Monday, April 11, 2016

Speaking in Tongues

Glossolalia - speaking in tongues - according to those who study language - is the action of vocalizing speech-like syllables which lack any easily understandable meaning. Sometimes this is considered merely babble - other times in religious use - a divine language which the one speaking does not know - has not been trained in that language. The most common place where one might hear someone speaking in tongues is at a Pentecostal or Charismatic religious service. Many are confused - apprehensive - of those who speak in tongues - not sure of the validity of this phenomenon.  It has been explained that this happens when one has connected intimately with God - unable to express in their native tongue the - joy - happiness - reverence - they have for God - receive this gift from God - to be able to continue their praise - worship - at a much higher level of communication - known only by God. 



When God created the world - one language was all that was needed - when mankind became too caught up in themselves not listening to God - at the Tower of Babel - He confused the people by creating a multitude of languages - a means to slow them down - to stumble - to pause - reconsider - what they were doing. Today it is estimated that there are approximately 6500 languages in the entire world. Add to that number - different dialects - one can see how difficult it may be to communicate with each other. Solving the world's issues means that all of us need to be able to speak a common language - not in tongues known only by God - a language that although spoken with different sounds creates a sense of cooperation - a common bond - serving the people of God. The one language shared by all peoples - the one spoken by Jesus - God - the language of Love.

Deacon Dale