Singing in Tongues

     In the early days of the charismatic move, while I was still casually observing and doubting the move, my TV was on in another room from where I was sitting.  All at once, I remember so clearly, I heard this sound such as I had never heard and I quickly moved to see the screen.  Peter Jennings (ABC) was covering some big charismatic rally, interviewing some leader and in the background the crowd was singing in tongues. My heart started beating fast and like a man arrested, I was hooked. It was the most incredible sound of sounds. Personally, I believe it was what started Pentecost so long ago. There came a "sound", (the word is echo) from heaven.  It had to be this sound.  That day, watching ABC, I became a charismatic. I heard a sound from heaven.

      In reading about the Azuza outpouring from which so many Pentecostals trace their roots, singing in tongues was the dominant expression of worship there.  It was their beginning. In fact, that outpouring  actually began in Kansas with some young people who were seeking the Holy Ghost.  I read where they were sitting in a circle praying when the Holy Ghost fell on them and they began to sing in tongues.  At Azuza Street, before preaching, before anything, they sang in the Holy Ghost.  Eye witnesses said as long as they did, the glory of God would remain upon them.  The power of God seemed to rise and fall with the music of their singing in tongues. Thinking of that, I find it odd that for so many Pentecostals today, singing in tongues is a foreign idea.  That is sad, indeed.

     Why don't we do this more today? A lot of reasons, I suppose.  One reason is that we don't assign any value to the matter.  Far too many leaders assign high value only to that which is connected to their preaching. (That is called "self-inflation")    Secondly, we too often leave such things up to musician-type people and they are to busy trying to do the best at what they do, make music and lead people into that activity. I understand that.  I once was such a musician that I thought the anointing of God depended on how well I performed a song. (Thank God for forgiveness!).  Thirdly, to get to the kind of worship where singing in tongues can happen easily, you have to not be in a hurry.  In so much of today's church, everything is rat-a-tat-tat, get in get out, maintain the schedule and for God's sake don't take up the preaching time.  I attended a Pentecostal church for a while, some time back, and the Spirit would move on us and we would almost get to the place of worship and alas, the worship team used up their alloted time and that was the end of that.  Up came the Pastor and the spiritual air of intimacy left the building like a busted balloon.  Worship will seldom, if ever, happen in such a place.  People may want it, but the schedule will rule and reign.

    Can't sing in tongues?  Yes, you can.  Paul said "Iwill sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding".  Assuming you are baptized with the Holy Ghost and freely speak to God in your heavenly language of the spirit, it is within your decision making ability to decide to do it.   Praise / talk to God in your heavenly languagek, and, then...every now and then...don't speak to God. Sing to Him.  Lift your hands, close your eyes and sing what you would have sung in your native language in your heavenly language.  God likes it.