If you’ve known me for any length of time you know that even as a Christian, and one who has been raised in a Pentecostal church and household, I do not personally speak in tongues or necessarily agree with how the church in general has adopted the practice. I believe it is definitely a biblical concept, but in my studies of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 this morning, I was prompted to take a closer look at speaking in tongues as a general practice.
In 1 Corinthians 12:4, we plainly find out that there are a vast array of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Holy Spirit. In verses 8-10 we’re told the spiritual gifts are as follows: knowledge, faith, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretations. While those aren’t the full spectrum of the gifts of the Spirit, it does show that there is indeed more than one gift that we all too often try to exercise too much of, when another gift may be needed in a certain situation.
Move down to verse 28 and you’ll see what I like to call the “jobs” or “callings” in the body of Christ. These are as follows: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, those able to help others, administrators, and tongue-speakers. Note that Paul wrote this list in the gifts’ order of importance.
Verse 29-31 is the kicker for me, and I’ll quote it direct from the NIV: Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
So why on God’s green earth do we see so many people especially in churches that lean more toward Pentecostal ways of thinking, speaking in tongues when the Bible clearly states the gift of tongues is not for everyone? I believe it’s well intentioned but there are some people who should NOT be speaking in tongues in public settings.
1 Corinthians 14 sheds so much light on speaking in tongues that it’s not even funny. Verses 1-5 plainly state that tongues are direct prayer language to God, and no man can understand them. Paul makes a very clear point that the gift of prophecy is greater than the gift of tongues, unless someone interpretes the tongue message.
If the gift of prophecy is greater than the gift of tongues, how come a lot of people aren’t more apt to speak a prophetic word over rolling their r’s and stuttering their t’s?
Look at verses 6-12. Paul asks how can someone understand a tongue if it isn’t in their native language. The answer is verse 13, where he says everyone should pray that the tongue be interpreted. If it isn’t interpreted then it does the body no good.
Now hold up a second here. Let’s dig a bit deeper into the subject of interpretation. I won’t hang on this point for long, but I tend to think that an interpretation doesn’t always have to be verbal. Sometimes we wait so long for a verbal interpretation, yet maybe the message is contained in our actions rather than our words. What if a tongue message is a message of boldness and empowerment for the church, and it doesn’t get interpreted in English, yet members of the church go out into the community, minister to people, show them the love of Christ nonjudgmentally, and lead them to the Lord? Wouldn’t that make a good case for the theory that tongues could be interpreted in actions as well? Anyone that can help me on that point, I would appreciate any and all input.
Moving on, I think a couple Scriptures debunk the theory some people have come up with, that “you don’t really know what you’re doing when you’re speaking in tongues.” I call crock on that. Why would Paul have written verses 14-17 then?
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
In closing, I honestly believe tongues is a genuine gift from the Spirit, and is a powerful thing if used properly by the right people. I honestly don’t believe that half the people who claim the ability to speak in tongues are actually cut out for it, and I think those that do speak in tongues legitimately are able to deeper understand what a powerful prayer tool it is.
I believe the power of the Holy Spirit is greater than we can ever imagine, and that’s why we all need to make sure we seek after the greater spiritual gifts. Time to move on from simply speaking in tongues, and seek to be encouragers, prophets and teachers. There is a spiritual gift for everyone, and not everyone has the spiritual ability to speak in tongues “whenever they feel the Spirit.” To me, that is unbiblical.
Maybe I’m still too much of a skeptic when it comes to the Holy Spirit, but I’m trying to understand it. I just don’t want to make light of something so powerful and I don’t want to err in knowing the Bible either. As Paul puts it, however, in 1 Corinthians 14:19:
In the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Chris, as your friend I feel obligated to help you where I think your theology is a bit off base, and encourage you where I think you are on to something. One of the most important things about studying God’s Word is to look at scripture in light of scripture. Also we must look at the context in which the scripture was written.
Concerning Corinth: Here is a church that was having trouble understanding a gift that there existed little to no instruction on. The were probably being undignified and scaring new converts or interrupting other prophets in their giftings. So, Paul was giving them instruction based on their specific problem. Like in Timothy when he said women should be silent and should not teach the law. Yes, it was said, and no, we do not have to heed that in today’s church. So we have to bear in mind that the letters of Paul to various churches are not to be confused with the general epistles, which were written to the church as a whole, addressing the foundations of Christian theology.
Concerning the vast spectrum of spiritual gifts, your argument is that too much emphasis is put on one gift over others. I feel like I myself, and I know others in the church, exercise more than one gift daily. There are many teachers practicing in Crimson House, as well as a huge amount of encouragement given by different individuals every time we are in service. Typically, more than one person is in the pulpit every Sunday, not to mention those exhorting from the congregation. There are many words given in private during altar ministry, and God has healed more than one in my last year here. I think it would be a mistake to underestimate individuals who are filled with the spirit of God by assuming that, in their zeal for speaking in tongues, they are incapable of hearing the voice of God concerning what to do in a certain situation.
To broaden the spectrum we will look outside of America. During my stay in India, it became apparent that the miracles of the early church did not stop, nor did God’s voice concerning the giftings.
Something bothers me about your comment about the gifts in verse 28 being listed in order of importance. Those words are never spoken. I believe Paul is commenting on the way in which the church was founded, or a church is planted. There are those foundational gifts that must be in place or a church cannot be organized. The Apostles are the building blocks while Jesus is the cornerstone. Not in order of importance per se. The parts of Paul’s address that were skipped by moving from verse 10 all the way to 28 were the parts about the body of Christ (being the church), which would not be functional without all the gifts in practice. All are equally important.
