i have read this article and i am amazed.

in these past two weeks i have been wondering about the real argument why Bethany stands against tongue-speaking. after a lengthy discussion with Pastor Mitch, i was convinced. after i read this kick-ass awesome article, i am doubly convinced!

if you have no interest on this subject, dont even bother. the article is insanely long, you'll get bored and you'll leave with a half-baked understanding on the subject. if youre gonna read it, read every word right till the very end, and it will show you the Biblical perception of speaking in tongues.

there is no way out of this.. some of my friends have told me that they believe in the gift of tongues because they have experienced it. what is experience when you compare it to the Word of God? experience is flawed, God's Word is perfect. experience is subjective, God's Word is not. i especially enjoyed the first and last part of the article.. it starts with a big bang and it ends with a bigger bang. hahaha. i am especially impressed by Bible scholars who have extensive knowledge of the original text of the Bible..sometimes the English translations do not bring across the intended meanings of the writers adequately, sometimes resulting in misinterpretation of the Word.

i especially like how the author has a real nice sense of humor: For the past two years I have made it my practice to ask many of the leading Bible teachers and scholars, some of whom having a rich working knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, if they have ever spoken in tongues. Among them are college and seminary presidents and professors. To date I have not had one of about sixty men tell me that he ever spoke in tongues!

I have been asked if I ever spoke in tongues. No, I have not. God and I have gotten along nicely for the past forty-five years in English. I speak to Him in English and He hears and understands me. He speaks to me in English through His Word, and I understand Him. (haha)

ive listed 3 points that struck me about this article below-

points that struck me!

1) Paul was addressing the misuse of tongues in the Corinthian church, he was NOT advocating it. this can be seen from 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. they even engaged in gross sin (1 Corinthians 5:1)

2) "Perfect" in 1 Cor 13:10 is a reference to the completed Word of God, the Bible. it cannot be a reference to Christ.

If Christians would take seriously, within context, all of the teaching about tongues in 1 Corinthians, they could not fail to see that tongues-speaking would cease. Paul writes, “Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (13:8). There will always be the need for love, therefore love will never drop off. But when the canon of Scripture is made “perfect” (or complete), there will be no further revelation from God, neither in predictive prophecy nor in divinely revealed knowledge other than prophecy. The gifts of “prophecy” and “knowledge” will be entirely unnecessary with the completion of the Scriptures. And “if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18).

Paul acknowledged the incomplete nature of the Scriptures in his day when he said, “For we know in part, and we prophecy in part” (13:9), or more literally from the Greek, “For in part we are knowing, and in part we are prophesying.” Then he adds, “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (13:10). The word perfect is in the neuter gender, and therefore refers to the perfect (finished or completed) Word of God. If the word perfect referred to Christ it would be in the masculine gender. The sign gifts were “done away” (rendered inoperative) with the completion of the New Testament.

3) this does not mean that i do not believe in miracles. God has the power to and He might do miracles today. BUT..

God does have a plan in His dealings with the human race, and that plan does not necessarily include the continuing repetition of the same miracles in every succeeding century. The miracles of God are rare occurrences in history. Enoch’s bodily translation from earth to heaven was the only recorded miracle performed by God in over 1700 years between Adam and the flood.

The Church of Christ does not need a new Bible, nor new apostles, nor new faith-healers, nor new charismatic movements, nor self-styled miracle workers. What the Church needs is to return to the Word of God and proclaim the whole counsel of God in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.

this is what i believe in. and i think point number 3 as emphasized by the author is quite right. what the Church really needs is a return to the Word of God. it is so hard to find a Church that preaches the Word of God in depth..so profoundly.

im done with my incessant ranting..but i have to end with this:
from past experience, ive realised that controversial notes always draw some not so nice comments and people get all riled up that im stating my stand, so just a disclaimer that i mean no offense and if you are a strong, Bible-believing Christian.. God meant gifts to result in unity, not division. so if you read this article, read it with an open mind. if you have a valid Biblical basis for a different belief, do share. but if you have something mean to say.. pray about it and ask God if you should at all! i am sure that He would tell you not to. hurhur.

if nothing at all, i hope the article proved to be an interesting read..it was an amazing read for me. thank God that He provides teachers of His Word! (: