Tongues, A Testimony |
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TONGUES, A TESTIMONY JAMES FAIRFIELD I "spoke in tongues" February, 1964. It's a rather lame way to put it, I suspect. Nevertheless, this is the accepted semantics. Much better to say I prayed in tongues, that first time. And I still do, privately, in my own prayers. Over the years I had heard much about tongues and "Holy Ghost baptism." Who hasn't? Glossolalia has been featured news in the Saturday Evening Post and the staid National Observer as well as Christian periodicals of every stripe. Furthermore, there isn't a church in the country that hasn't worried and wondered about "this tongues business." It has become "the burr in the bishop's shirt" ... and too often for not so good reasons. Pentecostals have been congratulating themselves about their notoriety, a little arrogantly, let's admit it. But they can hardly be blamed. For a long time Pentecostals have suffered the snorts of equally arrogant dissent. The church has preferred to bury the charismatic movement with argu-ment - then unload it somewhere. Anywhere. Under Here-sies, or Psychological Release, or Delusions, emotional, or ... Yet Pentecostal-type Protestantism cannot be either un-loaded or. ignored. Too many genuine Christian converts in every country arouncl the world provide living testimony to God's saving activity through Pentecostal-Protestantism. And something very stimulating is happening elsewhere in the church, in the mainline denominations. Pastors are sharing in the charismatic movement. Many respected mem-bers of their congregations, including businessmen and bank-ers and teachers and advertising men, now speak in tongues and say they are spiritually the better for it. Why? What is actually happening? Is this burgeoning thing just a fad? Are laymen looking for a sociological kick the pulpit isn't providing? Is that all there is to speaking in tongues? 5 Or is it the portent of greater spiritual discoveries, and a greater vitality in spiritual living? Is it the whisper of revival? I think it is possible. But I also think that tongues is only a pale beginning ... Frankly I haven't rushed into the circles of those who speak in tongues. I don't want this experience to mean only a change of Christian friends. I haven't grown another head, or climbed another rung above the brotherhood. I'm simply a little more useful to my Lord than I had been before . . . in one way and one way only. It hasn't meant a new "experience" with Christ, but only a deeper awareness of His presence, a fresher knowledge of His joy and love, and a better and freer communication with Him. To sum up, for me it has meant a new facility in prayer and communion, and a greater expression of praise. When Reformed Church pastor Ed Barham visited Eastern Mennonite College in February, 1964, he spoke to a number of interested students, faculty and local residents. He told us of his personal experience with the Holy Spirit, and the effect on his ministry. His concept of tongues as a factor in communication with God seemed to make sense. As Ro-mans 8:26 reads: "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weak-ness. We do not even know how we ought to pray, but through our inarticulate groans the Spirit Himself is plead-ing for us, and God who searches our inmost being knows what the Spirit means." (New English Bible) This was scriptural encouragement for me. I had been praying quietly in tongues in my devotions for about a week before this. I had been thinking much about the scriptural references about tongues and had privately come to the con-clusion that tongues was a privilege for the Christian, a privilege I could exercise in prayer and worship whenever I chose. Therefore I simply determined to pray in tongues. And that was that. I received emotional confirmation in a deeper sense of the majesty and glory and righteousness of God. My prayers had a lilt of praise a little richer than ever before. As I prayed in tongues, my heart and mind and under-standing expanded a little more in devotional appreciation of the greatness of our great God. 6 And I laughed, within and without as never before. The apostle Paul speaks to the Corinthians of being hilarious givers (II Corinthians 9:7); at least this is a reasonable exe-gesis of the text. Up until then my imagination had strug-gled to understand how any form of worship (and giving is worship) could ever be "hilarious." Now I know what Paul meant. Although I find it very difficult to explain why my praise and worship can be hilar-ious, nevertheless it often is now. Not foolishly, nor blatantly, but rather, a deeply worshipful joy. Perhaps it is because I have found an uninhibited way that is holy, with which to praise a beloved Lord. And I know many Christian men and women who are filled now with the Holy Spirit (despite the fact they do not "speak in tongues") who ought to step over by faith into this greater facility of joyous praise and communication with our Lord. I think this is important. Would to God every Christian man, woman and child would put