Michael,

I have been watching to see where you two are missing each other. Somewhere it seems to me T picked up on the idea from you that he should "try it". I do not think that the people in the New Testament had to 'try it', rather it happened through them - in particular on Pentecost. I doubt that when in Acts they baptized they had to be coached as I was in a UPC church with whispers in my ear of sssshannanna etc. If the Spirit is filling one, what is this coaching all about? The gift of tongues as recorded in the New Testament is neither a taught nor learned behavior. The first recipients were not coached and if it is the same Spirit then we shall not have to be coached either. It seems this is the kind of thing which T is wary of and where it may lead: Kenneth Copland and Rodney Howard Browne.

To be sure I am not saying that tongues is not for today. I am just not sure what we see in most Churches is the Spirit of God. Not saying that you are not spirit filled either. Since not all have the gift of tongues but some do have the gift of service, hospitality, mercy, administration etc. it is just as difficult to say whether those gifts are the Spirit or natural abilities. Same goes for discernment or just being suspicious - it is difficult to know unless one has the true gift. Then there is convincing the brethren... .