Thorn, Vekky,
I can't get one of Thorn's posts out of my mind since I recently heard a teaching that may help. I can't find Thorn's post on it now, but the part I am remembering is that when he said he spoke in tongues he thought, in his own mind, that he was speaking in real biblical tongues, but has now come to an understanding that was not true. He now believes there is nothing like that in today's world. He now believes it is all just babble.
That at least answered the question that we wanted to know when we asked him if he experienced a supernatural experience when he spoke in tongues, or was he making it up. We now know why he never answered the question for so long. What caused him to renounce his experience is still a mystery to me. Maybe he too was listening to the teachings of John MacArthur on the subject. Or, perhaps another minister with similar beliefs.
I never responded to his reply on this matter and I may have not even responded to his post. I don't think I did. I was in shock and could feel his pain. It was not the answer I expected. I felt bad for him and really was sorry that I even tried to get it out of him. I had no idea what he went through. I thought he could give us a simple answer and that he was just refusing to answer. Now I see that it was complicated for him and not simple at all.
Vekky has, in the past, posted at least one, if not more, testimonies of people who have renounced their speaking in tongues experiences after listening to John MacArthur's teaching on the subject. John MacArthur seems to do a great job of convincing some that what they experienced is not of God which causes them to reject it. My guess is that there are many other ministers doing the same.
Listening to testimonies like this has definitely caused me to reject the popular teaching of today that teaches it is okay to "prime the pump" when seeking for the gift of tongues. Some teach people to make up syllables, or to speak like a baby when seeking tongues from the Holy Spirit. I would think that this would add to people's confusion about it and cause them to think they are making it up, especially after listening to teachers like John MacArthur. This may even cause people to make their entire experience up which we know many have confessed to having done as well.
May God forgive me if I am wrong, but I shudder every time I hear tongues being taught like this. I shudder every time I hear them say they are going to teach people how to speak in tongues. No wonder people like John MacArthur can convince his followers that this is not real for today. A gift from God cannot be taught. A minister can teach about a gift, but they cannot teach people the gift. A gift from God has to be given by God to the person.
Another teaching I have heard on the subject in today's world is that you can hear the unknown language and they tell people to speak what they are hearing. I don't see anything in scripture that says this is how it happens. The words are not in your ears. The words are on your tongue. You may feel something on your tongue. You may feel your tongue getting heavy. You may feel your tongue strongly wanting to go another direction while you are speaking in your known language. People who speak in tongues yield to that. I guess that is what the ministers are trying to get people to do when they teach them to "prime the pump" since they are dealing with people who have never had this experience and don't know what to expect, but I think it causes confusion and causes some to make it up, especially if the Holy Spirit is not giving this to them at this time.
We can't force God. When God is ready He will give you this gift. Yes, this may mean you, as well, being ready in God's mind. I suggest people keep their mind on worshiping God and His greatness instead of on their tongue. Keep your mind on seeking God instead of your tongue. People do have to be using their voices in talking or singing. When God is ready He takes your tongue while you are speaking in your known language and causes your tongue to speak in an unknown language.
Also, it is not true that you have to be in some emotional state while speaking in tongues. I think this one comes mostly from ministers making fun of the experience. God did give us emotions. We all have emotions, but a certain emotional state is not a requirement for tongues.
I also don't believe in the teaching that states you have to believe this is for today in order to receive this gift. I have heard testimonies of people who have receive speaking in tongues even though they did not believe it is for today. Of course, they changed their beliefs instantly when it happened to them.
ANYWAY, THE REASON FOR MY POST IS TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT I RECENTLY HEARD THAT HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE CONFUSED about their experience to know whether they are speaking a language supernaturally, or, if they are making it up. First and foremost, it should be the Holy Spirit that we are seeking. Seeking an experience without the Holy Spirit will lead to failure.
Okay, if anyone is confused here is how to unconfuse you. If your experience is supernatural you will not need to keep your mind on speaking in tongues while you are doing it. If you are making it up you will have to constantly be engaging your mind. You can test yourself while engaging your mind on something else like reading while you are speaking. If what comes out of your mouth is a real language that you do not understand, you have a supernatural experience. If you cannot speak this unknown language while your mind is engaged in another activity you are obviously making it up. Obviously, all languages that you don't understand will sound somewhat like babble to you, but if you listen to it you should be able to pick up words and phrases that are repeated enough to know that it is real. You will also notice a change in the sound and the words of the language when God changes the language that you are speaking. For example, most of us know if we are hearing Spanish or French even though we don't understand it because the sound of each of the languages is different.
If your experience is not real you will not be able to babble very well at all while your mind is engaged in reading the Bible or in some other activity, like perhaps working a crossword puzzle. Maybe you can say a syllable or two that you told your mind to say while doing this test. I don't know. I know I can't make anything up that even resembles babble while reading, but I can speak a supernatural language while reading. I tried it. My mind has to be engaged if I am making up syllables and nonsense.
I hope this helps someone out there who may have become confused by all the false teachings going on about this subject. I'm pretty sure most real Christians will not want to reject anything or any truth that really does come from God.
May God heal all the pain caused by false teachings and may the Holy Spirit lead us into all truth.