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Monday, March 24,
2008
Mumbo
Jumbo
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And though I have the
gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and
though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing. (KJV)
Ever pick up an instrument
when you were younger or watch a child handle a new instrument, say a
guitar or a set of drums? They will strum the guitar or beat away at the
drums, which eventually gets to the point of irritation to the listener.
The same holds true in the Church as well. There are people who think
speaking in tongues makes them more spiritual or something which is what
Paul dealt with and spoke of in the above verses. Now to listen to someone
who is trained and practiced with an instrument it can produce a sound that
is familiar and easy to listen to, while the flip side can be something
loud and boisterous, something or someone that gets old fast, not pleasant
to be around. If our motives for the things we do are anything other than a
pure motive of love, then we too will be nothing more than an instrument
that is making sounds but nothing worth listening to. Love means that we
are more interested in the edifying of someone else rather than trying to
draw attention to ourselves and make ourselves seem so spiritual because we
can speak in an unknown tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:7-11 And
even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they
give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or
harped? (8) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare
himself to the battle? (9) So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue
words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye
shall speak into the air. (10) There are, it may be, so many kinds of
voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. (11) Therefore
if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a
barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. (KJV)
Again we see that when one
goes to attend a fellowship of believers, whether it is a Bible study or a
church service, you are going there to get built up and edified not to put
on a show. If you want to make a lot of noise and act like a child rather
than go to the church service you would be just as well served to hang out
in the day care center with the other younger noise makers, who at least
have an excuse. So before you get all caught up in the commotion of trying
to prove yourself some spiritual giant, it would do you well to be quick to
hear and slow to speak, something that bodes well with any of our daily
encounters.
1 Corinthians 14:23-25 If
therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak
with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers,
will they not say that ye are mad? (24) But if all prophesy, and there come
in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is
judged of all: (25) And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest;
and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is
in you of a truth. (KJV)
I am kind of jumping around
here with the scriptures, but we will get back to the point on this
subject. I can tell you for myself and from what others have shared with me
over the years concerning an organization they were checking out, nothing
turned them off quicker and quenched the Spirit faster than having a bunch
of childish people rattling off in tongues, because the people doing it
were not using wisdom, but rather putting on an outward show.
Thayer’s definition for
mad:
3105 mainomai- to rave as a maniac
to be mad, to rave; used of
one who so speaks that he seems not to be in his right mind
Is this really the first and
possibly last impression one would want to make with someone seeking truth?
This would be like going to a foreign film at a theatre and not having any
captions to explain the dialogue. How about if you paid to go to a concert
and the person that got up on the stage didn’t have a clue how to play an
instrument, wouldn’t you be dissatisfied to say the least? So how do you
think the so called Christians come off when they act like a bunch of
lunatics in the name of Christianity, would it be something our Lord would
approve of? If you are motivated by any thing other than the love of God,
it doesn’t make any difference how much faith you have or how many
scriptures you can rattle off or how much you think you are accomplishing
for the Lord, it’s all for naught unless it is brought forth in love.
Greater love has no man than to lay down his/her life for the brethren,
fellow believers, putting their needs before your own.
1 Corinthians 12:28-31 And
God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? are all
prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30) Have all the
gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? (31) But
covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent
way. (KJV)
God has set an order in His
church, which He describes as the body of Christ. If you are called to be a
teacher, don’t try to be an apostle or prophet. Do you have an
understanding as verse 30 refers to in the area of tongues or the
interpretation of them, or are you just imitating someone else by thinking
the more you can speak in tongues and the louder you are the more others
will think you are spiritual? The best gift we can covet and hold to is the
gift of Christ, and everything in the above verses is a result of the
manifestation of Him. So now it is a matter of learning how to operate
effectively in the Spirit so that we can provide the need not only for
ourselves, but be able to build up those that are seeking as well.
Proverbs 15:2-4 The tongue of
the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out
foolishness. (3) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the
evil and the good. (4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but
perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (KJV)
The tongue is an extension of
the heart; so what is in the heart is what the mouth will speak. Before you
act, before you speak something into existence ask yourself ‘is this
something that is spiritual and will bring life to the hearers, or is it
something that is confusing and rather than lead someone closer to the Lord
it will drive them away?’ So if something is not peaceable then it is not
of God; and I can assure you that a lot of this mumbo jumbo stuff sounds
more like a voodoo chant than something that is going to build up and edify
someone.
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