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Challenge to 'Tongue Speakers' and Non-Tongue Speakers

I am ending this study with a direct challenge to those who are in 'both camps'. This challenge will be direct, but with a heart of love. It is not to condemn, but to confront the wrong thinking and prejudices of both sides. It is obvious in this study that I believe the Bible teaches that the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is for today. That does not mean I support 'wacky pentecostals' or that I dislike non-tongues individuals. My challenge to each camp is based upon the failings that can occur in both camps. These are generalities and we acknowledge that not everyone in these camps are practicing these errors.

Challenge to Tongue Speakers

• Stop defending tongues are for today based only upon your experience or others experiences-use Scripture, and don't make the Bible say more than it says.
• Acknowledge there is wackiness at times in the pentecostal camp, stop pretending it is not there or denying it is there.
• Don't fall prey to manipulation, coercion, unique techniques, formulas, etc. to see people baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.
• Stop assuming that those who do not speak in tongues have less of God, are not as spiritual, etc.
• Stop emphasizing tongues and ignoring all other Bible doctrine. If tongue speakers emphasized holiness as much as they emphasize tongues, there would be less sin in the pentecostal camp and less wackiness.
• Do more at winning souls instead of trying to win converts to tongues. The main emphasis of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to proclaim the Gospel with boldness and signs following, not to get people to speak in tongues.
• The purpose of tongues to be edified that so I will grow in Christ to be a more effective witness. It is to help be more intimate with the Lord so that my character will change, not so that I can be more of a 'character'.

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False Accusations and False Assumptions Against Tongues

There are those who out of sincerity come against the baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues because of the false teachings of some who support tongues. Just as those who support tongues can be extreme to defend tongues, those who are against tongues can become extreme against those who support tongues. They accuse those who support tongues to be to emotional, but those who are against tongues can also allow emotions to get in the way of the biblical support of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the speaking in tongues.

Tongues are the result of hypnosis
This accusation is that all tongues are a result of a person being hypnotized. As seen by our previous study there certainly could be in some pentecostal circles the possibility of techniques used to get someone to speak in tongues to be close to hypnosis. However, because of the errors of some does not mean there are errors with all. Here is what can happen in the anti-tongue camp. They can say over and over again it is all hypnosis, deception, etc. so many times that it does not matter if they have proof or not-they say it enough that listeners believe what is being said must be true. They will repeat the same stories over and over again of proof of hypnosis, totally ignoring the many instances of no potential of hypnosis being used. There are multitudes of cases where there is no suggestion of hypnosis or manipulation. To deny that is error and willfully ignoring of facts-that is just as wrong as manipulating people to speak in tongues. Those who were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues in the New Testament were not hypnotized. Tongues were never done away with, so there must be those who speak in tongues now that are hypnotized. Otherwise it would mean that there is no true example of tongues today-thus tongues was done away with.

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False Teachings on Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Speaking in Tongues

There are those in the pentecostal camp that are so determined to see individuals speak in tongues they teach or encourage behavior that is manipulation. In this study we will address some of these teachings.

Repeat phrases repeatedly
Some encourage individuals to repeat phrases repeatedly over and over again until they receive tongues. So they will have people say tongue twisters, etc. like saying 'coca cola' 'untie my bow tie' over and over again. This is foolishness and even if the people are sincere, it is manipulation. That is not speaking as the Spirit gives utterance.

Try to copy tongues
In this scenario the person is told "Listen to my tongues, and try to repeat it. You will not be able to repeat it, but will get your own tongues". The motive behind this is sincere (to get the person to open their mouth to speak-a mouth closed will not speak a native language or an unknown tongue), but like the other tactic mentioned, it opens up a person for deception.

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