Monday, June 04, 2007
Baptists Divided on Tongues
A surprising new study by the Lifeway Research indicates that half of Southern Baptist pastors believe God gives some people a "private prayer language" and 53 percent believe the gift of tongues is still given to some believers today.
The news is surprising because of the Southern Baptist Convention's (SBC's) tough stance on the use of tongues by its missionaries. For a long time its International Missions Board barred missionaries from speaking in tongues in public. In 2005 the SBC went further and banned all of its missionaries from even having a private prayer language. However, that decision has sparked debate over the last few years among many Baptist pastors.
This study indicates that the denomination, which is the largest in the world, is pretty evenly divided over this issue. Ed Stetzer, the new director of Lifeway, said the middle ground between the two divisions is not very large. Check out the Christian Post's story for more details.
There were a few other interesting parts of the survey. One was the fact that 66 percent of non-SBC Protestant pastors believe in the gift of tongues, but only 51 percent of non-SBC Protestant laity believe in it. Also, recent seminary graduates (51 percent) were more likely to believe that tongues ceased in the time of the apostles than current SBC pastors (41 percent).
Does this mean that the Baptists are coming over to the charismatic side of the fence? Well, no, but it might mean they're not as wholly cessasionist as we thought. With the rapid growth of Christianity in the developing world and the crucial importance they place on the gifts and power of the Spirit, maybe it's just harder to deny the gifts of the Spirit than it used to be.
INTERACT:What do you believe about the gift of tongues? Have you experienced it? How has God used it in your life? Do you place any limits on where and when it should be used?
The news is surprising because of the Southern Baptist Convention's (SBC's) tough stance on the use of tongues by its missionaries. For a long time its International Missions Board barred missionaries from speaking in tongues in public. In 2005 the SBC went further and banned all of its missionaries from even having a private prayer language. However, that decision has sparked debate over the last few years among many Baptist pastors.
This study indicates that the denomination, which is the largest in the world, is pretty evenly divided over this issue. Ed Stetzer, the new director of Lifeway, said the middle ground between the two divisions is not very large. Check out the Christian Post's story for more details.
There were a few other interesting parts of the survey. One was the fact that 66 percent of non-SBC Protestant pastors believe in the gift of tongues, but only 51 percent of non-SBC Protestant laity believe in it. Also, recent seminary graduates (51 percent) were more likely to believe that tongues ceased in the time of the apostles than current SBC pastors (41 percent).
Does this mean that the Baptists are coming over to the charismatic side of the fence? Well, no, but it might mean they're not as wholly cessasionist as we thought. With the rapid growth of Christianity in the developing world and the crucial importance they place on the gifts and power of the Spirit, maybe it's just harder to deny the gifts of the Spirit than it used to be.
INTERACT:What do you believe about the gift of tongues? Have you experienced it? How has God used it in your life? Do you place any limits on where and when it should be used?
Comments:
Links to this post:
<< Home
I thank God for the gifts of the spirit, all of them. I thank Him for giving me a private way of communication that cannot be corrupted, not even by me. I believe that the church is afraid largely because it is something that cannot be sanctioned or controlled by man. I believe that it is the lack of knowledge and the fear of losing control that has us arguing over a GIFT instead of working on the great commission. This is the craftiest trick satan has played on the church yet. If we can lose focus with issues that are not ours to debate then souls can be lost and we miss the opportunity to witness. These are the very kind of issues that caused Jesus to indict the religous leaders of His day. We are here to saturate ourselves in the Word and the love of God, seranade God with our worship of Him and His mighty acts, and to demonstrate His love to a dying world.
YES< I am a proud tongue-talking, Spirit-filled lover of Christ. I talk to Him privately through prayer in toungues, but I bring Him joy by winning souls to the Kingdom of God.
YES< I am a proud tongue-talking, Spirit-filled lover of Christ. I talk to Him privately through prayer in toungues, but I bring Him joy by winning souls to the Kingdom of God.
I too thank God for the gift of tongues. Itis my strength and edifies me greatly. I have lived without this gift but I am so glad God blessed me with the gift. My prayerlife is richer with this spiritual gift.
# posted by 
: 5:16 AM
: 5:16 AM
The Gift of Tongues allows one to pray in the spirit by-passing our limited minds.
The Apostle Paul himself said he prayed more in tongues than most others.
To deny this Gift, denies one of having power to access the spiritual realm in which God resides and acts.
If there's nothing to it than there's no harm done, except for one to seem foolish. But if there is, than what a waste not to utilize this most powerful of Gifts.
Personally I rely on it heavily in my daily life and feel the strength and guidance the Holy Spirit pours out as I'm praying.
The Apostle Paul himself said he prayed more in tongues than most others.
To deny this Gift, denies one of having power to access the spiritual realm in which God resides and acts.
If there's nothing to it than there's no harm done, except for one to seem foolish. But if there is, than what a waste not to utilize this most powerful of Gifts.
Personally I rely on it heavily in my daily life and feel the strength and guidance the Holy Spirit pours out as I'm praying.
My question for this brother who has tongues is this: how does this help you? Since most people who beleive in tongues say it edifies themself, how does it edify you? You see I've found that Jesus is not interested in us edifying ourselves, he is interested in us edifying the church, which means that private prayer language in tongues is not needed now, because it certainly does not edify the church it only confuses many people like me, who speak in an intelligable language: English. Tongues sounds like jibberesh to me. I mean I can speak jibberish to if you want me to: that does not mean it is from the Holy Spirit. I can say dddd or shujm rabba con or whatever, that does not mean it is from the Holy Spirit.
Post a Comment
# posted by : 5:01 PM
: 5:01 PMLinks to this post:
<< Home
