We need to address the subject of tongues. They are quite odd if you really stop and take a look at them. There are big ones, little ones and long ones. My best friend could take his tongue and tickle the end of his nose. Tongues are really slimy too. My dad liked to eat cow tongue sandwiches...yuck!
But the subject of speaking in tongues seems to keep coming up so I chose the Blog to address this subject. Christians in the Body of Christ have wonderful gifts available to them. These gifts are given to each one of us by the Holy Spirit as He sees fit for whatever our purpose is in God's plan. We cannot give them to ourselves and we cannot make them happen to ourselves.
Some people seem to be of the belief that if you place your tongue in a certain way and just start to voice groanings, that a heavenly language is going to start pouring out of your mouth. Others believe that if you don't speak in tongues you are not really saved because there is no tangible evidence of it and you haven't fully surrendered your life to Christ.
There was one time I was worshiping God telling Him how much I loved Him and all of a sudden I started speaking something that certainly wasn't me...but I got scared and I stopped. That was about ten years ago...I still don't speak in "tongues".
The Bible is clear on this subject and is not up for interpretation. 1Corin13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1Corin 14:1-2 Pursue love, and desire (get the word desire?) spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. You could really go on through and read chapter fourteen for a fuller, more clear understanding....but tongues are for the edification of the Body that are supposed to come with interpretation and as a sign to nonbelievers that there really is something heavenly going on. There are people who I hold in high regard who do speak in tongues and say what a great refreshing comes by doing this.
People believe that speaking in "tongues" is one of the biggest signs of being a really big spiritual Christian, yet I see such defeat in their lives. How did this come to be? They speak in tongues, yet twist the scriptures to suit themselves. Some will be so quick to condemn you for not speaking in tongues and then turn around and dog you to someone when you do speak in tongues. I say, "to the law and to the testimony!" What are we doing here? We need to first go to THE WORD and see what is in there before we start telling others what they should or should not be doing. I have been around all kinds of "spiritual" people who have no idea the heritage we have available to us as a believer. They have no idea what God left for us through Jesus Christ and the living word of God.
Tongues? We all need our tongues to swallow and to talk. But if your home life is in defeat, your finances are in defeat and your children have all gone astray....well, you can speak in tongues all day long but what good are they to you?
Follow THE WORD and if the Holy Spirit bestows upon you the gift of tongues, then praise God for it...but don't condemn others and tell them they are not right with God because they don't speak in tongues. Make certain that YOUR life is in order first...then take a deep breath, swallow and thank God for THE tongue you have.....
Molly
