Why I Don't Speak In Tongues - Part II

Written by Stephen Kingery


In part 1 of "Why I Don't Speak In Tongues" I discussedrepparttar purposes of tongues given inrepparttar 141343 New Testament. Speaking in tongues (or being able to speak a language in which one has not been trained) was given torepparttar 141344 apostles and certain others inrepparttar 141345 New Testament to do two things: (1) to establishrepparttar 141346 authority ofrepparttar 141347 person workingrepparttar 141348 sign, and (2) to confirmrepparttar 141349 Word ofrepparttar 141350 Lord. Signs were credentials from God showing thatrepparttar 141351 person was speaking with His authority, and wonders wererepparttar 141352 effects on those hearing or being witnesses ofrepparttar 141353 signs. (For a full explanation, see "Why I Don't Speak In Tongues, Part I.")

I have several friends who practicerepparttar 141354 "speaking in tongues" as it is taught today byrepparttar 141355 Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. As a result of discussing this with many of them, being "taught" by them inrepparttar 141356 doctrine of "speaking in tongues," and in attending church services of Charismatics, I have decided on some personal reasons and observations why I don't want to participate in this kind of conduct. In part 2, I would like to share some of my thoughts concerning this.

(Forrepparttar 141357 purposes of this article, when it is given as - speaking in tongues -, I am referring torepparttar 141358 Biblical meaning; and - "speaking in tongues" -I am referring torepparttar 141359 Pentecostal/Charismatic meaning.)

Charismatics will tell you that if you "speak in tongues," it is evidence that you have receivedrepparttar 141360 baptism ofrepparttar 141361 Holy Spirit. It is evidence (or proof) then, thatrepparttar 141362 one who "speaks in tongues" is a true Christian. The logical conclusion is that anyone who does not "speak in tongues" is not a true Christian. This is of course a misinterpretation ofrepparttar 141363 Scriptures concerningrepparttar 141364 baptism ofrepparttar 141365 Holy Spirit, however I will save that discussion for a future article. So, let's examine what is really being taught here.

God is not a respecter of persons. In other words, we are equal (if we are children of God) in His eyes. What He has promised to one, He has promised to all. If God has intended forrepparttar 141366 sign of speaking in tongues to extend beyondrepparttar 141367 time ofrepparttar 141368 apostles, then all Christians would be able to perform this sign.

"Speaking in tongues" has no practical value. I said in part 1 of this article that speaking in tongues as was practiced byrepparttar 141369 apostles was to show with what authority they (the apostles) spoke, and to confirm thatrepparttar 141370 Word ofrepparttar 141371 Lord was true. What practical value or for what purpose does "speaking in tongues" have for us today? We haverepparttar 141372 Holy Bible which has been preserved by God and passed down from generation to generation to us today. Is it impossible for us to acceptrepparttar 141373 Bible asrepparttar 141374 Word of God? Do we need it to be confirmed again byrepparttar 141375 sign of speaking in tongues? I had a Charismatic friend tell me thatrepparttar 141376 reason I could not "speak in tongues" was because I did not have enough faith. Believe me when I tell you that I can fully acceptrepparttar 141377 Holy Bible asrepparttar 141378 Word of God and Jesus Christ as His only Son without "speaking in tongues." Jesus said, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29) So who hasrepparttar 141379 stronger faith, one who needs a "sign," or one who hearsrepparttar 141380 Word of God and believes?

Is "speaking in tongues" a sign for unbelievers? "Speaking in tongues" is practiced by many conflicting doctrines, even some pagan religions practice a form of "speaking in tongues." There are many Scriptures which tell us in no uncertain terms that there is one doctrine which is true, not many. Paul tells us, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6) If "speaking in tongues" is a sign for unbelievers, how is one to know which doctrine isrepparttar 141381 "one faith" that Paul speaks of?

