Catégorie : English

Speaking in tongues and demonic possession

by Pierre Oddon

It is at my express request that I agree to put in writing things that have been part of my ministry but about which I have spoken very little. What follows is not a doctrinal treatise but a testimony. If a witness relates facts he is not always able to explain them.

So I waited some forty years before talking about these things (nevertheless, I always answered the questions asked). With these decades of hindsight, I can measure the grace the Lord granted me by confronting me, right from the start of my ministry, with powerful demons, since they were posing as Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It’s hard to beat that.

Context

I grew up in a genuinely Christian family and in a church that respected the Bible. The fundamental teaching was that people are sinners, estranged from God by their faults, but that they can regain a relationship with God by confessing their sins and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus is the Son of God who wanted to pay the debt of sin that separated us from God : “ he suffered, he the just, for us unjust, in order to bring us to God. ”

On the other hand, I never heard a teaching on demons in my church. Sure, we read the gospel accounts, even the ones about demons, but the emphasis was always on the unique and marvelous power of the Son of God. God’s coming to earth – in the person of Jesus Christ – had “ awakened ” all the power of the Enemy.

More simply I would say : Yes demons existed, they manifested themselves in an exceptional way during the incarnation of Jesus Christ but defeated by Jesus they are waiting to go into the “ eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels ”.

As a “ Bible peddler ” I used a converted van and parked at various locations. I did this for 26 years and had countless contacts with a perfectly heterogeneous public.

Since then, various questions have arisen for me:

Why demons on every page of the Gospel and more demons today ?

Do demons still manifest themselves today in our civilized France or did they really disappear after the coming of Jesus Christ ?

Everybody pretty much agreed that demons were still manifesting themselves today in animist, polytheist etc. circles, but had they really left our Christianized countries to take refuge and regroup all in Africa ?

Was this speaking in tongues declaimed in a loud voice by a “ Pentecostal Christian from the  coffee-bar ” next door the real “ speaking in tongues ” of the Bible? Why did it make me so uncomfortable?

Questions that were, for me, unanswered until then.

My first confrontation

A young, newly married man said to me :

 » I’m a Christian and attend the Baptist Church next door. My young wife speaks in tongues, has visions etc. I wonder if it’s all from God… « 

I replied : I don’t know, it would be better if we met.

With the appointment made, I was in big trouble! Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I had the wisdom to do a few things:

I’m not sure what I’m getting myself into.

  • Pray to ask for God’s discernment and protection
  • To educate myself on these issues that were foreign to me
  • To associate myself with a witness
  • Take a small Sony recorder (cassette ! 1986)

March 19, 1986 :

My friend and I walk in and are greeted by a young couple. The young woman, 20 years old, is beautiful, blond and comely. Her outfit is rather provocative – especially at the time – mini skirt, high heels… I discreetly switch on my recorder and place it on a piece of furniture. This is why I have irrefutable proof of the facts. I should point out that this recording has withstood all the hazards of a long life … for almost 40 years! I’ve never made another.

In the pastoral relationship we settle certain doubtful points, the young women confessing certain things and asking the Lord for forgiveness. We pray for her complete deliverance and it seems to me that we’ve done what we needed to do.

I have to clarify a detail here that is important. Sitting next to the young woman around a small round table, I was embarrassed by her mini-skirt, which had lost another ten centimeters or so when she sat down. I pointed this out to her and asked her if she could wear something else, as it was distracting me. She blushed and went to change. What followed showed that I had done the right thing, for she had – among other things – a mind called “ seduction ”….

That’s when it all began !

The instructions in God’s Word are clear, but I’d never experienced them. The Bible commands us:

It’s clear and simple.

I ask her if, following confession and prayers, she can still pray in tongues and  to tell me if she still has visions. Yes she still speaks in tongues and has various visions that seem suspicious to me.

Having put ourselves together under the Lord’s protection I then put the question to the spirit (and not to the young women, whom I had asked not to answer me) while she spoke in tongues:

“ Spirit, do you confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh ? ”

The reaction was immediate and three simultaneous things happened

  • His feet tapped the floor with force
  • A powerful voice replied :

NO !

