SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS IT FROM GOD?

What about the other purpose of the gift of tongues in the first century?  Does the speaking in tongues practiced in churches serve as a tool for preaching the good news to people of different languages? Recall that observers  who were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E. were from many lands, and they clearly understood the languages miraculously spoken by the disciples. In contrast, those who speak in tongues today usually utter speech that is unintelligible to any listener.

Clearly, modern-day speaking in tongues is very different from the gift of holy spirit given  to Jesus' early followers. In fact, there is no reliable record of anyone receiving that same miraculous power since the death of the apostles. This is not surprising to Bible readers. Regarding the miraculous gifts, including that of speaking in tongues. the inspired apostle Paul prophesied:  "They will cease."  (1 Corinthians 13:8) How, then, can one discern who has the holy spirit today? 

Next time: SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS IT FROM GOD? - Who Give Evidence of Having Holy Spirit? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2010