Crosscountry4jesus' Homepage (Tongues: are they for today?)

THE LETTER THAT FOLLOWS IS A RESPONSE TO A WEBSITE THAT I CAME ACROSS THAT INCLUDED THE "MODERN DAY TONGUES MOVEMENT" WITH A NUMBER OF CULTS.

AN INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: During my corresponadance with the author of the article that I address here, he replied to my e-mail in which I warned him to be careful about blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This man claims to be the pastor of a Baptist church in Texas, and his reply to my e-mail was "F---- OFF!" (I put the blanks in; he actually typed in the whole word. The irony of all this is while this man attacks the gifts of the Holy Spirit with great conviction (but very little Scriptural backing), he displays his personal need for the gift of tongues, which would build his spiritual man up, and give him the victory over his foul mouth! It used to puzzle me as to why so many of the Body of Christ are so engaged in trying to destroy the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians, but this episode really brings the Scripture to Light, which declares that the flesh is at enmity with the Spirit. Those who would attack the Holy Spirit and His various manifestations (His Gifts) in a person's life, are carnal, and strive against His Work in the flesh. But the things of God are Spiritually discerned.

IS THIS MAN SAVED? God knows. He may be, but like the church in Corinth, he has yielded to his own fleshly wisdom instead of the True Wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit...

My comments are in black type, His comments are in blue, and references to Scripture are in red. The reasons for this color scheme is because the church is being bruised (black and blue) by so much fighting against each other, while the enemy of our souls watches and laughs at the church. The Precious Blood of Jesus Christ was spilled for us all, to bring Healing to us. To heal us of our sin and of our diseases, of our divisions and our pride. We need to start allowing His Work to be completed in us.

For that reason, I am not including his website address...my desire is that he will truly come to repentance and to KNOW the Love of Christ, which truly passes all fleshly understanding. I pray the Lord does a transforming work in him, and truly makes him a pastor after His own Heart.

Praise the Lord! I came across your site while I was searching for some information concerning the cultic teaching of "Divine metaphysics".

I am an evangelist, and have been preaching the Word of God for 14 years on the streets of America. On the streets, I have dealt extensively "hands on" with various cults, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Moonies, Hari Krishnas, wiccans, etc. etc. etc. I am always blessed when I see others who are combating false doctrinal teachings.

I am writing this because of your teaching on tongues, which I believe is in error, and I pray you will read this with the understanding that it is not an attack, nor is it a rebuke.

Just as the Word of God says "we know in part, and we prophesy in part," none of us can claim to have all the answers "down pat". It could be possible that part of what I know concerning the Word of God is something you have not yet learned! I am sure that also applies in reverse…part of what you know concerning the Word of God could be something I have not learned.

I would just ask you to prayerfully consider this that I write in reply to some points you have made. For the sake of continuity, I will type my comments in BLACK, and put your comments in BLUE.

If Catholics and members of modernistic denominations were really receiving a scriptural Holy Spirit experience from God, THEY WOULD BE COMING OUT OF THESE UNSCRIPTURAL ORGANIZATIONS just as the Bible teaches in II Corinthians 6:17,18. If these people were really receiving the Holy Spirit, they would be led to obey the Word of God.

The argument I hear a lot on the street concerning the reason many people don't go to church is because of all the hypocrites in the church. Personally, I believe this is a very valid argument. The church in America is filled with self-righteous hypocrites who are content to have a form of godliness, yet in their actions they deny the power of that godliness.

But what I explain to those people is that although every church may have hypocrites in it, it doesn't negate the fact that Jesus Christ is the Only Way to eternal life. I encourage them to find a church and be the light to that church…to live in truth before them, and show the hypocrites by their life that they should live a life void of hypocrisy.

The same thing applies with the gift of tongues. Just because the gift is misused, doesn't mean that it is not real.
I know you will agree with me that you are not without sin.
I believe you will agree that you have to struggle with sin on a daily basis.
Yet you probably believe that when you asked Jesus Christ to reign in your life, and to save your soul, you became the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Now, following your line of reasoning when you said: "If these people were really receiving the Holy Spirit, they would be led to obey the Word of God…" I COULD ask you why you are not obeying the Word of God on a consistent basis, since you profess to be the temple of the Holy Spirit?
IF the Holy Spirit truly dwells within you, why are you not walking a completely victorious life - one that is free from sin and error?

The truth of the matter is this: Although the Holy Spirit dwells in a person, there is a constant battle going on between the fleshly reasoning and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in a person's life. The church in Corinth is a very perfect example of this. While we have a tendency to say that this church was a pitiful example of Christianity, if we would be honest, just about every congregation in America, whether it is "Full-gospel" "Non-denominational", "Charismatic", "Pentecostal", or Lutheran, Baptist, or Church of Christ, or whatever, is a pitiful example of Christianity.

