This was the subject of conversation that dominated superbowl Sunday at my brother-in-laws. My inlaws contend that "speaking in tongues" is a gift from God for certain people. My understanding is that this gift is given to all believers upon request (Mark 16:17). However, my brother-in-law stated (with family support) there is no evidence of this supported in the Bible. I pointed out Acts 2:4, and stated that everyone in the Upper Room were speaking in tongues. I also tried, without success to tell them this "speaking in tongues" is the prayer language (Jude 20) as opposed to the "gift of tongues" in 1st Corinthians 12:10, which requires an interperter as it is meant to edify the church.
I'd like to know what other Christians think about the gift of tongues. Given to some or available to all?

mrspiggy- 2/7/2008 9:16:02 AM

Mrs. Piggy... I am very new to this website and very intrigued by it. I do believe in the gift of speaking in tongues. I have witnessed it and it is beautiful. However, I also believe that it is a gift that God gives to certain individuals; I see nothing wrong with requesting the gift of speaking in tongues, but don't get hung-up on it. When God feels that you ready for it, it will happen. I haven't been fortunate to receive this gift yet, but I know that I need to concentrate on the gifts that I do have right at this time.

I would like to hear more from others on this subject as well.

gmajoan- 4/14/2008 2:19:33 PM

I beleive speaking in tongues is for all believers, and is a way of edifying the spirit... its is the deepest form of prayer between man and God... and i also want to note as you said before this is not the same as the gift of tongues..

anyone looking for research check out Kenneth Hagan's book called Ministry Gifts

Joia- 4/14/2008 5:01:19 PM

Gmajoan,

Thank you for your response. I guess I should have elaborated on this a little more. I was not talking about the gift of diverse tongues, I was speaking on the "prayer language" tongues which is available to all believers. Mark 16:17 states, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well."

Many ministers interupt their teachings and go into tongues, this irritated my inlaws. I was speaking in defense of the ministers. I took them to Jude 20, where it is written, "...build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit." See, the difference? Prayer tongues builds up the person praying. The gift of tongues, provided there's an interpretor, builds up the Church body.

I asked them why was this written if the prayer language was not available to all believers. God never asks us to do anything that He has not equipped us to do. I'm sorry if it appeared that I was hung up on it, I'm not. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit 14 years ago and have had my prayer language since then. I never pray in the Spirit in their presence as I do not want to offend them. Since it is the Holy Spirit in me communing with the Father, even I don't know what I'm saying and the Holy Spirit is never rude. When I pray with them, I pray in english.

However, no matter how many scriptures I show them, they maintain that only certain people have the gift of tongues.

mrspiggy- 4/14/2008 5:26:16 PM