The Gifts of the Spirit...

I normally do not get in to theological debates because most theological arguments are not pertinent to salvation (how old the earth is, if dinosaurs existed, etc.) and not worth it because I do not enjoy arguing. That being said I recently overheard some one say it is good to speak in tongues because then you have evidence of your salvation. I know it was meant well (and I don’t think they believe you are not saved if you don’t speak in tongues) but I was still wary that something so significant (salvation wise) could be stated with any kind of conviction. I happen to know that if we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord we are100% salvation guaranteed. At least I haven’t found in God’s word that ‘if we believe in our hearts, confess with our mouths and speak in tongues’ we are saved. As a result of hearing this I have been prayerfully considering it on a weekend long sojourn through God’s word. Here’s what I’ve determined (for myself any ways, please go seek out and pray if you disagree!):

It is true that on the day of Pentecost the believers began speaking in tongues, but this was not a “prayer language” as provided for in Romans 8:26-28 but a real discernible language that people actually spoke and others understood. It says that a crowd of God Fearing Jews heard them speaking their own language and that they were utterly amazed;
Acts 2
4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
So what can do I take from this?
1) The ‘tongues’ gift received at Pentecost was actual languages discernible by others/ non Christians
2) Perhaps not everyone received this gift because it says “everyone was filled” but then is says they spoke as they were enabled (maybe so, maybe not)
Upon further reading I discovered that the gift of tongues is considered the least of the spiritual gifts and that it is not edifying to the body (especially not the prayer language variety which I believe is the reference made in Corinthians because it says ‘he utters mysteries with his spirit’). This leads me to believe that “normal tongues/ tongues that are of discernible language” should be used if a translator is present and for the benefit of believers and that prayer language/mysteries uttered/groaning of the spirit should be kept in totally private:
1 Corinthians 14 (excerpts)
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit… 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself... 5I 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,[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified…For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand[e] say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. .. 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand[g] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? … 28If there is no interpreter; the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

Okay I take a few things from this passage:

1) I keep seeing IF here… I take this to mean that some people will speak in tongues and not others.
2) Speaking in tongues is not edifying to the body -
Unless an interpreter is present people just shouldn’t do it (Probably for the very reason I’m writing, confusion, conflict, discord etc.) and because then non Christians will think we’re bonkers as it says in verse 23 of the Corinthians passage…

I’ve yet to find in scripture that we had to speak in tongues to signify our salvation… in fact a little earlier on in 1 Corinthians, scripture tells us that there are different kinds of gifts;
1 Corinthians 12:
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines… 27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire[e] the greater gifts.
That verse pretty much drives it home for me… ‘Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?’ Maybe we all don’t? Maybe we all can? Does that mean we are not saved…? The spirit with me says. NO.
I definitely think that there is a balance to be had, everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial…
For those of us Christians who don’t believe in spiritual gifts ….are you going to heaven according to the word…DUH YES. (although I would encourage you to check out acts and think over whether or not you think all scripture is God breathed)… For those of us who think everyone should speak in tongues and that not doing so indicates an absence of the Holy Spirit? Are you going to heaven... YES but I also think we should go back and examine scripture because of the two extremes, this belief may be more damaging to a Christian who believes he/she is not saved because she does not speak in tongues.
Well that’s all… let’s just encourage one another and lift each other up!!! And walk in the assurance that we having believed were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:12-14)

Can you hear me?

God, I'm having and astronomically bad day and I NEED to hear from you right NOW... So I have decided to sit here until you speak....

Okay maybe we're on different frequencies lord... try channel 3....

You're still not coming through how about 15?

hmmm. Must be on your end...

Doesn't it feel that way sometimes? If only we could tune in to whatever channel God is waiting for us on. Waiting for us because even though I don't feel like he's speaking... the truth is I probably don't have the ears to hear. I've been reading Daniel... and what really struck me today is that Daniel wasn't some sort of super God lover, extra special in some way... he just prayed a lot and God knew his voice. Daniel 6:10 says that Daniel prayed 3 times a day... that he went and prayed just as he'd always done before. That's devotion, that's going to the Lord because we should spend time with him, not just when we're having astronomically bad days... Maybe that is God speaking to me, maybe he's telling me to keep talking to him and not just in the bad times. Maybe he will shut the lions mouth for me even though I just asked him to now when the teeth are at my throat...

God... it sure would be easier if you could just tell me what channel you are on!

Found Faithful

I want to be found Faithful


Last week Luca was sick, 104+ fever, listless, pitiful cries… I know that babies get much higher fevers; but at that moment, with my child I was worried sick that God who delivered him safely to me would take him away. I said ‘Lord, this would be a deal breaker’… ha-ha as if I can bargain with the Almighty? I was torn, crying out to God to heal him, shouting at God in anger and frustration when Luca only seemed to get worse and finally submitting to his will (on a side note Luca did get better )…It reminded me of the Beth Moore bible study I did with my girlfriends this summer If BLANK Then BLANK. God reminded me to go there.

If BLANK then BLANK….

I went through the whole procession of ‘If, Thens’ of Luca being gone. It came down to God still being God, still loving, still waiting for me with open arms. It was a peaceful place to land. If he should take away everything (which He has given me any way) Then I will get up from the place I’ve fallen and follow him (Job 13:15 ‘though he slay me, yet will I trust him’). Not saying I understand it or like it… but I know God desires our good and I have to trust in that.


Justin Rizzo wrote a song that says “I want to be found faithful, I want to be found steady, I want to be found faithful until the end”. What powerful words don’t you think? How many of us have the courage to be faithful to anything but that which gives us pleasure? I am such an inconstant creature, seized by fervor for something one moment and tossing it aside like a child throwing a toy aside for something new. Part of that is my nature and has been a blessing. It gives me the extra bit of gumption I need to start new things, embrace new projects… boldness. The other part is awful; I wish I could say I finished something meaningful. So that’s my major shortcoming. I pray God make me faithful, that he would take hold of my heart in such a powerful way as to transform it forever… IF you test me Lord THEN I want to be found faithful until the end.