American Christians, by and large are so hedonistic, worldly and self-centered, it is frightening. BUT…I love my brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of how flawed they may be. I understand that I am flawed as well, and that is why we need a Savior!
Obviously, the gifts of the Holy Spirit (including tongues) were in operation in Corinth. Paul told this flawed church to covet to prophesy and not to forbid speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:39). I wonder if there was anyone who thought this thought concerning the Church at Corinth: "If these people were really receiving the Holy Spirit, they would be led to obey the Word of God…"?

You say that if Catholics and members of modernistic denominations were really receiving a scriptural Holy Spirit experience from God, they would be coming out of these unscriptural organizations, just as the Bible teaches in 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.
Actually Paul is calling the Church in Corinth to be separate from the world and the ways of the world in this passage. Although they had the Holy Spirit present in their lives, Paul still needed to exhort them to be separate from the world.
Brother, can I say that if the members of your church were really receiving a scriptural Holy Spirit experience from God, they would be coming out of the worldly mindset they have, selling everything they have, and separating themselves from the ways of the world, preaching the gospel to everyone around them, and doing all they possibly can to further the Kingdom of God?
They wouldn't be conformed to this world, would have no debt, and would be walking in love toward one another. In all honesty, can you say your congregation, and the Baptist church as a whole lives in line with the above principles?
I would venture to say "NO".
Yet the Bible outlines these principles. And yet you profess to have the Holy Spirit in you. Is there some kind of double standard we can hold concerning HOW we want to interpret scripture so it will line up with our lifestyle, and our preferences?
The fact is, Paul was instructing the flawed church of Corinth in how they should walk as Christians.
We who have been redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ are growing in Him, and learning His Will for our lives as we walk with Him on a daily basis.
Like Paul, none of us have attained the place where we need to be in Christ, but we are to press forward, to the mark for the wonderful prize of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus, and we should be encouraging our brothers and sisters to do the same, as well.
Please understand: I am in NO WAY justifying or excusing Catholicism. I believe the Catholic Church and the bulk of its' doctrines are in gross error.
I believe that those Catholics who truly become Born Again should get into a church that will teach them the Word of God in truth.
At the same time, I can believe that a Christian can walk in error for a while before they understand that they have been in error. If you were completely honest with yourself, and with God, you would have to admit that you have walked in error in some areas of your life since you became a Christian, and the Holy Spirit came to dwell in you.
I praise God for His Grace and Mercy towards me.

For you to judge the entire "Charismatic" or "Pentecostal" or "Full Gospel" community because of the obvious error in the "Catholic Charismatic" church or in some other Christian circles, is absolutely wrong.
While there are many "Full-Gospel" churches that abuse and misuse and exploit the spiritual gifts, this doesn't negate the authenticity of those gifts. If you gave me a gift of one thousand dollars to further the Kingdom of God, and I squandered all of it in foolishness, it wouldn't change the fact that you had given me a gift of one thousand dollars. I would be guilty of misusing that gift, but my misuse of that gift doesn't negate the existence of that gift.
If you gave 20 people a gift of one thousand dollars, and 19 of those people misused the gift, their misuse of the gift wouldn't invalidate the one faithful person's work to further the Kingdom of God.

"CHARISMA" is found 17 times in the Greek New Testament. It is translated "gift" 15 times, and "free gift" 2 times. With one exception, it is found only in the epistles of Paul. He uses it in Rom. 6:23, "..the GIFT of God is eternal life..." He also used it 5 times in 1 Cor. 12, where he speaks of the "GIFTS" of the Spirit, including the gift of tongues. We are hearing much today about the "Charismatic" revival or renewal. They usually emphasize tongues and healing, and ignore the other gifts mentioned in the New Testament.

For you to actually make the statement "They usually emphasize tongues and healing, and ignore the other gifts mentioned in the New Testament", shows me that you are actually very limited in your personal experience with "Charismatic" churches.
I have been to many where the emphasis is on serving and walking in obedience to the Will of God.
Just because they have altar calls for healings, doesn't mean their emphasis is on healings. They simply believe that the Word of God declares our God to be capable of healing a person, regardless of their condition.
Just because they may have a tongue and an interpretation of that tongue doesn't mean that is where their emphasis is. They just believe that God is able to speak through them through the gift of tongues. They don't want to limit God.

Don't misunderstand me. I have been to several "Charismatic" - "Pentecostal" churches where there HAS been an unbalanced emphasis on tongues and healing. But I have been to many others that balance the Word of God with the Gifts of God.

