Sam, I am so glad that you were able to find me when you were online. It is so good to hear from you after so many years. I am glad to hear that you have had so many positive things happen in your life, especially your marriage, your children, and a career in which you are happy and successful. It is common that when your children reach elementary school age that families begin to seek a church and a religious foundation. Although I am not really an expert by any means, I am willing to give you some basic information about some of your questions as you try to make some decisions about which church might best suit the needs of yourself and your family, and if the one that you are currently most interested, that stresses speaking in tongues, is really best suited to your needs.
In the most basic sense, a spiritual gift is a way in which a person can use one’s abilities to serve the church. In some way, all people within the church have a means to minister to the church, but people have different ways in which they can serve most effectively. These gifts are services that one performs for others in a spiritual context. Their purpose is to serve the church in a manner to use a gift in a non-secular fashion. Unlike the fruit of the Spirit, these fruits are different in that the Holy Spirit is involved by providing a means by which the grace of the trait becomes a part of the person. Not only does a person then begin to serve God, but the Spirit also helps this person develop holiness with deep-seated standing of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23)” and foundations. Both are essential to serve, but have unique differences. One’s spiritual maturity requires both, but is demonstrated after the fruit of the spirit have been received. .
Since you specifically asked about speaking in tongues, Sam, I will try to address that as well. The Charismatic Movements of which I am aware today do not meet the New Testament test of speaking in tongues. The definition was to be able to speak clearly in an earthly language that had never been previously studied by the speaker. In the Bible, people who did speak in tongues were doing so to communicate with other people in their native languages. There are books that will guide a person as to how one can speak in tongues, which appears to be speaking anything but one’s native or known language. In cases where this speech is studied by linguists, it appears to be nothing more than babbling. If one seeks something that is not based on the Bible, the Devil will provide a source. So, in the end, speaking in tongues in the modern day, as far as I know, is not proven in act or in the Bible . This warrants some further research and study on your own, since I do not claim to be an expert, by any means.
Sam, the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” is what some Christians refer to as a second baptism. It is one that is done with fire through an experience one the Day of Pentecost and is supported by Acts 2:4. This is a path that is traditionally followed by the Pentecostal Christians more than any other types of Protestants or Catholics. Pentecostals believe that it is a distinct and separate experience that the salvation that Born Again Christians experience upon their salvation. Some verses that support this view are John 7:37-39; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 8:15-16; and Acts 10:44-47 .
In reading 1 Corinthians 13:8 – 10, “8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears, ” perhaps many of your questions can be answered. Verse specifically speaks of tongues and how they will be stilled. Perhaps this is a sign that they should not be expected in modern times. We know about some prophecies, but are not expected to understand them all, complete them, and it is acceptable to lack this knowledge. For these reasons, I do not believe in speaking in tongues as a needed part to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Complete understanding of the scriptures is beyond human comprehension. Even Christ, when in His human form, had questions for his Father. How can we expect any more of ourselves?
May God be with you, Sam, in your religious journey and your quest for answers to very complicated questions. Please stay in touch.
8. Love cease - One language shall prevail among all the inhabitants of heaven, and the low and imperfect languages of earth be forgotten. The knowledge likewise which we now so eagerly pursue, shall then vanish away - As starlight is lost in that of the midday sun, so our present knowledge in the light of eternity.
9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part - The wisest of men have here but short, narrow, imperfect conceptions, even of the things round about them, and much more of the deep things of God. And even the of God which is treasured up in the scripture Revelation.
10. But when that which is perfect is come - At death and in the last day. That which is in part shall vanish away - Both that poor, low, imperfect, glimmering light, which is all the knowledge we now can attain to; and these slow and unsatisfactory methods of attaining, as well as of imparting it to others.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Biblica, Inc. BibleGateway.com. 2011. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A8-10&version=NIV (accessed July 27, 2013).
Faircild, Mary. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. 2013. http://christianity.about.com/od/glossary/g/baptismholyspir.htm (accessed July 27, 2013).
Rugh, Gil. What About Tongues? 1998. http://www.biblebb.com/files/TONGUES2.HTM (accessed July 27, 2013).
Zaspel, Fred. Spiritual Gifts. n.d. http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/spiritualgifts/ch01.htm (accessed July 27, 2013).
