In my blog on Monday May 9, I asked for a little help finding a book on the gift of tongues from the point of view where everyone who receives the Holy Spirit doesn't have to speak in tongues. I believe tongues is a gift of the Spirit not the gift that everyone receives as evidence of His infilling. In other words, like every other gift, some get it, some don't. Anyway, I did get a book suggestion and I ordered it: "Know Your Spiritual Gifts" by Mark Stibbe.
Immediately upon perusing the book, I noticed the author comes from the traditional Pentecostal view that there are only 9 Gifts of the Spirit . . . Oh no! But then as I began to read the chapter on tongues with Dan in a discipling session, I was completely blown away by our discovery (guided a bit by Mr. Stibbe, but mostly by Holy Spirit, because we found stuff Stibbe didn't mention)! Here's what I'm thinking about it all now, but I'm still processing, so that may change a few times before I settle into a solid view. This is "new" stuff (I've never heard this taught before), so let me know what you think.
Peter Wagner suggests that the gift of tongues is "split" into an "A" and "B" category. In other words, A) the ability to speak to God in a language never learned and B) the ability to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance in a language never learned. "A" is often called a prayer language and does not need to be interpreted. "B" is a prophetic word from God for His people and is sometimes seen as a form of the gift of prophecy. I'd like to suggest that there is a "C" category- C) the ability to speak in an previously unknown human language so that people will understand the Gospel. Here's what I found in our study:
In Acts 2 we find the first New Testament instance of Holy Spirit filling the people of His new church. Scripture says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. But these tongues were understood! People heard the Gospel message in their native language. These "tongues" had nothing to do with speaking to God (prayer language) or speaking a "word" that needed to be interpreted (prophecy)- they all understood what was being said (no interpretation needed)! The intent of tongues here was so that people could understand the Gospel message. So I'm not sure at all how some can interpret this passage as a prayer language given to all who receive the Spirit.
The next NT instance of people being filled by the Holy Spirit is in Acts 8:14-17. Here we see they were filled with the Spirit, but there is no mention of tongues.
The next NT instance of people being filled by the Holy Spirit is in Acts 10:46. Here, I believe we see the first instance of a prayer language to God, because scripture says they heard them speaking in tongues and "praising God-" no reference to any known language or their words being interpreted. The intent of this kind of tongues is to praise God- and who needs to understand that, but God Himself? It's for Him. He understands it and that's all that matters.
Of course we know of "prophecy-tongues" because Paul speaks very clearly in 1 Corinthians 14:2 of the need for this kind of tongue to be interpreted. But this would obviously not be the case if people already understood what was being said in their native language! Nor if the intent was for God alone.
I've got plenty more thoughts in this area, but this is getting long. Maybe I'll write more in another entry. Let me know what you think.
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4 comments:
Yeah..one of the things Stibbe (yeah, he is a charismatic anglican, but we can forgive him for that) points out quite strongly is that he doesn't think that tongues is prophesy. Along the idea that if God want to speak to the church prophetically it woud make sense that he did it through prophesy. Its a bit like using scissors to mow a field!
However, I certainly go with the two types of tongues...angelolalia and xenenololia (however u spell them). It seems to make sense becase the tongues at Pentecost did not need interpretation whereas later, when referring to what is believed to be angelolalia, Paul emphasises the need for translation. In the light of Pauls words in 1 Cor 13 (the love chapter..tongues of angels) I guess its fairly reasonable to presume he is talking about a different expression of the gift.
Anyway, that interesting part in his chapter about tonuges is, towards the end, he quote the eminent systematic theologian, Wayne Grudem, who whilst agreeing that not every one will speak in tongues, it seems likely that God will distribute it widely. That's certainly my experience.
Glad the book was helpful. I think it was written to look biblically and theologically into an area that could easily go out of control. He admits that himself...not all charismatics/pentecostals do the brain work and its great to see a guy like Stibbe adding some weight and authority to this type of theology.
He also has a good book called 'Fire and Blood' which emphasises the need for charismatic and evangelical understandings of spirit and the death of Jesus to come closer together because they are incomplete on their own...he even admits that he has stolen the title from the Army ;o)
Anyway....every blessing
Sorry! An other interesting thing to point out from the book...I seem to remember him quoting a verse that said 'inspired speech' is the sign of the infilling of the Spirit, not necessarily tonuges. Its worth hunting that on out. It is an interesting one to explore.
I have heard many conflicting opinions on tongues - including of course, that one is not saved if one has not spoken in tongues. (evidence). In my experience, this belief ALWAYS accompanies the belief that baptism is required for salvation. I struggled with the issue because I have never spoken in tongues (yet?) but was reassured by I Cor 12: 7-11. "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good...to another speaking in different kinds of tongues..." where clearly not all members of the Body receive that gift.
Do you not think that when the "gift of tongues" is mentioned in the bible it sometimes means the gift of speaking a different language (that the speaker doesn't know but the listener does)? It always seemed to me that the story in acts was about the believers all speaking in different languages (or tongues). I know that I have heard stories of ministers speaking in a language they didn't know and being unaware of it - a minister in Latin America preached to an indigenous group through a translator but after preaching the gospel message turned to the translator and was told he had preached in their native language and no translation was necessary. Also, an Officer who knelt at the mercy seat with a stranger and led her to Christ, later being told she had done so in the language of the kneeling woman - a language she didn't and still doesn't know. Very cool!
Is that a different type of tongues?
Blessings
Susan Ramsay <><
Yeah, that's exactly what I called my "C" category above. You give a couple of real good examples! Thanx!
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