The problem had been posed … all that was missing was the solution. Easier said than done … and so, as a novice, I entered the suspect realm of “ exorcists ” that is, shamans, sorcerers, exorcist priests etc. Things were moving fast and I had to take responsibility. I had the privilege of knowing the teaching of the Word, which alone could guide me:

  • The Lord Jesus cast out demons
  • The disciples cast out demons
  • The apostles cast out demons
  • Simple believers cast out demons

That was a lot. On the other hand, the epistles do not give many details about the practice of the thing.

So I had before me a possessed sister in Christ, and there had to be a solution. One clue was 1 Corinthians 12:3: “I want you to know that … no one can say ‘Lord Jesus’ except by the Holy Spirit”, says Paul. So I asked her to confess Jesus Christ as Lord. She did so immediately, without any problem, since she was a child of God. This puzzled me, but I also remembered that the Lord clearly differentiates the person, from the spirit that is in the person : (Mk 5.8 ; 9.25 ;Cf. Acts 16.18)

I also remembered that the Lord had asked the spirit its name (Mk 5.9 and Lk 8.30)

Later I understood that a demon who gave his name recognized the authority of the one in command. From then on, this was the “ beginning of the end ” for the evil spirit.

Somebody will say  but God gave the gift of discerning spirits and that’s important. Of course it is. If you have it, you’re sure never to go wrong. But I was not aware that I had received this gift. In the Gospels and Acts, we’re not told that the people who cast out demons had a gift. They cast out demons because the Lord told them to do so  as simple as that ! And even 1 Corinthians 12 doesn’t exactly speak of the gift of casting out spirits, but of “ discerning spirits ”. What is certain and established is that at the beginning of the afternoon I knew nothing and that 2h00 later I had identified 7 demons and they had been cast out in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I could give the details of what happened (since I have an hour-long recording) but I don’t think there will be any profit for the reader. The Word is as sober about these matters of exorcism as it is about divine healings. The fruit speaks for itself.

Exceptionally, I can make available a 2.15-minute extract. It’s one of the most powerful moments, since:

  • The demonic tongue spirit is called Jesus (hence the fundamental importance of always giving our Lord Jesus Christ these titles of glory (Read in this regard the first paragraph of 1 Cor 1 and 1 Pet 1 to be convinced)
  • I have found that there can be several demons (Cf. Lk 8.30 ; Mc 16.9)
  • The spirit does not always respond and can resist (as was the case in Mark 5.7-10 for Jesus’ encounter with the legion demon)
  • Despite his resistance he finally gives in and leaves.
  • The Spirit may come out crying out, as in Lk 4.41 (this is the only time I’ve had this phenomenon)

Practical lessons: Satan is stronger than we are, but Jesus Christ defeated him at the cross. If the Lord places such a case before us we can resolve it through faith in his Word and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Second testimony

The Word of God affirms that on the basis of two testimonies things are established. So this is the reason for sharing with you a second case that is complementary to the first.

October 1986 : I’m with my van on the Canebière, the main street of the city of Marseille. Two young women approach, pushing a small child in a stroller. One of them knocks on the van’s Plexiglas door and asks me a question. I answer, and she says to the child’s mother: “Go for a walk, I want to talk to this gentleman. I would later learn that she had asked the Lord for a sign and that I had given it without realizing it.

She tells me that she gathers in a Pentecostal church on the Côte d’Azur and that a missionary, working in Africa, had passed through her church. At the end of his sermon, he asked people to come forward if they wanted to be healed by the laying on of hands. Then he asked if anyone also wanted to receive “ the Holy Spirit ”.

Here’s the testimony of the young women: “ I felt something enter me and I spoke in tongues ; but the problem is that since ‘I don’t belong to myself anymore’. My head has become like a freeway, with lots of ideas – not my own – running through it. Do you think it’s the Holy Spirit doing this ? « 

I told her the first thing to do was pray. Which we did together, sitting at the table in my camper. Suspecting something was wrong, I looked at her as she prayed. Her eyes widened and, with an assurance unaccustomed in this field, I said to her: “Miss, you’re possessed!

