Tongues & Hobbes

by Shane Clifton

I "borrowed the above cartoon from a blog called "Sub Ratione Dei", by an "ex pentecostal" Richard Gillingham.  He makes the following comment about tongues that i thought might interest you (for his whole post, follow the link)

 

 

QUOTE:

ii) This leads on to the second reason. My use of tongues is a mechanism to process the complexities of life and approach God when I simply when I do not know what to say. Or, to use a verse of used in this context by Pentecostals (Rom 8:26) my use of tongues is a non-rational opening of my emotions to God. Roughly put it is a means say AHHHHHHHHHHH! to God. I think there is something to this int hat I recall that early in my studies as I faced confusing issues (and hence my notion of the truth was more confused) I began to pray in tongues with greater regularity. The trouble is however that such use is somewhat removed from the context of Pentecostal use of tongues which at its best is an ordered communal ritual similar to the Quaker `leadings' and not a purely individualistic exercise.

Interesting comments from an "ex-pente".

 

Comments

[Craig Bennett]

Shane I love that comic strip.

Also there is a rather interesting discussion on Tongues going on the Sydney Anglican Media Forum http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/community/viewtopic.php?t=2036&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I think it would be good for people to read and even engage in how the general Evangelical mindset views tongues.

Particulary take note of Martin (Enkidu) Shields who is giving a good exegisis against that position.

[Frank Emanuel]

In the pentecostalism that I was a part of private devotional tongues were veyr much encouraged. In fact that is an aspect of my own spirituality that I treasure, not that I feel I have to speak in tongues with any regularity (in private that is), but I do like that when I have no clue where to start in prayer I can just begin to speak in tongues.

But I do think I get what he is talking about with the "at its best" aspect. I will never forget this one experience where all of a sudden about 4 or five people began singing a song in unison, in tongues, and the room instantly filled with a haze. Soon as the song stopped the haze cleared but a lingering sense of God's holiness permeated the rest of the worship time. I happened to be one of the singers, something that happened once but I will never forget.

[Shane Clifton]

Yes - i too have experienced that; sadly not often enough.