Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
Ok this not meant to spark some inter-denomination war amongst the Protestant Churches. Its for self consumption, and anyone who wishes to read it.
I've heard a dozen arguments about the speaking of tongues in general. i myself do not possess the gift, and i am not against it nor for it. To me, if you have it, cool, if you don't, so what? But i always remember what my dear Pastor Chua once said, If you speak in tongues, do so in such a way that others around you are not disturbed. When i share this with friends, those with the gift were kinda incensed. "Its a gift, why should i hide it? There is nothing wrong in exercising it! Who's to stop God's work?" And so on...
I was just reading thru my Bible, my favourite verse at 1 Cor 13 "Love" actually lol... And well i saw Apostle Paul's views on Tongues, so heck, i'll share some of it here.
All ye who hath ears listen! (Oh i loved the humour in this statement when Christ said it ^^)
***
It is good for one to desire spiritual gifts, the most prominent in this age being the gift of speaking in tongues (Pastor Chua forever reminding us last time not to forget about the other gifts ^^).
Apostle Paul says: 1Cor 14:1 - Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of phophecy..
I'm not sure what phophecies actually mean today, but anyway, Apostle Paul goes on to say: For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
Should be pretty clear by now that Apostle Paul doesn't really care too much about speaking in tongues. Probably a good to have, but not MUST have kinda thing.
1 Cor 14:4 - He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
But there is good that can come from speaking in tongues (before i get flamed lol)
He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Now before anyone says he's biased, let it be known that Paul himself spoke tongues, 1 Cor 14:18 - I thank God that i speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church i would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
And oh i love this part... ok i'm mean, but Paul likens the speaking of tongues to NOISE, if used in the wrong way i think... but he's civilised, unlike me, so he used MUSIC instead of NOISE lol...
1Cor 14:6 - Now brothers, if i come to you and speak in tongues, what good will be to you, unless i bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ... 9 - So its is with you. Unless you speak intelligble words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
This man is damn brave and straightforward while being pretty subtle methinks hah! Paul puts the church and the edifiying of others first and foremost. Which is why he emphasizes 1Cor 14:12 - Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. Which is like a reminder to all my dear friends out there who pray for the gift of speaking in tongues. I do not know what reasons they have deep down, just hope this verse helps!
And his guidelines as to speaking in tongues in church.
1Cor 14: 26 - When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strenghtening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is not interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
That about covers everything i guess? I'm not implying anyone's doing things wrongly. I have my own interpretation of these teachings in the Bible. I'm sure others have their own. I believe, that if you stick to the central guideline that Paul set down, To Edify the Church, then i guess its all right isn't it? And if you're not fulfilling this guideline, you know where you are and what should be done.
***
Oh i was just sharing with my cousin the other day about my views on sin. God broke down sin to its primary building blocks and warned us against them. Captured within The Ten Commandments and later The Great Commission. And all we have to do is just follow em to steer clear of sin.
Example, if you break down what leads to murder, you'd get anger, greed, moment's folly... and if you break those down all the way, you'll eventually get what's listed in the 10+1 mentioned above.
If you do not lust, do not lose your temper, will it be easy for you to commit something more serious?
Christ broke it all down to Love. If you love your neighbours, everyone around you, be it a stranger, would you sin? Would you lust after someone you really love? Would you kill? Love... aye, how many people know what it is?
All complicated things are a combination of simple building blocks. Computers are just 1s and 0s. The whole world is just atoms, electrons, protons and what not.
We don't have to worry about sin, if we just follow the basic guidelines. But then... its always harder than it sounds heh...
I've heard a dozen arguments about the speaking of tongues in general. i myself do not possess the gift, and i am not against it nor for it. To me, if you have it, cool, if you don't, so what? But i always remember what my dear Pastor Chua once said, If you speak in tongues, do so in such a way that others around you are not disturbed. When i share this with friends, those with the gift were kinda incensed. "Its a gift, why should i hide it? There is nothing wrong in exercising it! Who's to stop God's work?" And so on...
I was just reading thru my Bible, my favourite verse at 1 Cor 13 "Love" actually lol... And well i saw Apostle Paul's views on Tongues, so heck, i'll share some of it here.
All ye who hath ears listen! (Oh i loved the humour in this statement when Christ said it ^^)
***
It is good for one to desire spiritual gifts, the most prominent in this age being the gift of speaking in tongues (Pastor Chua forever reminding us last time not to forget about the other gifts ^^).
Apostle Paul says: 1Cor 14:1 - Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of phophecy..
I'm not sure what phophecies actually mean today, but anyway, Apostle Paul goes on to say: For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
Should be pretty clear by now that Apostle Paul doesn't really care too much about speaking in tongues. Probably a good to have, but not MUST have kinda thing.
1 Cor 14:4 - He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
But there is good that can come from speaking in tongues (before i get flamed lol)
He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Now before anyone says he's biased, let it be known that Paul himself spoke tongues, 1 Cor 14:18 - I thank God that i speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church i would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
And oh i love this part... ok i'm mean, but Paul likens the speaking of tongues to NOISE, if used in the wrong way i think... but he's civilised, unlike me, so he used MUSIC instead of NOISE lol...
1Cor 14:6 - Now brothers, if i come to you and speak in tongues, what good will be to you, unless i bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ... 9 - So its is with you. Unless you speak intelligble words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
This man is damn brave and straightforward while being pretty subtle methinks hah! Paul puts the church and the edifiying of others first and foremost. Which is why he emphasizes 1Cor 14:12 - Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. Which is like a reminder to all my dear friends out there who pray for the gift of speaking in tongues. I do not know what reasons they have deep down, just hope this verse helps!
And his guidelines as to speaking in tongues in church.
1Cor 14: 26 - When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strenghtening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is not interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
That about covers everything i guess? I'm not implying anyone's doing things wrongly. I have my own interpretation of these teachings in the Bible. I'm sure others have their own. I believe, that if you stick to the central guideline that Paul set down, To Edify the Church, then i guess its all right isn't it? And if you're not fulfilling this guideline, you know where you are and what should be done.
***
Oh i was just sharing with my cousin the other day about my views on sin. God broke down sin to its primary building blocks and warned us against them. Captured within The Ten Commandments and later The Great Commission. And all we have to do is just follow em to steer clear of sin.
Example, if you break down what leads to murder, you'd get anger, greed, moment's folly... and if you break those down all the way, you'll eventually get what's listed in the 10+1 mentioned above.
If you do not lust, do not lose your temper, will it be easy for you to commit something more serious?
Christ broke it all down to Love. If you love your neighbours, everyone around you, be it a stranger, would you sin? Would you lust after someone you really love? Would you kill? Love... aye, how many people know what it is?
All complicated things are a combination of simple building blocks. Computers are just 1s and 0s. The whole world is just atoms, electrons, protons and what not.
We don't have to worry about sin, if we just follow the basic guidelines. But then... its always harder than it sounds heh...
posted by Justus at 12:13 PM
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