Question:  Dear Greg,

            My questions are of one I am frequently asked and I would love more insight about where and how to biblically answer them:

Speaking in tongues?  I believe they are still here and are a wonderful gift of many that the Holy Spirit gives as He chooses.  I am aware that this gift is debatable among Christians.

            Explain some of what we can know about them and also about “praying in tongues” as compared with “speaking in tongues.”

            Mike

Answer:  Dear Mike,

            The gift of tongues is, as you note, controversial.  Here are some views:

1.      Some who are cessationists believe that the gift of tongues, along with divine healing, was primarily limited to the first century church—and thus the term, cessationist.  Cessationists usually see the gift of tongues as a subjectively induced, alerted state of consciousness

2.      Others, more of a middle ground, accept that the gift may be given to others, but do not believe that it is necessary to be practiced in their denomination or congregation.  Those who wish to practice the gift, or believe that they have been given this gift, are encouraged by such individuals to use it as a “prayer language.”  That is, not bothering or troubling others by expressing it openly.  This group would also see that this gift can be extremely subjective, and thus a true standard of determination can be difficult.

3.      Those who are generally termed charismatics (both within Protestant and Catholic churches) believe that the gift of tongues is still being given, and that there should be some way that the gift can find expression in corporate, public worship.

4.      At the most extreme end, there are those who believe that the gift of tongues is given to those whose conversion is deeper, more authentic, and even authentic, period.  Such folks make the gift the sign of true conversion.

            PTM believes that the first three categories can function within biblical guidelines, while the fourth cannot.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht