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The Wizard of Oz
, was about to be
transported to a strange and wondrous place – not by a tornado, but
through a born-again experience. She asked her teacher, Charles
Parnham, to lay his hands on her and pray, and when he did, she began
to speak in a language no-one had ever heard before. Some of the Bible
students thought she was babbling, and others thought she was speak-
ing Chinese, but they all agreed that she had been touched by the Holy
Spirit and given the gift of ‘speaking in tongues’. On that day was born
the Pentecostal movement, which would transform Christianity
throughout the world.
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Religious and Spiritual Experience
122
The Pentecostals survive and glossolalia is a phenomenon also recog-
nized in shamanic rituals. Studies have shown that no known language is
being spoken, although some claim to be able to understand the commu-
nications. Most people to whom it happens do not know what they are
saying as the language seems to be spoken through them, but they feel
that they are blessed and encouraged in their work for God. This is often
a group phenomenon, taking place in such Pentecostal services, and
accompanied by singing and ecstatic behaviour. But a quieter form takes
place during private prayer.
The following experience had no connection with the Pentecostals and
was clearly evaluated and interpreted in a specifically Christian way:
In February 1994, at the age of 58, I received the Gift of Tongues.
I have been a Christian for many years, reading my Bible and praying
daily, so I know that Tongues are among the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I had never met anyone whom I knew had the gift, but I had read
various books about the Holy Spirit in which Tongues were mentioned.
As a young Christian I had thought it was a special heavenly language
in which praise is offered up to God, but now I realize that Tongues are
modern everyday languages. After all that was the purpose of Tongues
given to the Apostles in Acts chapter 2 – so that they could share their
praises of God with all the foreign visitors who had come to Jerusalem
for the Passover.
I have no idea what language it is I speak in Tongues. One night I
woke up and was unable to get back to sleep. I lay thinking about the
events of the past day, but this word – something like ‘vanda’ or ‘wanda’
seemed to keep interrupting my thoughts. Next day I was doing some
cleaning in my village church when this ‘word’ came into my head
again. I spoke it out loud and immediately it was followed by several
other ‘words’. I had no idea what language they were and felt puzzled
about it.
Next day after my Bible study, I prayed. As always I began by prais-
ing God, and then all these ‘words’ came pouring out. Was this the gift
of Tongues? I could think of no other explanation, but as I continued
to speak in Tongues I was aware that I was praising God and felt a
great sense of joy. I visited my Rector and told him what had hap-
pened. He was very supportive but could offer no other explanation,
not having experienced Tongues himself. He did not know anyone who
had the gift with whom I could have shared my experience.
At first my vocabulary seemed limited, just as it would have been if
I was learning a new language like Polish or German. As time passed,
my vocabulary has widened and often seems to be in a verse with some
Types of Spiritual Experience
123
lines repeated. I have tried to speak Tongues quietly in my head, but it
doesn’t work – they have to be whispered, said or even sung aloud.
I have often thought about the timing of this wonderful gift. I the
early 1990s the . . . Diocese began to encourage Churches to set up
Local Ministry teams. These Teams were made up of lay members
whose function was to work with the local vicar in planning services
and doing pastoral work within the community. Our Church had just
formed an LMT, and I was one of the people nominated by the congre-
gation to be a member. We began our first session of the two year
training course in February 1994, and it was soon after that I received
the Tongues. When I had first been asked to be a member of the LMT,
I had been rather hesitant in agreeing as I was not sure that I could
offer much to such a group. Looking back now over a period of time,
I feel that in giving me the gift at that time, God had encouraged me
in my inclusion in the Team. It was some time before I shared my gift
with the other members of the Team, and they seemed as puzzled as
I had at first.
In one book that I read, the American author implied that unless a
person could speak in Tongues he or she was not a real born-again
Christian. I cannot agree with that statement. One cannot teach one-
self to speak in Tongues. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit and to be valued
as such.
People ask me if I can speak in Tongues whenever I want. I’m not
sure that I can or even want to. I am moved by the Spirit to praise God
in prayer when I see something beautiful – a seascape, a setting sun or
even just a colourful butterfly. Then I marvel at God’s creation and
praise him in Tongues. It somehow seems that I can express my praises
more freely in Tongues than in my own language.
After 13 years I now find that I speak in Tongues most days when
saying my prayers, and each time I feel uplifted and so joyful that I can
praise God in this way. [005435]
Angels
People quite often report angelic presences, sometimes the figures they see
even have wings. At times, people find that they are helped by mysterious
figures who then suddenly vanish. Many people, nurses in particular, have
reported seeing angels at the side of patients, or at the point of death, as
if the angel were coming to take the dying person away. In all cases,
whether the patient died or not, great comfort was received through the
angelic presence.
Religious and Spiritual Experience
124
Perhaps one of the most famous accounts of an angel is that of Teresa
of Avila, commemorated in Bernini’s sculpture of her ecstasy.
It pleased the Lord that I should see this angel in the following way.
He was not tall, but short, and very beautiful, his face so aflame that
he appeared to be one of the highest types of angel who seem to be all
afire . . . In his hands I saw a long golden spear and at the end of the
iron tip I seemed to see a point of fire. With this he seemed to pierce
my heart several times so that it penetrated to my entrails. When he
drew it out, I thought he was drawing them out with it and he left me
completely afire with a great love for God. The pain was so sharp that
it made me utter several moans; and so excessive was the sweetness
caused me by the intense pain that one can never wish to lose it, nor
will one’s soul be content with anything less than God.
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