Eve reminded me of a "heated discussion" at her Uncle's place long time ago hehehe... Actually, I remember better how 'warm' our prayer together in Jesus' name after that.
Think it is an act of Christian charity that we could disagree on non-essentials yet come together in united worship.
If I recall rightly, the discussion was partly about whether simultaneous, uninterpreted tongues are appropriate for public worship.
It seems to me tat there are 3 types of tongues taught or practised in churches today
Type A: A human language that the speaker had not learnt. For example, a Chinese supernaturally speaks in eskimo or african language without going for lesson. Then a non-Christian eskimo or african comes into church and understands it.
(This is a rare type of tongues described on the day of Pentecost, and not the ones spoken in most churches today)
Type B - A heavenly (non human) language that needs to be interpreted so that it wud edify the hearers in church.
(This sometimes happens in churches today, but quite rare... unless it is interpreted and orderly as instructed by Paul, Type B is actually same as Type C)
Type C - Heavenly language that nobody on earth understands that edifies one's OWN SELF. Here, everybody speaks aloud unintelligibly AT THE SAME TIME and nobody interprets in the congregation.
This happens almost every single Sunday service in many, many churches today...
(IMHO, this practice is incompatible with the entire 1 Corinthian chapter 14. The reason is, when a guest steps in who has no idea what's going on, he'd think we are mad, seeing such a chaotic scene and hearing unintelligble utterances. Frankly it could be scary!)
In view of the clear instruction by Paul, why do so many people do it?
Well, it 'charges up' the spiritual atmosphere. I cud understand that benefit. Sometimes, praying in tongues seem to lift up the worship etc.
But still, we could get the same result if there is fervent, united prayer in intelligible language too.. rite? And can't we do it during prayer meetings where no guests are present instead?
OK, it is a good suggestion that if we tell the non-Christians,
"Friends, we are going to speak in a heavenly language that edify ourselves, which you dun understand... but it's a gift from God... Pls understand that we are not crazy.... hallelujah, hallelujah, shandalashulam tataataakatala kanashooolamailakota karnachanapitra... toekekalamilula..."
Why hasn't Paul thought of that?
Some non-Christians MAY be understanding and stop thinking we are crazy and really think it's from God...
But honestly, how many churches you know give these kinds of disclaimers to non-Christians? I seriously can't remember a single one in ten years of church visitations in malaysia...
My non-Christian friends thot we were speaking in LATIN! hehehe...
Many people absolutely freaked out and never step into church again! (it's no fun doing damage control ini macam, bro...)
That's exactly the kind of scenario that Paul is speaking against... and it's exactly what is happening on Sundays everywhere...
I think if we wanna edify ourselves, well, do it at home la... or in personal prayers.... while in corporate worship, let's build up the entire Body of Christ, so I'd rather speak 5 words intelligible than 1000 unintelligible ones... You may be giving thanks well enough in heavenly angelic tongues, but the other man is not edified.
Ok, so if disclaimers are given, could we still accept chaotic, simulataneous, uninterpreted tongues?
I wud still have reservations bcos...
1) we must not put unnecessary stumbling blocks for our frens to come to Christ. Disclaimers are not fool-proof, action speak louder than words. It's no use telling people we are not crazy then acting in a way that makes them think we are out of our minds... The gospel is offensive enuff, dun make it harder than it is.
2) I would not wanna try to outsmart the apostle Paul... Being inspired by HS, why didn't he tell us to give disclaimers before speaking in tongues together, aloud, uninterpreted? this instruction is NOT in the bible, betul?
Instead Paul specifically told us that one or two speak in tongues, and must be interpreted to prevent such things from happening...
Why not we simply follow the biblical instruction rather than coming up with our own fallible solutions?
Lets try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
Think it is an act of Christian charity that we could disagree on non-essentials yet come together in united worship.
If I recall rightly, the discussion was partly about whether simultaneous, uninterpreted tongues are appropriate for public worship.
It seems to me tat there are 3 types of tongues taught or practised in churches today
Type A: A human language that the speaker had not learnt. For example, a Chinese supernaturally speaks in eskimo or african language without going for lesson. Then a non-Christian eskimo or african comes into church and understands it.
(This is a rare type of tongues described on the day of Pentecost, and not the ones spoken in most churches today)
Type B - A heavenly (non human) language that needs to be interpreted so that it wud edify the hearers in church.
(This sometimes happens in churches today, but quite rare... unless it is interpreted and orderly as instructed by Paul, Type B is actually same as Type C)
Type C - Heavenly language that nobody on earth understands that edifies one's OWN SELF. Here, everybody speaks aloud unintelligibly AT THE SAME TIME and nobody interprets in the congregation.
This happens almost every single Sunday service in many, many churches today...
(IMHO, this practice is incompatible with the entire 1 Corinthian chapter 14. The reason is, when a guest steps in who has no idea what's going on, he'd think we are mad, seeing such a chaotic scene and hearing unintelligble utterances. Frankly it could be scary!)
In view of the clear instruction by Paul, why do so many people do it?
Well, it 'charges up' the spiritual atmosphere. I cud understand that benefit. Sometimes, praying in tongues seem to lift up the worship etc.
But still, we could get the same result if there is fervent, united prayer in intelligible language too.. rite? And can't we do it during prayer meetings where no guests are present instead?
OK, it is a good suggestion that if we tell the non-Christians,
"Friends, we are going to speak in a heavenly language that edify ourselves, which you dun understand... but it's a gift from God... Pls understand that we are not crazy.... hallelujah, hallelujah, shandalashulam tataataakatala kanashooolamailakota karnachanapitra... toekekalamilula..."
Why hasn't Paul thought of that?
Some non-Christians MAY be understanding and stop thinking we are crazy and really think it's from God...
But honestly, how many churches you know give these kinds of disclaimers to non-Christians? I seriously can't remember a single one in ten years of church visitations in malaysia...
My non-Christian friends thot we were speaking in LATIN! hehehe...
Many people absolutely freaked out and never step into church again! (it's no fun doing damage control ini macam, bro...)
That's exactly the kind of scenario that Paul is speaking against... and it's exactly what is happening on Sundays everywhere...
I think if we wanna edify ourselves, well, do it at home la... or in personal prayers.... while in corporate worship, let's build up the entire Body of Christ, so I'd rather speak 5 words intelligible than 1000 unintelligible ones... You may be giving thanks well enough in heavenly angelic tongues, but the other man is not edified.
Ok, so if disclaimers are given, could we still accept chaotic, simulataneous, uninterpreted tongues?
I wud still have reservations bcos...
1) we must not put unnecessary stumbling blocks for our frens to come to Christ. Disclaimers are not fool-proof, action speak louder than words. It's no use telling people we are not crazy then acting in a way that makes them think we are out of our minds... The gospel is offensive enuff, dun make it harder than it is.
2) I would not wanna try to outsmart the apostle Paul... Being inspired by HS, why didn't he tell us to give disclaimers before speaking in tongues together, aloud, uninterpreted? this instruction is NOT in the bible, betul?
Instead Paul specifically told us that one or two speak in tongues, and must be interpreted to prevent such things from happening...
Why not we simply follow the biblical instruction rather than coming up with our own fallible solutions?
Lets try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
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