Am I denying the Holy Spirit by questioning whether my pastor speaks in tongues?
Question:
Hi,
I was just reading your page on speaking in tongues. I'm trying to find an answer to my problem. I have been attending a church for the first time for the last eight weeks or so. The first time I attended at the end we praised Jesus and the pastor spoke in tongues. I thought, wow, he is speaking in tongues, OK, cool. Then every Sunday he says the same one-sentence weird tongue talk each week I'm thinking, why does he only speak this one sentence? Shouldn't he be able to say more? Then last Sunday I thought to myself I don't believe he is speaking in tongues for some stupid reason. I didn't think much of it now today something set my conscience off and I'm scared of that comment I thought to myself. He's my pastor and helps me a lot and I didn't realize he was praising Jesus so that probably explains why it seems repetitive. He isn't talking, he is praying to praise. My head's telling me I denied the Holy Spirit, which was in him right next to me, even though I didn't speak anything. I can't believe I came to that conclusion and I can't ask him for advice because I feel guilty. How can I say I thought you were just bumbling the same thing every Sunday, so I concluded you were just making it up.
I keep getting myself into these situations. It's like I'm trying to send myself to hell. I get over one thing then I find another way to get myself into these situations. Any advice would be great. My head's telling me I can't even look at him this Sunday. I feel so bad and scared at what I have done.
Answer:
You are assuming that whatever this pastor says is correct. God told Christians, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).
You spotted something that many people overlook: Speaking in tongues means speaking in another person's native language. "And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?" " (Acts 2:6-8). That isn't what happened with this pastor.
See: What Kind of Tongues Are Meant in I Corinthians 12?
You weren't denying the Holy Spirit. You are rightly wondering if this pastor is following the Holy Spirit.
