Speaking in tongues

Can someone explain to me the uniqueness of this gift of speaking in tongues which most congregations in my neighbourhood insist on acquiring? Is it in any way superior to or more edifying than other gifts?

let's talk about the other gifts because there are already 101 arguments (notice I didn't say debates) going on already with regards to tongues

you know, it's your neighborhood after all and you might ask the neighborhood why

how would we know

so, what do you think of the gift of discerning of spirits? that oughtta make for interesting opinions

There are quite a few threads in this section on the phenomenon describing several different perspectives or 'takes' on the subject. I'd suggest you start there (just do a search for 'tongues') and read through several of the threads; they may answer many of your questions.

speaking in tongues (praying in the Holy Spirit) is not a gift that is dispersed within a Pentecostal church as
explained in 1Corinthians 13 and 14.
Speaking in tongues is a daily prayer language which is described by Jesus and the Apostles as a sign of true baptism
or infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Read Acts for clarification of this along with Mark 16:15-20.

Nick - baptized in water on 30th October 1996 and baptized in the Holy Spirit on 1st December 1996 with the
Bible evidence of speaking in a new tongue.
This is quite different to operating the voice gift of diversities of tongues along with interpretation that we conduct
in our worship meetings.

read the Book of Acts , see in context how the gifts of the Holy Spirit were used. All the gifts. Then read all of 1cor . and see what is said there. Pray and formulate what you believe the Lord has said about this topic. I can tell what I think & believe but I'm certain if you are a saved Christian, The Lord will help you.

God bless

Read I Corinthians 12-14 (especially Ch. 14). It is very clear from Paul's writing here that the gift of prophecy is superior and is preferred to the gift of tongues. Speaking in tongues is not to be forbidden and does have its proper place, but it needs to follow the guidelines given in I Cor. 14.

Isa 30:20 The Lord will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but your Teacher will no longer hide Himself—with your own eyes you will see Him. 21And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” 22So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying, “Be gone!”

Read https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14&version=ESV

The gift of prophecy is superior, because it is more edifying. Tongues should not be spoken in the church publicly without an interpretation.

you will a lot of opinion on this topic and contentious ones too. Just filter all that out and study the word of God.

some are deeply decieved and believe speaking in tounges is required for salvation

dont fall into that trap

its not biblical

the only " some are UPC and Apistolic oness types

what is UPC?

this is the first ive heard that term

lol UPC is united pentacostels church

they are a oneness group they do not hold to the trinity

good one!

well i am sure i know a section in the bible that paul talks about tongues, but i don't have the septuagint.

well septuagint was off. some say, some, that there is evidence that the old testament was originally written in hebrew, aramaic and greek. but what difference does it make. we have copies of the originals, they did not have zeroxes back in the day!

The gift of tongues is not something you can simply acquire it doesn't work like that. I don't know why your neighborhood insists on acquiring it but while you can ask for the gift sometimes God just doesn't give it to you because that is not what he has called you for. Just as every body part has it's own function we who are in the body are made to function is a certain way, no one person can do it all.
As far as superiority goes in my opinion no gift is superior to the other they simply function differently

the 'Septuagint ' is a greek tranlation of the Old testament , your not going to find Pauls writiings in it .

Since spiritual gifts are not *acquired* but given by the Holy Spirit according to His will, don't bother.

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Cor 12:11).

Modern tongues are called "prayer language", and are not actual existing languages.