Why Speaking in Tongues is awesome & good!

What should we think about those who reject spiritual gifts or the Biblically recommended Christian experience of speaking in tongues?

Over the years, I must admit being discouraged and mystified by a loud minority of churchgoers or religious people, even some Christians, who seem to fear, reject, deny or even despise the Holy Spirit and His gifts. The Bible gives very serious warnings about denying Jesus. And the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I believe denying the Holy Spirit, His reality, gifts & miracles is also very serious.

It is actually shameful and dishonoring to the Lord to reject His gifts. Beginning with the gift of salvation. Those who reject that gift end up with eternity in hell. Rejecting other gifts from God also involves missing grace. And is a serious mistake.

Anyone who teaches God's gifts are expired should rethink their (second-hand) questionable theology. If someone thinks the gifts of the Spirit, sent to reveal Jesus, are scary or bad, this is simply misled.

Some well-known traditional, denominational "pastors" or teachers over the years, seem like their teachings are running on fumes of untrue traditional doctrines. Perhaps they got these from theological seminaries. Or other misinformed sources. Some infer that, supposedly, gifts from God are expired, passe, rejected or even bad. Naysayers warn against receiving gifts though they actually are from God. (Especially spiritual manifestations they or their church do not like.) For example: Healing, miracles, spiritual gifts, speaking in tongues, prophecy. Anything that demonstrates God is supernatural.

Honestly, this uncomfortable perspective on the supernatural is incorrect. God, by definition, is supernatural. And Malachi 3:6 clears it all up: "I, the Lord do not change."

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Neither Luke, Matthew, Paul or Jesus had any "phobia" about spiritual gifts. Jesus encouraged us to receive them. Jesus authored the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And told all those (in Acts 1) who had already received salvation, to wait for a second experience with the Holy Spirit from on high. We are to ask and receive all the gifts the Holy Spirit calls good.

We should not be confused or deceived or deterred by satan against the good that comes into our lives through spiritual gifts.

One especially harmful deception is the false notion that God, only in the old days, used to give supernatural gifts, but (supposedly) now we don't need them anymore. That seems preposterous considering Jesus said that, in the last days, there would be times of great tribulation. During the last days, the need for believers to experience the supernatural sustaining power of Christ will increase, not decrease.

1 Corinthians 13, properly understood, says that spiritual gifts, like prophecy, miracles, word of knowledge, speaking in tongues, will CONTINUE throughout the full time period of the New Covenant until we see Jesus FACE TO FACE. Following that, in heaven, the partial glimpses of His glory & Presence (like prophecy and tongues and miracles) will no longer be needed. When we see Him FACE to FACE. The Holy Spirit & His gifts last AS LONG AS EARTH LASTS. For the entirety of the New Covenant.

1 Corinthians 13 is really full of divine advocacy, encouraging us to receive the LOVE of God along with all the Spirit's gifts. 1 Corinthians 14 (& 12) both confirm the unchanging purpose of both LOVE & GIFTS in the lives of all believers.

Notice how scripture many places confirms the UNCHANGING nature of God and the UNCHANGING giving of His gifts.

James 1:16 -17
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Therefore, since Jesus does NOT change...) 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. (In other words, simply accept and stick with what the BIBLE says. On all matters. For...) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace."

That some humans would misunderstand - even reject or neglect to experience God's blessings is unfathomable. Why do people reject & deny Christ's salvation? It makes no sense. Why would Christians reject or minimize the Holy Spirit? Rejecting God's gifts which richly bring us the revelation of Jesus, also does not make sense. Jesus Himself demonstrated almost all of the Holy Spirit's gifts throughout His earthly ministry and wants them for us.

"The things that I do, you also will do. And even greater."

Best recommendation: Believe God's Word.

As for me, I am going with GOD'S WORD (not what Christ-rejecting people say). Isaiah 28 hits every nail right on the head. God is right. The Bible is our infallible truth. Any voices contrary to scripture are false & suspect.

Romans 3:2-4 They (Jews like Isaiah through whom the Holy Spirit brought forth the revelation of Scripture) have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."

Prayer in other tongues or worship by singing in the Spirit are great ways to draw close to God & glorify Jesus. Through the supernatural, the Holy Spirit challenges our human boundaries and doctrinal prejudices. God Himself bursts out beyond our doctrines and takes us out of our comfort zone. When it comes to decided how God wants to do things, we are NOT in control. Jesus is Lord. No one tells the King what He can & cannot do.

Gifts, signs, miracles, healing, tongues & many of heaven's wonders are each a divine way of God saying: I want to move you beyond what you can do. I want to transcend what you can figure out with your brain. I am not limited to your human words or your limited vocabulary. I want to transcend your spiritual studies & academic understanding.

Yes, you're right, speaking in tongues doesn't have anything to do with being saved. But after you are saved, speaking & praying in tongues, plus singing in other languages are all great ways to draw close to God, deepen your understanding of Jesus, worship the Lord & add to your prayer life.

Some people try to contradict tongues in their spiritual circles. Why? They want to deprive people of a bonafide Holy Spirit inspired experience that is clearly Biblical.

