Expert: Susan Milillo - 3/1/2009

Question
Hello,

Almost every week I have been going with my
friends to an Assembly of God church, and I enjoy it very much. But a few times,
the Pastor or a guest speaker has briefly mentioned that God gives some people
the gift of speaking in tongues. At first that scared me, and made me not want
to go back, but eventually I continued going because I love going to church.

Someone has told me that I need to stop going there, but I really don't want to. I wouldn't know where else to go. Is it okay if I still go to this church, even though the Pastor says that speaking in tongues is a good thing? He never said it was necessary, just that it was good. Could I still go there, but just not believe in that?

Thank you for reading my question!  

Answer
Dear Emily,

    My personal feeling on this is that it's fine for you to go !
And I think that what God wants most of all, is for you to stay focused on the reason you're going to church in the first place (to worship Him!), making sure you don't get sidetracked on the side-issue of speaking in tongues. Secondly, that you don't let yourself be overly 'swayed' one way or the other regarding this issue, unless you know it's God leading you to see the Bible differently than you have before on this matter.  Don't give in to any pressure that may or may not be recognized, to join in with it if you don't believe it's God's will for you.
    But it sounds like you really get a lot out of going to this church, and as long as this issue, or the fact that some people do it now and then, doesn't become a distraction from your focus on God and on His Word being the absolute answer for all such questions,  I'd say keep going and keep letting your soul soar to worship our Creator !

:-)
p.s. You'll never find a church that you agree with 100 % about everything. If you do, you're probably following the crowd and not thinking for yourself ! :-)