greg (02/26/83)
Thoughts on the gift of tongues by a member of the Roman
Catholic Charismatic renewal:
I find that it is easier to be a "closed" person than to be
an "open" person. By "open", I mean vulnerable, open to
developing understanding of the point of view of others, and
trusting. By "closed", I mean locked into a particular point
of view, static, self-contained, viewing others as appendages
of my outlook. It is easier to cram people into pre-conceived,
finite categories than to be open to full encounter that may
entail change and growth.
Obviously, God hopes and longs that people will struggle to
grow in the direction of openness, both to Him and to others.
I see the gift of tongues as a small ("the least of the gifts")
exercise in openness. To speak in tongues (in front of others,
yet!) involves a certain willingness to do something plain silly.
It is an act of trust that others will "still like you" even if
you drop your polished veneer of reserve, and it establishes a
concrete precedent that you are willing to let the old hair down
and do something God asks of you, even if it involves launching
out into new and scary regions of trust and openness.
- Greg Johnson
UW - Madison