Author: Lois | Page 59 | Spiritual Abuse Blogs

Informational post on speaking in tongues #2

This is just a little ‘did you know’ informational post on the subject of speaking in tongues, shared as some food for thought. It goes along with a statement made in the first post: “Paul wanted the entire group of believers to be edified when they gathered together.”

Did you know the Bible teaches that when believers gather together, people should not be speaking in tongues all at the same time? Are you aware that the number of believers who should speak in tongues in a gathering should be limited to no more than three, with each speaking separately? Did you know that if anyone does speak in tongues at a service, they should only do so if someone is there to interpret? (That includes the pastor or guest minister, where many suddenly come out with tongues in the midst of speaking and there is no interpretation.)

Surprised? I imagine many are. Apostolic and Pentecostal churches encourage people to speak in tongues during gatherings. Yet if the apostle Paul were alive today, he would be telling them to stop this practice. He would consider this to be out of order and causing confusion to guests, just as he did with the church at Corinth. He taught that when believers were gathered together it should be with the purpose of everyone being edified. Tongues without interpretation does not edify the body of believers or the guests simply because they do not understand what is being spoken. This is why he encouraged those who spoke in tongues to also pray that they would be able to interpret, as was covered in the first post.

In 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 Paul wrote:

If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. NASB
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. NIV
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. KJV
No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately. NLT

Informational post on speaking in tongues #1

This is just a little ‘did you know’ informational post on the subject of speaking in tongues, shared as some food for thought.

With the emphasis and push for speaking in tongues in Pentecostal churches, my personal experience is that rarely was it pointed out, if ever, something which Paul told those who spoke in tongues to do. Do you know what it is?

I Corinthians 14:13 shows that Paul instructed those who speak in tongues to pray that they would also be able to interpret those tongues.

9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.

12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

Surprised? When was the last time you heard a Pentecostal preacher teach that if you speak in tongues you should pray to be able to interpret? It is interesting how little this is taught and emphasized. Paul wanted the entire group of believers to be edified when they gathered together.

Have you followed Paul’s admonition?

Boundaries Book Giveaway!

Today we hit 100 blogs and are celebrating!

We have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry and this will be our third one via this new blog area. This is your chance to receive one or more books on Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. We have given away many copies of the main Boundaries book through the years as people from an unhealthy church have needed to learn about them. Unhealthy churches usually do not have good boundaries or will stomp all over yours.

Up for grabs are several used copies of this book and two others.

~~One is a hardback without its dust jacket and it has some underlining and highlighting, though still very readable.~~ TAKEN
There are two copies each of Boundaries plus the additional workbook. Both workbooks are paperback, with the others being hardbacks. ONE TAKEN
One is a hardback of Boundaries With Teens.
~~One is a set of books, both Boundaries in Marriage book and workbook. The workbook has some writing at the beginning. Both are paperback.~~ TAKEN
One is a hardback of Boundaries With Kids.

The first people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive their choice of book(s) at no charge to them. To respond, just leave a comment for this post. Please understand that comments require approval unless you have previously commented. So while it may look like you are first or second, there may be someone ahead of you who comment is pending. Be sure to use your actual email address when setting up to comment as I will be contacting you. (Do not put the email or address in your actual comment.)

Be sure to mention in your comment which book(s) you would like and you may refer to them by number. The workbooks will not be separated from their accompanying books.

Transforming Grace Giveaway!

THESE ARE NOW TAKEN. Watch for future giveaway posts!

We have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry and this will be our second one via this new blog area. This is your chance to receive a copy of Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges. This is one of the first books I read after leaving my unhealthy church and I recommend it to anyone coming out of a performance based legalistic church.

Up for grabs are two used copies of this book. One is a hardback without its dust jacket and it has some underlining and highlighting, though still very readable, and the other is a paperback and appears to be without any markings. The first two people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive a copy at no charge to them. To respond, just leave a comment for this post. Please understand that comments require approval unless you have previously commented. So while it may look like you are first or second, there may be someone ahead of you who comment is pending. Be sure to use your actual email address when setting up to comment as I will be contacting you. (Do not put the email or address in your actual comment.)

As of this writing, we still have one copy left from our first giveaway. You must comment on that post if you are interested in that one.

Exposing Spiritual Abuse Giveaway!

THESE ARE NOW TAKEN. Watch for future giveaway posts!

While we have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry, this will be our first one via this new blog area. I will not be sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter or Google, though others might. This way, people who come directly to the blog area will have first chance to receive a copy of Exposing Spiritual Abuse by Mike Fehlauer. This is a book we do not usually have to give away as used copies are harder to find at a reasonable price.

Up for grabs are two used copies of this book. One has a fair amount of pencil markings, though still very readable, and the other appears to be without any. The first two people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive a copy at no charge to them. To respond, just leave a comment for this post. Please understand that comments require approval unless you have previously commented. So while it may look like you are first or second, there may be someone ahead of you whose comment is pending. Be sure to use your actual email address when setting up to comment as I will be contacting you. (Do not put the email or address in your actual comment.)