Prophesy and Tongues

And I'm still waiting, Johnny Ray, for my response to this - why use 1st Corinthians 11 as our “example”, when: 1) we don't speak in tongues or prophesy anymore and: 2) Acts 2:42 tells us exactly what we are supposed to do.

1st Corinthians 11:2-16
I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.

Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God.

Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Johnny: Well, I am not at all too sure to make of this passage in 1st Corinthians. I’ve read it a number of times… and don’t know what to think of it. We are a society who speak in tongues. Not in the way of the bible, where the Holy Spirit spoke in place, but where education steps in and helps us. If you go to the Greek (and Lloyd can back me up here, I am sure) you will see that tongue would be translated into languages. If I spoke in many tongues, I could speak English, French, Spanish, German, etc. As it is, I speak Baseball, Football, Basketball… and Jive… (that’s a little humor to lighten the evening… at least I get it). But even when we look at Acts 2, and I agree with you, Acts 2 does tell us what we need to know… I don’t see a society devoted to such things as teaching, breaking of bread, and fellowship. I saw today a car loaded with religious bumper stickers speeding down the highway going 70 in a 60. I can’t say I have everything right, but I don’t speed. I know they were speeding, because I had my cruise control on at 60. I at least have my conviction to obey the law as best as I can. There as so many laws out there… you can only do so much. Some states still have it on the books that you have to honk your horn at each intersection before going through it… did you know that? Craziness. But as far as prophesy as the like, consider the very same chapter, but just an earlier verse.

Acts 2:17-21
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Johnny: I find this quite scary. For many reasons… but scary none-the-less. I do think it is good to go out and shake things up. I think it is good to go and share your faith with neighbors and such. I really wanted to share with peeps at the Best Buy today. I was fired up and ready to go share my faith. I’m still itching to go… but alas, I will have to hold off until tomorrow. Goodness, it is after 1 AM… my leg is still hurting, which is why I am still up… but I am exhausted… maybe I will be able to get some sleep now. I hope I addressed your question, Erik. If not… address the point that I miscued on, and I shall try again. And thanks for you patience.