Assembly of God and the Tongues Thing...
The stories are almost all the same, only the names and faces change:
1. They grew up in an Assembly of God church
2. Prayed ernestly for 'the gift" (tongues)
3. Were looked down on by others who had received "the gift" that they (who had not) struggled to make sense of the matter
4. Questioned/doubted their "relationship with God" as time had gone on and tongues were never uttered from their lips
5. Grew cynical (at worst) or withdrawn (at best) in regards to their view(s) of God and Church
Why is this scenario so much more rampant amongst Assembly of God (former/current) members? With so many damaged (mentally and spiritually), why does this persist? I am not against tongues and do believe that it still occurs today. I do however view it as a gift and not "the gift". I believe that while some may speak in tongues, not all need to or should.
If anyone can shed light on this issue (tongues, the AoG church or a related issue) or has a story please feel free to blog....
1. They grew up in an Assembly of God church
2. Prayed ernestly for 'the gift" (tongues)
3. Were looked down on by others who had received "the gift" that they (who had not) struggled to make sense of the matter
4. Questioned/doubted their "relationship with God" as time had gone on and tongues were never uttered from their lips
5. Grew cynical (at worst) or withdrawn (at best) in regards to their view(s) of God and Church
Why is this scenario so much more rampant amongst Assembly of God (former/current) members? With so many damaged (mentally and spiritually), why does this persist? I am not against tongues and do believe that it still occurs today. I do however view it as a gift and not "the gift". I believe that while some may speak in tongues, not all need to or should.
If anyone can shed light on this issue (tongues, the AoG church or a related issue) or has a story please feel free to blog....
posted by flexnfx at Sunday, November 27, 2005
2 Comments:
Yeah. I'm not sure I'm comfortable making tounges a "proof" for salvation either. There are obviously theological implications here, but regardless, it seems to me that maybe instead we should pursue things like brotherly love and Christian community more than we do. Are we not all a part of the body of Christ? I prefer to maintain a Kingdom mindset rather than one that divides over issues that are probably exaggerated.
Tim - I agree in the pursuit of brotherly love and such...I have spoken with far too many people that have been deeply hurt or worse, have left the church all together. I know dozens of ex-AGers that tell the same story and I think that those that teach this need to be taken to task as they leave a wake of spiritual destruction in their path. Is tongues for today? Perhaps. Is it essential to salvation? Scripture says: "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved" (Acts 16:31); nothing more, nothing less.
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