I remember witnessing folks doing this in church as a kid and it seemed very strange to me. Can someone explain what this practice is supposed to be about? Is it something happening involuntarily or are folks just chanting gibberish?

I'll bite first. I know people who do it and who believe in it. It's gibberish and not truly supported in the Bible, but some people interpret it to be.

As a believer, I know that their is power in the Holy Spirit and I also know there is corruption in the heart of people at times...have some pretty strong opinions that would probably not be well received by some...I'm just gonna watch and listen before I might make any comment.

It’s essentially the holy spirit praying through you. There are two kinds of speaking in tongues: personal tongues that are just between you and God, and tongues that are shared with others. The Bible is clear that if you speak in tongues to others and there isn’t an interpretation, it wasn’t meant to be shared.

^^^

I would genuinely be interested in hearing y'alls experience with it.

I won't touch this thread with a 10ft pole.

I don’t have an opinion on it, but growing up in church a well known fellow church member use to sit in the front row and hold his hands up and do all the speaking in tongues. Fast forward a few years and he was caught stealing money from the church and had an affair with another members wife. I’ve never had that experience so I can say that it’s legit or not. And I’m not using the above example in vain to others that might have had that experience. Just telling me experiences.

That and the snakes, I've never understood. Not knocking it either way

This is probably the most touchy topic you could pick. In my opinion- this especially true if you consider Matt 12:32.
Here again I fall on the side of the fence where I accept that there is much I don’t understand about it but I’m ok with that. I know that I will one day. I have been in services where it happened and there is zero doubt in my heart that the Holy Spirit was moving in the service.

Was on a Royal Ranger trip up around Birmingham i believe about 31 years ago, and there was an Old speaking man speaking in tongues at the Bonfire and it freaked me (and several others out) the heck out! Was not a great experience 😳

this gift ended with the apostolic age ...

It's usually around my 4th or 5th bourbon that my wife says I start speaking in tongues.

Without an interpreter it is useless.

Lmao!! 😆 😂 this is good

Heard it a few times on my way down the hall to see a pt. I turned around and just delayed my visit a bit. First time I heard it scared me a little I didn’t know what the heck was going on in that room 😳

Paul said they would cease as it was for an unbelieving nation - Israel who God judged.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ).

I thought evil spirits spoke in tongue. I have no idea what I'm talking about and have no experience in it. I have never seen anyone speaking in tongues other than some tweekers that had been up for days.

I talk to God everyday and believe in him 100%, always have. I never hear him literally speaking to me. He does do things intentionally to help me or make me learn my mistakes. I kinda believe those are evil spirits more than I do good ones if anyone started that dialect.

Why speak in tongue when we can't understand it? Wouldn't it be English, Hebrew, Arabic or whatever language besides tongue? That makes me think it's more of an evil spirit talking. I dont mean to offend anyone. I could be wrong so correct me if I am.