Question: Speaking in tongues freaks me out due to seeing a TV news show that showed people running around with snakes and speaking in tongues. I’m having a hard time letting it go. I know it’s a good thing, speaking in tongues, but it actually scares me. How can I get past this?
Answer: No need to freak out about speaking in tongues. Yes, there are some churches and groups that make a very big deal about tongues, and the TV news reporters seem to be able to find strange people who do weird things like handle snakes. But that is not normal for a Christian, and you shouldn’t think that somehow, you’re supposed to be doing that.
In fact, speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift, and according to Scripture, not everyone has that gift. Spiritual gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the body of Christ, or the church, and the Holy Spirit gives different people different gifts. Each believer has at least one gift, and some have more than one. But we all have different gifts. Read 1 Corinthians 12 for a list of some of the gifts. The gift of tongues is certainly mentioned (verse 28). But it is one of the “lesser” gifts (verse 31). Paul tells us to desire the “greater” gifts, which are more beneficial to the body of Christ.
Anyone who tells you that all Christians must be able to speak in tongues doesn’t know the Scripture. That’s a false teaching. If that is your gift, you will know it. If it isn’t, then you need to find out just what your spiritual gift is.
There are ways to do this. Many churches have classes that will help you discover your spiritual gift or gifts. You may need to do some investigation. May the Lord give you wisdom as you find out how He has gifted you!
What about the personal prayer tongue that the Word speaks about as being evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? While the gift of tongues and interpretation is definitely for the edifying of the Body of Christ, what about the personal prayer tongue you receive when being baptized in the Holy Spirit?
If we do not have that, how then are we to pray without ceasing? How does our spirit intercede with groans unknown to man? How then are we to worship our God in Spirit and in Truth?
I agree 100% with you concerning the gifts, but why is it that the “rest of the story” is not told? I find so many people discarding even the idea of a prayer tongue. My understanding is that it edifies us, builds us up, gives us the ability to pray on behalf of others when we do not know ourselves what or how to pray for someone. Thus, so many Christians miss out on the power of the Holy Spirit within them. It’s like having electricity in your house, but if you don’t flip the switch to connect to the power, you will be sitting in a dark house.
Thanks, and have a blessed weekend.
Can you give us the reference where the “personal prayer tongue” is evidence of being baptized “in” the Holy Spirit? 1 Corinthians 12:13 talks about being baptized “by” the Holy Spirit. Where does the Bible talk about being baptized “in” the Spirit, and does it say that this is evidence of Spirit baptism?
It’s important to define terms. That’s where people get into disagreements. We think we’re on the same wavelength with you. We don’t doubt that there is a personal prayer tongue. And we don’t believe the gift of speaking in tongues has ceased. But we believe from Scripture that speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift, and the Scriptures plainly tell us that different gifts are given to different believers.
Furthermore, we don’t believe that speaking in tongues, or having a personal prayer language, is evidence of being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, for one simple reason. Being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ is how our salvation is applied. Therefore, if speaking in tongues, or having a personal prayer tongue were necessary in order for the Holy Spirit to baptize us into the body of Christ, then anyone who does not speak in tongues would not be saved.
So what does it mean when we say that the Holy Spirit “applies” our salvation? Simply this. Our understanding from Scripture is that God the Father authored our salvation, Jesus the Son accomplished our salvation, and the Holy Spirit applies our salvation.
As for “praying without ceasing” through a personal prayer tongue, that is certainly a possibility for some people, although it probably wouldn’t be practical to actually speak in a personal or private prayer tongue all the time. It is possible, however, to always be in a prayerful attitude, where our actions and thoughts are governed by our connection with God through prayer.
We agree completely that many Christians miss out on the power of the Holy Spirit, but it’s not because they haven’t done something like speak in tongues or speak in a personal prayer tongue. We miss out on the Holy Spirit’s power when we allow sin to control our lives. Galatians 5 draws a clear contrast between those who allow sin to control them, and those who live in the control of the Holy Spirit.
I agree with Peggy about speaking in tongues….edifies us, builds us up, gives us the ability to pray on behalf of others when we do not know ourselves what or how to pray for someone. However, most people don’t see it that way. They see what I’ve seen….the freaky side of speaking in tongues. It’s one reason it took me so long to ask God into my life. I’ve been a Christian for about 2yrs now and learning all the time about how misled I have been.
I have read the scripture that Bruce and Stan suggested, 1 Corinthians 12, and it clearly says everyone has different gifts. It’s helped alot reading that and knowing that speaking in tongues IS for the good of the church….if that’s your gift. Also good to know that it says nothing about snakes - haha.
I’m still trying to let go of the snake thing and it’s getting better. Thanks Peggy, Stan and Bruce for your responses.