Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Tue, 26 Jan 1993 17:33:09 MST
From:         Usenet/Netnews Moderator <FOCMCB@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Praying in tongues (was Re: centering prayer...)

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
>From: jlaplant@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John R Laplante)
>Subject: Re: Praying in tongues (was Re: centering prayer...)
>Organization: The Ohio State University
>Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 22:16:18 GMT

In article <9301261941.AA28694@itesocci.gdl.iteso.mx> A16905@ITESO.BITNET
writes:
>Russ,
>
>
>Glosolalia: Utterance inspired by the Spirit in a non-inteligible 'language'
>            Genrally for intersesion of full-blown worship/praise.
>            Scripture base: 1 Cor 12, 13 & 14.
>
>Interpretation: The Spirit inspires the meaning of the Glosolalia utterance
>            generally to other person. Same Scripture.
>
>Xenoglosia: Speaking in foregin languages that were not known by the person.
>            Scripture basis: Act 2.

  I have some questions on this.
  First of all, my position on this is in flux. I come from a church that
  says 'it was only for the age when the bible wasn't written yet. now
  that we have the complete bible, we don't need this, and it stopped.'

  well, i've got a problem with that, in that many of my friends clalim
  to practice such things (and i've witnessed such things in worship
  services). How to explain this ? I really can't claim it's demonic,
  since these are undoubtedly Christian people (remember, i'm taliking
  about friends). If it isn't that, there are only two options left:
  it is psychologically induced, or it really is of God
  (PLEASE. no flames here. i'm thinking thorugh the logic. I am *not*
   "anti-charismatic" in any means).

  So i confront this experience which challenges my received doctrine.
  however, changing doctrine on the basis of experience is a very dangerous
  thing -- basically it's something that cults do to people (agin, i'm not
  saying that the charismatic/renewal movement is a cult).

  Just a few questions that still trouble me:
  1. I Cor 12-14 seems to say thaat there should be an interpretatioon if
     there is to be a tongue. Yet whenever i've heard something (which
     i interpret, if you will, as a tongue), there's no interpretation to
    tell people what it means. And what if everyone bursts out all at once,
     which frequently happens? how can there be interpretation then?

 2. I can hear some say "aha! but you're confusing 'intelligible language'
    kind of tongues from 'unintelligible language' kinds of tongues.
    I don't get that from my reading of scripture, which leads me to
   think that we are talking about natural languages, not a 'prayer
    language.'

 3.  i've heard somer people describe tongues as a way of private prayer.
   but the purpose of spiritual gifts in the NT is to benefit others,
  not yourself (well, ok, so you can use it to pray for other o people).
   Again, i look at i cor 14 and see a problem -- it seems that it's meant
   to be a way of God speaking to us, not for us to use in prayer to God.
   [i see. some may say 'oh, you're comnfusing 'word of knowledge' with
   tongues.]

againb, this is nbot meant to be a flame, or to be getting into a fight.
just some 'doubter's questions.'
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