What to Do When Someone Speaks in Tongues In a Church Service
WELCOME to Issue #239 of The Seedhead from Alex and Hannah at Dandelion Resourcing - a weekly confidence booster to help you step into naturally supernatural discipleship and mission!
How to stop the crazies but not quench the Spirit!
Have you ever heard a ‘tongue’ being shared in a church service? If so, how did you feel?
What would happen if this occurred in your church gathering?
How do we grow in openness to the Spirit but not to unaccountable individuals?
Tongues is perhaps the trickiest of all the gifts of the Spirit to steward appropriately.
Not everyone seems to have it, so it can feel a bit divisive.
When you listen to someone using it, you do wonder what on earth other people (especially guests) must be thinking.
Yet it is clearly biblical - and Paul says he’d like for all of us to use it (1 Corinthians 14:5)
As we look at 1 Corinthians 14, we remember that Paul does not forbid its use. Rather, he says don’t over-emphasize it, it’s not the most important of gifts, and if you do allow it publicly, it must be interpreted and its existence explained, so that lost friends in our midst don’t think we Christians are all nuts!
In this video, Alex shares some scenarios we’ve seen in church services, and gives some practical advice on when and how to step into accessing this gift in a corporate setting.
Enjoy the watch - and then consider how you and your church might respond!
Here’s the video:
Next Steps
If you’re in leadership in your church, is there scope for the public use of tongues to occur in your corporate gatherings?
If you’re not in leadership, how can you pray for, and encourage, your leaders to overcome fears or barriers to be more open to this taking place?
As you look at your church services, what might be a gentle way to take the next step in accessing the gift of tongues?
If you’re part of a house church/ missional community/ small group, how can you as a group be more open to a tongue being shared in your gatherings? This is often a space where it’s easier to experiment and practice.
This is not a topic without controversy! But we need a positive and faithful approach, rather than one that is purely negative and fearful. It might well be a journey, but it’s one we’re encouraged to undertake.
With love,
Alex + Hannah
ALEX AND HANNAH ABSALOM
P.S. If you like this newsletter and want to support it, here are 4 ways to do so! PICK ONE right now before you forget:
Purchase The Naturally Supernatural Course
Forward this newsletter to a friend with an invitation to subscribe right here: dandelionresourcing.com/newsletter
Hit reply and say hello
Bring one/both of us into your event to speak (either in person or virtual)