There weren’t many people on the street but I remembered the previous case : If she screams, I’m going to find myself in a difficult situation !

I used the same method : This time I ask him first what is your name ? ” he answers : ‘ Holy Spirit ’ . Then I say to him:

“Do you confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh?

No answer but a nod of the head to say yes. I realize that “confessing” is not the same as nodding! So I ask him to say it out loud. It’s then that a cavernous male voice, stuffy, choppy says

“I confess that Jesus Christ came, came, in …. in… spirit !”  » 

I replied : you are not the Holy Spirit but a spirit of Satan ! He acknowledged this with a nod of his head!

The diagnosis had been made, but the problem had not been solved for all that.

  • I teamed up with another servant of God and we tried, to no avail.
  • Persuaded that the Lord would give us victory I employed the great means: fasting, prayer, two old co-workers and a prayer team present in the room … Things happened: violent manifestations of the demon, I had to gird the girl and I learned why, when and how the demon had entered:

“ She said : ‘spirit come’ so I came.”

etc. Despite all this, we were unable to cast out the demon! We were defeated!

About 1 month later I received a letter

“ Thank you sir for all you have done for me : I am completely delivered … ”

Understand this, as you can !

Conclusion

Let these two testimonies be a serious warning to anyone concerned with speaking in tongues.

About the Lord’s Supper, Paul asks us to “ prove ourselves ” (1 Cor 11). I think it’s fair to say that we should do the same with speaking in tongues.

  • If it corresponds to Acts 2, we’re talking about easily verifiable and translatable foreign tongues.
  • The person is not obeying the Word (Cf. Acts 5.32)
  • The church does not put the Word into practice (1 Cor. 14.5, 27)

This simple control can avoid serious problems. Seduction only grows (2 Cor 11) and God’s children can be seduced (Jas 1.22)

But it’s wrong to say that anyone who speaks in tongues is demon-possessed. I have been able to collaborate happily with pastors and servants in the Lord’s work. I have also met many Christians who “spoke in tongues” and who were not possessed. Their speaking in tongues was usually psychic. It was repetitive gibberish, with none of the structure of a language. It was untranslatable … even by those who claimed to have received the gift of interpreting tongues … who recognized it. From then on, a rethinking is necessary for normal spiritual growth.

I have other testimonies like this one, but it’s clear that these two cases are enough to challenge  a person who loves the Lord. For the others “ we believe what we want to believe. ”

Of course I’ve had every possible question and received every attack you can assume. The main one is : “ The Holy Spirit cannot cohabit with a demon ”, a remark on the same level as : “ God is not omnipresent, because that would force him to be in hell. Either hell doesn’t exist, or God isn’t omnipresent ”.

A testimony is a testimony everyone is free to believe or reject what I say. It’s your responsibility, not mine.

I feel I must warn you that the field of exorcism is a dangerous one. You can’t oppose the enemy without reacting. The practice therefore requires a certain spiritual maturity, a holy life (which offers no foothold to the enemy), humility and dependence, without which one exposes oneself to painful experiences. ( Cf. Acts 19.15-16)

I think I was kept in my service by the fact that I never sought notoriety and simply assumed my responsibility when the Lord put cases in my path. I never sought any.

Yes, Jesus Christ is Lord ! To him alone be glory!

February 26, 2024

WEIRD BABEL OF TONGUES in Azusa Street : Los Angeles Times 1906

The Los Angeles Times, California. Wed, Apr 18, 1906 Page 17

  • New Sect of Fanatics Breaking Loose,
  • Wild Scene Last Night Azusa Street.
  • Gurgle of Wordless Talk by a Sister.

Breathing strange utterances and mouthing a creed which It would seem no sane mortal could understand, the newest religious sect has started in Los Angeles. Meetings are held In a tumble-down snack on Azusa street, near San Pedro street, and the devotees of the weird doctrine practice the most fanatical rites, preach the wildest theories and work themselves Into a state of mad excitement in their peculiar zeal.

