Speaking in Tongues?
 

Just a question...my grandfather was a Pentecostal Evangelist and the Summers that my brother and I spent with he and my grandma, were always very busy. From one church to the next, one revival to the next, etc. One thing that always puzzled me was the repetitive tongue twisters, mainly by my grandma. She always said the same thing! The words never changed. And the more I traveled with them, the more I noticed that most of the people said the same things, all the time, almost verbatum. I came to the conclusion that most of these people who proclaimed to speak in tongues, were just very verbally creative and were excellent at being the center of attention. I have a VERY hard time believing ANY of them actually really spoke in tongues. To this day, I still laugh about it. Anyone have these same experiences? :neener

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

It could be for several reasons. I could be because that was what the spirit needed to say through them. But my best guess is that since the brain is a super strong computer that it learns the tempo and sound of the tongue and the brain, IMO, can bring that out when someone is trying very hard to speak in tongues. I say this because I have been there. Sometimes I have even done it and after that thought, "That was me and not God." Perhaps in the pursuit of being or staying spiritual and fitting in that this type of thing happens.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

just as we often repeat the same words of praise in English like
praise the Lord
Thank You, Jesus
Glory to God
We praise You, Lord
We give You Glory
We magnify Your name
etc,

some repeat certain phrases in their prayer language.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

I think we have a number of different phenomena going on here.

1) You assume that tongues is incoherent and thus random and so should not have sounds or phrases which are repeated for years by a large number of complete strangers. Isaiah 28:11, Acts 2, and other verses clearly indicate an actual language, but one that was not studied by the speaker.

2) Individuals seem to have their own distinct "prayer language" and seem to repeat the same phrase everytime they speak in tongues, but that distinct pattern is unique to that person

3) Some people do fake it

4) You assume that since some...many?...most?..are fakes, then all must be

Applying the same logic, because some religions are false, all religions are false. Because most doctrines are false, all doctrines are false. Because most gods are false, God is false.

I would say this is an incorrect assumption. There will always be some who attempt to imitate the genuine, but that only cheapens themselves, not the genuine.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Yep. A lady in our church gave the same message every time. Something like this (maybe someone can translate for us):

Kodio mykada, kedio mykada, kodio mykada, kedio mykada.
Kodio mykada, kedio mykada, kodio mykada, kedio mykada.
Kodio mykada, kai.

(repeat)

After two or three of the above, she would end with an extra "Kodio mykada, kai." Some kind of heavenly sonnet, I guess. Funny thing is, the interpretations were always different.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Well, "interpretation" is not necessarily "translation."

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

I have heard of instances where people would visit a Pentecostal church and someone would "give a message" in an actual language which they figured would not be understood by anyone in that congregation. Then they would get great delight when someone would "interpret" it. That same "message" in the same language would be "interpreted" differently by someone in a different church. The persons "giving the message' were convinced that the gifts of tongues and interpretation were not genuine and were not available to the church today and this confirmed it for them.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Interesting experiment. I'm curious to see what the result would be in the church I attend and others I have attended in my life. I would like to believe our leadership are enough in tune with God to quickly rebuke the experimenter, but unless it happens, one can never know.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

I think they call that being naive ;)

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

I'll be happen to help out. Where's your church? :heeheehee

My wife's a PK, and she remembers a couple of families in her Dad's AG church who were in competition to give the best messages and interpretations. They'd actually call on Saturday to try to find out what the sermon topic was going to be. Extra points for an interpretation that's relevant to the sermon, you know. :lol

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

I've been in a service where after the sermon someone would speak in tongues and the pastor would quickly interpret with words that would validate the sermon he had given.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

I can accept that the existence of fakes doesn't disprove the real thing. But it's pretty weird that some apparently think that the existence of the fake proves that there's also the real thing! Yes, someone here has made that assertion. (I don't recall who, for sure, so I won't speculate. May try to find it for ya. Seems like more than one has made that claim, I think.)

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Whatterya tryin' to say, Sam? :winkgrin

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Well, I wondered if the person speaking with tongues really intended to give a message or if he/she was just rejoicing in tongues.
I also wondered if the pastor did not quickly give an interpretation before anyone else could because he might have not known who might give the interpretation and what they might say.
I wondered if the pastor might have thought that this was just someone rejoicing and speaking in tongues so before anyone thought otherwise and gave an interpretation he just reiterated something he'd already said in his sermon.
I believe the pastor was a good man and, of course I don't know his heart, so I don't really know why he gave an interpretation and why he gave it so quickly. Often after a message there is a time of quiet to allow someone to interpret. The pastor did not allow any time of quiet this time but gave the interpretation quickly.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Thought so. :D

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

I know you're joking but I feel we are up to the challenge. 701 Highway 1 South, Oil City, Louisiana. Sunday AM 930 prayer, 10:00 worship; Sunday PM 6 Prayer, 630 worship; Wed PM 7 prayer, 730 worship.

