Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 9/13/2010

Question
"I have a few very important questions that came to my mind today. I would please appreciate if you could thoroughly answer each one of them for me.
Question 1) How is tongues and "other" tongues generally supposed to be handled during worship in public assemblies?
Question 2) What does it mean to bless in the Spirit and is it necessarily beneficial to always administer thanks for prayer requests in tongues?
Question 3) Is it possible for someone to fake tongues especially if it is a language that is known to them? ISN'T speaking in TONGUES an unknown language to the believer?
Question 4)When believers gather together in their church for Saturday night prayer worship for example, how are we supposed to conduct ourselves if we become "drunk" in the Spirit? I mean there are churches that I will visit and the members are clapping endlessly and speaking tongues so loud (the minister will oftentimes take the microphone and speak in tongues, screaming through the microphone) and conducting prayer in a disorderly fashion, until it becomes almost like a literal verbal battle. This in my opinion, takes away from spiritual worship. Am I wrong to think this? Didn't Paul mention in the Word of God that God is not the author of confusion, that we should conduct worship in an orderly fashion, that it is important for interpretation to follow speaking in tongues out loud, at the same time that he was warning the Corinthians not to use their tongues to "show off" their spiritual gifts? I am sorry, I just want to make sure that I am thinking in the right direction. "

Answer
Jennifer,

I am so sorry for the late reply. Work is keeping pretty busy. Hope you understand. Now to your questions. I'll try and answer them in the order in which you asked them...

1. The Bible teaches us that there are two types of "tongues". One, is for the Believers edification. It is commonly called their "prayer language". It is when the Christian allows the Holy Spirit to pray through them. This is necessary at times because the Bible teaches us that there are some thing’s the Christian does not know how, or what to pray for. And, this also allows the Christian to worship God when their own natural language is insufficient. During a public worship service this is allowed as long as it is not distracting. However, what is distracting to one, may not be to another. This is why the church leadership is resposible to handle these situations. Also, this "prayer language" is given to the Believer when he or she receives the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

The second type of "tongues" taught in Scripture is called the "gift of tongues" This is when a Christian speaks a message in tongues that is designed by God to operate in tandem with another spiritual gift from God called the "gift of interpretation". These two gifts allows work in tandem, and are always for the church body. Together these gifts deliver a message from the Lord to His church is a supernatural way. This message is always to be judged by the word of God to see if it lines up with the Scriptures. If it does not, then the Bible teaches us it is to be rejected. Usually this happens when a young Christian becomes zealous for the gifts to operate in them, and will give what they "feel" to be a message from God. If it does line up to the Bible, then it is to be received as such.

2. Simple answer, no. It could be in tongues, but it is not specificly speaking of tongues.

3. Yes it is possible. Why sopmeone would do this depends upon that specific person. Whatever the reason, it is wrong. And yes, tongues are an unknown language to the speaker.

4. Once again this depends upon the specific situation. Usually when people become lost in their worship of God (or as some say 'drunk in the Spirit'), there are people who are assigned to help them not hurt themselves or someone else. In many Pentecostal churches you will experence lively praise and worship service. You may see people raising their hands (a sign of submission to Gods will), lifting their voice in praise, leaping (like someone who has received a great gift would leap for joy), dancing (an outward expression of the happiness they feel inside) and hand clapping, and yes laughing. Though these expressions of praise, worship, and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit may seem different to those who are unfamiliar with them, or to those (like myself in the past) who were taught that these things passed away at the end of the first century, that does not mean that they are wrong. To those who are unlearned the simplest things may seem strange. But to those who are informed they are very natural. Those it is with the operation of the Holy Spirit.

However, in the case in which you refered to, there may be an over-zeolus desire to worship God. In such cases Christian may act in the manner in which you sited. This may be casued from a lack of spiritual maturity, a misunderstanding of Scriptures, ect... Whatever the case, I would suggest that you speak with the church leadership about your conserns. If they are unwilling to listen, or to change then it may be necessary to find another place to worship.

Jennifer, please let me know if this helps or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden