Christian Challenge International

"Ask the Pastor"

We frequently receive questions in email from people about doctrine, practice, etc. From time to time we will post the questions and the answers here on the web page. If you'd like to submit a question, simply email our pastor at Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org or use the form below.

July 4, 2000

Hi xxxx,

You asked:

> I was wondering, do you believe that the phenomena of the
> Charismatic Gifts and speaking in tongues is still for today? I
> have struggeled with this question since I left the UPC a month
> ago. Thanks

I believe the giftings of the Spirit are always present in the
church, including Baptist Churches, Methodist Churches, etc.
The primary work of the Spirit is to illumine the hearts and
minds of God's people. They are for the most part inner
workings of the Holy Spirit.

The problem we have in coming from a pentecostal background,
is misinformation concerning giftings. Much that you see and
hear in pentecostal-charismatic settings is learned behavior.
People can become captive to their own thought life, and this is
especially true for someone who has had a strong pentecostal
upbringing. The only thing that can change that is a knowledge
of the truth. Keep reading the Scriptures for yourself. Ask the
Lord to remove any filters you may have.

I understand where you are coming from. For the person with a
UPC background, the problem becomes more acute because of
the extreme emphasis placed on speaking in tongues. But what
the pentecostals have done is to take something that was not an
issue in the early church, and have turned it into a major
doctrine. (I have some strong thoughts in this area, but I will
spare you.)

In the Bible there is never the stress placed on speaking in
tongues that you find in pentecostal-charismatic type
movements. For this reason I don't believe what you hear in
these kinds of churches is Biblical tongues at all. (Rarely at
best.) They are learned responses, which is the result of an
emotional outlet, or what can be called psychological releases.

Hope this helps.

Bro. Buddy

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What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

Your full name:
Your email address: (e.g.: you@aol.com)
PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question

(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)

Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!