on all the armor and equipment there is available for the service of Jesus Christ. God knows how we struggle along with our own makeshift dynamics, while the power of the resurrection is ours, for His glory . . . if we will but open up our lives more to His Lordship! If only we had more discernment ... and spirit-ually resilient love . . . and "mind of Christ" wisdom . .. Yet perhaps our Lord can more readily develop these strengths in us, if we are in better, more facile communica-tion with Him? And perhaps this is all there is to "tongues"? ... that it isn't a gimmick or a shibboleth or spiritual green stamps, but simply an enlarging of the channels of commun-ication? I think so. Further, I am convinced that tongues is a symbol of the greater resources God has for us, rather than - as some insist - the sole evidence of a "second work of grace," or "Holy Spirit baptism." To do so places unwarranted stature upon a very minor spiritual tool. But - and this is an important " but" - tongues can be the evidence of unused spiritual resources, mountains of resources! I am of the opinion that through the charismatic movement God is notifying His people there is a reserve of vitality and ingenuity and expression and understanding that makes Fort Knox look like a piggy bank. 7 One . of my seminary professors who is considerably dis-turbed about tongues (he sees the dangers all too clearly), made an astute observation. "Instead of seeking tongues," he warned, "we should be seeking - and finding - the gift of discernment." Do you know it, he's right! At least partly. I would like to change his phrasing a little ... from "instead of'' to "as well as seeking tongues we should be seeking - and finding - discernment and wisdom and prophetic preaching and teaching and writing and witnessing and ... " Tongues can mean new vistas of service and maturing healthier Christians ... if we move on. But as so often hap-: pens in a revival, people .stop in kindergarten, and it could happen with tongues, if too much emphasis-energy is drained off getting people to seek "tongues" and "baptism" at the expense of other spiritual equipment. How much better it would be if we did go on and clothe ourselves with the whole armor of God . . . and how much more . could he accomplished! May I state a "for instance"? As Mennonites, we have a doctrinal understanding of peacemaking. We say a Christian can heal human situations through love. We say Christ is revealed by love, by non-resistant, red(;!eming, active love. Yet a doctrine needs more than words to find it.s expression. It takes Spirit-filled power to turn the other cheek and love an enemy. We cannot genuinely express this sort of love except it be shed abroad in our hearts by . the Holy Spirit. As Christians, yes and as Mennonites, we need an "experi-ence" in our lives to equip us with this quality of love. Soon we may be called upon to prove we can turn our cheek even to bombs and bullets. We'll not do so with just our doctrinal statement on non-resistance. And we need Spirit-filled help with our Christian witness. We are being called upon now to explode our witness to match the exploding population. We need to be endowed with God's power. We need to be open to His gifting, in every way possible. Even tongues. I want to testify to spiritually alert Christians that tongues can help them. But I don't want to sidetrack an effective, Spirit-filled Christian by insisting he really hasn't got it, until he has got "it." 8 Far better to plead and pray for the kind of hungry dis-cipleship which will fill up with all the fullness of God. Far better to call Christians to full-fledged usefulness to the Holy Spirit. . . anointed preaching and teaching .and everyday living. And this seems to be coming. There is a renewed interest in the Holy Spirit, and a larger understanding of His min-istry. And even more, there is infilling with vital life. Men convinced of being lived in by the Spirit and committed to move as He moves them. This is what the rustling in the dry leaves seems to be about, both within Pentecostal ranks and without. That mystery the prophets longed to see - "that sacred mystery which up till now has been hidden ... but which is now as clear as daylight to those who love God ... a vision of the full wonder and splendor of His secret plan for the sons of men. And the secret is simply this: Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with Him the hope of all the glorious things to come." (Colossians 1:26, 28; Phillips) 9
Object Description
Title | Tongues, A Testimony |
Rights | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ |
Institution | Mennonite Historical Library |
Original format |
text |
Language |
English |
Collection Name |
AMBS and GC John Howard Yoder Digital Library |
Date created | 1967-07 |
Subject |
Christian life Concern |
Creator | Fairfield, James G. T., 1926- |
Publisher |
Goshen College |
Description | A personal testimony of the value of speaking in tongues in Christian life. Published in Concern, a Pamphlet Series, No. 15. |
Rights Explanation |
In public domain. |
