{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Houston's First Baptist Church","title":"The Truth About Tongues","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2849,"description":"In this sermon the pastor begins by recalling the biblical accounts of Pentecost in Acts, emphasizing that the original gift of speaking in tongues was a miraculous sign that enabled the apostles to proclaim the gospel in languages people already understood. He argues that the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power was to equip believers to be witnesses for Christ, not to create a lasting, experiential phenomenon. From that foundation he moves to a contemporary critique of the modern “tongues movement,” asserting that the practice today often deviates from the biblical pattern, focuses on personal experience rather than on Jesus, and has become a source of division in churches, especially within Baptist congregations he has observed.\n\nThe speaker then presents three main points: first, the original purpose of tongues was a one‑time sign for evangelism, not an ongoing spiritual requirement; second, true biblical doctrine places Christ at the center, while the modern emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s “baptism” can obscure that focus; and third, the terminology “baptism of the Holy Spirit” does not appear in Scripture, and the New Testament only records “other tongues,” not the unknown, ecstatic speech common today. He concludes by urging the congregation to prioritize love, gospel proclamation, and the holiness of Christ above any pursuit of emotional or mystical experiences, warning that seeking tongues as a primary sign of spiritual vitality is unbiblical and potentially harmful.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/o5yzRQYlXr9ParDz0W15WXJmDEyj_QNDo8tzYNqSRoc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wN2Ew/Yjg4MTI1YTdmNDVi/Mjc2NWZiNDkwYTBi/OTU4MS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}