Jul
14
Tongues
July 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There are millions of pretrib Christians who speak in tongue. They have had the wonderful personal experience of having the Holy Spirit speak through their spirit to God. “For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Cor. 14:2; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). They have felt this experience lift them up and encouragement them. “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 1CO 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues…” (1 Cor. 14:4-5; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).God wants us all to speak in tongue because of the spiritual benefits, but He has certain rules He wants us to follow when we are in church. There are many pretrib Christians who break these rules in their churches every Sunday. The rule is that they are not to speak in tongues in church. Many churches allow their members to speak in tongues during their worship meeting and sometime the pastors encourage the whole congregation to speak in tongues all at one time. These Christians don’t realize the Lord doesn’t want them to do this. Why? Because if there are any unbelievers in their mist, they will think they are mad. God doesn’t want the unbelievers to think Christians are nuts. He wants the unbeliever to feel welcome so that during the message, the Holy Spirit can convict them of the sin of not accepting the Lord. But if they think everyone is mad, they will not want to be there. They will feel uncomfortable. He or she would not want to be like the people there.
The Lord through Paul says it this way.
Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 1CO 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 1CO 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. (1 Cor. 14:23-25; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Unbelievers through the world have heard of these Christians who speak in tongues in this way and most don’t understand it and think they are mad. It’s like all the Christians in the church turn into spiritual Doctor Jeckle and Mr Hide for a few minutes. They become unintelligible barbarians. Paul writes, “If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me” (1 Cor. 14:23-25; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Will these Christians in these churches stop? Many won’t. But the goal of this blog is to see where we error and change. God wants us to walk in truth. If the shoe fits, wear it. In other words, God has all throughout our lives been trying to get the truth to us. Once we see where we error, we are suppose to change. If we don’t, we are being rebellious. We will stand before Him some day and be judged for the good and bad we did in the body. For those who believe in many false doctrines, it is going to be devastating.
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