Extent | 5 p. |
Digital format |
pdf |
Item ID | im-amdc-jhy-0094 |
Description
Title | Tongues, A Testimony |
Institution | Mennonite Historical Library |
Original format |
text |
Language |
English |
Collection Name |
AMBS and GC John Howard Yoder Digital Library |
Date created | 1967-07 |
Subject |
Christian life Concern |
Creator | Fairfield, James G. T., 1926- |
Publisher |
Goshen College |
Description | A personal testimony of the value of speaking in tongues in Christian life. Published in Concern, a Pamphlet Series, No. 15. |
Rights Explanation |
In public domain. |
Extent | 5 p. |
Digital format |
pdf |
Item ID | im-amdc-jhy-0094 |
Text | TONGUES, A TESTIMONY JAMES FAIRFIELD I "spoke in tongues" February, 1964. It's a rather lame way to put it, I suspect. Nevertheless, this is the accepted semantics. Much better to say I prayed in tongues, that first time. And I still do, privately, in my own prayers. Over the years I had heard much about tongues and "Holy Ghost baptism." Who hasn't? Glossolalia has been featured news in the Saturday Evening Post and the staid National Observer as well as Christian periodicals of every stripe. Furthermore, there isn't a church in the country that hasn't worried and wondered about "this tongues business." It has become "the burr in the bishop's shirt" ... and too often for not so good reasons. Pentecostals have been congratulating themselves about their notoriety, a little arrogantly, let's admit it. But they can hardly be blamed. For a long time Pentecostals have suffered the snorts of equally arrogant dissent. The church has preferred to bury the charismatic movement with argu-ment - then unload it somewhere. Anywhere. Under Here-sies, or Psychological Release, or Delusions, emotional, or ... Yet Pentecostal-type Protestantism cannot be either un-loaded or. ignored. Too many genuine Christian converts in every country arouncl the world provide living testimony to God's saving activity through Pentecostal-Protestantism. And something very stimulating is happening elsewhere in the church, in the mainline denominations. Pastors are sharing in the charismatic movement. Many respected mem-bers of their congregations, including businessmen and bank-ers and teachers and advertising men, now speak in tongues and say they are spiritually the better for it. Why? What is actually happening? Is this burgeoning thing just a fad? Are laymen looking for a sociological kick the pulpit isn't providing? Is that all there is to speaking in tongues? 5 Or is it the portent of greater spiritual discoveries, and a greater vitality in spiritual living? Is it the whisper of revival? I think it is possible. But I also think that tongues is only a pale beginning ... Frankly I haven't rushed into the circles of those who speak in tongues. I don't want this experience to mean only a change of Christian friends. I haven't grown another head, or climbed another rung above the brotherhood. I'm simply a little more useful to my Lord than I had been before . . . in one way and one way only. It hasn't meant a new "experience" with Christ, but only a deeper awareness of His presence, a fresher knowledge of His joy and love, and a better and freer communication with Him. To sum up, for me it has meant a new facility in prayer and communion, and a greater expression of praise. When Reformed Church pastor Ed Barham visited Eastern Mennonite College in February, 1964, he spoke to a number of interested students, faculty and local residents. He told us of his personal experience with the Holy Spirit, and the effect on his ministry. His concept of tongues as a factor in communication with God seemed to make sense. As Ro-mans 8:26 reads: "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weak-ness. We do not even know how we ought to pray, but through our inarticulate groans the Spirit Himself is plead-ing for us, and God who searches our inmost being knows what the Spirit means." (New English Bible) This was scriptural encouragement for me. I had been praying quietly in tongues in my devotions for about a week before this. I had been thinking much about the scriptural references about tongues and had privately come to the con-clusion that tongues was a privilege for the Christian, a privilege I could exercise in prayer and worship whenever I chose. Therefore I simply determined to pray in tongues. And that was that. I received emotional confirmation in a deeper sense of the majesty and glory and righteousness of God. My prayers had a lilt of praise a little richer than ever before. As I prayed in tongues, my heart and mind and under-standing expanded a little more in devotional appreciation of the greatness of our great God. 6 And I laughed, within and without as never before. The apostle Paul speaks to the Corinthians of being hilarious givers (II Corinthians 9:7); at least this is a reasonable exe-gesis of the text. Up until then my imagination had strug-gled to understand how any form of worship (and giving is worship) could ever be "hilarious." Now I know what Paul meant. Although I find it very difficult to