The Tongues of Angels? The Pentecostalization of Spiritual Gifts in Evangelicalism | Scott Aniol

Seems to me that this focus on “gifts” is AWAY from a focus on Christ (which should raise an immediate concern), to personal power and used as confirmation to themselves and others that their faith is real.

I attended a word of faith church for awhile and the gifts were greatly emphasized. What I noticed especially is that this seemed to put the emphasis on the "gift" rather than the giver of the gift. I wanted the gifts for myself. I thank God He had set me straight. He is more than enough !

GOD doesn't change and so is His Spirit.

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”" Mark 16:17-19

If someone has the gift of healing when they pray for someone that person would be healed immediately as in the bible but they are not. However God does perform healings and miracles today.

Is not Paul's phrase 'tongues of angels' a hyperbolic comparison for the main point which is about love?

I agree with you. I still have doubts at times because people like John Piper and Don Carson are continuists but Piper himself has confided in an episode of Ask Pastor John that he "made himself" speak in tongues because he wanted the gift so much, and stopped doing it when he realised it came from him, not God. My guess is he's just more honest/self aware than most charismatics. As for the "tongues of angels" Paul is using hyperbole, just as when he tells the judaisers to go and castrate themselves or even in 1 Cor 13 "if I give my body to be burnt": this is hyperbole. And how could angels have such a poor vocabulary? When I listen to people speaking "in tongues": they keep repeating only a few syllables with few variations. But I think we are afraid of committing the unpardonable sin if we voice our scepticism (I am).

The evangelicals I speak to on this want to use the miracles that God still on occasion performs (not through humans with Apostolic gifts) as a bludgeon in a conversation about the supposed evangelical gifts. They most often refuse to hear me when I say God works in His ways how He wills but not through humans as He did in the days of the Apostles. We need to pray for these brothers and for those who put their faith in anything other than Jesus as revealed through the Word of God.

Thank you for this very useful message. I was expecting that at some point you would explain the tongues of angels mentioned in 1 Cor 13 - as the title of this video says!

I would recommend the following equalization setting for Scott’s voice as a starting point Highpass filter to 100hz -5db, wide Q cut around 500hz +2db, high shelf beginning at 7khz

Good job! As a former pentecostal minister I can testify to the amount of mischief worked in the body of Christ by continuationists. There is nothing "full" about the gospel that they are preaching.

Paula White's justification for running around shouting repeatedly "ho ho ho ho, ha ha ha ha" .. she says "it's the tongues of angels" 😂

I believe that the gift of tongues can be manifested in this say and age to some Christians to suit God's purposes. Tongues have a variety of functions (1 Cor 14:6, 15) and I would say that the sign to Israel component is pretty much redundant for now. (1 Cor 14: 21-22). I reject notions that all believers can or must speak with tongues or that it is THE evidence of being filled/baptized with the Holy Spirit. With a complete canon of Scripture, they are not needed in the local church or assembly to the same extent as the early church and where they do occur, there has to be an interpreter no if's or buts (1 Cor 14:28). Speaking in a Heavenly or Angelic language during the exercise of the gift is plausible (1 Cor 13:1) but it would sound like a proper language not gibberish copying what's been heard in someone else or stringing a few syllables together and improvising here and there. The vast majority of tongues claimed today are not the authentic Biblical gift and based on poor exegesis.

As a former cessationist, I found this to be a thoughtful response and I agree with some of it. That being said, however, I again find it interesting that within orthodoxy (especially on secondary and tertiary issues) eisegetic tendencies continue to make their way into the hermeneutical process. I understand that absolute objectivity is not really possible (as everyone brings some biases and presuppositions to the text) but it should still be the goal. It seems as if theologians possess a need to arrive at the same sort of dogmatism inherent in the fundamental and essential doctrines of the faith that we are to contend for. Aniol here is espousing a particular view on the spiritual gifts (tongues & healing specifically). It is not the only valid view. I appreciate his irenic approach to and mention of godly men like Carson and Storms who would provide a different view, and who would be just as gifted as Aniol in articulating their respective view(s). I agree that the occurrence of tongues in Acts 2 is a sign to the Jews indicating the expansion of the gospel to the nations. The other occurrences in Acts (Historical Narrative) do not by necessity have to be read the same way. The mention of tongues in 1 Corinthians (epistle-didactic), I would argue, should not be read the same way (cf. "Exegetical Fallacies" by D.A. Carson). 1 Corinthians 13 & 14 should be understood in light of 1 Corinthians 12. Paul's point in 1 Cor. 13 is to underscore the necessity for unity in the Body of Christ (Ch. 12) by showing the superiority of love over the gifts and as the means to properly exercise those gifts. Relating the cessation of "certain" gifts to the completion of the Canon (an argument traditionally derived from the "in part and perfect" portion of 1 Cor. 13) is contrived as it disregards the contextual (a fundamental of hermeneutics) meaning of "perfect" in Chapter 13. In fact, τέλειον does not carry the meaning of scriptural revelation anywhere in the NT or LXX (19 occurrences in NT and 15 in LXX). I recognize that there are indeed abuses within and propagated by the Charismatic movement. Many godly Pentecostal leaders would admit the same. There are also abuses within the Reformed movement, and others. We should exercise caution in our response in an attempt to prevent overcorrection. As Aniol stated, it is possible to be godly, orthodox, and hold to a different view. This is what honest theology looks like. Discussion without a leap to dogmatism and/or division.

The word says forsake not to speak with tongues and Corinthians teaches that the promise is unto us and to our children and to all that are afar off as many as our Lord shall call. Prophecies and tongues shall not cease until the perfect one has come-->Jesus. Tongues is for the "unbeliever" as prophecy is for the believer. Jesus also talks about it just before he assended up to heaven in Mark 16:17-18. There is tongues prayer language to God for our edification. If you say tongues and prophecies have ceased, your telling a lie, those who believe are not condemned but those who don't are condemned already.

Sam storms also said that Benny hinn loved Jesus, oh he has a manipulative style, storms way of saying he robs people of their money and lives a lavish lifestyle on the backs of the poor, sick , and desperate. So sam says its ok cause he believes he loves jesus. If he truly loved Jesus he wouldn't be a theif.so sams words mean nothing he to is a liar and upholds the man for stealing.

I'm sure the enemy is having a great time seeing the church divided in these posts. Does God's word not say to stop being children and be mature? I read very little encouragement in these posts. Why not lifr each other up and rejoice in the Lord. Think about this brethren.

I am a former Word of Faith Preacher.... 30 years ago I came to a place where I was tired of all the flaky stuff that was going on in my Church... and the claims of members that were totally extra-biblical and off the wall. So, I decided to start from scratch.... and build again from the only thing I knew was right.... Jesus is right. In my journey, I came to understand that were two extremes in the church.... cessationism and continuationism.... But I discovered one more view that I had not considered. If Isaiah 28:11 "For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, " is fulfilled throughout the ministry of Christ... then... All the Continuists and Cessationists are all in big trouble. I had to literally redefine the concept of tongues as the language of God that Jesus and the Apostles spoke.... It's not hidden... it is written in black and white.

Well, 1 Cor 14 tongues was NOT addressed at all I believe in reformed theology, but it doesn't restrict continuation of gifts imo

Was the Holy Ghost poured out in Acts 2 on the apostles only or the 120 (including the apostles). The reason why I ask is because in Acts 2:8 the people ask are not all these that speak Galilean? As far as I understand the 12 apostles were all Galilean, but were all the 120 Galilean? Then in Acts 2:14 - it says Peter standing up with the eleven. Could it have been the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 12 disciples and not the 120? Thanks