Why do people pretend to speak in tongues?

[FortressOfYshua]

I've always wondered why people fake it. I've been in situations with people I know aren't faking it. But by and large, most of what I've seen screams FAKE.

Is their a particular reason why people from this group feel the need to draw attention to themselves, or am I just faithless and casting stones?

 

[onelamb]

I've always wondered why people fake it. I've been in situations with people I know aren't faking it. But by and large, most of what I've seen screams FAKE.

Is their a particular reason why people from this group feel the need to draw attention to themselves, or am I just faithless and casting stones?

yes, you are casting stones. When people are speaking in tongues it is ususally as prayer-so to say they really aren't 'praying" is not only wrong-but isn't Biblical at all. How do you know?
If you're faking, you know it. and that would make you a liar.,

Personally, I believe your question isn't even a valid one-it's like asking "how come baptists beat their wives'--

 

[valeriej]

There question is certainly a valid one...because people do fake it.....speaking in tongues is biblical and it is for all generations,I believe this.....many are genuine but of course there are some who do fake it for whatever reason,so this is a valid question.....

 

[dayhiker]

I've not seen anyone faking as far as I could tell. But then I'd not know how to tell if they were faking it.

 

[onelamb]

When someone says, "why do people fake speaking in tongues" then, no, that is not a valid question-unless they know for a fact that those speaking are "faking it" and then, they have a right to judge-but really, come on....."by and large most of what I've seen screams "fake"""???? It sounds to me like this judgement was made not with discernment, but with the idea that "I'm right and the rest are wrong"--If you go to a church that most of the people are liars-then why would you stay? If you're just calling them liars-then why would you stay? Bringing accusations against brothers in Christ-needs more than "I think it's fake". What if I said, your salvation was "fake". Would I be guilty of judging? What if I said, by and large most of what I've seen of those who call themselves "christian" on this board-are faking it?

 

[FortressOfYshua]

"how come baptists beat their wives'--

Okay so why do they beat their wives?

So obviously their should be no tonguespeak police. But it's like they want to act like their fulfilled in their experience.


It's because they're seeking an experience and if thats the case, they're in the wrong place.

So yes it is valid. No it's not just AIG churches that have frauds. When "Yoshondala Shandala shandala shandla shandalah spinkle" is interpreted by the person or someone else as, "I am the Lord, and I walk this property and I am God. I will bless you and protect you. Hear o' Israel, the Lord your God is one. The Holy Spirit will pour out healing upon all that seek Me.", it leaves me feeling as though something is going on here.

I'm not saying that it hasn't happened genuinely, because I've been in places where it is. I just have a problem with some of the pastors utilizing it like it's something they switch on and off at will. Enough with the mysticism, how does it edify us if the guy is standing up there and in the middle of his sermon he starts talking about speaking in tongues and then demonstrates it.

Is it really something that is that trivial?

 

[bliz]

There are always those among us that will do anything to get attention.

But I think the main reason people fake speaking in tongues is because they think, and or they have been taught, that tongues is a gift for all believers and a sure sign that the Holy Spirit dwells within. Someone in such a community who does not have the gift may feel compelled to fake it.

 

[Tawhano]

…who does not have the gift may feel compelled to fake it…

I think you hit the nail on the head. Peer pressure has always been a strong motivator. People want to feel part of something and not be left out so they will do anything to ‘look’ the part. They may even convince themselves that they are genuine. This is true in all the religions in my opinion and not just in speaking in tongues but in all matter of things that ‘look’ religious.

Since I believe there are very few Christians in the world, in relation to the total population, past, present and future, I also believe that the majority of folks who are ‘speaking in tongues’ are faking it.

Matthew 7:13-14 Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.

 

[youthwalk]

I've always wondered why people fake it. I've been in situations with people I know aren't faking it. But by and large, most of what I've seen screams FAKE.

Is their a particular reason why people from this group feel the need to draw attention to themselves, or am I just faithless and casting stones?

I understand your sentiment to an extent.

There question is certainly a valid one...because people do fake it.....speaking in tongues is biblical and it is for all generations,I believe this.....many are genuine but of course there are some who do fake it for whatever reason,so this is a valid question.....

So true.

There are always those among us that will do anything to get attention.

But I think the main reason people fake speaking in tongues is because they think, and or they have been taught, that tongues is a gift for all believers and a sure sign that the Holy Spirit dwells within. Someone in such a community who does not have the gift may feel compelled to fake it.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Peer pressure has always been a strong motivator. People want to feel part of something and not be left out so they will do anything to ‘look’ the part. They may even convince themselves that they are genuine. This is true in all the religions in my opinion and not just in speaking in tongues but in all matter of things that ‘look’ religious.

Since I believe there are very few Christians in the world, in relation to the total population, past, present and future, I also believe that the majority of folks who are ‘speaking in tongues’ are faking it.

Matthew 7:13-14 Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.

Exactly.

I remember being very concerned that I could not speak in tongues and feeling especially marginalised by spirit-filled believers who implied that my baptism in the Holy Ghost wasn't genuine because I didn't spring into speaking tounges.

I talked to my pastor bout it and he told me to wait on the Lord.

