“God has given to us a spirit of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
In the typical Charismatic setting, gibberish tongue praying often contradicts the rational mind. Therefore, it must be personally “experienced” first before it can be secondarily understood, appreciated and verified.
This is because both “faith” and “reason” are often incompatible and contradictory (other examples are seed-faith giving, denying bodily symptoms in faith healing, and positive word-faith confession that calls things that are not as though they were).
Due to the Fall of man in Genesis 3, the mind of man is hostile to God and refuses to submit to God, therefore, it is imperative for the mind to be bypassed. We’re told by the Charismatics that Christians are not to be governed by logic or reason (cf. Isa. 55:7-8; Rom. 8:5-8; 1 Cor. 1:19-20; 2:7-16; Col. 2:8). Therefore, to reach man’s spirit, God must bypass his head/mind along the way (For more info on this see Kenneth Copeland, “The Force of Faith” [Fort Worth, Texas: Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1993], pp. 10-11.)
While it is true that there are things about God, His purposes and ways, we cannot understand fully with our mind, God never bypasses the mind and asks us to accept an experience that cannot be verified by the Scriptures. When we are asked by the Lord to walk by faith, then the experiences and results always corresponds to the Word, never against it.
In bypassing the mind in favor of an experience, we also bypass the Word in favor of acceptance. Both are seriously wrong.
When Paul wrote to the carnal Corinthians in order to correct them concerning their use and abuse of spiritual gifts (tongues being among them), he began by saying to them: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant” (1 Cor. 12:1).
Right from the outset, Paul appeals to their understanding. In other words, what I am about to teach you in the next few chapters will involve your mind.
While it is true that there are experiences in the Christian life that God wants us to enjoy, such experiences can only be verified to be true or false based on the Word. To verify my experience, I must come to God and His Word in full submission of my mind to the Word, using it to ascertain the truth, while depending on God to guide and illumine me along the way.
Kenneth Copeland’s teachings on experiencing the Baptism of the Spirit and the subsequent praying in tongues, thus bypassing one’s mind is nothing short of heresy.
Christians ought to be keenly aware of those who tell them to do such things. You cannot fulfill the first commandment of God by only loving him with all your heart, will and soul. You must also include your mind (understanding).
Listen, if the Christian life is made up of a series of experiences thus bypassing the mind, then set aside the Word of God and live for such experiences. After all, this is the outcome of bypassing the mind.
We know that will simply not do.
Folks, think about it. If you wanted to deceive lots of people and get them to rely on something other than God and do things contrary to the Word, wouldn’t it entail bypassing a person’s mind so that they would not question anything or use their God given spiritual discernment? That’s deception!
Remember that in the Bible both the “heart” and “mind” are closely linked. Jesus said, “For out of the HEART come evil THOUGHTS. . .” (Matt. 15:19).
In the verse above it, Jesus said, “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the HEART” (v. 18). What is in the heart? A person’s thoughts.
So if your mouth speaks gibberish while praying, then what does that tell you about what’s in your heart / mind? Your mouth can only spill forth what it has in your heart-mind.
Thus, when you fill your heart with good things, it will also spill over into the mind and come out of the mouth so that you will understand what you are saying and others are edified. When you fill your mind with good things, it will also spill over into your heart. God never ever tells us to fill out heart apart from our mind nor our mind apart from out heart.
The Bible says this: “For God did not give us a spirit of fear (timidity), but a spirit of power, of love and a sound mind (discipline)” (2 Tim. 1:7).
The words “sound mind,” also translated in some versions as “discipline” or “self-control,” is only used here in the Greek. It means, “to call one to his senses.”
It carries the force of not allowing your emotions to take control. The mind keeps you in check, self-control and discipline. Without your mind overseeing your passions and emotions, you can easily swerve off into an out of control series of actions.
This spirit of control and discipline of the mind is what the Bible says, God has given “to us.” Not the opposite.
Again, anyone who teaches you to bypass your mind in order to gain an experience is leading you astray.
Judge from the Word carefully, prayerfully and thoughtfully, your experiences.
In the end, it is not about having a feeling or an experience. It is about what is true and right.
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