Our Pastor speaks in "tongues" and claims to heal, Is this Biblical ?

(my response in blue)

What I would like to do is address your letter point by point. I am in no way picking apart your letter, this is just a good way to make sure I am not neglecting any point or question you made :)

Last Sunday I attended a Charismatic church in my town ... first time

... I enjoyed the freedom of the church very much and felt very welcome

there;

It is wonderful for anyone to seek out truth. We should not judge any book by its cover necessarily. That is, just because the sign out front a "Church" building says Christ it doesn't mean Christians are inside and neither does it mean that just because the sign may say Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Church of God, Assembly of God etc etc that the specific group adheres to the strict denominational tenets (though most do) So as for myself I compare what I see with what I find in the only record of how to recognize disciples of Christ...The Bible. I have visited many many different groups and I give them all the same opportunity to stand or fall in the light of God's Word. I will be giving you several scriptures for your thoughtful consideration.

however the Pastor called the hungry hearts to the front of the

church to kneel at the alter and then proceeded to do a "healing" or

atleast thats what it appeared to be to me. He began speaking in

tongues and people one at a time fell backwards being craddled to the

ground by other clergymen. So my question is

Of what importance is Speaking in tongues

___, I will do my best to give you some food for thought about tongues. Consider this.... MANY MANY religions around the world both ancient and modern spoke / speak with "tongues" that is....they speak by muttering unintelligible verbalizations. It is a VERY common phenomenon throughout religions from Buddhist to Jehovah's Witness to Pagan cults. "tongues" were common even in the days of the apostles. HOWEVER, there was a major and recognizable difference with the early Christians. Their "tongues" were KNOWN languages. Consider the first mention of tongues among Christians:

Acts 2:4-6

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

(NKJ)

Tongues as used in regard to Christians in the New Testament is always in reference to a known language being spoken by someone who has no natural knowledge of the language he/she is speaking, however the language must be one that can be recognized. Just as the crowd recognized the language of the apostles. Consider this as well. Why the need to place such an emphasis on muttering?

Even if they spoke with true languages, our dear Apostle Paul gives us his thoughts on the emphasis:

1 Corinthians 14:18-19

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

(NKJ)

and where tongues(languages) were to be used in the assembly there were guidelines to their use as we read from Paul:

1 Cor 14:27-32

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two-- or at the most three-- should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.

28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

(NIV)

These languages were to be spoken by not one person but by two and at the most three in the assembly. This was in order that someone could not make up or seem to be making up the message. And one interpreter for them. This would all paint a picture to all that this was from God. I have found NO group that claims to posses the gift of languages that follows Paul's and the Holy Spirit's guidelines for their use. Also in the above passage we read that the Spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophet. That is telling us that these gifts are not overwhelming and controlling but they are subject to the one possessing the gift. Meaning if you had the gift you could control its use and not the other way around.

does it translate to english?

I think I answered this one above. There should be at least 2 speaking a congruent message and one interpreter must be there and be interpreting the language.(french spanish, italian etc etc)

the really sad part of this is i liked the atmosphere untill the

healings began the Church opened its heart to me but somehow I am

finding it difficult to accept. I know that it is probably because it

was my first time there and everything

Or maybe it is the Holy Spirit working within you telling and pointing out to you these things you feel. I would have to say please be careful in letting the atmosphere be the deciding factor. Ultimately it has to be that the group is following the Word of God. They love God and if they love God they will Love and follow his Word.

but somehow the Pastors

credibility with me was diminished even

tho he was prior to the healings

It is most often found that "healers" will only heal unprovable things such as arthritis or angina or bad knees or bad arms, etc. And often they claim if someone is not healed they did not have faith. I can only ask? Where was the faith of Lazarus as he lay dead in the tomb and Christ said arise? There are many examples of faith not being a requirement for healing. Also if they truly heal why don't they clear out the Intensive care units? I would find his actions extremely suspect.

doing what i considerd to be a

fantastic job of preaching the word of God. I was captivated by his

dynamic style and his concrete beleif in what he was saying.

2 Cor 11:14-15

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

(NKJ)

This is a very scary thing to consider but It is very true according to God

this is why their message and actions must match God's Word

I have every intention to go and visit this church again next sunday

because everyone has told me that you cant make up your mind till you

have atleast gone to a church for a month or more.

That is true to an extent, however if you see things that are in direct conflict with God's teachings you are also commanded to flee from such. At the point you feel the teachings conflict with God's message then you must make a choice.

Finally, I would like you to consider what Paul says about the eventual end of the gifts of prophecy and of tongues(languages)

1 Cor 13:8-11

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

(NKJ)

These gifts served a mighty purpose in the building up of the Assembly(church) of God in the first and early second centuries. At that time there was no written Bible. Only the beginning the infant stage of the Church. Being that there was no written Word there was also no way Except through these gifts to verify that a message or teaching was truly from God. These gifts were essential. If you notice the verse says "When that [and in the Greek it renders that thing) which is perfect is come. Christ is not a that or a thing it is speaking about the gathering together and presentation of the Canon of scripture we now have in the Bible. The Word being available to all. This being accomplished the infant gifts are no longer needed and the Assembly can move on to the ultimate gift. LOVE. If I validate or acknowledge any later day revelation such as a claim of speaking in languages or a prophecy by someone today then I must also accept the real possibility that groups such as Jehovah's Witness and Mormon could be truthful. If one can have a later day revelation why not these groups? And who today is to say who is right or wrong? However, if these tongues and prophecies and revelations have ceased then we can exclude the Jehovah's and Mormons from followers of truth. There have been so many religions started by one man or woman claiming a special message from God. (Jehovah's Mormon's Seventh Day, Christian Science, etc., etc.)

In God's Love,

Greg