Colored people and a sprinkling of whites compose the congregation, and night Is made hideous in the neighborhood by the howlings of the worshipers, who spend hours swaying forth and back in a nerve-racking attitude of prayer and supplication. They claim to have the gift of tongues, » and to be able to comprehend the babel. Such a startling claim has never yet been made by any company of fanatics, even in Los Angeles, the home of almost numberless creeds. Sacred tenets, reverently mentioned by the orthodox believer, are dealt with in a familiar, If not irreverent, manner by these latest religionists.

STONY OPTIC DEFIES.

An old colored exhorter, blind in one eye, is the major-domo of the company. « With his stony optic fixed on some luckless unbeliever, the old man yells his defiance and challenges an answer. Anathemas are heaped upon him who shall dare to gainsay the utterances of the preacher.

Clasped in his big fist, the colored brother holds a miniature Bible from which he reads at intervals one or two words never more. After an hour spent In exhortation the brethren present are Invited to Join in a « meeting of prayer, song and testimony. » Then it is that pandemonium breaks loose, and the bounds of reason are passed by those who are « tilled with the spirit, » whatever that may be. « You-oo-oo gou-loo-loo come under the bloo-oo-oo boo-loo, » shouts an old , colored « mammy, » in a frenzy of religious zeal.

Swinging her arms wildly about her she continues with the strangest harange ever uttered. Few of her words are Intelligible, and for the most part her testimony contains the most outrageous Jumble of syllables, which are listened to witn awe by the company.

« LET TONGUES COME FORTH. »

One of the wildest of the meetings ! was held last night, and the highest pitch of excitement was reached hy the gathering, which continued In « worship » until nearly midnight. The old exhorter urged the « sisters » to let the « tongues come forth » and the women gave themselves over to a riot of religious fervor. As a result a buxom dame was overcome with excitement and almost fainted.

Undismayed by the fearful attitude of the colored worshiper, another black women jumped to the floor and began a wild gesticulation, which ended in a gurgle of wordless prayers which wore nothing less man shocking. « She’s speaking in unknown tongues. » announced the leader, in an awed whisper. « Keep on, sister. » The sister continued until it was necessary to assist her to a seat because of her bodily fatigue.

GOLD AMONG THEM.

Among the « believers » Is a man who claims to be a Jewish rabbi. He says his name Is Gold, and claims to have held positions In some of the largest synagogues In the United States. He told the motly company last night that he is well known to the Jewish people of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and referred to prominent local citizens by name, Gold claims to have been miraculously healed and is a convert of the new sect. Another speaker had a vision In which he saw the people of Los Angeles flocking in a mighty stream to perdition. He prophesied awful destruction to this city unless its citizens are brought to a belief in the tenets of the new faith.


ÉTRANGES LANGUES DE BABEL.

  • Une nouvelle secte de fanatiques se déchaîne,
  • Une scène sauvage s’est déroulée la nuit dernière dans la rue Azusa.
  • Discours sans paroles d’une sœur.

Respirant d’étranges paroles et prononçant un credo qu’aucun mortel sain d’esprit ne semble pouvoir comprendre, la toute nouvelle secte religieuse a vu le jour à Los Angeles. Les réunions se tiennent dans un snack délabré de la rue Azusa, près de la rue San Pedro, et les adeptes de cette étrange doctrine pratiquent les rites les plus fanatiques, prêchent les théories les plus folles et se livrent à un état d’excitation folle dans leur zèle particulier.

Des personnes de couleur et quelques blancs composent la congrégation, et la nuit est rendue hideuse dans le voisinage par les hurlements des adorateurs, qui passent des heures à se balancer d’avant en arrière dans une attitude de prière et de supplication mettant les nerfs à rude épreuve. Ils prétendent avoir le don des langues » et être capables de comprendre le babel. Une affirmation aussi surprenante n’a encore jamais été faite par une compagnie de fanatiques, même à Los Angeles, la patrie d’un nombre incalculable de croyances. Les principes sacrés, mentionnés avec respect par les croyants orthodoxes, sont traités de manière familière, voire irrévérencieuse, par ces derniers religieux.

