MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Over Half of Southern Baptist Pastors Believe in “Private Prayer Language”

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, June 04, 2007
Viewed 103
(20) comments so far

The survey asked SBC pastors, Protestant pastors and laity their beliefs about private prayer language using this wording: “Do you believe that the Holy Spirit gives some people the gift of a special language to pray to God privately? Some people refer to this as a Private Prayer Language or the ‘private use of tongues.’”

Fifty percent of Southern Baptist pastors answered “Yes,” 43 percent said “No,” and 7 percent responded “Don’t know.”

Non-SBC pastors are more likely to believe that the Holy Spirit gives some people a private prayer language than Southern Baptist pastors. Sixty-six percent of non-SBC pastors responded “Yes,” 32 percent responded “No,” and 3 percent responded “Don’t know.”

Protestant pastors (Southern Baptists and non-SBC) are more likely to believe the Holy Spirit gives some people a private prayer language (63 percent) than Protestant laity (51 percent).

Of the Protestant laity surveyed, 15 percent responded “Don’t know” when asked if they believe in the gift of private prayer language. Of the Protestant pastors, only 3 percent are unsure.

FOR DISCUSSION: Do YOU have any type of a ‘private prayer language’? How would you have answered this survey? Does this say anything about the future stance of the SBC on tongues?

A new study by LifeWay Research on the use of private prayer language indicates that half of Southern Baptist pastors believe the Holy Spirit gives some people a special language to pray to God. The study also indicates the majority of Protestant senior pastors (63 percent) and laity (51 percent) believe in the gift of a private prayer language...

Comments

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Derek on Tue, June 05, 2007

Jerry,

I am downloading your sermon on tongues. BTW, I am traveling with P.G. and Lilly Vargis when they come to your church in a few weeks. It is funny that we are posting on the same site. What a small world. I am looking forward to meeting you.

Derek
Tobias on Wed, June 06, 2007

Robby wrote: 

“I was just trying to point out the argument over tongues seems to fit the “true for you but not for me” of the post -modern world where everyone just decides for themselves what truth is and it will all be OK. But surely there is a definitive interpretation to these scriptures that can be understood by anyone.” 

This may be true sometimes, but I think this theological issue is kind of a different animal. Other theological issues, like salvation, the Trinity, etc, are somewhat theoretical in nature, abstract. Tongues is very experiential, it’s something you do. While the others are handled solely by study of Scripture and other intellectual means, a large component of understanding or believing in tongues is experience, because tongues is something you do, something you experience. So it seems to me that if you haven’t experienced tongues, well, it’s going to be a factor in your thinking. It’s something we ought to be understanding about; we shouldn’t adopt the “something is wrong with you, then” attitude toward our fellow Christians.

 

Also, I’d agree with Nora that this issue is a “non-essential”, as defined by Augustine. So, it shouldn’t be a point of division and contention among believers. But, at the same time, to momentarily step back on my worn-out soapbox, I think this division is inevitable as long as Christians don’t value, and aren’t taught to value, understanding of Scripture and God. Not that we can attain that completely, but it, I think, would be seeking Him with your mind. But, of course understanding is not everything and can be it’s own downfall, so let’s ultimately stand with love.

And also say lots of bad words to show everyone we’re “with it.” http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Tobias on Wed, June 06, 2007

I guess the line-break tags didn’t work, but the italic tags did! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif)
Amy on Wed, June 06, 2007

I have been personally studying the matter of tongues, having attended many different denominations for years before regualrly attending a Souhren Baptist church now. I read recently that the modern tongues has only been in operation for about a hundred years or so, since the first “Great Awakening,” as well as literature on the pretribulation rapture. I tend to trust the centuries of our forefathers in the faith, though the Bible should always be our first route of study about anything. I was encouraged to speak in tongues, so I question if it really is considered a gift, but more like Romans 8:26 - “groanings” coming from the spirit. After all, when crying out to the Lord. one can only think of so many words (even for a woman!) for someone, something, the nation, etc. I liken it to comtemplative prayer (prayer without words) and so I have often prayed this way privately or if in the company of others who do so. The real proof of the pudding (faith) I’ve seen is not who can hold their arms up higher, speak in tongues or fall and stay on the floor long enough. It’s in their actions - the fruits of the Spirit - the lack of complaining in a church or gossipping - and instead their purity and generally doing the Word of God.
Derek on Thu, June 07, 2007

Amy,

The gift of tongues as an unknown language has always been a part of the church since the apostolic age. Eddie Hyatt has done a good job of unearthing references to tongues in the church in 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity.

http://www.amazon.com/Years-Charismatic-Christianity-Eddie-Hyatt/dp/0884198723/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-3322912-0311142?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181224815&sr=8-1

One of the more interesting and overlooked “outbreak” of tongues occured in the 1830s in Scotland and London surrounding the ministry of Edward Irving. If you are interested here is an article: http://www.pneumafoundation.com/resources/articles/EIrving.pdf

You are right to prioritize love over the gift of tongues or any gift of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit should be subordinate to the fruit of the Spirit, subordinate but not forgotten. The same section of Scripture that says “if you speak in tongues but have not love you are nothing” (1 Cor 13:1) also says “don’t forbid people to speak in tongues” (1 Cor 14:39).

g&p;Derek