Speaking in tongues

Well...it has been awhile. So..yeah. There are some people who go around saying that speaking in tongues is the only sign that the person is 'filled with the Holy Spirit'. So, they claim that if you don't speak in tongues, you are not saved. Futhermore, some even claim that you can learn to speak in tongues!

All I can say that they are hitting the wrong mark. This is not what the bible teaches at all!

'Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?' 1 Corinthians 12:30

'All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.' 1 Corinthians 12:11

From the verses above, one can see that speaking in tongues is a gift of God and He gives it to whom he wants to. Who are we to tell God what gifts he should give us? God is sovereign. He knows us personally. He knows who can handle which gift and he gives accordingly. However, it is not for the person to boast and brag but to use it to edify others. If we can learn to speak in tongues, then it won't be a gift anymore!

'And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace' Romans 11:6

I quote the verse above to make a point that if we could obtain something by our own effeort it would no longer be from God but from Man.

On the question of salvation, salvation is obtained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Speaking in tongues has nothing to do with it whatsoever. It is not written anywhere in the Bible that one MUST speak in tongues to show that he is saved. From the verse earlier, not everyone speaks in tongues. So, how can speaking in tongues can be sure-fire sign that the person is saved?

Whats more, the devil can imitate most of the external gifts, speaking in tongues is one of them.

'For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.' 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

'The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.'

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

They can masquerade and produce counterfeit miracles to decieve the people. Even in Revelation, the beast can call fire down from heaven in full sight of man to decieve the world into thinking that he is God. In the Old Testament, one can read that originally, it was God who sent fire from heaven in Elijah's case and many other instances. Therefore, one must be careful to make sure that when a person speaks in tongues. Is it from God or is it from the evil one?

Someone told me that a person may actually be cursing God when he/she speaks in tongues! Therefore, as Paul says, when a person speaks in tongues, it must be interpreted. If not, the person should just shut up. The meaning of what is spoken in tongues either could be revealed to the person speaking or to another whom God gives the gift of interpration. Whatever the case, it must be interprated. Often times we see people babbling away but then it ends there. No interpration whatsoever. What good does it do if you or others don't understand?

Some people place speaking in tongues as the pinnacle and the most important of gifts. Unfortunately, that is utterly wrong.

'Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tonguedoes not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.' 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Even here, Paul seems to place prophesy ahead of tongues! But all in all, all gifts are given for the edification of the whole church. All the gifts have different part to play in the body of Christ. The only difference is that some gifts seems more external whereas some are not so obvious. But does that matter? I don't think so. Its like a movie. The actors and actresess are all in the limlight but who thinks of the cameraman, the sound man, the light man....?If not for them also, what movie is there? Likewise, all the gifts are given for the building up of the church.

So, in all things, Soli Deo Gloria!! (unto God be glory!)

How did Judas die? (Not for the faint hearted) :)

The death of Judas Iscariot has often been cited as Bible critics as an apparent "contradiction". The verses which pertaining to his death seem to describe two different methods as to how he met his end. Let us examine the verses:

Matthew 27:5 (NKJV) Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Acts 1:18 (NKJV) Now this man (refers to Judas) purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.

Ok, so now we are confronted with two different scenarios. According to Matthew, Judas hung himself. Meanwhile, Luke (purported author of Acts) wrote that Judas fell down and his guts spilled out. So how can we reconcile this difference? Well, the explanations that apologists generally forward is that both events are accurate and actually describe two perspectives of the same event.

The two explanations often quoted are:
1. Judas hung himself on a tree, but the noose snapped and he fell down and his body burst upon impact.
2. Judas hung himself on a tree successfully. :) In Middle Eastern nations, the temperature tends to be relatively high. And with high temperatures the decomposition process progresses rapidly. That is why nowadays Middle Eastern societies practice burying bodies on the same day when death occurs. Decomposition produces a lot of gaseous by-products and this accumulates in body cavities. When the rope gave way eventually, it wouldn't require much impact for the body to burst open. Find it hard to believe? Take a look here.

There are various other explanations, but these two are the most common ones used to counter critics. The bible is simply providing different details to give us a better perspective of the whole situation.

God bless. :)

A Bit On Apologetics

1 Peter 3:15-16
15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

As the verse says, we have to be prepared to give an answer to those who asks us about the hope and faith we hold on to but we have to do it with gentleness and respect. To do this, we ourselves as Christians have to be grounded in the Word of God. If we ourselves are not grounded, how are we going to give an answer? Furthermore, we can be easily shaken ourselves if we are not firm rooted in God's Word.

In addition, we have to answer those who ask us in gentleness and respect. To win the debate is not the aim. Notice the verse says just to give an answer. We shouldn't go arguing until things get out of hand. God will help us to speak up and the Holy Spirit will work on the other person's heart. Like I said, the goal is not to win the debate but to speak God's love and salvation. Thats why we are called to have "good behaviour". Ultimately, its deeds that will speak the loudest like the famous English idiom "action speaks louder than words".

If we use harsh verbal language to lash out at the other person, that is not showing love and will further crush our testimony. When they see that our actions is synonymous with what we say, and the love we show, they will have nothing to say-"so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

That all I have to say now. Give me your opinions as well yah. We are all learning and growing together in this.

Soli Deo Gloria!!!

child_of_God

Welcome!

This blog has been created with the purpose of defending the Christian faith, which is also the meaning of the name of this site in case you are wondering. In this day and age, as religion is gradually dismissed as mere supersitions and liberal philosophies gaining ground worldwide, we Christians must stand up and be ready to give an answer to those seeking to undermine our faith, lest we appear as fools. Day by day, we see more people rejecting God for atheistic beliefs. Day by day, we are gradually being pushed closer towards the basket labelled "extremists and bigots" for our dogmatic faith. Do we just stand by doing nothing and be swept away by this tide of darkness?

A failure to provide an adequate answer to any question, even one that is seemingly innocuous (eg. How do you know God exists?), will not only compromise our testimony for Christ in the eyes of others, but it could sow doubts and force open cracks in our faith.

God bless!