L’OPTIQUE PIERREUSE DÉFIE.

Un vieil exhortateur de couleur, aveugle d’un œil, est le major-domo de la compagnie. « Avec son optique de pierre fixée sur un incroyant malchanceux, le vieil homme crie son défi et demande une réponse. Les anathèmes s’accumulent sur celui qui ose contredire les propos du prédicateur.

Dans son gros poing, le frère de couleur tient une Bible miniature dont il lit, par intervalles, un ou deux mots, jamais plus. Après une heure d’exhortation, les frères présents sont invités à se joindre à une « réunion de prière, de chant et de témoignage ». C’est alors que le pandémonium se déchaîne et que les limites de la raison sont dépassées par ceux qui sont « nourris de l’esprit », quel qu’il soit. « You-oo-oo gou-loo-loo » vient sous le « bloo-oo-00 boo-Ioo », s’écrie une vieille « mammy » de couleur, en proie à une frénésie de zèle religieux.
En balançant ses bras autour d’elle, elle poursuit avec le plus étrange harangue jamais prononcé. Peu de ses mots sont intelligibles, et la plupart de son témoignage contient le plus scandaleux des mélanges de syllabes, qui sont écoutés avec respect / crainte par la compagnie.


« QUE LES LANGUES SORTENT ».

L’une des réunions les plus folles a eu lieu hier soir, et l’excitation la plus forte a été atteinte par l’assemblée, qui a poursuivi son « culte » jusqu’à près de minuit. Le vieil exhortateur a exhorté les « sœurs » à laisser « sortir les langues » et les femmes se sont livrées à une émeute de ferveur religieuse. Il en résulta qu’une dame plantureuse fut submergée par l’excitation et faillit s’évanouir.

Nullement découragée par l’attitude craintive de l’adoratrice de couleur, une autre femme noire se jeta au sol et commença une gesticulation sauvage qui se termina par un gargouillis de prières sans paroles qui n’étaient rien de moins que choquantes. « Elle parle des langues inconnues », annonça le chef de file dans un murmure effrayé. « Continue, ma sœur. » La sœur continua jusqu’à ce qu’il soit nécessaire de l’aider à s’asseoir à cause de sa fatigue corporelle.

GOLD (rime avec GOD / DIEU) PARMI EUX.

Parmi les « croyants » se trouve un homme qui prétend être un rabbin juif. Il dit s’appeler Gold et prétend avoir occupé des fonctions dans certaines des plus grandes synagogues des États-Unis. Il a déclaré à la foule hier soir qu’il était bien connu des Juifs de Los Angeles et de San Francisco, et a cité le nom d’éminents citoyens locaux, Gold affirmant avoir été miraculeusement guéri et s’être converti à la nouvelle secte. Un autre orateur a eu une vision dans laquelle il a vu les habitants de Los Angeles affluer en un flot puissant vers la perdition. Il a prophétisé la destruction terrible de cette ville à moins que ses citoyens ne soient amenés à croire aux principes de la nouvelle foi….

SELTSAMEN/VERRÜCKTEN ZUNGEN VON BABEL.

  • Eine neue Sekte von Fanatikern wütet,
  • Eine wilde Szene spielte sich gestern Abend in der Azusa-Straße ab.
  • Wortlose Rede einer Schwester.

Seltsame Worte atmend und ein Credo verkündend, das kein Sterblicher bei klarem Verstand zu verstehen scheint, ist in Los Angeles die neueste religiöse Sekte entstanden. Die Treffen finden in einem heruntergekommenen Imbiss in der Azusa Street nahe der San Pedro Street statt, und die Anhänger dieser seltsamen Lehre praktizieren die fanatischsten Riten, predigen die wildesten Theorien und geben sich in ihrem besonderen Eifer einem Zustand wilder Erregung hin.
Farbige und einige Weiße bilden die Gemeinde und die Nacht wird in der Nachbarschaft durch das Gebrüll der Anbeter hässlich gemacht, die stundenlang in einer nervenaufreibenden Gebets- und Bettelhaltung hin und her schaukeln. Sie behaupten, sie hätten die Gabe der Sprachen » und seien in der Lage, das Babel zu verstehen. Eine derart überraschende Behauptung wurde bisher noch nie von einer Gesellschaft von Fanatikern aufgestellt, nicht einmal in Los Angeles, der Heimat unzähliger Glaubensrichtungen. Die heiligen Prinzipien, die von orthodoxen Gläubigen mit Respekt erwähnt werden, werden von diesen religiösen Letzteren auf vertraute, ja sogar respektlose Weise behandelt.

