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Much of this is obviously a direct negation of the teaching of Scripture above. Yet it
is "according to the Bible" we are told! Moreover how the mind can be completely
inactive and words used which are not understood by the speaker yet "he has a clear
sense he is praying to God", is past comprehending.
On page 9 the writer continues:
"In order to speak in tongues, you have to quit praying in English . . . . . you simply
lapse into silence and resolve to speak not a syllable of any language you have ever
learned. Your thoughts are focused on Christ . . . . . you take no thought of what you are
saying. As far as you are concerned it is just a series of sounds . . . . ." (italics ours).
Again we ask, how can the thoughts be focused on Christ, and yet the mind be
bypassed or remain inactive? There is surely confusion here and we can say with
certainty that the N.T. knows nothing of such methods of prayer. There is not a single
command to the believer in the N.T. to connect tongue-speaking with prayer. Did the
disciples on the day of Pentecost have to prepare themselves and practice in this way in
order to receive the gift of tongues? Was not this rather the sovereign act of the Holy
Spirit, distributing this gift "as He willed" (I Cor. 12: 11), this being the N.T. way this
gift was always received? There is not the slightest indication that there had to be
practice and effort in order to obtain this gift as the booklet suggests.
We do not believe that anywhere in the Bible can God's truth and blessing be
received apart from faith and understanding. "With all thy getting, get understanding"
(Prov. 4: 7) and note carefully the following passages:
"Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto Him,
Yea, Lord" (Matt. 13: 51).
"Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures"
(Luke 24: 45).
". . . . . the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know . . . . ."
(Eph. 1: 18).
"Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ"
(Eph. 3: 4).
"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is"
(Eph. 5: 17).
"that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding" (Col. 1: 9).
"Being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding" (Col. 2: 2).
". . . . . the Lord give thee understanding in all things" (II Tim. 2: 7).
These verses and contexts make it quite clear that a measure of understanding is
absolutely vital both to the reception of truth and its practice. This being so, if the Lord
wills to teach anyone, He will do so in the language that person uses and can understand
and receive His truth, otherwise it would be meaningless. This was surely the object of
the original gift of tongues at Pentecost, for the hearers said, "how hear we every man in
our own tongues, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2: 8) not "what are all these
unintelligible sounds we hear?"