Question:  Dear Greg,

            Firstly, I am a reader of your magazine and appreciate the content of your articles.  I am interested to know your beliefs in relation to speaking in, and interpretation of tongues.  I am a pastor (not of a Charismatic or Pentecostal Church).  I recently attended a meeting of a Revival Fellowship Church and was introduced to a Pastor of that church.  This gentleman insisted that because I did not speak in tongues I had no authority to minister, that I had never received the Holy Spirit and that I had been “conned” by my church.  My understanding of the Scriptures is that the gift of tongues is simply one of many spiritual gifts, as listed in 1 Corinthians.  I do not believe that the gift of tongues is the only proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.  I would appreciate enlightenment on this topic.

            Alfred

Answer:  Dear Alfred,

            There is no doubt that speaking in tongues, as well as the gift of healing was manifest in the New Testament.  However since that time, for about 1900 years there has been little evidence of these two gifts.  What can we conclude?

            Some conclude that gifts like tongues and healing are given when people turn their hearts to God, when there is a “revival” or “great awakening”.  The problem with this reasoning is that the primary revivals with these gifts (and other, non-biblical “gifts” defined as such by those who have them, such as “word of truth” and “slain in the spirit”) are fairly recent—the last 200 years.  Subtract the first century and that leaves about 1700 years with no gifts.  Granted, there were times of spiritual lethargy during this time, but there were high points as well, such as the Protestant Reformation.  So are we to conclude that tongues and healing are given to “superior” Christians—those who are more “deeply” converted?  Or should we conclude that gifts like tongues and healing were valid, and while they may be evident today, they are not as evident, and have not been for the history of the church anywhere near as much as they were in the first century?  PTM leans toward this view, called cessationism.

            PTM does not deny these gifts and believes in the healing power of prayer—and accepts those who speak in tongues as fellow Christians as long as they follow the boundaries that Paul gives in Scripture for the use of tongues.  PTM, on the other hand, notes that there is much in religion today that passes for authentic Christianity but is actually nothing but a religious experience or gratification of the senses.  Caution is very much in order.  PTM does not actively seek the gift of tongues, and certainly does not believe that those who have the gift of tongues are somehow “better Christians”, more “deeply converted”, etc.  Some hold this view, called a “second blessing”, a “second outpouring” or even “second sanctification”.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht