "advertised" as "yours for the asking," but were provided as the Spirit deemed necessary.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

If people speak in tongues, fine. If they do not fine too.

So my next question to you Ohio, my good friend... is why does your wife not speak in tongues now that you have left the LC and attend a tongue speaking church? I am not judging her or you. I am simply curious!

The first time was truly spontaneously of the Spirit, and unless the Lord wants her to speak in tongues again, she is content without tongues.

Tongues is a gift that some receive. If every one is speaking in tongues, then we should question whether it is the real thing, or just a performance. I would hate to think how many perform in tongues due to peer pressure.