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Archbishop Justin Welby prays 'in tongues' every day Archbishop Justin Welby prays 'in tongues' every day
(about 2 hours later)
The Archbishop of Canterbury says he prays in tongues early every morning.The Archbishop of Canterbury says he prays in tongues early every morning.
The Most Rev Justin Welby described his experiences of worshipping in languages he did not understand as "not usually an immensely ecstatic moment".The Most Rev Justin Welby described his experiences of worshipping in languages he did not understand as "not usually an immensely ecstatic moment".
The leader of the Church of England also said that he expects to hear messages and prophecies from God through others. The leader of the Church of England also says he expects to hear messages and prophecies from God through others.
Both phenomena are closely associated with people attending Pentecostal and charismatic worship.Both phenomena are closely associated with people attending Pentecostal and charismatic worship.
Speaking to Christian radio station Premier, Archbishop Welby said: "In my own prayer life, and as part of my daily discipline I pray in tongues every day - not as an occasional thing, but as part of daily prayer." Speaking to Christian radio station Premier, Archbishop Welby said: "In my own prayer life, and as part of my daily discipline I pray in tongues every day - not as an occasional thing but as part of daily prayer."
He added: "It's not something to make a great song and dance about.He added: "It's not something to make a great song and dance about.
"Given it's usually extremely early in the morning it's not usually an immensely ecstatic moment because I'm sort of 'urrgh' - struggling." "Given it's usually extremely early in the morning it's not usually an immensely ecstatic moment because I'm sort of 'Urrgh' - struggling."
In the interview, the archbishop also said he had been encouraged by messages people believe to be given to them by God, often known as 'words of knowledge'. In the interview, the archbishop also said he had been encouraged by messages people believed to have been given to them by God - often known as 'words of knowledge'.
He said: "I expect to hear from God through other people with words of knowledge or prophecies.He said: "I expect to hear from God through other people with words of knowledge or prophecies.
"An awful lot of those come in - some of them, shall we say, we read them and think I'm not entirely sure about that, and others I think 'oh yes, I can sense there being something of the spirit of God in that'." "An awful lot of those come in - some of them, shall we say, we read them and think I'm not entirely sure about that, and others I think 'Oh yes, I can sense there being something of the spirit of God in that.'"
The Bible refers to speaking in tongues on numerous occasions, including Jesus foretelling "those who believe… they will speak with new tongues". Before becoming a priest in the Church of England, the archbishop was a member of Holy Trinity Brompton, in west London, where speaking in tongues and "words of knowledge" are not uncommon practices.
Before becoming a priest in the Church of England, he was a member of Holy Trinity Brompton, in west London, where speaking in tongues and "words knowledge" are not uncommon practices. What does praying in tongues mean?
In his New Year's sermon he encouraged the public to go into 2019 "in a spirit of openness towards each other" after the "struggles and divisions of recent years". Tongues have no readily comprehended meaning and are sometimes believed to be a divine language unknown to the person using them.
He added that people "disagree on many things, and we are struggling with how to disagree well". Many believers consider tongues to come from the Holy Spirit and think they can be used in prayer when a worshipper feels unsure what to pray.
According to the Bible: "The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." (Romans 8:26).
Praying in tongues is often associated with so-called "charismatic Christianity" - in which believers consider miracles and signs to be part of their every day lives.
What are 'words of knowledge'?
"Words of knowledge" and "prophecies" are messages which believers consider to be revelations given to them by God about people or future events.
Some Christians believe the Holy Spirit can transmit this knowledge to a person through their daily life.
They say this knowledge can be anything from the mundane, such as where to find your house keys, to the more significant, such as how to solve a major crisis.
Archbishop Welby said many letters claiming to be messages from God were sent to his official residence, Lambeth Palace.