I believe that many, who may not have this understanding will fake it to fit in and to not be labelled a "baby in Christ" or have their faith or salvation doubted.

 

[onelamb]

That's like asking-'why do Christians "pretend" to pray?"---even in the NT-some thought those speaking were "faking it" they even said they were "drunk".

I believe that those who are faking-know it-and they have more problems than that.

But others kept saying in derision, "They're drunk on sweet wine!"

Acts 2:13

 

[Ed C.]

I've always wondered why people fake it. I've been in situations with people I know aren't faking it. But by and large, most of what I've seen screams FAKE.

Is their a particular reason why people from this group feel the need to draw attention to themselves, or am I just faithless and casting stones?

I also find it quite disconcerting when in my Spirit I feel that someone is speaking so loudly in tongues that it appears that way.


I've heard this sentiment before & I really think that spiritual discernment is the key in the natural I don't know how anyone could tell if a person speaking in tongues could be faking it. I know that when I was first blessed with my prayer language it felt like I was pushing the envelope (so to speak) and was unsure of myself because of that reason. By God's grace i've learned to trust in God and my faith has grown in so many ways because of my prayer language.

"or am I just faithless and casting stones?"
Faith is a growing thing - if I we're you i'd ask God to give you discernment in this matter

 

[rcorley]

I believe the confusion with this issue is one of proper teaching on the subject. The is a difference between someone speaking in tongues (in the sense of public prophetic words), tongues as a form of public worship, and private prayer language.

The gift of tongues, as a whole, is one that meant for the edification and building up of the body of Christ. It is not meant for show. It is meant as a means of worship and prayer to God beyond what seems natural to our logical minds.

Many times, our prayers can be seeded with influences, experiences, and biases. The question then becomes how can I, as a believer, effectively pray for things of which I have no personal knowledge. How can I pray for a person in such a way as to by-pass my personal bias or inexperience.

This in no way means that I sidestep the intelligence, rational mind that God has given each of us. Rather, it is a determination to allow God to minister through me in a way that I may not recognize with my own limited knowledge.

The President of my denomination (Foursquare), Jack Hayford, has written on this subject in a more eloquent way than I could. "Though I Speak In Tongues" is a well-thought out and delivered explanation for the belief and practice of tongues in today's church. You can find this article by doing a search for "hayfordontongues"

Hayford writes,

"[SIZE=-1]The exercise of tongues is an intelligent act. Not that the language is known, but that the choice to speak is known (1 Cor. 14:15), the Person being spoken to is known (1 Cor. 14:2), and the content of what is spoken is sometimes perceived after the fact (1 Cor. 14:13).
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Though spiritual language is not irrational speech, it may be described as suprarational: It is not an aberrant or ignorant exercise, but it does exceed the limits of the mind's unaided capacities."[/SIZE]
​

Praying or worshiping in tongues is not an act of senseless speech, but rather a partnering with the Holy Spirit. I am trusting that He is praying through me; that I am being used as a vessel to further His work in the world in ways that I may not see or understand at the moment.

Does this mean that every act of tongues in public is an act of the Holy Spirit? Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are always times of people that for unknown reasons act out in ways that are not in line with the work of the Holy Spirit at that moment.

Here is an example. The Spirit may be moving a congregation towards a moment of repentance or reflection. A person then acts out and begins "speaking in tongues" in such a fashion as to disrupt the flow of what God is doing. It then becomes the responsibility of mature leadership to handle this situation.

This is not to say that such a prayer or word is not from the Spirit. Leadership must determine whether the Holy Spirit is involved; either by waiting for interpretation or publicly correcting the situation. Correction should always be used as a means to teach the congregation how to properly partner with the Spirit. Never should it be used as a time to "put-down" or humiliate the person that became out-of-line. Only as a last resort should such a person be escorted to a location in order as to not further disrupt the flow of the Spirit.

Praying in tongues should always be done in such a way that does not become "weird". A spiritual language should be utilized like any of the other gifts of the Spirit. As 1st Corinthians 12:7 states, "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." If the situation is not profiting the body, then we should question the intent. But we should not throw the gift of tongues out of the church because it is utilized in a disorderly manner. Rather, we should use the other gifts to discern and confirm.

Quoting Pastor Jack again,

[SIZE=-1]"To open to the beauty of spiritual language does not require you to become a wild-eyed fanatic, a rigid proponent of faith, a drone preoccupied with health or wealth, or a giddy dupe running from one televised service to another.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Charismatic isn't a stereotyped lifestyle managed by a pop theology or a manipulative leader. It's a biblical, Christ-centered, sensible, hope- filled, happy, trusting application of God's promises for today. To be truly charismatic is to enter a dimension of Christian living available to people who sin, fail and suffer, yet seek God's holiness, depend on His grace and believe for His presence and power in the middle of their tough times.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]
Speaking in tongues--or any other spiritual gift--is not unbiblical or outmoded, not a status symbol or a substitute for spiritual growth. Above all, spiritual language is not divisive. When the beauty of this exercise is scriptually understood and wisely employed, it is a pathway of blessing for the entire body of Christ."[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=-1]Sorry this was so long. This is a hotly debated subject in the church and it would not do the subject justice to toss out a paragraph of explanation.Blessings and the peace of God to you all...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Roger
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