Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wow! Wouldn't you like to live then to see all those miracles? Don't you wish you could see them some Sunday in your church? Too often many find boredom in their faith and their church. Is it the pastor's fault? Is it the service that is the same every Sunday, and we repeat it without thinking about what we are saying? Wouldn't we wake up if we saw flames of fire descending? Some denominations expect to see some of the signs of that day! Even some Lutherans speak in tongues. Our church used to be afraid of it but now it suggests that we talk with some members who have had this experience. One thing I did in my last church was to have members who knew different languages come forward and read the scripture in their ancestral language to give us the feel of what people back then must have experienced. In some cases I know that the "tongue" is a known language, as it was to some in the day of Pentecost, but sometimes it seems like gibberish. Paul tells us that (assuming it was really given by the Spirit) someone else who has the Spirit will have to interpret it, though he goes on to suggest that we are better off hearing a few words that we can understand! It can seem like nonsense to those who think it is just the product of those who had too much wine in the communion! Ours is not to judge. Luther warned against those whose enthusiasm was not based on God's Spirit.

Then it was Peter's turn to explain. He points up that this experience was foretold in the scriptures they had, and they could read about it! That is a good rule. If we don't understand something, check it out in God's word -- or ask a pastor to check it out. Hopefully our people will see the Holy Spirit at work in us... tongues or no tongues!