Why is this? And in fact is what we are seeing today the same gift that empowered Jesus? disciples at Pentecost?
The disciples were given the essential ability to speak in the languages of the surrounding nations, so that they could preach the gospel in the native tongue of all those they met. If what we see in churches today is the same gift, why was it absent from the church for over 1800 years?
Throughout the Bible it is seen that God gave His people gifts of the spirit to empower them to do what was required for a particular purpose at a particular time. It is easy to see why God saw it necessary to give the gift of Speaking in Tongues to the early Church. How else could uneducated men have been able to spread the gospel? The question is then, for what reason would the gift of Speaking in Tongues have been reintroduced to the church after such a long absence. What possible purpose does it serve now that the church is established in almost every corner of the world?
We need to note also that when the genuine gift of tongues was given, for the purpose of evangelising, they understood what they were saying. 1 Corinthians 14:15-16 ?What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what you sayest?? Is what we are seeing in churches today the genuine gift, or has Satan somehow been able to infiltrate the Christian world and deceive them with a counterfeit of one of God's gifts for his own purposes?
The Bible warns us that in the end times there will be a huge outpouring of false miracles, signs and wonders that would deceive much of the Christian world. Mark 13:22 ?For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect?.
Most Christians are totally oblivious to the fact that speaking in tongues is also practiced in many non-christian religions. It is practiced in African rituals and in voo doo and occult religions. Independent studies have found that there is no distinction in tongues between Christians and the followers of non-Christian (pagan) religions.
One of the most important attributes of the Holy Spirit is that He will guide us into truth. John 16:13 ?Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself;?. Truth is the understanding of the true and complete gospel message that our sins can be forgiven through the blood of our saviour Jesus. The message that we are saved by grace and not works, and that those who are saved will be obedient to the will of the Father and follow His commandments, just as Jesus also instructed. John 14:15 ?If ye love me, keep my commandments?.
The fact that many churches who are practicing speaking in tongues are also teaching that we no longer have to obey the commandments, which directly contradicts what Jesus taught when He said Mathew 5:18 ?For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled? should make us step back and take a second look at whether this phenomenon being practiced in our churches is of God or from another source.
All Bible references are from the King James Version.
Before I start this article, I would like to make it clear that I am an agnostic, this meaning that I have not ruled out that possibility that a god might exist though I have not accepted by reason that one by all means has to be. I however for my part can say that I am not one who feels the need to obtain this knowledge regarding weather God is a certainty or not as I regardless of which have chosen to life my life a certain way which I will not change, specially should there be a god.
Regarding the teachings of the bible, however it is on this topic that I do have firm views on, as I have read this book and like most have interpreted it with my own wisdom and logic; which I am not one to believe will necessarily be everybody's. The bible claims and I refer to this source since it is said to be the word of God, directly passed on from him to us, his creation or so such is credited by some that life is a gift from God. This meaning that God loved man and wanted to share his feelings of the same and therefore created him in his own image. As he passed on what many consider his greatest gift of all which is life.
I, however for my own have come to believe based on what I have read in the bible and if this source holds any truth to it; that life is not a gift from God but an obligation of the worse kind, since man never asked for it; nor did he ever accept it under the conditions which it was given to him. This concept of mine coming from what I perceive a true gift to be; which is what we receive with the giver wanting nothing in return. This being for instance what could come in the form of a book; which we may do with as we please. We may read it but do not have to, we may keep it or throw it away or sell it if we choose to do so or destroy it should this be our desire. This the case with a real gift, however if we are given a book and told that this is a book which we have to read every day, learn by heart and can not give away, sell or damage in anyway with the threat of punishment if we do; then this book is no longer a gift but an unfair obligation.
It is this logic, which I am aware some may even find as absurd which has lead me to believe that if life does indeed come from God, it should be no means be considered a gift, of any kind but an obligation, unfairly passed on to us. This being the case since God never asked us or even our ancestors, whom he is said to have created if we wanted this so called gift of life or would accept it under the conditions he was giving it to us. These conditions being the ones that dictate that we have to live by his rules, following his will alone and for the most part living our lives exclusively for him with nothing but him in mind, where failure to do so will lead to castigation from his part. I ask myself is this really the sort of gift I would want to receive, to which I reply in the negative in the most determined way as I feel a gift, if handed with noble intentions holds not conditions, not even that the person or group of people who receive enjoy it. This being the case for they may choose simply to throw it away but even this God forbids; for doing so is considered a sin, which carries tremendous punishment which if one thinks over the matter with logic bares none. For at the end; is it not like throwing away what one never asked for in the first place but was given and if life is a gift in reality then should we; those who receive not have the right to use it as we wish and or not at all if such should be our desire, without having to explain our selves to anybody, much less be punished.
I am naturally aware that some will always consider life to be a gift from god and it is not this concept which I wish to change however it is with the desire of passing on a perhaps new idea that I chose to write this article. This idea being that if God truly wanted to present us with a gift called life, then he should have given it to us with no conditions what so ever, specially since he never asked if we would accept them or not. No conditions meaning that we will not be punished for not following his rules and are free to live as we humans deem fit to do so, in a world where we do not have to live our lives with the intent of pleasing him but he with the intent of pleasing us.
Both Debra Lohrere & Maury Klein are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Debra Lohrere has sinced written about articles on various topics from Religion, SEO Search Engine Optimization and Ford. For more information on this topic, please visit http://www.speaking-in-tongues.org/Debra Lohrere is the author of Peace, Prophecy and False Fire http://www.lulu.com/content/333221. Her homepage is http://debra.lohrere.com/home.shtml. Debra Lohrere's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Maury Klein has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Religion and Malware. My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. I also am the author of the book entitled ?New York's O. Maury Klein's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.