The Charismatics claim thatrepparttar 141382 gift of speaking in tongues is still in existence today. However,repparttar 141383 speaking in tongues as practiced byrepparttar 141384 apostles and other New Testament people was being able to speak a language, a known language, which was foreign torepparttar 141385 one doingrepparttar 141386 speaking, andrepparttar 141387 one doingrepparttar 141388 speaking having NOT been trained in that language. (See Acts Chapter 2) The "speaking in tongues" as practiced byrepparttar 141389 Charismatics (and others) is a supposed heavenly or spiritual language used only by angels and others inrepparttar 141390 spirit realm. The Charismatics also claim that there are some who haverepparttar 141391 gift of being able to interpret "tongues."

Spiritualism's Tools And The Last Days

Written by Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.


Spiritualism is a religion whose basic appeal is contactingrepparttar dead. Some ofrepparttar 141342 members ofrepparttar 141343 spiritualists attend séances, promote methods of healing and investigate psychic phenomena. Some people become involved in spiritualism because they seek excitement. Most people join into spiritualism due to losing a loved one and they are going through a period of grief. They feel lost and vacant andrepparttar 141344 idea of conversing withrepparttar 141345 dead is appealing. Also,repparttar 141346 idea of receiving direction from one inrepparttar 141347 spirit would be very assuring.

Spiritualists teach fromrepparttar 141348 Bible. They claim to haverepparttar 141349 nine miraculous gifts ofrepparttar 141350 Holy Spirit, which they claim to use during séances. They mention Jesus in their prayers, but they do not believe He isrepparttar 141351 Divine Son of God. The spiritualists teach that one can be "saved" by good works. However, they do not believe in a Death, Hell, or a Judgment.

The spiritualists have worship services. They sing and pray. However,repparttar 141352 service is not like that in which Christians are accustomed. For instance; during a séance a sacrifice may be offered, it may be an animal or a human being. During a communion service - one ofrepparttar 141353 spiritualists may be called upon to sacrifice a finger joint. The finger joint will be cut off andrepparttar 141354 blood collected in a cup. The cup andrepparttar 141355 finger will be distributed amongrepparttar 141356 spiritualists to siprepparttar 141357 literal blood and to take a bite ofrepparttar 141358 literal finger. This they say corresponds torepparttar 141359 Christian Communion Service. However,repparttar 141360 Christian Communion Service or Lord's Supper is notrepparttar 141361 literal body and blood of Jesus; butrepparttar 141362 unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice are only symbols ofrepparttar 141363 sacrificial body and blood of Jesus.

The spiritualists have Mediums, which arerepparttar 141364 mediators who supposedly contactrepparttar 141365 dead during a séance. The spiritualist sits in a circle in a darkened room and followsrepparttar 141366 directions ofrepparttar 141367 Medium. Ouija Boards (we ge) are very popular inrepparttar 141368 USA. However, even though there is not any power inrepparttar 141369 "we ge" board itself - it is feared by many that it is a "doorway" through which a person allows those ofrepparttar 141370 spirit world to control him. They have served as a "doorway" to occult practices. Thus, it is a form of Divination, which isrepparttar 141371 art of obtaining secret information fromrepparttar 141372 spirit world.

Spiritualism is very real. It is a tool used by Satan to delude and captivate people's souls. The Bible forbids God's people to deal withrepparttar 141373 spirit world inrepparttar 141374 following Scriptures: "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I amrepparttar 141375 Lord your God..." (Leviticus 19:31); "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter inrepparttar 141376 fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consultsrepparttar 141377 dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable torepparttar 141378 Lord, and because of these detestable practicesrepparttar 141379 Lord your God will drive out these nations." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

Jesus andrepparttar 141380 New Testament writers warned about false religious teachers, who possess miraculous powers: "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive evenrepparttar 141381 elect - if that were possible." (Matthew 24:24); "The coming ofrepparttar 141382 lawless one will be in accordance withrepparttar 141383 work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to loverepparttar 141384 truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that all will believerepparttar 141385 lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believedrepparttar 141386 truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9- 11); "And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men." (Revelation 13:13); "They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out torepparttar 141387 Kings ofrepparttar 141388 whole world, to gather them forrepparttar 141389 battle onrepparttar 141390 great day of God Almighty." (Revelation 16:14)

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