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How do I keep tongues in order?

Submitted: 8/4/2014
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Question: I have pastored for 35 years. In those years I have had tongues with interpretation in our services. The result has been that I have lost dozen/scores of people from the congregation as a result of the tongues and interpretation. It does seem to be a sign to them and evidently it reads 'There's the door!' Can you help me understand this phenomenon? How can you keep it decent and in order when speakers just blurt out at random and loudly. Help please. Thank You.

Answer: We have never had the kind of problem you are describing. We have tongues and interpretation fairly often, but usually there is a time in the service when the Lord opens the door for it. Perhaps you need to teach the people about how to wait for the right time. Paul explained that 'the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets' (1 Corinthians 14:32). This means that the one speaking out has control over when he speaks. We have taught our people that even though they may feel an utterance coming on, they should wait until the time is right. We find that the right time is usually obvious.