And forbid not speaking in tongues. That’s scripture!
Why do people teach that some of God’s gifts died out when the Canon was complete? Is that in the Scripture? Or teach that they are no longer valid, and demonize or marginalize believing Brothers and Sisters? They pick and choose and create doctrine that gives them comfort or sounds authoritative. Giving the benefit of the doubt: perhaps they think, believe or feel they are doing good and being responsible leaders.
Yes, some of the gifts are abused or falsely “manufactured” by men. But Paul saw those same problems in Corinth in the first century. The abuse did not invalidate the working of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Church then or now. Desire the best gifts—best for the Church—for obedient service and God’s purposes, for edification. Forbid none to anyone! Don’t infer a doctrine from one isolated teaching out of context that is contrary to a direct admonition in another.
And where do some come off with the notion they can exclude others who have not spoken in tongues? Can’t you see how divisive you are with such dogma? You create that from inference only! Where do you find that in Scripture stated? Does the Bible plainly say, “When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit you will all without exception speak in tongues” or “get your prayer language” or other such direct doctrine? Nowhere!
Simply put. Let’s all desire earnestly the best gifts. Serve one another. The hand cannot say to the foot “I have no need of thee!” And, forbid not to speak in tongues or to prophesy or to pray for healings or to seek discernment from the Holy Spirit or to exercise wisdom or obtain knowledge or insight or any of the other multiple workings of Grace in the Church!
We pray that our Pastors, Elders, Bishops, Teachers will seek to unpack, unfold, open the Scripture and interpret (apply) the Word so that all can hear in their own circumstances, language and culture.
Pray for the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit in all of our lives.
Men Following Jesus 