Chapter Three: What About Tongues (part one)?

Speaking in tongues is a "big deal" in some circles. Speaking in tongues in a worship service and the revelation that a pastor or some other person has a "private prayer language" has caused confusion from time to time among denominations (like the Southern Baptist Convention), seminaries (www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/juneweb-only/126-12.0.html), and individual churches. It is safe to say that this matter can be quite divisive.

What's the big deal? The answer to this question depends on who you talk to. The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) believes that evidence of the Holy Spirit's indwelling after salvation, or at salvation, is speaking in tongues (www.upci.org/doctrine/holyGhost.asp).

The UPCI would point to the manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 as another manifestation of His indwelling a believer. However, since a person can't be saved without the Holy Spirit's indwelling, charismatics in some circles contend that if you do not speak in tongues, then you must not be saved. That's a "big deal" because such positions are divisive indeed, not to mention erroneous.

Therefore, we take up the question "What about tongues?" What about tongues? Should everyone speak in tongues? Does every Christian receive the gift of tongues? Did every New Testament believer receive the gift of tongues after Pentecost? What does the Bible say?

Paul writing to the unruly church at Corinth admonishes them for their aberrant practices, while at the same time encouraging them to earnestly desire the more important spiritual gifts:

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way (1Co 12:27-1)

The Holy Spirit, Himself, speaking through the pen of Paul teaches us that not every believer receives the same gifts, not even tongues. He even goes as far as to rank the gifts in terms of importance. One cannot miss that "various kinds of tongues" is last on the list. Pay close attention to verse 30. Does not the Spirit say through the writing of the Apostle Paul: "All do not speak with tongues, do they?" Speaking through the pen of Paul in the epistle of Romans, the Holy Spirit says in the inspired Scriptures:


Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Rom 12:6-8).

Not every person receives every gift, including tongues. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to say that individuals, churches, and denominations, like the United Pentecostal Church International, should avoid putting such a high priority upon speaking in tongues. After all, does not God say, "All do not speak with tongues, do they?" God gives different gifts to people according to His will. Returning to the Scriptures in Romans 12:9, we do well to note:

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;(Rom 12:9-11).

Anyone who elevates himself or others, or indicates another is more "spiritual" than someone else because that one speaks in tongues (and another does not) is not conducting himself, or herself, in a loving way. We are not to give preference, or receive preference, because of "giftedness." The Holy Spirit, speaking through the pen of the Apostle Paul writes that no one should regard himself as superior because he only has what he has been given...to act otherwise is wrong (1 Corinthians 4:7).

It is safe to say that tongues in the Bible were used not in self-exaltation but God-exaltation. Many charismatic churches I attended in the past, as a new believer, often put a premium on the manifestation of the gifts. People displayed their "gift of tongues" and at times it seemed that everyone had this gift as some of these churches set aside times in the service where many manifested ecstatic utterances together and at once. According to the Apostle Paul (and the Holy Spirit) such practices were disobedient: "If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; (1Co 14:27)." If God instructs that no more than three people should speak in tongues at a service and that there must always be an interpretation of what is spoken and today numbers of people speak at the same time and without interpretation, then such practices are in disobedience to God's word. Disobedience to God's word is sin.

What about tongues? The gift of tongues is not meant for all people. All people saved did not speak in tongues according to the biblical record. Furthermore, according to the Bible, when the gift was manifested no more than three persons were to speak in tongues in a service and this was never to take place without interpretation. Groups of people speaking in tongues all at once is in disobedience to God's word. I'm reminded that a careless display of such gifts, which was a big problem in the unruly church at Corinth, was considered unloving by the Holy Spirit. Speaking through the pen of Paul, the Spirit says:

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing (1Co 13:1-3).

It would seem that the putting on display of tongues, biblical wisdom, or giving in a way that is not in accordance with the will of God (found here in the word of God) is unloving and renders the ability or gift useless and meaningless. I remember a discussion where someone disclosed, "I have a private prayer language." When this was said, another replied, "Then why tell us?" The point, well taken, was this, why brag about something in public that you say is private? This is the thrust of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

After all, does the Spirit not say about such bragging: For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1Co 4:7) Every good gift, like salvation, is a gift of God, so why show off, or brag. Every gift of grace is undeserved; therefore, no one is special. God gives as He wills.

Apart from the grace of God, we deserve not spiritual gifts but instead we deserve death and hell. Whatever gifts or talents or abilities we have are better than we deserve, since we are all sinners saved by grace. Therefore, let us not elevate ourselves or anyone else as "God's annointed." Instead, let us exalt God.

Based upon what we have considered and what the Bible says, take time to reflect on these five questions before our next discussion. It is vital that we candidly ask and answer these questions before God and in our own hearts as we consider what changes God would have us make in our lives, in our practices, and in our hearts.

ONE: Many churches and denominations and individuals today act as if everyone who is Spirit-filled should have the gift of tongues. The Bible says otherwise. What does this mean in terms of so many churches, denominations, or individuals who contradict the word of God, given to us by the Holy Spirit through, in this case, the pen of the Apostle Paul?

TWO: In many churches today, groups of people speak out at once in tongues. Moreover, it is not uncommon for this to happen. Some churches even set aside time in the worship service for such a display of "spiritual gifts." The Bible teaches that this should not be so. What does this tell us when such events take place in a particular church, or are allowed, tolerated, or even encouraged by a pastor or leadership team? Should such disobedience be tolerated or encouraged? What does the Bible indicate?

THREE: In not a few churches groups of people speaking in tongues all at once do so without an interpreter. The Holy Spirit speaking through the pen of Paul, in the Bible, says this should not be so. What does this say about those who violate Scripture in this way, or churches which permit such behavior?

FOUR: It is not uncommon for people to sort of put their gifts on display for all to see during a service. Some occasionally "brag" about their private prayer language. Does loving oneself more than one cares about God's will or others please God? What does 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 say about behaviors lacking love?

FIVE: No one can deny the existence of tongues and other miraculous gifts in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, describes and discusses tongues. Yet, at the same time, He gives principles to govern them and indicates that not everyone will speak in tongues. If we affirm the New Testament descriptions of tongues should we not affirm the New Testament restrictions on tongues? Or, is it right to pick and choose which Scriptures we wish to apply and which we choose to ignore?

PS: the next posting on tongues will be on or before July 30th.