Originally posted by Nellinator
One thing, why are all those kids speaking in tongues without an interpreter? That is not how it is supposed to be. Speaking in tongues is only supposed to be done so that everyone can understand and be edified.Besides, tongues are a sign for unbelievers, not believers (1 Corinthians 14:22).
A little clearing up, if I may.
1 Corinthians 14:22 does say "So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy however is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers."
however, the text continues:
1 Corinthians 14:23-25: "Even so, if unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting and hear everyone talking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin, and they will be condemned by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare, and they will fall down on their knees and worship God declaring, "God is really here among you."
It seems a contradiction, as just before he said tongues were for nonbelievers and prophecy for believers.
If you look just before verse 22 though, in verse 21.. Paul quotes Isaiah, saying: "I will speak to my own people through unknown languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me."
Just before that he is talking about how love is the greatest spiritual gift of all, and that we shouldn't take hold of just the things of the Spirit only.
"if I clash as a thousand cymbals and speak in other languages but have not love, I am dead" etc....
So when he says in verse 22: "Its only for unbelievers" it's not a contradiction.
He is saying that it does little good for a whole church or the entire body of Christ worldwide to speak just in tongues, as they may not be living right with him anyways. Or, if they are, only one person is getting the benefit.
The person praying to Christ in tongues.(nobody else understands)
The reason that an unbeliever would be more benefited from tongues is if they are a foreigner and recognize their own language being spoken.
(see Peter in Acts one, on the day of Pentecost when they spoke before 3,000 different people of different languages who were amazed and became saved.)
However, if an actual foreign language isn't being spoken, but the language of the Spirit, it will be very confusing to anybody walking in.
1 Corinthians 14:13:
"So anyone who has the gift of speaking in tongues should also pray for the gift of interpretation in order to tell people plainly what has been said."
compare with the next verse:
1 Corinthians 14:14:
"For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying."
There seems a difference implied here between speaking in tongues, which would be on a stage/pulpit TO PEOPLE, which needs interpreters and should only be done as such and would confuse unbelievers and not benefit believers..... and praying in tongues which is a personal way of a believers OWN SPIRIT praying to God in a way that they can't understand.
Now looking back at the youth conference that I mentioned, I'll summarize it this way:
1.) The kids who came forward to pray for the gift of tongues were all believers, the room was full of believers, and those that hadn't been saved before just got saved. (not foolproof, but for the most part accurate. It wasn't like a church service with tons of unsaved guests)
2.) They were not speaking TO anybody, like a prophecy or even a sermon would be done. They were each praying to God, just all at once.
3.)It wasn't planned, it just happened after the altar call. The Holy Spirit came in as He was prayed for, so I believe that what happened that night was in accord with God's will. Were it unbiblical or wrong I don't think the anointing would've been there for it to be allowed in the Spirit.
Also, just as F.Y.I., our church doesn't have speaking in tongues in any services.
Very rarely is there prophecy, but when it happens all can understand it, believers and nonbelievers. (per Paul's instructions)
We have pre-service prayer for the leadership, about 20-30 people who teach, usher, sing, etc... and while there is PRAYING in tongues during that time (along with English praying, not to each other but personally to God), nobody is SPEAKING TO PEOPLE in tongues, without interpretation.
We pray for lots of stuff, the message, the people coming, the families in the leadership, blessings, any requests, etc....
Some pray in tongues at this time, some don't.
But the person leading the prayer for whatever topic (we switch it off) isn't speaking in tougnes, they speak in English.
WheW!
book- Had to get back into the Word to double check, but thanks Nellinator. 👆
I'd never tried to articulate what I'd read and believed inside on tongues and their useage before.
This is gonna make it that much easier for me to answer peoples questions in the future. 🙂