As I write this post, I am asking that we agree to disagree. I don't want you (my readers) to discontinue reading The Christian Journeyman because we may not agree on this controversial subject of "speaking in tongues."
I believe that the apostles on the day of Pentecost (when the early church was established) was given the ability to speak in various languages of the people who were there to observe the festival of Pentecost. It was necessary for the people to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in their own language. And so they did, and the result was, that three thousand souls came to accept Jesus Christ that day.
To me, speaking in tongues in the new church era, was a sign gift of the Holy Spirit. As in the conversion of Cornelius and his household
(Acts 10:44-48) It was a sign that the Gentiles were given opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Savior as well as the Jews.
Speaking in tongues was apart of the worship service, as the Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 14) and in that passage he calls the gift of speaking in tongues, a sign gift.
Not for those who believe, but for those don't believe. (v.22).
Here is where we may disagree. Is speaking in tongues necessary today? I feel that because we have access to the written Word of God, (which is what Paul is referring to when he writes in (1 Cor. 13:10) "when the perfect comes.") we do not need this gift now. Since the written Word of God has been translated in many languages, and is widely available today. Our goal as Christians is to share it with as many as we have opportunity to.
I am not saying that the gift of speaking in tongues does not exist.
As long as the Holy Spirit exists, so does this gift. And if God wanted to use it for a sign, as He did in the past, so be it. But over all, it has ceased.
I may be wrong, but this is my belief. As Christians, we are to respect each others beliefs. We cannot cease to exhibit the greatest gift of all, and that is Love! (1 Corinthians 13:13) GP
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