DIE STEINIGE OPTIK FORDERT HERAUS.

Ein alter farbiger Exhorator, der auf einem Auge blind ist, ist der Major-Domo der Gesellschaft. « Mit seiner steinernen Optik, die auf einen unglücklichen Ungläubigen gerichtet ist, schreit der alte Mann seine Herausforderung heraus und verlangt eine Antwort. Anathemata häufen sich auf denjenigen, der es wagt, den Worten des Predigers zu widersprechen.

In seiner großen Faust hält der farbige Bruder eine Miniaturbibel, aus der er in Abständen ein oder zwei Worte vorliest, nie mehr. Nach einer einstündigen Ermahnung werden die anwesenden Brüder aufgefordert, sich einer « Versammlung des Gebets, des Gesangs und des Zeugnisses » anzuschließen. Dann bricht die Pandämonie los und die Grenzen der Vernunft werden von denen überschritten, die « vom Geist genährt » sind, was immer das auch sein mag. « You-oo-oo gou-loo-loo » kommt unter dem « bloo-oo-oo boo-loo », ruft eine alte farbige « Mammy », die in einen Rausch des religiösen Eifers verfällt.

Ihre Arme um sich schwingend, fährt sie mit der seltsamsten Harangue fort, die je gesprochen wurde. Nur wenige ihrer Worte sind verständlich, und der Großteil ihrer Aussage enthält die skandalöseste Vermischung von Silben, die von der Gesellschaft mit Respekt / Furcht angehört wird.

« DASS DIE ZUNGEN HERAUSKOMMEN ».

Eine der verrücktesten Versammlungen fand gestern Abend statt, und die größte Erregung wurde von der Versammlung erreicht, die ihre « Anbetung » bis fast Mitternacht fortsetzte. Der alte Exhorator forderte die « Schwestern » auf, « die Zungen herauskommen » zu lassen, und die Frauen lieferten sich einen Aufruhr religiösen Eifers. Dies führte dazu, dass eine üppige Dame von der Erregung überwältigt wurde und fast in Ohnmacht fiel.

Unbeirrt von der ängstlichen Haltung der farbigen Anbeterin sprang eine andere schwarze Frau auf den Boden und begann ein wildes Gestikulieren, das in einem gurgelnden, wortlosen Gebet endete, das nichts weniger als schockierend war. « Sie spricht unbekannte Sprachen », verkündete der Anführer mit einem erschrockenen Murmeln. « Mach weiter, Schwester. » Die Schwester machte so lange weiter, bis man ihr wegen ihrer körperlichen Erschöpfung beim Sitzen helfen musste.

GOLD (reimt sich auf GOTT) UNTER DENEN.

Unter den « Gläubigen » befindet sich ein Mann, der behauptet, ein jüdischer Rabbi zu sein. Er sagt, sein Name sei Gold, und behauptet, er habe in einigen der größten Synagogen der Vereinigten Staaten Ämter bekleidet. Er erklärte der Menge gestern Abend, dass er bei den Juden in Los Angeles und San Francisco gut bekannt sei, und nannte die Namen prominenter lokaler Bürger. Gold behauptete, er sei auf wundersame Weise geheilt worden und zu der neuen Sekte konvertiert. Ein anderer Redner hatte eine Vision, in der er sah, wie die Einwohner von Los Angeles in einem mächtigen Strom ins Verderben strömten.

Er prophezeite die schreckliche Zerstörung dieser Stadt, wenn ihre Bürger nicht dazu gebracht werden, an die Grundsätze des neuen Glaubens zu glauben….