New guidelines on prayer language from the IMB

[Harold Schiffman]

**
*GLOSSOLALIA

*1. The New Testament speaks of a gift of glossolalia that generally is
considered to be a legitimate language.
2. The New Testament expression of glossolalia as a gift had specific uses
and conditions for its exercise in public worship.
3. In terms of worship practices, if glossolalia is a public part of the
candidate's current practice and it does not fall within the definitions of
Parts 1 & 2 above, the candidate has eliminated himself or herself from
being a representative of the IMB of the SBC.

*PRAYER LANGUAGE*

1. Any spiritual experience must be tested by Scriptures.
2. New Testament teaching is that prayer is to be made with understanding.
3. The board is not persuaded that ecstatic utterance as a prayer language
is a valid expression of the New Testament teaching on prayer.
4. Therefore, if an "ecstatic utterances as a prayer language" is a part of
the candidate's current practice, the candidate has eliminated himself or
herself from being a representative of the IMB of the SBC.

*APPLICATION*

1. This guideline is not retroactive.
2. Any exceptions to the above guideline must be reviewed by the staff and
the Mission Personnel Committee.

[Moderator's note: this is a truncated version of a longer version,
published at:
http://kerussocharis.blogspot.com/2007/05/imb-policies-now-guidelines-tuesday-at.html
 (HS)]

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