Just dont try Spanish or whatever it is they speak in Afghanistan.

And dont worry, assuming that is your actual portrait, I wont spill the beans. That would ruin the experiment.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

:toofunny

I really have considered pulling a Borat on an unsuspecting church or camp meeting. Had it all planned out. First, I'd post the challenge on AFF, saying that I would be carrying $1000 cash with me, I would appear to get the Holy Ghost, complete with tongues (indistinguishable, I contend, from the real thing), and if someone stopped me mid-tongues and told me, "Stop right there. You are a fake. Leave this building and never return and never set foot in a Pentecostal church again as long as you live," and escorted me to the door and closed it behind me, I would knock on the door after five minutes and hand that person $1000 cash.

If I were to attempt this stunt, my money may or may not be safe, but, someone (perhaps many someones, around the country) would try to "discern" an innocent "true" convert and turn him away and really ruin his day. That, right there, is why I won't issue this challenge. It would be a devastating experience for an innocent bystander. And just to make a silly point? Nope. Not going to risk it.

Still. I bet nobody could really discern me. :winkgrin

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Oh, and my stunt wouldn't be a real language, actually. It would just be gibberish.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Yes, Timmy. Broadcasting your experiment before doing it would possibly skew the results and possibly with results detrimental to others. And yet, running the experiment without broadcasting it ahead of time may just fall under blaspheming the Holy Ghost and I certainly wouldnt advocate anyone do that.

As a side not, though, I have seen people "called down" fro disruptive behavior in church, but never was anyone told never to return to any Pentecostal church, or even never to return to the one where the event occurred. It is much more likely that you would be rebuked and "commanded" to remain silent and/or encouraged to repent.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

The one I posted would be a different kind of experiment! ;)

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Brother Sam,

I know we don't see eye to eye on all views, but I certainly agree with you here.

I would also like to say that I admire the way you respond to people who do not agree with you. You always accept it with a good spirit, never trying to hurt or insult as some would.


God Bless,

Sister Helen Febus

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Hello everyone!! ...I am new to AFF and I read the topic and I liked Sam's answers in regards to the fact that we do repeat certain words when we glorify God. It makes me remember when I moved in and lived with some friends who is a pastor; wife and children that started a daughter church in a vietnamese and filipino neighborhood. They were filipino family and spoke tagalog when they were with friends and sometimes he would preach to his tagolog congregation. Well I didn't understand tagolog but I would listen and he would say certain words over and over again. I love speaking in tongues because it edifies me and I fill renewed (weights fall off me). The church is not edified; only myself ...unless a interpreter comes into the picture; but that's a different tongues called (divers tongues) which is a gift of the Spirit and I really don't think I have that gift.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny

I know i'm not supposed to be laughing.
sorry

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

Wow!

That really makes sense!

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

When someone is genuinely speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost one is not aware that they are repeating certain words,it is entirely possible one is making intercession for matters one is not aware of.

While there are errors and excesses in alot of pentecostal and charismatic type of churches there are genuine articles too,one should use caution of making judgements in these kind of situations.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

This is a subject that should be discussed very carefully.

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

The following video is very helpful in understanding the gifts of tongues, prophecy and knowledge and why they ceased.


Speaking In Tongues Part A

God bless,
Mick

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

my personal belief is that 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 means that in this life we have incomplete knowledge and incomplete revelation and the gifts of the Spirit help us, but some day (the rapture to a dispensationalist) we will be perfected and the temporary stuff like gifts of the Spirit will no longer be necessary. A paraphrase of some of the passage in 1 Corinthians 13 could be, "In the future faith will give way to sight (2 Cor 5:7) and hope will turn into experience (Romans 8:24). Love alone is eternal."

Re: Speaking in Tongues?
 

i just want to share this if i may i very much love when diver kinds of tongues and intrepretation is used,it is so awesome to me i always find myself repenting for whatever when this happens just in case i did wrong or thought wrong this is what i wanted to share i would pray for god to use me any way that he could i remember saying lord if you ever use me in divers kinds or tongues or in the intrepretation let me know its you and not me one night a couple sisters and myself went and prayed at the church and all the sudden it got real quiet and it was like an egg was cracked on top of my head but oil was dripping down my whole body and suddenly tongues came out of my mouth so fast it escaped me i must say it was the most awecome feeling i had felt he used me in the tongue but used another sister in the intrepretation and the sister said the message was to her it was so awesome just wanted to share