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Speaking in Tongues
A Campus Conversation
A conversation on tongue speaking and miracles occurred during street evangelism at the campus. Here are the highlights and please, admire this young man’s openness.
ME – Acts 2 shows these tongues were actual human languages:
Acts 2:8 – “How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?
HIM – True, but what about 1 Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 14:2) For the person who speaks in another tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.
ME – That could still be a human, foreign language (which is backed up a verse I wish I had remembered!)
1 Corinthians 14:10 – There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning.
“Speaking mysteries” just shows the speaker didn’t understand what he was saying. Interpreting tongues is a different gift than speaking in tongues:
1 Corinthians 14:13 – Therefore the person who speaks in another tongue should pray that he can interpret. 14) For if I pray in another tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
It would be like you being able to read the words of a Spanish Bible, but unable to understand what you are reading.
HIM – That’s makes sense. But if tongue speaking and other miracles were used then to convert people, wouldn’t it be useful today?
ME – That would be so cool if God chose to do that. I wish He did. I haven’t seen it. On the other hand, the Bible does show that what is written down is enough to convert. When the rich man wanted a miracle to convert his brothers:
Luke 16:29 – “But Abraham said, ‘They have MOSES AND THE PROPHETS; they should listen to them.’
So we have the Old Testament to use.
And now we have the New Testament to use.
John 20:30) Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31) But these are WRITTEN so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
HIM – That’s true because I was converted without seeing miracles.
Then he stuck around as I talked to others. We also talked about 1 Corinthians 13 where it is said tongues would cease, and discussed possible meanings of “when that which is perfect comes”. I shared with him that this is a difficult text. It is important to show our own struggles and openness too.
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