If the Lord gives us gifts, why do we always need to go to such lengthy theology debates on whether we need or need not to have? Every good gift is from God. Do we need to despise the gifts of God? If he deems fit that we should have the gifts to edify others and ourselves, then please take it. Now concerning those who are against speaking in tongues, it is alright if they keep to their views and not cause others to stumble and concerning those who are for speaking in tongues, it is alright if they keep to their views and if asked, explain to others but in a subtle and loving way as the Lord has shown us when He wants us to understand certain things. Now to all let us look to the walk with Christ and to grow in the fullness of Him. 

If "speaking in tongues is just one of the Gifts that you can receive from the Holy Spirt," then it clearly isn't something that everyone needs to have. See [1 Corinthians 12:7-11] and [1 Corinthians 12:28-30].

However, I believe that speaking in tongues is not only one of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit but also the initial external evidence that a person has been baptised with the Holy Spirit. Baptism with the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus before his ascent [Acts 1:4-5], is for power [Luke 24:49], and occurred for the first time on the Day of Pentecost [Acts 2]. On that occasion, it was manifested by speaking in tongues [Acts 2:4]. It was also manifested by speaking in tongues in the house of Cornelius [Acts 10:44-46] and by the Ephesian disciples [Acts 19:6].

I also believe that baptism with the Holy Spirit is a different experience than the baptism by the Holy Spirit into one body that Paul refers to in [1 Corinthians 12:13], "By one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." The latter is something that everyone needs to have, but baptism with the Holy Spirit is not.

In summary, I believe that speaking in tongues is both the initial external evidence of baptism with the Holy Spirit and a gift given by the Holy Spirit and I don't think that either of those is something that everyone needs to have. Thus I don't think that speaking in tongues is something that everyone needs to experience.

However, Paul thought that all Christians should want to be baptised with the Holy Spirit, of which speaking in tongues is the initial external evidence, and to receive gifts from the Holy Spirit, of which speaking in tongues is one. Thus, he exhorted the Ephesians "Be filled with the Spirit" [Ephesians 5:18] and the Corinthians "Covet the best gifts" [1 Corinthians 12:31]. I agree with him. 

changed on Sunday, December 24, 2000 10:11:04 PM

Read [1 Corinthians 12] [1 Corinthians 13] [1 Corinthians 14] 

changed on Saturday, December 09, 2000 10:18:08 AM