Acts 2:6 (KJV)
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
All of us are subject to—almost victims of—our presuppositions. These are ingrained in us from youth by our culture, parents, peers, and education. So persuasive are these influences that we often bear our presuppositions without even realizing it.
Having presuppositions is unavoidable. Interpreting our world without them is impossible. However, we can mitigate their potential damage by recognizing that we have them, understanding that others hold presuppositions different from our own, and choosing to counter them when necessary.
God urges us in Romans 12:2 (KJV):
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
One way we renew our minds is by allowing the Bible to interpret itself rather than reading our presuppositions into it.
Acts 2:4 describes the Christians on the Day of Pentecost:
- They were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
- They began to speak with other tongues.
- As the Spirit gave them utterance.
A common presupposition is that these "other tongues" were ecstatic or heavenly utterances—the language of angels, if you will. However, ecstatic tongues are not exclusive to Christianity; even non-Christians perceive them as otherworldly.
Christians who practice this form of tongues often believe they have a safeguard: someone with the "gift of interpretation." The problem, however, is that the person speaking in tongues does not know what they said, and no one in the room does either. This means there is no way to verify that the interpreter was not influenced by a lying spirit.
But none of this is necessary.
The first occurrence of speaking in tongues in the Bible clearly defines what those tongues were: “every man heard them speak in his own language.” The unsaved people from across the known world who were visiting Jerusalem heard the Christians speaking in their own earthly languages.
The interpreters were not "gifted" by the Holy Ghost. They simply understood the languages the Spirit had given these believers to speak. And there were plenty of others who spoke the same languages to verify the accuracy of the interpretation.
The gift of speaking in tongues has ceased. It is no longer necessary. Today, our task is simple: teach people the Bible and trust the Holy Spirit to make it effectual in their souls.
#BiblicalTruth #RightlyDividingTheWord#ScriptureInterpretsScripture #RenewYourMind #TruthOverTradition
Presuppositions and Pentecost: The Truth About Tongues
Have you been taught that speaking in tongues is a heavenly language? The Bible shows it was real, earthly languages in Acts 2! Share this truth with someone today—help them see what the Bible actually teaches about tongues.
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