kg1b+@andrew.cmu.edu (Kevin Thomas Gallo) (03/19/90)
I was wondering what people's opinions (backed hopefully by scripture) were on the baptism in the H.S.. The main ideas I beilieve most people have problems with or dispute are: 1. Is speaking in tongues for everyone? 2. Is speaking in tongues divided into two categories: speaking out in the church expecting an interpretation and a personal prayer language? 3. Is worshiping in tongues confusion or of God? By this I mean the spontaneous worship in the church during praise by the congregation, each in a different language. 4. Must you speak in tongues to be baptized in the H.S., or is it just the initial evidence? By initial evidence I mean that you are baptized and then its your option to use it or lose it. 5. Is speaking in tongues actually necessary? 6. Now getting away from speaking in tongues, what is the baptism in the H.S.? Does it come at salvation or at a distinct point after it? Now I have a particular one of my own. I was recently at an independent charismatic church and during the worship service, the pastor said that instead of just singing the song we were to sing it in tongues. Now this made me feel uncomfortable. I have been in various powerful services where God has really moved and have not felt uncomfortable like at this time. Of course to be open to new movements of the H.S. I did not want to condemn it but rather to seek to understand whether it was biblical and of God. After much thought and study, here is my analysis - not judgment: A careful reading of I Cor. 14 will lead one to understand that tongues are given to express God's thoughts which we cannot understand or know. I know that this is not the all inclusive purpose but a generalization. Now one can easily see that Paul emphasis having the understanding of what we prayer or say in tongues. So I conclude that we should eventually grow enough so that we can understand what we say in tongues. Now whether you agree with that or not, you must agree that Paul say having the understanding is more important. Thus for me to take a song I have the understanding of and to encrypt it in tongues seems contrary to the overall purpose of the gifts of the H. S.. The reason I believe tongues are so important, when it seems that prophecy ought to be practiced more, is that we are not mature enough to understand the depth with which the Spirit can pray. Eventually we should understand more and more of what we say in tongues since God desires for us to edify our minds as well as our spirits. Now for those of you who are wondering about my background.... I am a pentecostal (Assembly of God) who has been baptized in the H. S. for 5 years. I speak in tongues and enjoy worshiping in tongues. I believe and encourage words of knowledge and prophecy. Now I just state this so you know where I'm coming from. Most of what I believe comes through experience rather than through hard doctrinal studying of the Bible. This is why I'm asking these questions......... Expecting Revival ... Kevin. [You seem to be identifying baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, and asking us for a judgement on the whole package. In fact there are a number of different scenarios possible. In the last few decades, there has been more interest in charistmatic gifts in the non-pentecostal churches. Generally there these gifts are considered specific gifts, just like teaching, prophecying and other gifts mentioned by Paul. No one gift is required of all Christians. Also, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is typically viewed as part of the experience of being Christian, and not a separate, optional add-on with its own special sign. There are however still many Christians who are sceptical of tongue-speaking. Obviously one can't doubt its existence, but not everyone considers it a channel for messages from God. (This doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong with practicing it, however.) --clh]