1 Cor 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Following your logic, you say that since the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues and the gift of prophecy is done away with, this section of scripture is really irrelevant for today. Yet I am sure you would profess to believe that the Bible is the inspired inerrant Word of God, and that:

2 Tim 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

If tongues are not for today, then there is a section of the Bible that you cannot apply to your life. You can explain that part of the Bible away. Then you can explain other parts of the Bible away so you can justify your reason and logic.
You no longer need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
You no longer need to heed the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:24-27.

If there are sections of the Bible that are irrelevant for you, then I am afraid that you are falling into a similar error as the Mormons who say that the Bible is true INSOFAR AS IT IS CORRECTLY TRANSLATED.
Then they redefine the Word of God to conform to their preconceived notions, rather than conforming their lives to the Word of God.
Since tongues and apostles, and prophets, and healings are not for today, then we can also ignore 1 Corinthians 12:31, which says that we should covet earnestly the best gifts.

Certainly Satan doesn't want the Church of God to walk in the gifts of the Spirit, because that is where the Power of God is displayed to the world. So he would want us to ignore the scripture that says to covet EARNESTLY the best gifts.
Just before that verse, Paul describes what the best gifts are:

1 Cor 12: 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

According to your theology, 5 of those gifts are no longer to be had. Satan is truly having a time getting Christians to have a form of godliness, yet denying the POWER thereof.
Actually, if these gifts are done away with, then we might as well tear out 1 Corinthians 12-14. I am certain, though that you would not want to do that, because you would want to retain the passage that says:

1 Cor 14: 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

"UNKNOWN" tongues are not to be found in the Bible at all. Not one time is "unknown tongues" to be found. "Unknown" is printed in italics in 1 Cor. 14, and this means that it was not in the Greek manuscripts at all, but was added by the translators. (In this instance they do not clarify but confuse the subject). Every tongue spoken in the New Testament was a known language to some race or people. There are no instances of a heavenly language, unknown language or gibberish spoken in the N.T

I would address the last sentence of the above passage where you said there are no instances of a heavenly language:

1 Cor 13: 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Here Paul speaks of a language of men, and a language of angels as being distinct from one another. I believe an angelic language would qualify as a heavenly language. Also, a person must deal with the passage in Mark 16:17:

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (KJV)

It would do well for you to understand what the Lord was saying here… "They shall speak with NEW (not other, or different) tongues". THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON DEFINES THIS WORD AS FOLLOWS:

2537 kainos-new a) as respects form: recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn b) as respects substance: of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of

2. Three Years Later At The House Of Cornelius. Acts 10:34- 48 Cornelius was an unsaved Italian gentile who was a centurion of the Roman army. Peter was sent to tell him how to be saved. Acts 11:14. When he preached the gospel to them, they believed and were saved. (That is, Cornelius and others of his household). At that very moment they received the "gift of the Holy Ghost", and began to speak "with tongues, and magnify God." Acts 10:45,46. They did not pray for, ask for, or even long for, the gift of tongues. Most likely they had never heard of tongues as a gift.

There are countless testimonies of Christians who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and who have spoken in other languages as a result of that baptism, without ANYONE telling them about the gift of tongues.
If you fellowshipped with Charismatic or Pentecostal or Full-Gospel Christians, you would also hear of those testimonies. But even if you did hear of those testimonies, the chances are that you would discount them, because your mind is already made up in this area.

The fact of the matter is that it is not wrong for a person to ask for the gift of tongues. The Word of God exhorts us to covet earnestly the best gifts! Or is that page in your Bible torn out?

I will acknowledge to you that there are some churches that over-emphasize the doctrine of tongues. There are some churches that "coach" people to receive the gift of tongues. This is wrong.

I personally don't believe in the doctrine of "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues".

I believe the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in one's life is that he or she will manifest the fruits of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5.

Having said that, I do believe that Baptism of the Holy Spirit MAY result in the speaking of tongues, or the gift of healing, or the gift of prophecy or other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

This event represents the giving of the Spirit to the gentiles as He was given to the Jews at Pentecost. More than anything else, these tongues were a "sign to the 7 Jews present that God was concerned about the gentiles as well as the Jews. Acts 10:45,46; and 11:12. They went back to the Jerusalem Church and testified to the Jews what God had done among the gentiles. Acts 11. However, they did not call this even a gentile Pentecost, and those who do so today are in error. No doubt but what a number of different languages were represented here, as there were at Pentecost.

You are reading into scripture by making that last statement, building a doctrine on your preconceived assumption that there are no tongues that are of a "heavenly language". This is the same error that cults make.
They interpret the Word of God to support their own ideas. The Jehovah's Witnesses have translated their Bible around the preconceived notion that Jesus is not God.

