Category: speaking in tongues

That Which is Perfect is Come

Friday, September 9, 2011

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:9,10 KJV).

The context of today’s Scripture is spiritual gifts. In verse 8, the Bible says: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” According to this verse and today’s Scripture, the spiritual gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-31) will vanish “when that which is perfect is come.” What is “that which is perfect?”

Attempting to insert their warped theology into Scripture, certain individuals (especially “charismatics”) insist that “that which is perfect is come” refers to Christ’s Second Coming. Hence, they make the Bible say that the spiritual gifts are still operating today. However, we notice the wording of the King James: “THAT which is perfect.” Jesus Christ is a “he,” not a “that.” So, in a last-ditch effort to defend their heresy, these individuals retreat to a (corrupt) modern Bible that reads (NIV): “when perfection comes….” How dishonest!

Today’s Scripture concerns partial knowledge and partial wisdom. The context makes no reference to Christ’s Second Coming. The answer to partial knowledge is complete knowledge; complete wisdom does away with partial wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 13:11-13).

During Paul’s time, the Bible’s canon was incomplete. Paul wrote: “I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 12:1). God had not revealed all of His Word yet. When the completed (“perfect”) Bible came nearly 2,000 years ago, so did complete wisdom and knowledge. Accordingly, spiritual gifts—the partial wisdom and knowledge—were done away.

Today, spiritual gifts are unnecessary, for we have the full revelation of God in the form of the Holy Bible (King James Bible). In 2 Timothy 3:16,17, we read: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

10,000 Words of Gibberish

Saturday, July 23, 2011

“I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:18,19 KJV).

Religion tells of being “filled with the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.” Tongue talking is certainly Biblical, for the Bible says that certain Christians had the spiritual gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10,28,30). But, is speaking in tongues something we Christians should practice today?

Today church members claim to speak in allegedly “angelic language,” some special prayer language that only God understands. Upon listening to these people “pray in the Spirit,” we conclude it is nothing intelligent: “Hastala shandala hobbla gobbla.” Others repeat, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” This behavior is related to the Oriental religions’ “breath prayers” and uttering the Roman Catholic repetitious rosary. Vain worthless religious nonsense!

Corinth was the most spiritually immature Christian assembly Paul knew. These believers loved feel-good worship services, emotional highs, and being the center of attention (1 Corinthians 14:4,5ff.). Sound familiar? That is much of “the Church” today! Corinth abused spiritual gifts, so Paul devoted three chapters (1 Corinthians 12, 13, and 14) to address these problems. Chapter 14 deals entirely with tongue talking.

In today’s Scripture, and verses 2, 4, 13, 14, 19, and 27, Paul mentioned speaking in “unknown tongues.” That word “unknown”—absent from modern Bibles—indicates this was not God’s gift of tongues. This was some ecstatic, nonsensical utterance based on emotions: some believers in Corinth just loved to draw attention to themselves by abusing tongues (speaking in gibberish). God’s gift of tongues was always intelligent human languages, dialects (Acts 2:6-11).

Paul stated: “I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” Talking 10,000 words in gibberish will profit nothing! Speak with intelligence, not some “angelic tongue.”

By the way, the gift of tongues ceased when God’s Word was completed (1 Corinthians 13:8-13).