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Rating: 
Summary: Devotional Reading on Tongues
Review: Jack Hayford's THE BEAUTY OF SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE is more of a devotional read on speaking in tongues. Hayford likes to use the charismatic phrase, "spiritual language" rather than speaking in tongues although the words do not actually appear in the New Testament. The book dives first into the Pentecostal teaching on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Hayford then moves away slightly from his Pentecostal heritage to take a more charismatic approach to the initial, physical evidence of Spirit-Baptism but he does believe that every Christian can and should speak in tongues.
The book is not written as a theological argument for tongues and only those from a charismatic experience can truly appreciate Hayford's book. If you are a non-charismatic looking for biblical teaching on Spirit-Baptism or speaking in tongues you will want to look at Howard Ervin, J. Rodman Williams, Stanley Horton, or other Pentecostal scholars. While Hayford has a doctorate, this book is a devotional book.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: My pastor recommended this book and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. I've read other articles by Jack Hayford in the past and he's one of the few charismatics who's scholarship I had some respect for. No more. This book is based almost exclusively on human experience and contains very little exegetcial content. He interprets God's Word in the light of human experience instead of vice versa. He doesn't define his terms, he comes to his argument assuming the legitimacy of tongues speaking today and doesn't make a Biblical case for it as I was hoping. He claims that every instance of gibbersh tongues speaking is a known earthly language. According to Hayford, because there are more than 6,000 known languages on the planet and no one person could possibly identify all of them; therefore if we don't recognize the gibberish it must be a known language that we are just unfamiliar with. What kind of logic is that? He also conveniently forgets the requirement for a tongues speaker to either have an interpreter present or to be quiet. His assumption that even though we may not know the language we're supernaturally speaking, that we are somehow edified apart from understanding, without dealing with Paul's major thrust in I Cor. 12-14 on insisting that nothing be done apart from understanding because it would be of no value without it. A typical charistmatic approach...long on anecdotal evidence, very short on exegesis. I'm sure Rev. Hayford is very well meaning, but don't waste your money on this book.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: My pastor recommended this book and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. I've read other articles by Jack Hayford in the past and he's one of the few charismatics who's scholarship I had some respect for. No more. This book is based almost exclusively on human experience and contains very little exegetcial content. He interprets God's Word in the light of human experience instead of vice versa. He doesn't define his terms, he comes to his argument assuming the legitimacy of tongues speaking today and doesn't make a Biblical case for it as I was hoping. He claims that every instance of gibbersh tongues speaking is a known earthly language. According to Hayford, because there are more than 6,000 known languages on the planet and no one person could possibly identify all of them; therefore if we don't recognize the gibberish it must be a known language that we are just unfamiliar with. What kind of logic is that? He also conveniently forgets the requirement for a tongues speaker to either have an interpreter present or to be quiet. His assumption that even though we may not know the language we're supernaturally speaking, that we are somehow edified apart from understanding, without dealing with Paul's major thrust in I Cor. 12-14 on insisting that nothing be done apart from understanding because it would be of no value without it. A typical charistmatic approach...long on anecdotal evidence, very short on exegesis. I'm sure Rev. Hayford is very well meaning, but don't waste your money on this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Spiritual Language will Worship His Majesty
Review: Several years ago, I was given a copy of Dr. Jack W. Hayfords book "Rebuilding The Real You: Gods' Pathway To Personal Restoration". It turned my life around 180 degrees. As a wounded soldier of the cross at the time I needed it. "They Speak With Other Tongues" is an excellent resourse for furthering your knowledge of spiritual matters. Openness to the Holy Spirit is a must for any of it to benifit oneself, thus being more fitly empowered to do work for God. I am so glad to find the two books being sokd together with some savings to the readers. The Beauty Of Spiritual Language and They Speak With Other Tongues will always be a part of my library and I plan on buying more sets for gifts to others. To "Worship His Majesty" we must be open and willing vessels for Gods' use.Prayerfully Submitted Brian W. Keller
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful addition to any library
Review: The best thing about this book is the beautify of its prose. Jack Hayford knows how to write. This is a beautiful and compelling book about unveiling the mystery of speaking in tongues. Unlike most books on the Pentecostal experience, Jack writes with intelligence, insight, a keen eye to the Scripture and the ability to deal with the tough issues. The book is built on four premises: 1. Speaking with tongues is neither unbiblical nor outdated. 2. Speaking with tongues is not a transcendental experience. 3. Speaking with tongues is not a status symbol. 4. Speaking with tongues is not proposed as a substitute for spiritual growth. Earlier in my ministry, I was a big fan of both John McArthur and Hank Hanegraaff who take quite different positions on the tongues issue than Hayford. While I remain a fan of John McArthur, Hank Hanegraaff seems to have a virulent and divisive attitude toward the tongues phenomena. If you have been influenced by the likes of Hanegraaff, no matter what your position is on the tongues issue, you need to read this book. Hayford shows a depth of Christian maturity, scholarship and love that is often missing in charismatic debate. He provides the reader with credible alternative to the dry, dusty, doctrinal approach of Hanegraaff. For those who could not care less about the theological debate and just want to learn more about the tongues phenomena, this book is for you, Hayfords solid exegesis may give you a new perspective on tongues. This book would be a thoughtful addition to any personal library.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful addition to any library
Review: The best thing about this book is the beautify of its prose. Jack Hayford knows how to write. This is a beautiful and compelling book about unveiling the mystery of speaking in tongues. Unlike most books on the Pentecostal experience, Jack writes with intelligence, insight, a keen eye to the Scripture and the ability to deal with the tough issues. The book is built on four premises: 1. Speaking with tongues is neither unbiblical nor outdated. 2. Speaking with tongues is not a transcendental experience. 3. Speaking with tongues is not a status symbol. 4. Speaking with tongues is not proposed as a substitute for spiritual growth. Earlier in my ministry, I was a big fan of both John McArthur and Hank Hanegraaff who take quite different positions on the tongues issue than Hayford. While I remain a fan of John McArthur, Hank Hanegraaff seems to have a virulent and divisive attitude toward the tongues phenomena. If you have been influenced by the likes of Hanegraaff, no matter what your position is on the tongues issue, you need to read this book. Hayford shows a depth of Christian maturity, scholarship and love that is often missing in charismatic debate. He provides the reader with credible alternative to the dry, dusty, doctrinal approach of Hanegraaff. For those who could not care less about the theological debate and just want to learn more about the tongues phenomena, this book is for you, Hayfords solid exegesis may give you a new perspective on tongues. This book would be a thoughtful addition to any personal library.
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