Speaking In Tongues - Can It Be Controlled?

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To set the context clear, I don't speak in tongues. And I do believe the gift is available today. Having said that, I see most of the people who speak in tongues are in somewhat uncontrollable state. That is, they cannot stop it themselves and it is very hard for them. It looks like they are pretty much in a different kind of world. But when Paul speaks about speaking in tongues in a corporate worship setting, he is saying everyone should not speak in tongues. Only two or three. Which means everyone else should control themselves. And the other thing he is saying is, it should be one by one. Which means, they should control when they start and stop. I have seen people who talk in tongues in a very calm manner as well. How do you see this?

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 ESV
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
 
There has never been one to interpret in any congregation I've attended where people speak in tongues in all my experience. Paul was giving instructions so worship would have order but I've yet to see that when I attend a church that speaks in tongues.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭39-40‬ NLT). Haven't seen it yet.
 
There has never been one to interpret in any congregation I've attended where people speak in tongues in all my experience. Paul was giving instructions so worship would have order but I've yet to see that when I attend a church that speaks in tongues.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭39-40‬ NLT). Haven't seen it yet.
If I think about it, even I may not have seen it yet.. Not to doubt if others are actually speaking in tongues or not. Just have not seen this kind of order
 
There has never been one to interpret in any congregation I've attended where people speak in tongues in all my experience. Paul was giving instructions so worship would have order but I've yet to see that when I attend a church that speaks in tongues.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭39-40‬ NLT). Haven't seen it yet.

He said "babaka shatia babababababa"
 
1 Corinthians 14:27-28 ESV
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
Yes, I've seen this done ONCE, and in beautiful and perfect order
... 3 successive tongues & interpretations, i.e. 2 x 3.
Everything short and sweet ... maybe 10 minutes max.

But as to the OP question ...
One who just happens to have 1 of the 9 spiritual power gifts (1 Cor 12),
which is this tongues gift, can speak in tongues whenever he wishes.
Often it is like: "Gee, I think I'll talk to God now (out loud, but privately)."
And what happens is: the Holy Spirit does the speaking for him.
The Spirit knows what's on his mind, troubling him, or whatever,
and speaks for him in the most perfect way to the Father.
 
To set the context clear, I don't speak in tongues. And I do believe the gift is available today. Having said that, I see most of the people who speak in tongues are in somewhat uncontrollable state. That is, they cannot stop it themselves and it is very hard for them. It looks like they are pretty much in a different kind of world. But when Paul speaks about speaking in tongues in a corporate worship setting, he is saying everyone should not speak in tongues. Only two or three. Which means everyone else should control themselves. And the other thing he is saying is, it should be one by one. Which means, they should control when they start and stop. I have seen people who talk in tongues in a very calm manner as well. How do you see this?

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 ESV
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV)
Let all things be done decently and in order.

Yes it's controllable.
 
To set the context clear, I don't speak in tongues. And I do believe the gift is available today. Having said that, I see most of the people who speak in tongues are in somewhat uncontrollable state. That is, they cannot stop it themselves and it is very hard for them. It looks like they are pretty much in a different kind of world. But when Paul speaks about speaking in tongues in a corporate worship setting, he is saying everyone should not speak in tongues. Only two or three. Which means everyone else should control themselves. And the other thing he is saying is, it should be one by one. Which means, they should control when they start and stop. I have seen people who talk in tongues in a very calm manner as well. How do you see this?

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 ESV
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

Hello Rav, boy your giving the posts tonight, God bless you. I'd say Rav and again apologies of this has already been said, one of the fruits of God's Spirit is self-control whether that be just in our daily life or as part of displaying the gifts. Since the Holy Spirit would never force, manipulate or control an individual I believe it's either not a true expression of togues or the individual is just overwhelmed by the experience. I have had the pleasure of two or three individuals in our previous assembly who spoke in public tongues and there was almost always an interpretation of that tongue so quite blessed in that respect. I would encourage any to follow speaking in tongues for themselves as part of their own private prayer with the Lord, it just takes practice!
 
. . . .I would encourage any to follow speaking in tongues for themselves as part of their own private prayer with the Lord, it just takes practice!

Christian, you know, I hope, that I would not deliberately be mean to you or embarrass you, but I hope I may have the freedom to ask honest and respectful questions. What you wrote here -- I don't understand.
  • If tongues are of the H Spirit, why do people have control of tongues, not the H Spirit?
  • You wrote that "it just takes practice." If tongues are of the H Spirit, why do people have to practice speaking in tongues? To get better at it?
  • Isn't proficiency of the H Spirit?
  • Why would it matter how proficient one is, if they are speaking to G-d, who is omniscient?