In Acts 10, Cornelius had his relatives and close friends there. All of my relatives and friends speak English. And even if I had friends or relatives who were bi-lingual…it wouldn't be a surprise to me to hear them speak English!
Personally, I believe the scripture doesn't say what type of tongues they were speaking, but a better case could be made that in this setting, they were probably speaking in the "tongues of angels".
But really, all we know from the scripture is that they were speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. That is a wonderful thing!

4. Why Are Tongues Not Mentioned Elsewhere? Other than the abuse of tongues at Corinth (which we will deal with later), there is not one other single instance of the gift of tongues in the whole Bible. At the time that 1st Corinthians was written in 57 A.D., there were only 4 New Testament books written. They were Matthew, Mark, and I & II Thessalonians. ONLY two books of the New Testament mentions the gift of tongues and these are Acts and I Corinthians.

You are not exactly telling the truth. As I pointed out earlier, Mark mentions the fact that those who believe would speak with "new tongues".
Our Lord didn't say these signs will follow the first two or three generations of men that believe.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Satan would truly love to deceive unsuspecting Christians into believing that there is no separate "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" which endues us with Power (gifts) from on High.

He doesn't want Christians to walk in the fullness of what God wants them to walk in. He doesn't want us to speak in those NEW tongues, because when we do, our spirit is edified (1 Corinthians 14:2, 4), which means that we grow more aware of the spiritual battle that is taking place in this world.
Satan doesn't want us to walk in the authority that is given to us to cast out devils. He doesn't want us to understand that we have authority over the serpents, the devil and his demons. He doesn't want us to understand that if we are walking in the fullness of God, that nothing can by any means harm us, unless the Lord allows it to be so.
I have heard of a witch doctor giving a missionary something to drink that had poison in it, and the missionary didn't know there was poison in it. The witch doctor watched to see what would happen, and when the missionary did not die, the witch doctor gave his heart to Jesus!
Satan doesn't want us to lay hands on the sick, and to know that they will recover, because when the Power of God is manifested through a mere mortal, God will be glorified, and souls will be saved. The fact is this: Those who deny the Baptism of the holy Spirit and the gifts of God only have a form of godliness, but in their works, they deny the power of God.

Man's logic or philosophy is not a threat to Satan's kingdom. There are many denominations in Christianity who have bought Satan's lies, and who are living defeated lives, and Satan is having a hay-day with them as he lulls them into complacency. He doesn't care if a church is filled with Christians. That is no threat to him. But if a church is filled with Christians who truly believe that God is the same today as He was Yesterday, that the gifts of God are for every believer, and that He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world, he will have to relinquish his hold on that area where the church resides.

Acts was written in 65 A.D. and only mentions tongues these three times. Romans, II Corinthians and Galatians were written in 60 A.D and there is no mention of the gift of tongues. Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians were written 64 A.D. and there is no mention of tongues. I & II Timothy and Titus were written at an unknown date, but there is no mention of tongues. Philemon was written in 64 A.D., Hebrews in 70 A.D., James in 62 A.D., I Peter in 60 A.D., II Peter in 66 A.D. and there is no mention of tongues in them. I, II, & III John were written in 90 A.D., Jude in 66 A.D. and Revelation in 96 A.D. and none of these mention the gift of tongues.

While it is true that the gift of tongues is not specifically mentioned in these books, Spiritual Gifts ARE mentioned in a few of them, and tongues could be included as one of those gifts. Romans mentions Spiritual gifts, of which tongues would be included:

Rom 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

1 and 2 Timothy also mention a spiritual gift that was imparted to Timothy by the laying on of hands.

1 Tim 4: 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

2 Timothy explains why this gift was imparted to Timothy in verse 7: God has given us a spirit of Power, a spirit of Love, and a spirit of a sound mind. To effectively minister the Word of God, all three of these Characteristics must be in place.

2 Tim 1: 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

In 1 Peter, the church is encouraged to use whatever gift had been given to each person, as good stewards of that gift. Tongues could also be referred to here. The purpose of the gift is that God would be glorified in all things.

1 Pet 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

It seems incredible if tongues were to continue, that all of these inspired books could be written with no mention of the gift of tongues. Many of Paul's experiences in missionary travel are given in Acts and his Epistles, but none of these accounts mention tongues, except the ones we have already listed.

