Hindsight

The result of our GateWay on Mission vote this past Sunday was:

356 people voted yes and 1 voted no on the budget, all the new Leadership Team members (deacons) were approved!  What a great day of reviewing 2012 and envisioning a Biblical, Radical and Viral 2013!

There were a couple of questions that a few people asked me yesterday in regards to the passage from Acts19:1-22.  The most prominent was, “What is this speaking in tongues thing that the book of Acts talks about?”  Let me address that with a couple of clarifying points.

First let me say, not everyone agrees with me.  That’s okay.  Where good men disagree wise men walk softly.  If you have a different opinion, God bless you and please extend me an extra measure of grace.

Second, if your view is different than mine I never want to disrupt nor discourage anyone’s connection with God or anyone’s spiritual development and depth.  You’re totally free to pursue and practice your spiritual disciplines in your life.

Third, I believe that speaking in tongues was a gift only given to the early church to solidify it’s unity, leadership and expansiveness.

How?

First, the people in Jerusalem speaking in tongues was a sign of judgment to Israel for rejecting their Messiah.  Duet. 28:1 & 49 says that if the nation did not obey the Lord then judgment would come from a nation, “…whose language you shall not understand.”  The speaking of foreign tongues on the day of Pentecost was a sign to Israel that God was bringing to pass what he had promised for their disobedience.

Second, the Samaritans, Acts 8:17, received the Holy Spirit when the Apostles Peter and John laid their hands on them.  Why?  Because God was uniting Israel with Samaria demonstrating all descendants of Abraham were welcome in the Church of Jesus Christ under the leadership of the Apostles.

Third, the Romans, Acts 10:35-36 &44-48, received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues when the Apostle Peter went to preach to them and unite them into the church of Jesus Christ.  Why?  Because “…in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him…preaching peace through Jesus Christ…” (vs. 35-36)  So even Gentiles and Romans can be an equal member of the church of Jesus Christ!  That was a RADICAL concept to the Jewish people.

Fourthly, the Gentiles outside of Israel, Acts 19:6, received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues when the Apostle Paul laid hands on them so that God could demonstrate authoritatively that all nations are equally welcome in the family, kingdom and church of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-22 says that the wall around the Temple that divided Jews and Gentiles has been torn down and that there is now unity.  Jesus Christ has purchased peace and created a new building (Temple) called the Church and it’s built on one foundation called the Apostles authority and Jesus is the chief cornerstone in that foundation.

Speaking in tongues was not a spiritual practice in the early church for deep disciples, it was God’s way of demonstrating to everyone that all nations are welcome in God’s family, the church of Jesus Christ.

Again, let’s never use for disunity what God used to unify the entire world under our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!