Archimedes, I have copied this from another thread where you asked the same question, in case you missed it, here it is again:
Archimedes,
I offer another plank for the bridge;
To answer your question with scripture :
"In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:26-27
1 Cor 13:1- If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
I spent the first 15 years of my life in a pentacostal assembly of God church and I really don't see what the benefit of speaking in toungues the way they did is in any way. I'll trust what the Bible says before I trust some person who says they have a message from God. That's not the whole picture of it though, if I knew it completely I would say, but first go to the Bible everytime. Basically I think there is a place for it, but waaay too much emphasis is placed on it by some. What did Jesus have to say about it? That's what I want to know. What did He have to say about how we should pray? (I know what He said about it, just making a point). Do it in private, don't stand on the street corner shouting long drawn out speeches to heaven thinking it makes you better than the next guy, or that faith is a direct correlation between how long and how loud you pray. It's about what's in your heart. And it's between you and God.
Our emotions can convince us of many things. The best is to listen to what the bible says. I my self have been in my younger years to a lot of those pentecostal churches and to me it is mostly people wanting to have some extreme experience.
I once was dragged to this big event with this faith healer. I already knew it was going to be a big joke but went with the naive this girl friend of mine. There were many disable people hoping to get some healing from this fraud. There was a collection placed on the floor in front of the stage and it was a big card board box. They knew there leader put on such a great scam he needed a big box to hold all the money his poor victims would be giving.
So he is all loud and using all the right terms. People get to go up on the stage for some praying and oh course fall down after. He pushes there heads, he yells, jumps around. It is surprising he was so fat with all the exercise. I noticed there was a man in a weal chair that was not getting any help and told my friend I was going to go down and confront that scammer. So I stood right in front of the stage and said to him what about that guy in the weal chair. That man looked at me with a look of pure hatred. He knew I was not one of his naive followers and muttered under his breath "we will get to him".
Well well what do you know the scammer went from being fine and able to talk to falling down and too " drunk in the spirit" with in about five minuets of me confronting him. He knew his game well and knew he had to move fast. So the other workers in his group lined up in two rows and made a tunnel for the other people that had not gone up on stage including the poor man in the weal chair to go threw. This was suppose to be there healing.
There are many false leaders. Some are just caught up a lie and some are actually aware of there actions. If it does not line up with the bible walk out. Also God gave you a mind and intelligence to examine and question things.
Arch: I understand what I am saying when I speak in tongues in the sense that I know if I am praising, praying, rebuking, or whathaveyou. In the sense that I understand every word I say, then no, I don't. I never thought it was important. I don't say the same thing every time I speak in tongues. Sometimes it does sound the same, but I don't focus on the sounds or words.
I also don't think it is important that someone speak in tongues. I believe we should seek to, but whether we do or don't does not determine where we spend eternity, nor does it denote how holy someone is. What I believe is more important is that we use the gifts God gives us to bring glory to His name, and that we try to have all the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. I believe that is more important than any tongues we may (or may not) speak in.
I am absolutely fascinated by this phenomenon! Have you ever had anyone "translate" your "tongue speak"? I mean have you ever had anyone tell you what you just said.
I find that there are more people that speak in tongues then there are people that can translate. Do you know when the first "recorded" incident of speaking in tongues occurred?
Acts is not it because Acts says that they spoke in a language that was Understood by all present...not what we have today.
Also...can you do it on cue? Or does it just come upon you...you know...anywhere or at anytime?
OK, a perhaps unique perspective from a conservative Baptist who has spent nearly 7 years studying/working in a fairly charismatic Pentecostal Holiness environment...
I was taught from childhood (I suppose primarily by my church, since I don't remember my parents really addressing the issue during our family Bible studies) that the gift of tongues is a "dead gift", meaning that it is no longer given to Christians. Anyone who speaks in tongues is simply faking or has worked themselves into such a frenzy that they can't speak coherently.
Then I went to a Pentecostal Holiness college for 4 years (and I've been teaching at that same college for the past 2.5 years). I met genuine Christians who actively spoke in tongues. They were not worked into a frenzy, and they were not faking. BUT they did not understand what they were saying, there was no translator present, and it was always done in a very confused chaotic manner. One thing was always consistent, though: it was very important to them to be able to speak in tongues.
This new experience for me caused me to rethink the whole gift of tongues issue. I did some soul-searching, a lot of praying, and I studied 1 Corinthians 14 (and any related or cross-referenced passages), and came up with these basic ideas/guidelines for speaking in tongues.
First, there are two occasions where it is appropriate: 1) when there is a translator present and the message is edifying for all present (this could also be a gift of a specific language for the purpose of witnessing to someone in his/her native language), or 2) as a personal prayer language spoken in private to God.
Second, the gift of tongues is not given to everyone, and our focus should not be on obtaining that gift, but rather on worshiping and serving God to the best of our abilities with the gifts we already have.
Third, we should not condemn those who DO speak in tongues, for we are not God, and it is not our place to determine who is genuine and who is not.
Fourth, if speaking in tongues is practiced, it should be done in an orderly fashion. Random, hysterical, hyped-up, frenzied, all-at-the-same-time speaking should not be practiced.
Personally, I have never spoken in tongues, and I'm fairly confident in saying that God has not given me that gift. That does not make me any less sure of my place in Heaven. God has given me other gifts that I strive to use in service to and worship of Him. If at some point God does choose to give me the gift of tongues, I'll thank Him for it and allow Him to use me that way too.
