Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 4/9/2007

Question
Greetings Elder Madden,
I submit this to you with all dues respect
and I will be forthright and say to you that a 25 year marriage is dead because of these issues, so that I do not misalign myself throughout
I read your answer to Winston,and it was very well delivered
you speak of miracles and healings in your life, all of which could be true, but, nonetheless,,subjective
you are the only one who could attest to these things in your life and since you've had and "experience", that is your belief,,whether right or wrong
in acts2:38 Peter says "repent and be baptized, and receive the GIFT of the holy spirit"   
nowhere does it say to speak in tongues to prove to "man" that you've received it
when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism,,did he speak in tongues?
and since you preach a "full gospel", how many of the people that speak in tongues heard a rushing wind, or had tongues of fire upon them when they started speaking in tongues?, remember, that's the way it was written in the bible
and not everytime the Holy Spirit was given, did they speak in tongues or prophsey, that is stated clearly in Acts also
the pre-occupation with the gifts of the spirit clearly undermine the true work of Christ
Allegorical interpretation of the Bible is rampant anymore, and if someone reads a verse and it somehow resembles something that they are experiencing at that time, they feel the God is speaking to them through that passage
should not the bible mean the same thing to everyone who reads it?
what about lightening bolts flying around in church and splitting pulpits? you know that is being preached as a move of God (God Chasers)
and what about personal interpretation and personal prophecy these days,,(a religious form of fortune telling)
what do you do when someone say's "God told me" and it directly violates the written word?
why do charismatics have to take language class to minister in a foreign country? didn't all the people at pentecost hear the apostles speaking to them in their language?
what about the "tongues of angels"?
when the angel appeared to Mary and told her that the Holy spirit was going to overshadow her and that she would conceive, did she understand him? or did he speak another language to her?
what is the language of angels?, there's no reference to it in the bible that I'm aware of
creating a theology on a few verses and leaving out the context of the passage is what's happening today
Cor 14:22 clearly states that tongues are a sign to the "unbeliever", yet, the only time you hear them are in a church full of professed believers
my question is  WHY?
if a tyranosaurus rex was seen in your garden, don't you think that the whole world would know about it,,there is proof that they existed,,just as there is proof that tongues were a valid thing, yet,,you don't see any of that on the news
and what about the miraculous healings,,
the apostles did all of these things in public, before men, and even Jesus, when he healed people, the bible says,,"he healed them all"
if what you preach is really a full gospel, then why are there still people in homes for the handicapped? for the mentally retarded? why is aids so rampant? given the "healers" and self proclaimed prophets of today?
God has not said anything different or changed his mind about anything as far as I can see or that I know of
do I believe God can do miracles,,,Yes emphatically
but to believe that the gifts of the early church are still here with us today, no,,
that was all to get the church started
I would challenge you to perform a miracle in the name of God of course, and defy natural law,,because that's what the apostles did in their day,
they healed instantaneously
and if that were to happen today,,don't you think something like that would be talked about world wide?
thank you for your time
Mark hall


Answer
Mark,

First, let me say how grieved I was to hear of your divorce. If there is anyway that
could help you please let me know. I am not writing this for any other reason than
to let you know that there is someone who does care for you. Someone is here for
you. That someone is Jesus Christ, and in my own frail way me too. My offer to help
in anyway is sincere.

Mark, you wrote of so many issues that I frankly find it hard to answer them all. If
you don't mind, I will answer the first (as you said) "issue" and then you may feel
free to reply and add the other "issues" to your reply. I hope this is acceptable.

The first issue you brought up is...

"in acts2:38 Peter says "repent and be baptized, and receive the GIFT of the holy spirit"  nowhere does it say to speak in tongues to prove to "man" that you've received it"

Perhaps you are confusing me with those that teach that you are not born-again/saved unless you repent/receive water baptism/speak in tongues. This is not what the Bible
teaches, and it is not mine. The Bible teaches us that because of man's total inability to save himself, salvation is by God's grace alone, and the believer in
justified through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is received through sincere, godly repentance, and whole-hearted acceptance and confession of Jesus Christ as
personal Savior and Lord. Through being born again, we become new creatures in Jesus Christ. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

John 3:3,16; 1 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20: 1 Pet. 2:24, Romans 10:9-10

However, the Bible does teach us of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit which is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. When the Baptism in the Holy
Spirit is received, unknown tongues will follow.

John 14:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4, 38-39; 10:44 -48, 19:6

It is true that not everyone who receives Christ as Lord and Savior will speak in tongues. But this in no way means that no on will speak in tongues.

Mark, I am sure that this does not address all your issues, so please feel free to write back. We can expand upon this issue, or another. All I ask is that we deal
with one issue at a time.

Elder Greg Madden