Speaking In Tongues Does Not Equal Salvation.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by geekette

Let me throw a monkey wrench into all of this discussion.

I spoke in tongues beginning in 1977 and for decades afterwards. I should note that I spoke in tongues for months before my parents would allow me to be baptized in Jesus' Name. (As for repentance, I think I have a much clearer and keener idea of what it means now, but I'm also acutely aware that depending on the beliefs, some things that Group A considers to be sinful are not considered so by Group B.)

These days, I consider myself very much on the outside. Depending on the day, I vacillate between agnosticism and atheism. But I can tell you that as I was making my journey out of Christianity and doubting day in and day out, I could still speak in tongues. And, I daresay, I still can now if I wanted to. (And I did, just now, to see if I still could. And I don't plan on doing so again any time soon because I don't want to offend people on this board.)

I am certain that there are people in churches who do not actually believe, but you'd think do from the fact that they're speaking and shouting in tongues at every church service. I am certain there are unrepentant, sinful tongue speakers in church every Sunday. Maybe even the pillars of your church. Maybe even your pastors.

My point? Just because someone can speak in tongues doesn't mean that they're a believer or saved. Tongues is a lousy marker for belief and salvation.

Depends on WHO is giving the utterance! The SPIRIT or the flesh! I would
fear to make a mockery out of the things of GOD!

[faithit166]

1 corinthians 14;20 brethren be not children in understanding howbeit in malice be ye children but in understanding be men (21) in the law it is written with men of other tongues and other lips will i speak unto this peopleand yet for all that will they not hear me saith the lord (22) wherefore tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them that believe. now a believer who has been filled with the holy ghost and who has spoken in tongues has already experienced for themselves,but yet an unbeliever who has not is yet to experience it

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

When was Peter baptized in Jesus name?

Jason,
Why would he not obey something he, himself, preached? That wouldn't make sense, IMO.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by faithit166

and you shall know them by their fruit,

And fruit doesn't show up on a newly planted tree. It take time. Nurturing, watering, etc. How are you
going to tell until the fruit shows up!

How are you going to see fruit from a newborn again "babe in Christ". The sign or first sign of LIFE is the
SOUND that comes from within. Natural or spiritually!

And Jesus said if His Father didn't plant it, it will be rooted up! Sometimes mercy is extended and a
second chance is given, by means of a transplant! Trees can be transplanted in another place. Major organs
are replaced and lives saved (mercy) by way of a transplant/transplants. Perhaps a second chance to get
it right!

Blessings,

[faithit166]

amen amen falla

[faithit166]

just as a baby born natural will cry the sign of life a new born babe will cry spiritually with a sign of speaking in tongues,praise god,you are absolutely correct falla thank you lord for truth

[geekette]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

This saddens me, but also makes my point.

Now can anyone prove that geekette "spoke in tongues" when she posted? No. (despite the familiariaty on AFF, its still the internet)

HOWEVER, the fact is that many "tongue talkers" are creatures of habit. Thats not to say that at one time God didn't genuinely give them a gift of speaking in tongues, but through repitition it has become carnal and not spiritual.

I have heard people pray before service who "spoke in tongues" the same "phrases" over and over, yet if someone walks in the sanctuary, they stop greet them "how you doing brother?" and go right back to "speaking in tongues" until another person comes in.

I've heard preachers who preach and as they get louder "speak in tongues" only to notice it was the same phrases time after time.

Now then, I'm not suggesting these are "fake tongues" but rather seems to be a carnal copy of something that was once genuinely given. As some folks say, the brain simply mimmicks what the body has done over and over again in the spirit, thus eventually taking the spiritual experience out of tongues. And it because something that some people turn on and off like the kitchen sink.


Now whether we take geekettes claims seriously or not, we know that there are those who "speak in tongues" in the flesh, and it is certainly plausible that such a person could continue on doing this long after turning away from the faith.

Yet such person could be gone from church for 10 years, come back one day, "speak in tongues" at the alter and repent, and the "church" would believe God didn't accept that repentance and there was still sin in their life.

But if that same person came back after 10 years, was pressured to go to the alter when they really didn't want to, and "spoke in tongues" through an old habit. People would be rejoicing in their "salvation".

I remember how, several years after getting the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues, I was in the very large graduate research library of my university. And I looked up "glossolalia" in the card catalog. And I walked up to the floor with doctoral dissertations and found the dissertation that someone had done on glossolalia. And I read part of it.

And I walked away from that reading wondering whether or not the baptism I'd received in 1977 was actually a true experience or if it was, as the dissertation indicated, a learned behavior. I wanted to believe it was a special gift from God, but that dissertation, and subsequent research, indicated that, well, maybe it wasn't.

That was pretty earth-shattering for me. Oh, I still believed in Jesus, but at that point I was less inclined to believe that speaking in tongues was the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

I feel really uncomfortable discussing this. On the one hand, I don't want to be accused of damaging someone's faith. However, on the other hand, I feel I have to be honest about my own experience. And I'm acutely aware that there will be some readers who will think that I never was baptized in the Holy Ghost and that I'm lying. That's your choice.

[geekette]

Originally Posted by Falla39

Depends on WHO is giving the utterance! The SPIRIT or the flesh! I would
fear to make a mockery out of the things of GOD!

I'm very sorry if I offended you, Falla, but I am telling the truth about my own experience.

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" -- Galatians 4:16

[MawMaw]

I witnessed several new people receive the Holy Ghost the other night at church. They ALL spoke with tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance.... just like the Bible says happens.

NEW people. New to the Experience. New people that most definitely would not know how to "fake" tongues.

It is always, ALWAYS a miraculous thing to witness!

I thank God that He chose the tongue (that unruly member) for EVIDENCE!!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

When was Peter baptized in Jesus name?

We don't know if he ever was.