I believe the reason why the subject of tongues was such a focus in the book of 1 Corinthians is because the Corinthians were at the point where they were idolizing this gift.
Paul wrote what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12-14, and in Romans 12 to encourage the church to exercise the gifts, but not to idolize them.
Just as the Corinthian church was overtaken by all kinds of carnality, and Paul had to teach them concerning their carnal ways, he also had to teach them in the area of Spiritual gifts.
In fact, he prefaces his instruction concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit this way:

1 Cor 12: 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

Then he goes on to teach the proper order in the church concerning these gifts. Again, I will acknowledge to you this one thing: in many "Spirit-filled" congregations, the gifts are focused on more than the Giver of those gifts.
They are in danger of idolizing the spiritual gifts. It would do well for Spirit filled Christians to become very acquainted with the instruction Paul gives the Corinthians in this area.
By your own admission, the letter to the Corinthian church was one of the first to be written. I have no doubt that this letter was circulated to other churches, so they could become grounded concerning these doctrinal issues as well.

Having established the fact that Paul was setting forth order in the Corinthian church concerning various issues, we can then see that in the book of Galatians, Paul was battling legalism. So he didn't have to address the area of the abuse of spiritual gifts in the church.

I have no doubt that the Corinthians eventually received a copy of the letter to the Galatians, and that the Galatians received a copy of the Corinthian letters. That this was a pattern in the early church can be seen in Paul's letter to the church in Collosse, and possibly to the church in Thessalonica:

Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

1Thes 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

In the letters to Timothy, he was addressing how a leader of the church must conduct himself, and what standards the church must live by.

1 Thessalonians deals with instruction to the church concerning Holiness, charity, words of encouragement concerning those who have died, the necessity of vigilance in our walk concerning the coming of our Lord, and church order.

2 Thessalonians taught the church concerning the doctrine of the coming of the Lord.

I could go on, but I think it is clear that each book that Paul wrote is unique in its subject matter, and in it's instruction to the church. Some issues may be covered more than once, but the fact is, Paul dealt with the subject of Spiritual gifts quite thoroughly in his first epistle to the Corinthians.

Which brings us to a commonly misinterpreted passage of scripture.

III. The Ceasing Of Tongues

"Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." I Cor. 13:8-10. A few words of explanation are in order for certain words found in the above scripture. "PROPHECIES" refers to the office of the prophet who received a direct revelation of the future from the Lord. "Fail" does not mean that some prophecies given by Divine inspiration would not come to pass, but rather that there would be no need of prophecies when the Word of God was complete. John wrote the last prophecies in 96 A.D. on the Isle of Patmos. Now there is no need for prophecies and prophets for John finished that work.

Actually, "prophecies" only refers to the office of the prophet in YOUR mind. The truth of the matter is that the word "PROPHET" refers to the office of the prophet.

The Prophetic is NOT just direct revelation of the future from the Lord concerning the end-times.

The prophetic will build up the church, will comfort the church, and will exhort the church to be prepared for the coming of the Lord.

The Prophetic also deals personally with individuals, like the case of Paul when Agabus prophesied to him (Acts 21:10-11).

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

1 Cor 14:1-5 1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

If this passage does not pertain to the Body of Christ today, and only serves to be a historical footnote, then, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, we need to "read into the Word" to determine what pertains to now, and what pertained to then, so the Word will conform to our doctrinal stance.

"TONGUES . . . SHALL CEASE." Tongues here means the gift of tongues. Tongues (languages) have to be learned today, they are not received as a gift. If they could be received as a gift, it would save the missionaries a lot of study on the foreign field. God said the "tongues . . . shall cease", and they have. Why? Because they are no longer needed, since we now have the complete Word of God!

This is your opinion. You believe they are no longer needed, because of your mishandling of the Word of God. I believe that if you have an open heart to the Truth, you may have already been getting an idea that the gift of tongues has not been done away with.
Even if there was no angelic language, (although I believe 1 Corinthians 13:1 says there is and Mark 16 implies it) and the gift of tongues was composed only of languages of men, there are testimonies of gatherings where a person spoke in tongues, and another person understood what they were saying because the tongues were uttered in their own language.

"KNOWLEDGE . . . SHALL VANISH AWAY." "Knowledge" here means revelatory knowledge necessary for completing the Word of God. After the last book of the Bible was finished this "knowledge" vanished away, because there was no more need. This interpretation is confirmed in verse 9, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part." At the time that Paul wrote this only small parts of the New Testament had been written by "prophecy" and by "knowledge", so there was need for these gifts to be continued until it was completed.

There is nothing in this passage that would support what you claim to be true. If anything, you should have prefaced that statement with "I personally believe that "Knowledge" here means revelatory knowledge necessary for completing the Word of God."
We both know that there are many people who don't do research on their own, and who are inclined to take everything at face value. By making the statement above, you are actually telling an unlearned person that what you are saying is a fact, and not your own personal convictions. Cults do this all the time.
The truth of the matter is this: The word translated "knowledge" here is actually the Greek word "gnosis":

1108 gnosis-1) knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding a) the general knowledge of Christian religion
b) the deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more advanced
c) especially of things lawful and unlawful for Christians
d) moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living

There is nothing in this definition that would substantiate your statement.

