“My question is, what would happen if someone stood up and recited “There is no God but God and Muhammad is His Prophet” in Arabic in such a setting? Or any other non-Christian profession of faith in a language not likely to be known by the congregation? Would they be “exposed” by the “Holy Spirit” or would it be “business as usual, Praise the Lord?” Has anyone tried it and what happened?”

Of course, someone quoting the bible is much more likely to be interpretted correctly than an anti-Christian message- a matter of time perhaps. I had actually forgotten anyone got it right.

He talked to the person afterwards to make sure that they did not know the language- they did not.

Assuming the person wasn’t lying. It’s also possible the person had heard that particular Psalm in Hebrew before, along with knowing it’s English equivalent; he wouldn’t even have to be consciously aware of it.

Or it could just be luck; one guy getting the right interpretation isn’t all that surprising, especially since most people trying to interpret are going to try to match their interpretations up with stuff they know from the Bible. Did the person get the exact, verbatim interpretation, or was it just a “good enough” approximation? I’d be much more impressed if this were a controlled study instead of an anecdote.

My Catholic abuela once graciously told me that she personally believed I would go to heaven even if not Catholic. Coming from a a church that doubted the salvation of the Catholics and the mainline Protestants, I found her attitude was very refreshing. (Although she did instruct me to put pictures of guys under my pillows and light candles to I-forget-which saint so I’d know who I’d marry)

However, it can be rather interesting. I knew an evangelical Christian who was always trying to convert me from my idolatrous Catholic ways. She happened to mention one time that “Ave Maria” was one of her favorite Christmas songs and wished she could find a translation. I said, “Oh, that’s easy. That is simply the ‘Hail Mary’ prayer in Latin.” Oh was she ever horrified! I was sorry to ruin it for her in one way but in another I was not, given her antipathy for things Catholic.

Eve’s Apple- My husband was telling me about a Hebrew speaking friend who went around to such churches and stood up and recited from the Psalms in Hebrew. Invariably someone would interpret, but he never got a correct interpretation.

I lived with a family in India and the patriarch said he had the gift of tongues. I saw him talk to many people and he told me that they spoke different languages but he understood. That seems a much better use than just translating in a church service.
I have other friends who are gifted with languages and can understand Romanian and Portuguese because they know Spanish and French. Gift- yes! Supernatural gift? not sure.

It’s not always either or. I hoped I was praying in tongues while fearing I had retained control instead of surrendering to the Holy Spirit. Unless I could speak a language I did not know and someone else did, how could I tell?

EA,

That would be hilarious!

My question is, what would happen if someone stood up and recited “There is no God but God and Muhammad is His Prophet” in Arabic in such a setting? Or any other non-Christian profession of faith in a language not likely to be known by the congregation? Would they be “exposed” by the “Holy Spirit” or would it be “business as usual, Praise the Lord?” Has anyone tried it and what happened?

Just curious.

I was so shocked when my cousin told me that she just mumbled the alphabet while the elders were praying for her so they’d leave her alone. It had never occured to me that people might fake it!

Tongues was such a big part of our church teachings that we weren’t supposed to marry someone who couldn’t- it would be unequally yoked!

It was actually confusing to me that my fiancee couldn’t or wouldn’t and didn’t care to, and yet was a much better catch than all the rest of the ones at camp.

Yes, he does speak the other form