Q/A: In the Gospels, John says that Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  Some (mainly the Pentecostal churches) believe that they can baptize with the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues.  I heard a minister on TV say that they do this before their service.  What is your view on this? - Scott

Q/A: What do you believe the Bible says about certain gifts of the Spirit, especially tongues?  Are tongues still a gift that’s being given today?  Are tongues really evidence that we are baptized in the Holy Spirit?  Does God want everybody in the whole world to speak in tongues?  Can you quote Scripture references?  Thank you, Greg.  I hope you don’t think I’m stupid. - Todd

Q/A: Did the gifts of the Spirit, such as the gifts of tongues and healing, fade away right after the Apostolic Age?  I do not see people with the gifts that the Apostles demonstrated through God.   I do believe that miracles are still occurring.  God does still intervene in some special circumstances.  However, I feel that no human has the gift of healing as Jesus and his disciples did.  Does someone out there really have the true gift of healing? - Mark

Q/A: What is being baptized in the “Holy Spirit”? - Ronald

Q/A: We recently started attending a Pentecostal church in our area.  We are very unfamiliar with the speaking in tongues issue.  We are from a Baptist background and the topic of speaking in tongues came up.  We truly feel the Holy Spirit is at work in this church and have recently witnessed or heard of people speaking in tongues.  We are not sure whether we should be uncomfortable with this or not. - Darryl  

Q/A: What does it mean to be slain in the spirit?  How do you know when speaking in tongues is legitimate? - Twana

Q/A: Can one be filled with the Holy Spirit without ever speaking in tongues? - Belinda

Q/A: 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

Q/A: My son recently went to church on a day when the rest of us stayed home sick.  He says he was baptized in the Holy Spirit and received the gift of tongues.  I had never heard of this before and was worried. Can you please tell me what your views on this are?  If this is indeed true, does he still need to be baptized with water? Also, is it not true that you receive the Holy Spirit when you are baptized by water?  This is what I always believed, but I have been looking for scriptures to support this.  Also, the church we are attending seems to have everyone speaking in tongues as their goal.  What is your view on this? - Yvette

Q/A: 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

Q/A: 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

Q/A: I would like to know what is the condition of the person when he dies?  Paul says absent from the body is present with the Lord. Others say you are totally unconscious and know nothing until Jesus returns.  Also, what is your opinion of tongues?  When I was baptized years ago I came up out of the water speaking in tongues—much to my own amazement.  I appreciate your time to answer. - Dave

Q/A: We recently started attending a Pentecostal church in our area.  We are very unfamiliar with the speaking in tongues issue.  We are from a Baptist background and the topic of speaking in tongues came up.  We truly feel the Holy Spirit is at work in this church and have recently witnessed or heard of people speaking in tongues.  We are not sure whether we should be uncomfortable with this or not. - Darryl  

Q/A: Do we need to work for the gift of tongues or does God give it to us as something he wants us to have?  Also, is it wrong to speak in tongues in a church without someone interpreting?  I thank you. - Travis

Q/A: I’ve been studying about speaking or praying in tongues.  First of all, is it a known language such as what took place at Pentecost or a glossolalia of unknown words?  If it is the latter, then how does it serve the purpose of edifying the church when it is not interpreted?  Is one who does not speak in tongues not filled with the Spirit?  Evidence of the Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit, and tongues is not listed. - Heath