"But when that which is PERFECT is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." V. 10. "Perfect" does not here refer to Christ, as some would have you to believe. "This adjective (used as a noun) is in the neuter gender. Therefore, it is a reference to the finished (perfect) or completed Word of God. If it referred to Christ, it would be in the masculine gender."--William G. Bellshaw, Th.M. When the New Testament was completed, prophecy, tongues and knowledge were no longer needed. This interpretation of V. 10 is also confirmed by Merrill F. Unger and Roy L. Laurin in his commentary on I Corinthians.

1 Cor 13: 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Many teachers say that 1 Corinthians 13:10 teaches that tongues and prophecy will one day be done away with.
But I don't believe that is what it is saying at all. I believe spiritual understanding is needed for this passage.

The subject of 1 Corinthians 13 is Christian Love.

Following the context, then, we can see that when perfect love (which would also be in the neuter gender) comes, then that which is in part shall be done away.

What does this mean? I believe many "scholars" who have wrestled with the scripture have grossly misunderstood this passage.

Whether there be prophecies, they will fail…we won't be constantly operating in the prophetic, and once they come to pass, they are done. It will no longer be in effect. But Love will ALWAYS CONTINUE.

That word "faileth" as it pertains to Love in 1 Corinthians 13:8 is not the same word translated as faileth in the second part of the verse when it speaks of prophecies. What it is saying, is Love never falls. You can't go wrong if you are walking in Love toward God and toward your brothers and sisters.
A prophetic word may not come to pass, like Jonah's word to Nineveh. But Love won't ever let you down.
A person who has the gift of tongues, whether it is of men or of angels, won't constantly operate in that gift.
I don't constantly speak English.
Sometimes I am silent.
But a person who is walking in the fruit of the Spirit which is Love, will be able to be consistent in his Love toward others.

My knowledge in some areas will be absolutely useless in certain circumstances. Maybe I won't be well versed in a particular subject when I am witnessing to someone.
But if I am walking in genuine Love toward them, it will bear fruit.
We know in part, but when we yield to the fruit of the Spirit to work in us, we will understand the mystery of godliness that works in us.
When we know in part, we wrestle with the part of the knowledge we have (getting involved with philosophical musings, and incorrect assumptions), and often we become puffed up by that knowledge, and deal with our fleshly carnal mind, instead of giving the Spirit of God liberty in our daily affairs.
We prophecy in part, because we aren't walking in the fullness of what God would have us to walk in, because we haven't been perfected by our love toward God or toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

When I was an immature Christian, I only understood part of what I needed to understand…but when I became a man (perfected in the love of Christ), the way I used to look at things changed.

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 13 is not negating any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is simply teaching us that if we operate in these gifts without the Love of God in our lives, those gifts won't profit us anything.

IV. The Regulation Of Tongues

We have just established that tongues have ceased, according to the Bible. ( I pray that by now you see that you have established no such thing). However, we must remember that tongues HAD NOT ceased when Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth. Tongues were still permitted, but this church was abusing the use of tongues. (On this you and I agree) Remember, that this church was one that had to be often corrected.
They had turned the Lord's Supper into a drunken banquet. In fact Paul had to correct something that was wrong in this church in every chapter in I Corinthians. In I Cor 14, Paul gives some very strict rules concerning the use of tongues. The modern day tongue movement violates almost every one of these rules. We repeat, TONGUES have CEASED! However, if they were in effect today, then these rules would apply. The very fact that the tongues people today ignore these rules, make a powerful argument against modern day tongues!

Actually what it really does is shows us how the American church has deviated to the place of the Church in Corinth. Although the Corinthian church was misusing the gift, Paul didn't see it as a "powerful argument" against the gift of tongues in that day.
He simply addressed the issue to correct the abuse of the situation.

Now let us notice a few of those regulations. (Remember that "unknown" is in italics and not in the Greek manuscripts). 1. Paul sought to show them that prophecy was much more edifying than tongues. V. 1-6.

ACTUALLY, PAUL WAS INSTRUCTING THEM THAT PROPHECY WAS MUCH MORE EDIFYING TO THE CHURCH. BUT THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS EDIFYING TO OUR SELVES (VERSE 4). NOTICE THAT PAUL SAID THAT HE WOULD THAT EVERYONE SPOKE IN TONGUES…OF COURSE, YOU WOULDN'T MENTION THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR SLANTED PRESENTATION. I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE THE CASE IN DEALING WITH JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND MORMONS, AS WELL AS OTHER CULTS.

2. He also taught them that an uncertain sound from the trumpet or a tongue that was not understood, would only result in confusion. V. 7-17.

Please, my brother, do not twist the scriptures to make your biased point. You make it sound like Paul was attacking the gift of tongues. But read what he actually says:

1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

3. Five words that can be understood are better than ten thousand words that could not be understood. V. 19.

Actually, what Paul says is that IN THE CHURCH he would rather speak five words with his understanding so he can teach others also, than ten thousand words that cannot be understood.
Your choice of words made it sound like Paul was saying he would rather speak in his own language under any circumstance, rather than the gift of tongues.
Your statements are all misleading to the unlearned.
Again, this is typical cultic behavior, twisting the scriptures so they appear to say what your man-made doctrine teaches.

1 Cor 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

4. Tongues were for a sign (to the Jews, I Cor. 1:22), to the unbeliever and not for the enjoyment of the believer. V. 22.

Personally, I enjoy the tangible Presence of the Lord in my life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

I Corinthians 14:2 says that the one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but God, FOR NO MAN UNDERSTANDS HIM, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
A couple of points are to be seen here.

1) If the one who speaks in a tongue doesn't speak to men, but to God only, and if NO MAN understands him, I believe that here Paul is speaking of an angelic language…the NEW tongues that Jesus spoke of in Mark 16.

2) I believe it is absolutely enjoyable to speak to God in the Spirit. If you honestly yielded to the Work of the Holy Spirit, you would find it enjoyable as well, and you would repent of your blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

3) The Pharisees did not understand the workings of the Holy Spirit through Jesus. So they said he was casting out devils through the devil. Jesus told them that they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit, because they were speaking out against what was happening beyond their carnal understanding.

Please Don't condemn a gift from God just because your fleshly mind cannot comprehend it.

4) BUT YOU ARE PARTIALLY RIGHT IN YOUR STATEMENT. TONGUES ARE NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR ENJOYMENT. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY ENJOYABLE TO BE A VESSEL THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS THROUGH.

1 Cor 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1 Cor 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Cor 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

5. Gibberish flowing from the mouth only confused the unlearned and turned them from the truth. V. 23.

BROTHER, I AGAIN EXHORT YOU TO BE CAREFUL IN YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS. Paul does not refer to tongues as "gibberish". Your statement actually says that the tongues referred to in verse 23 was gibberish. Yet as you have seen through the scriptures, Paul says that through the use of tongues one is speaking to God.
The Holy Spirit does not engage in "Gibberish". You are in much need of repentance here.

What Paul actually said was that if everyone was speaking in the gift of tongues, which is given to us by the Holy Spirit, and someone who was unlearned came in, they wouldn't understand, and they may think everyone was crazy.

Although you hold the title of a pastor, it would seem that you are unlearned as well, just by your revealing statement.

6. No more than three people were to speak in tongues at the same service. Even then, only one could speak at a time. V. 27. The modern day tongues movement ignores this time and time again!

Again, I agree with you that there is much error in the churches concerning the use and misuse of the gift of tongues. But that still doesn't mean that tongues are not for today.
I have been to many churches where there is wonderful order concerning the gift of tongues.

When I was in the army, I knew many white men who were racists. They hated all blacks. Or they hated all Mexicans. Or they just hated everyone who wasn't their same color.
I was never brought up to hate people just because of the color of their skin, so I really couldn't understand why they were like they were.
I began to ask them why they hated these people. I found that some didn't really know why. They were just raised by racist parents, and were taught to believe they were superior.
Others had a bad experience with one or two persons of another race, so they judged every one of them by their experience with a few bad examples.

This is the trap that you have fallen into. You have hated your Pentecostal brothers and sisters, either because you have been indoctrinated to believe they are in error, or because you have gone to a few churches where you saw great abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
You may say you don't hate them because you know according to the Word of God that you mustn't hate. But the fact is, anyone reading your work concerning tongues can see the venom on their own.

You appear to be a spiritual racist, and you are speaking ill of things you have not understood with your fleshly reasoning. This is not an attack against you…I just don't know of any other way to illustrate the problem.

8. There was to be no confusion in the service, for "God is not the author of confusion . . ." V. 33. Confusion best describes many modern day meetings when they speak in tongues.

Again, I don't agree with your statement. Even If a service is out of order through the speaking and singing of tongues, confusion is the exception rather than the rule.

9. Women were not to speak in the churches, either in tongues or their regular language. V.34,35. It is a well known fact that the tongues movement today sanctions women talking in tongues and preaching. Whatever they are doing in this respect, you may be sure that it is not of God!

See? I was correct. Although you prefer to tear out all the passages dealing with the Spiritual Gifts, you certainly want to retain those dealing with women preaching in the church.

Again, you over simplify the point. While a great many (but not all) "Charismatic" churches do sanction women talking in tongues and preaching, MOST Pentecostal churches do not sanction women preaching.

10. "All things (were to) be done decently and in order." V. 40. This writer has been present in services where people who spoke in tongues uncovered their nakedness while under this power!

This writer has met Baptist preachers who willingly give themselves over to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, because they say they are saved by grace, and they are going to sin anyway, so what's the difference? They might lose some rewards, but hey…even if they lose their rewards, they still are going to make it because they prayed a prayer once, and were baptized.

Do I lump all Baptists together?

Do I say they all have that attitude?

No. I know some (many) wonderful men and women of God who I esteem very highly who are in the Baptist denomination. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but we honor and respect one another as brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ.

If tongues were in effect today, then the above regulations would have to govern their use.

V. Conclusion If tongues today are unscriptural, why is there so much emphasis on this subject? There are several possible sources for tongues. (1) Divine. We have already ruled this out. (2) Satanic. (3) Psychological. (4) Fakery. We believe that every tongues experience today is one of the last three listed.

I will let the Words of Jesus Christ answer your statement:

Matt 12: 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Where Do Tongues Flourish Today? (1) Where the Bible is not taught and/or understood. (2) Where people are seeking experiences, visions and feelings, rather than the truth of the Bible. (3) Among people who have been exposed to the cold, dead preaching of modernistic churches. (4) Where orthodoxy has become cold and dead. (5) Among the lost who are seeking a religious experience.

Again, you are speaking out of presumption.
To tell you the truth, your article concerning the subject of tongues in the church actually bears witness against you that you do not understand the Bible, and what you teach from the Bible (at least in this area) has been false.
I will agree with you that many Spirit filled people do seek after experiences, visions and feelings, rather than the truth of the Bible. But I wouldn't say that all do this.
I know many who are only concerned with walking honestly before God and man.
Personally, I will have to confess that I believe a person who denies the gifts of the Holy Spirit cannot preach the Truth of God with any kind of power except his own.
So whether you may holler or shout or jump in the air while you preach, or whatever your "preaching style" is, without the Power of God in your life, your services would be cold or dead, and would only attract those who desire to live a life of superficial Christianity.
The Pharisees were concerned with the threat that Jesus was to their "orthodoxy".
I am not attacking you, but it seems that your whole article on the gift of tongues was written from your fleshly understanding, and not from the revelation of the Holy Spirit in your life.
As such, you are in danger of becoming no more than a mere Pharisee in your teachings.
To seek after an experience that is contrary to the teaching of God's Word, is one of the most dangerous things a person can do.
Why? Because they are wide open for demonic invasion and delusion.

"...In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." I Timothy 4:1. Satan is an imitator. See II Cor. 11:13-15; I John 4:1; Isa. 8:20. Satan is ready to help people imitate the tongues of the Bible, since there are so many who are seeking this experience! You are right. To seek after an experience that is contrary to the teaching of God's Word is one of the most dangerous things a person can do.

But the gift of tongues is not contrary to God's Word. Your teaching against the gifts of the Holy Spirit is contrary to God's Word.
As I said earlier, Satan would like nothing more than to render the Church powerless.
The gifts of the Spirit are our weaponry.
You will no doubt acknowledge that the Word of God is our Sword.
MY SWORD teaches me to covet the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When I cast out a demon through the Spirit of God, or when I pray for a person and they are healed of their sickness or disease, or when I prophesy through a word of warning to those who would oppose the Work of the Holy Spirit, or when I speak to the Lord in the Spirit through His Gift of tongues, or when I speak to a lost soul as the Holy Spirit directs me, and they give their hearts to Jesus, I am doing warfare and causing damage to Satan's kingdom.

The Word of God is TRUE.

The TRUTH is that in the latter days, some will depart from the faith, spreading the devilish doctrine that the Gifts of God are not for today. "...In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

There is no need for anyone to seek the "baptism of the Holy Spirit today." Every born again believer already has the Holy Spirit! See I Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 8:9. Yes, we need to "be filled with the Spirit", but this is not done by seeking, tarrying or begging, but by simply yielding and surrendering to the Lord!

Whether you choose to reject the baptism of the Holy Spirit or not is up to you.
The Word of God teaches about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and you should not be found speaking against the Word of God. Truly, your teaching here is very cultic in nature on several points.
Please prayerfully consider what has been written, and don't be caught blaspheming against the Holy Spirit of God.

Mark 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:18-21 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.

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