If by saying “some people should not be speaking in tongues in public settings” you were inferring that people who loudly misuse the gift and cause distraction and/or intimidation should remember that “the gift is subject to the prophet,” consider their surroundings, and use the gift respectfully, then I agree. However, I do not agree that speaking in tongues is not for everyone or that it should ever be forbidden. Paul tells us in verse 39 “…do not forbid speaking in tongues.” Paul says in 14:5, “Now I want you all to speak in tongues…” then goes on to say that to prophesy is of greater use in a church setting because all are built up by it. Not that the gift itself is greater. Because to prophesy one must address a group of people; people don’t often prophesy to themselves in their prayer closet. Which brings us back to the fact that my eyes are no greater than my ears, I need them both equally. And so works the body of Christ. Then we find common ground in verse 40 which says “But all things should be done decently and in order.”
Your idea of an interpretation not having to be verbal doesn’t make much sense to me. The idea of interpretation is that the “tongues of men and angels” are translated (or, interpreted) into words we can understand. That is why Paul says it is important to interpret the message so that everyone can be edified. The gift of tongues and interpretation is prophesying, since prophecy by definition is hearing God’s voice and vocalizing it to others. Prophecy does little good if it isn’t verbalized.
One thing we should be keeping in mind is that scripture isn’t always open to personal interpretation. There is a context to Paul’s words. They aren’t all metaphors. There are absolute truths that are dangerous to tamper with. I am quite guilty of the above and God helped me with that. We need to understand that when Paul says “interpretation,” he means it in the sense that the message is to be vocalized. He backs this up pretty solidly. Now, how we react to the message is of course a physical translation of God’s words to the outside world.
You are absolutely correct to about knowing what you are doing when you are praying in tongues. The Spirit does not possess. Praying in tongues is The Spirit praying his will concerning what you are praying about. One uses the gift of tongues to pray the will of God in situations rather than relying on our own idea of what we should pray about or how the outcome should be. This is why praying in tongues is so important us as a fallen creation, so that our sometimes carnal humanity does not interfere with God’s plan.
Truly speaking in tongues will never be unbiblical. It can not be, it is the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit itself is more important than our interpretation of the word. If the Spirit is doing it then it is not going against itself.
And this last point is the only thing you said in this that actually offended me. You say you don’t want to make light of something so powerful, yet a few paragraphs up, you made a sarcastic remark about the evidence of the Spirit which is tongues. Yes, tongues, according to the Bible, is the evidence of the Holy Spirit. “…How come a lot of people aren?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t more apt to speak a prophetic word over rolling their r?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s and stuttering their t?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s?” This is the way that God The Holy Spirit chooses to verbally speak to us using the gift of holy spirit. That remark makes complete light of the gift and sort of steps on it, man…come on.
Now I will leave you with the other part of Paul’s statement, thus putting the scripture back into context.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more that all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Anyway, I’m glad you’re studying this…this is a topic it wouldn’t hurt every Christian to look in to. We probably have similar opinions on the manifestations of the gifts; there are times when I don’t share the typical evangelical, pentecostal mindset concerning these manifestations and think a little more order should be kept. I’d be interested in further discussing this topic with you in person.
With love for you, and reverence for the Scripture,
Nick
Nick,
I appreciate your post and taking the time to tackle the issue which I have posted head on. Your response is well thought out and shows that you’re definitely in the right place. I’ll give you credit and make no bones about the fact that you’re probably a lot further along than I am spiritually, and at this point in my life I’m willing to sit back and learn a bit.
Great point about Corinth…but then if that’s the case isn’t it wrong to selectively pick and choose which Scripture verses we abide by? I think there is a ring of truth, and something that applies to everyone today, in each and every scripture that was written. What it is, we just don’t know and will have to search for more meaning on.
When I said the gift of speaking in tongues has had too much emphasis placed on it, I didn’t mean here and now at our church, but in Christianity in general. I know I’m painting with a wide brush and my strokes are too broad, but I think we make too much emphasis of it. Is it absolutely necessary to our Christian walk? More or less, yes. Is it absolutely essential to make it into heaven? No. But, should those of us who desire to learn more about Christ and walk in Him seek every spiritual gift available to us? Absolutely.
If I understand you correctly, by your logic you’re stating that every public tongue needs a verbal interpretation. I can somewhat agree with that point, but then what happens if the tongue given is not interpreted? Is it an incomplete message from God because someone failed to translate it? Or was someone just blathering? We’ll never know in many cases. This question here is the basis of my entire quandary on tongues in general — does it need to be interpreted, and if so why aren’t many of them?
I owe you an apology because what I wrote offended you and I have been trying my hardest lately to not write anything questionable or offensive to anyone. My intent by that writing was not to cause offense, but to simply point out the fact that I wonder why more people don’t step out in boldness and prophesy.
I digress on the point of tongues being the de facto evidence of one being filled with the Spirit. Rather, wouldn’t one consistently display the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and be seeking hard for every spiritual gift to operate in their lives?
Thanks for your response Nick and I appreciate your time. One thing that you’ll find about me is that I am clearly on a different spiritual plane than most in the church, but the thing that brings us together is that we serve the same God, we are working for the same goal and ultimately we’ll all be playing basketball on golden streets someday.
Coffee tomorrow if you’re interested. Give me a ring and let me know so I can have ample time to dust off my Life Application Bible.