It's actually no wonder the devil fights against spiritual gifts & supernatural experiences.

The devil is master at deceiving & declaring gifts from God are not available or speaking in "tongues" is now invalid. satan himself tries to discredit the Acts 2:4 experience, saying it's not you or not for us today (these are lies). "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today & forever." Hebrews 13:8

Some misdirected, but perhaps well-meaning, Christians try to persuade us that tongues or other supernatural gifts may be over long ago (or only historical). But these ideas do not hold up to scripture. The same world-wide heart of God that reached men from many languages & nations on the day of Pentecost has actually never changed!

Naysayers sound off to deny the communication abilities of the Holy Spirit or prevent God's heart from reaching out to every tribe & language by cutting off spiritual gifts, supernatural prayer & more. This is tantamount to denying John 3:16 plus the Holy Spirit of Acts 2! We should not be doing that.

Even good Christian folks can form doctrines or biases against God, His gifts, grace & Word. God Himself is the One Who decided to create a world with many & plural languages (in Genesis). We should not let any doctrinal idea from humans dwarf our ability to understand the outreach of the Holy Spirit through all languages to express the worldwide heart of God.

For years, I've even seen some brothers and sisters seem to speak against the Bible or resist God's Spirit. I hear them mistrust, accuse those who believe, even disallow legitimate spiritual gifts, deny contemporary and wonderful, miraculous workings of God. The naysayers want to outlaw the supernatural altogether, because it does not fit their doctrines, theology or personal preferences.

Some people want to accuse Jesus of no longer giving good gifts. James 1:16-17 says otherwise. Other dear, but confused, ones say prophecy or healing or tongues or other miracles God can no longer do. (Because we won't allow Him to?) In Christ's day, the Pharisees accused Jesus, when He performed miraculous works of being Beelzebub & not of God. There's really nothing new under the sun. Religious people are still accusing Jesus & trying to outlaw His miraculous works today.

I personally would rather not reject the Lord's gifts. "Every gift of God is GOOD & PERFECT." People are flawed, but God's gifts are all good. James 1:16-17

Instead of picking and choosing gifts (as if we were God or in charge of Christmas), I've always felt God's Word alone is our guide. Everything in the Bible is right & true. And all the gifts are still on the menu. The Father can choose which gifts are best for you. But there is no denying, in Acts 2:4 that "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit & began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Jesus taught we, like sons, are free to ASK of a loving, generous Heavenly Father, Who delights to give us gifts.

Forget all the doctrinal debates. Step beyond denominations, sects & human doctrines. Set aside man's religious confusion & controversies. God's word is the right source.

Isaiah 8:20
"To the law & to the prophets. If they do not speak according to this Word, they have no light of dawn."

The scriptures are clear on spiritual gifts. God's Word speaks for itself. And actually all God's gifts are good. James 1:16-17 All of them. Divine gifts flow from above. From a Gift-giver Who is unchanging. Malachi 3:6 Likewise, the kinds of gifts He gives also never change. We are still in the same new covenant. Same as always. From the first century until now. I personally have learned that God, the never changing gift giver, is generous in His Spirit outpourings!

Speaking in tongues is a great way to celebrate Jesus, worship Christ as our Saviour, to draw close to the One we love, adore Him (like the Magi), bring Him GIFTS! We honor God most when our gifts are truly focused on worshipping JESUS. Just as the Magi brought gifts humbly and bestowed them in worship before the newborn King, so every Christian needs to offer gifts and spiritual talents to honor and glorify God! 1 Cor. 10:31

I've often baffled at those who, nevertheless, feel a need to rage or scoff, or be afraid of divine things supernatural.

Some miscreants preach a fuming mistrust toward the Holy Spirit & many of the gifts God delights to give. Set this aside. And remember that the Bible commands us to ENCOURAGE & EAGERLY DESIRE spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 12-14

I notice great irony, even in some of my fellow "evangelicals." Over the years, I have known dear friends who somehow inflamed themselves to declare we should reject tongues, prophecy, healing & miracles (and other gifts and workings of God established by the scriptures). To any honest reading of the Bible, such contradictions simply can not hold.

Rejection of spiritual gifts or forbidding others to receive Christ's gifts is a really SCROOGE kind of "Christianity." Bah. Humbug! (God, we refuse & reject your gifts. Return to sender.) Such attitudes dishonor the Lord.

Instead of being spiritual scrooges, let's resolve to believe the Bible, welcome all the Spirit's gifts and love the miraculous workings of Jesus in our midst, all for God's glory. Test and discern what's real & right, yes, always. But hold to the scriptures as the only guide. ENCOURAGE Jesus to reveal Himself. Welcome the Holy Spirit to do the Father's will. Encourage all spiritual GIFTS, not just the ones you are comfortable with. Above all, encourage the seeking of God. Remember James 1:16-17. All good gifts come from God. From above. And spiritual gifts are given to REVEAL Jesus to us. John 1:29 That's a good thing. Like the magi of old, it is best to draw near to Christ. And bring our gifts to His feet to worship Him. Truly Jesus is the One Who we love. And the One Who we honor with all the Holy Spirit's gifts that are given.

Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.