Speaking of Tongues

SPEAKING of TONGUES
I Cor. 14

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SpeakingOfTongues.html

I want to make it crystal clear that our purpose tonite is not in any way to impune, insult, or attack any brother or sister in Christ. Any friend of Jesus is a friend of mine!

And so, w/ no malice, no anger, and no hatred in my heart toward anyone, we approach a sticky topic in a mature way. We can approach this subject doctrinally, Biblically, w/out attacking anyone’s character or integrity. This is not personal…this is Bible. I only ask you to do what I do in such things and keep an open mind. Don’t be guilty of being one of those people whose goal is to make sure they ’have always been right.’ Make it your goal to make sure you ARE right. If nothing else, you’ll come to understand why we believe what we believe.

Probably everyone in this room knows someone, or even deeply loves someone, as I do, who is a believer in the tongues movement, or at least attends a church that would be a part of that belief. I have some family, and some dear friends who would disagree w/ everything I will say tonite…and yet, my first allegiance has got to be to the Word of God.

It is impossible, and it would be unfair, to try to generalize all tongues-speakers into one category. You cannot lump them all into one basket.
For instance, the AOG church does believe in the basic, essential doctrines of the faith: Bible/Trinity/deity/virgin birth/substitutionary death/resurrection/2nd coming/salvation by grace thru faith/they do not teach tongues to be necessary for salvation…or even an essential evidence that you’re saved. Now, we would disagree on a secondary level, about a non-essential doctrine of the modern practice of speaking in tongues. And yet, I can call them brother and sister w/out reservation…remember, the main thing…

This is an important distinction to make, because there are several Pentecostal groups like United Pentecost, and many others, that teach tongues to be not just a gift/added blessing, but an added requirement for salvation, along w/ water baptism. Some of these groups deny the doctrine of the trinity, and promote a works system of salvation…and that they’re the only ones that will be in heaven…that always has been, and always will be the mark of a cult!

Joke—[Some Baptists believe in what is called the Baptist bride theory]
St. Peter shows a new arrival in heaven around/old-time Presbyterian…distinguished and dignified / Charismatics whooping and hollering / shhhhh!, these are the Baptists, they think they’re the only ones here!

Yes, there’s a big difference between different groups of tongues speakers.

We don’t question anyone’s sincerity tonite. Certainly you can see the sincerity on their faces…they are truly sincere. Their love and devotion for Jesus is very real…but sincerity is not the test of doctrine…it’s possible to be sincere and be sincerely wrong.

I would not question that many of their experiences are real, and that not all charismatic experiences you hear about are psycho-somatic in nature…but experience is not the test of doctrine. We must always line our experiences up beside the Word to see if there’s a match.

Experience/feeling (it could be the pizza you had last night at 11:30!)

In the NT, there are 3 categories of spiritual gifts:
1. Gifted men (Eph. 4) – prophets/apostles/evangelists/