Let me give you a short background of my dealing with tongues:
  • Was in a church 50.5 years that did tongues, minus some years out of town.
  • Saw a lot of fakers there and in other churches.
  • A lot of such people enjoyed the tongues because (1) they liked the attention, (2) tongues made them feel more religious, and (3) they were told they had to speak in tongues in order to "go to heaven," so there was that pressure plus there was social pressure.
  • Way too many of the people and leaders in that church were extremely mean: it was a virtue to them.
  • I spoke in tongues one time in my whole life -- something it has been hard to admit, but I've done it now.
Thank you!
 
tezriLi
So sorry you were involved in a terrible church!
But at least they were not deceived into believing in cessationism.
Small consolation, huh.
However, IMO a cessationist church full of sincere dedicated believers
who are trying hard to be led by, and follow, and walk in the Spirit
is much preferred over that one of yours!
 
tezriLi
So sorry you were involved in a terrible church!
But at least they were not deceived into believing in cessationism.
Small consolation, huh.
However, IMO a cessationist church full of sincere dedicated believers
who are trying hard to be led by, and follow, and walk in the Spirit
is much preferred over that one of yours!
Thank you, Osterloh. I just pray that the people are led out of that church, and prayers like that are being answered in the USA, especially, as their churches are slowly closing.
 
To set the context clear, I don't speak in tongues. And I do believe the gift is available today. Having said that, I see most of the people who speak in tongues are in somewhat uncontrollable state. That is, they cannot stop it themselves and it is very hard for them. It looks like they are pretty much in a different kind of world. But when Paul speaks about speaking in tongues in a corporate worship setting, he is saying everyone should not speak in tongues. Only two or three. Which means everyone else should control themselves. And the other thing he is saying is, it should be one by one. Which means, they should control when they start and stop. I have seen people who talk in tongues in a very calm manner as well. How do you see this?

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 ESV
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
I can't speak for everyone, but when I had done it, it was a peaceful experience with the presence of the Holy Spirit. I like to think about it like a computer downloading code. Its complete nonsense to the person hearing it, but it is meaningful to the Holy Spirit. I also noticed I tended to repeat the words I was praying, which could mean my spirit was repeating the same message to God, and that would play in well to my coded message analogy. Perhaps longer strings of words mean there is more issues with one's spirit... you can take that for what it's worth, but I will say I did not feel out of control (maybe I wasn't doing it right?).
 
I can't speak for everyone, but when I had done it, it was a peaceful experience with the presence of the Holy Spirit. I like to think about it like a computer downloading code. Its complete nonsense to the person hearing it, but it is meaningful to the Holy Spirit. I also noticed I tended to repeat the words I was praying, which could mean my spirit was repeating the same message to God, and that would play in well to my coded message analogy. Perhaps longer strings of words mean there is more issues with one's spirit... you can take that for what it's worth, but I will say I did not feel out of control (maybe I wasn't doing it right?).
Makes sense on the repeating part actually.. Especially when I think of this verse:
Day and night they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come."

Babaka shatia bababa
 
As I see it, the problem with speaking in tongues is that ...yes, an interpreter is needed, but.......................................................
My faith/trust would be being drawn away from the Lord and directed to someone who claims to be an interpreter. I mean how do we know that that Babaka bit is genuine speaking in tongues, and how do we know if maybe it is just saying that baby needs a nappie change..diaper change?? Us 'less blessed' trogs would have to trust that the interpreter is genuine.
As for praying in tongues.......hmmm well again ??? When we make an audible noise, we generate a series of transverse mechanical vibrations in the air...Is that what the Lord hears? or does He listen to our hearts?? If the later then praying out load can only be for either promoting self importance or to encourage/edify others as in English spoken prayer...but then, if an interpreter is required, prayer time becomes an unordered and unruly mess.
I have enough trouble with the English language without being bamboozled by some foreign tongue thankyou all the same.
 
The main issue I see is that the modern application of tongues has NOTHING to do with what happened in Acts 2.
There it was clearly an instance of xeroglossia.

The modern version of babbling and then having to rely on another person to translate sounds akin to the fake healing sessions where planted people in the audience are called up and "healed" just so the ministry is seen as Holy Spirit filled.

This is no more convincing than the people that assist fake psychics that question you before a session and then pipe the info to the psychic through an earpiece.

So it leaves me with having to ask questions:

IF tongues is not going to shown as a form of xenoglossia, and it is ONLY understood by God, then why did God say to pray in secret?

How does it advance the Good News, if it requires another person to translate instead of Holy Spirit being in our hearts translating infallibly for us?

These things are not measuring up to what God has said previously. Only the form of tongues in Acts 2 seems to be the most in line with the needs of spreading The Good News.

There is something decaying in Copenhagen.
 
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