Question: I have really been questioning things – speaking in tongues and slain in the spirit mostly. I don’t understand why we need them. What are they supposed to do? I have heard that speaking in tongues is a form of communication between us and God. But why do I need to speak a different language if I can communicate with him just fine through the language I speak? I really don’t think that speaking in tongues are bad. I just don’t get the point of them. Isn’t there supposed to be a translator there? For all I know, they could be praying something bad on me.

And slain in the spirit – I have tried to look it up in the Bible. I have found nothing. What does it do anyway? So you fall down and lay there? I just don’t understand it. People have given me verses saying that it backs up both tongues and slain in the spirit, but it just doesn’t make sense. I have never experienced either so I can’t really say anything, but if you could help me, I would appreciate it

Ashley

Answer: Dear Ashley,

You ask about tongues and about "slain in the spirit." Let’s discuss tongues first.

Christians differ about tongues – on the one extreme, some believe that tongues are a gift of God that is presently being given – and beyond that, they believe, either overtly or covertly, that tongues are the evidence of conversion. Therefore, if one does not speak in tongues, they are not truly born again – or, if they are born again and saved but do not speak in tongues, the implication is that they are "second-class" Christians.

The middle ground is that some believe tongues are given to some – and not to others. In fact, they are not given to the majority of Christians. They are not necessary at all for salvation. They are not necessary for one to follow Jesus Christ.

On the other extreme, some who call themselves cessationists believe that the gift of tongues is not being given by God today at all – and all such claims are bogus.

Plain Truth Ministries believes the truth is closer to the moderate middle ground.

Slain in the spirit is another matter. The gift of tongues is clearly spoken about in the Bible – whether tongues are being given today might be debated, but there is absolutely no biblical evidence that being slain in the spirit is a biblical gift or manifestation. There are many studies that suggest that this manifestation is artificially induced by the atmosphere of emotionalism, and that it is an altered state of consciousness. While it would be in error to condemn all those who are slain in the spirit as not being Christians, it certainly is a practice that is not necessary. Being slain in the spirit has and does, in some cases, lead to un-Christ-like results. Do not allow yourself to feel or be convinced that you need to be slain in the spirit to be close to God or to be an authentic Christian.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht