If gift of tongues was one thing in New Testament, and something else today, how can it be a continuation? If tongues was eventually changed from being able to speak an unknown (unknown to speaker) language to a heavenly or spiritual language, where in New Testament can we find this change occurring? If it did occur, wouldn't God have told us plainly that it had?

Where in God's Word does it tell us that gift of speaking in tongues will be continued? The Scriptures neither imply nor promise continuation of gift. As a matter of fact, Scriptures state that gift will cease, "... whether there are tongues, they will cease," (1 Corinthians 13:8)

"Speaking in tongues" does nothing to unify church. Any Christian today who does not see that church is in dire need of unification is blind, deaf, and dumb. This supposed gift actually has opposite affect: it divides church. It pits believer against believer. The only unification it brings is that people who "speak in tongues" from many different conflicting doctrines all claim a supernatural gift. It is a unification of deceit.

"Speaking in tongues" is subject to perversion. If we cannot determine if something is real, then we are subject to being deceived by it. For example, if I were to come to your home and tell you that God sent me to minister to you and tell you exactly what you need to do to assure you an eternal home in heaven, would you listen to me? Perhaps, but would you believe everything - I mean EVERYTHING - I tell you? Probably not! But, if I could show you some miraculous gift that God had given me as a sign to those I was teaching, you would be a fool to ignore me. So, I visit you on Monday and "speak in tongues" as a sign, and you believe me lock, stock, and barrel. Then, preacher Joe visits you on Tuesday and shows you this same sign - "speaking in tongues" - and proceeds to teach you a different doctrine. Then you have a problem, who do you believe? We both "spoke in tongues." If both were given sign by God, then why are we teaching different doctrines? Could it be that one is a deceiver? How can you tell? God would simply not do that to His children. God will not participate in something which can be used to deceive His people.

My friends in Charismatic movement say that being a charismatic is not a belief, it is an experience. The thought here is that one cannot deny an experience. Well, I guess that is true, you cannot deny an experience. You cannot deny that you have had an experience. But surely, we can all see that experiences can be deceiving? I remember as a little boy who was afraid of dark, I "saw" all kinds of monsters lurking in shadows of my room when lights were turned out. That was a real experience. I would immediately cover up my head, and only occasionally venture a peek. I would "see" those monsters and go back undercover. I do not deny for one moment those experiences. I did have those experiences, and memories are still with me today some forty years later. But, I was deceived! There were no monsters in my room. There was no murderer waiting to cut me with a knife. They simply did not exist. Had you tried to convince me of that fact when I was five or six years old, I would not have believed you. My experience told me otherwise. Can we deny our experiences? No! Do they always tell us truth? No! What can we rely on to always, always, always tell us truth? Gods Word!

Brothers and sisters, examine Scriptures. Take particular notice of Acts Chapter 2 verses 5-13. Read this in light that speaking in tongues is being able to speak in a language in which speaker has received no training, and you will understand meaning of speaking in tongues. This is only meaning that this term - speaking in tongues - has in Scriptures!

All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of The Home Bible Study Institute.

Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org

May we all strive to be better Bible students and to realize that God has spoken and encourages us to heed following warnings: "The Spirit clearly says that in latter times, some will abandon faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by Word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:1-5) "But mark this: There will be terrible times in last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."(2 Timothy 3:1-5) "First of all, you must understand that in last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since beginning of creation.' But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word heavens existed and earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By same word present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Timothy 3:3-7)

If we will all accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we do not need to fear Satan or his "drawings" upon us (demons, mediums, witches, and etc.) "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome then, because one who is in you is greater than one who is in world." (1 John 4:4)

The Holy Spirit, which one receives when he or she is baptized "into" Christ, is greater (more powerful) than power of Satan, which is in world.

May everyone of us commit ourselves to Lord Jesus Christ and follow His ways. It was Jesus who said, "I am way, truth, and life, and no one comes to Father, except through Me." (John 14:6)

Brother Hoyt W. Allen Jr. is a Restoration author, preacher and director of the KYOWVA Evangelistic Association in Ironton, Ohio. You may visit his website at www.kyowva.com.

Brother Allen's article is courtesy of the The Home Bible Study Institute - www.james1-22.org.