by Chris H.

Created on: July 04, 2008

First off, it should be made clear that I have no problem with people speaking in tongues today. I believe that the spiritual gifts are still for today, God does perform miracles today and He visits unbelievers in dreams. Granted, there has been a sad amount of abuse of the gift of tongues, but this does not mean that speaking in tongues is not for today. People can call themselves Christians and abuse Christianity, but in and of itself, this does not mean that God doesn't exist or that Christianity is false.

My area of concern is the belief that one Christian can teach another Christian how to speak in tongues, which seems to be quite common in charismatic circles.

Reading through Scripture, I don't see any biblical support for saying that one can be taught how to speak in tongues. This is not unique to speaking in tongues, I don't see where we can be taught or teach others any of the spiritual gifts.

When speaking in tongues or any of the spiritual gifts is given, they are always given by God without any human help or teaching. Granted, we can use, grow and develop the gift(s) that God has given us through our use and the help of others. But we never receive the gifts this way.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11- "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

Hebrews 2:4- "God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."

We also have some examples in Scripture of people receiving the gift of tongues. Never do any of them receive the gift through human help or teaching, but directly through the Spirit of God.

Acts 2:1-4- "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak

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