explain why my praise and worship can be hilar-ious, nevertheless it often is now. Not foolishly, nor blatantly, but rather, a deeply worshipful joy. Perhaps it is because I have found an uninhibited way that is holy, with which to praise a beloved Lord. And I know many Christian men and women who are filled now with the Holy Spirit (despite the fact they do not "speak in tongues") who ought to step over by faith into this greater facility of joyous praise and communication with our Lord. I think this is important. Would to God every Christian man, woman and child would put on all the armor and equipment there is available for the service of Jesus Christ. God knows how we struggle along with our own makeshift dynamics, while the power of the resurrection is ours, for His glory . . . if we will but open up our lives more to His Lordship! If only we had more discernment ... and spirit-ually resilient love . . . and "mind of Christ" wisdom . .. Yet perhaps our Lord can more readily develop these strengths in us, if we are in better, more facile communica-tion with Him? And perhaps this is all there is to "tongues"? ... that it isn't a gimmick or a shibboleth or spiritual green stamps, but simply an enlarging of the channels of commun-ication? I think so. Further, I am convinced that tongues is a symbol of the greater resources God has for us, rather than - as some insist - the sole evidence of a "second work of grace," or "Holy Spirit baptism." To do so places unwarranted stature upon a very minor spiritual tool. But - and this is an important " but" - tongues can be the evidence of unused spiritual resources, mountains of resources! I am of the opinion that through the charismatic movement God is notifying His people there is a reserve of vitality and ingenuity and expression and understanding that makes Fort Knox look like a piggy bank. 7 One . of my seminary professors who is considerably dis-turbed about tongues (he sees the dangers all too clearly), made an astute observation. "Instead of seeking tongues," he warned, "we should be seeking - and finding - the gift of discernment." Do you know it, he's right! At least partly. I would like to change his phrasing a little ... from "instead of'' to "as well as seeking tongues we should be seeking - and finding - discernment and wisdom and prophetic preaching and teaching and writing and witnessing and ... " Tongues can mean new vistas of service and maturing healthier Christians ... if we move on. But as so often hap-: pens in a revival, people .stop in kindergarten, and it could happen with tongues, if too much emphasis-energy is drained off getting people to seek "tongues" and "baptism" at the expense of other spiritual equipment. How much better it would be if we did go on and clothe ourselves with the whole armor of God . . . and how much more . could he accomplished! May I state a "for instance"? As Mennonites, we have a doctrinal understanding of peacemaking. We say a Christian can heal human situations through love. We say Christ is revealed by love, by non-resistant, red(;!eming, active love. Yet a doctrine needs more than words to find it.s expression. It takes Spirit-filled power to turn the other cheek and love an enemy. We cannot genuinely express this sort of love except it be shed abroad in our hearts by . the Holy Spirit. As Christians, yes and as Mennonites, we need an "experi-ence" in our lives to equip us with this quality of love. Soon we may be called upon to prove we can turn our cheek even to bombs and bullets. We'll not do so with just our doctrinal statement on non-resistance. And we need Spirit-filled help with our Christian witness. We are being called upon now to explode our witness to match the exploding population. We need to be endowed with God's power. We need to be open to His gifting, in every way possible. Even tongues. I want to testify to spiritually alert Christians that tongues can help them. But I don't want to sidetrack an effective, Spirit-filled Christian by insisting he really hasn't got it, until he has got "it." 8 Far better to plead and pray for the kind of hungry dis-cipleship which will fill up with all the fullness of God. Far better to call Christians to full-fledged usefulness to the Holy Spirit. . . anointed preaching and teaching .and everyday living. And this seems to be coming. There is a renewed interest in the Holy Spirit, and a larger understanding of His min-istry. And even more, there is infilling with vital life. Men convinced of being lived in by the Spirit and committed to move as He moves them. This is what the rustling in the dry leaves seems to be about, both within Pentecostal ranks and without. That mystery the prophets longed to see - "that sacred mystery which up till now has been hidden ... but which is now as clear as daylight to those who love God ... a vision of the full wonder and splendor of His secret plan for the sons of men. And the secret is simply this: Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with Him the hope of all the glorious things to come." (Colossians 1:26, 28; Phillips) 9 |