Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Speaking in tongues in church

“Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” 1 Corinthians 14:39-40
The church at Corinth was abounding in one gift of the Spirit in particular: that of speaking in tongues. From the advice Paul gives them concerning it, it sounds like their services could be on par with some of the more pentecostal churches of today. Part of my childhood was spent in a pentecostal church where there were frequent times of ‘free worship’, where everyone could sing, pray in tongues, sing in tongues, do whatever they felt led to. I have no doubt that someone who had never been exposed to this kind of thing before – Christian or not – would have thought the people in that church were crazy. See 1 Cor. 14:23.
The gift of tongues can be a greatly uplifting gift for the one speaking (1 Cor. 14:4). Tongues are a private prayer language by which your spirit can communicate directly with God. But it needs to be used in its proper context. Paul tells us what this is: in a public setting, it is only to be used where there is an interpreter present. In the pentecostal situation described above, we need to recognise what it is: a case of each person who is speaking, edifying themselves (sometimes, with some added hype). Paul – who himself spoke in tongues (1 Cor. 14:18) – instructed the Corinthians to use the speaking gifts of tongues in an orderly way: “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two – or at the most three – should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God” (1 Cor. 14:27-28).

3 comments:

  1. Good Post enjoyed it very controversial issue within the body of Christ. If we believe God still pours out His gifts such as healing and knowledge would he stop others such as tongues and prophecy. The difference I believe is in the attitudes of those who are seeking after gifts.

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  2. Sorry I disagree with the gift of speaking in tongues. At Pentecost when when the disciples spoke in tongues, the tongue was a "proper" language not a lot of babble. As for tongues being uplifting on a personal level, well I'm sorry, if it does not glorify God (which it does not) I disagree once again. I believe the gifts of the Spirit ended with the Apostolic age. For example: Prophecy. Why do we need prophecy today? all true, prophecy is written in the Bible, most of which has already come to pass. That which has already been fulfilled also means that future prophecy will also be fulfilled. This does not mean that I do not believe in miracles, ie. healing etc., but all these things today are brought about by prayer. Prayer is the most powerful tool a Christian has. Because of our Lord Jesus' sacrifice the curtain in the temple was rent in two, hence we can enter with boldness the holy of holies and bow before the Throne of Grace and offer our prayers to the Lord God Almighty (Jehovah). I am not criticising the pentecostal churches; praise the Lord, I was saved in a pentecostal church in 1983 (AOG).
    Blessings to you all in the wonderful name of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus.

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  3. Hi Anonymous,

    Thanks for your comment, this is a reasonably common view held by John MacArthur and others that the gifts ended with the apostles. There is little to no Scriptural evidence one way or the other. I have a few comments on what you wrote:
    1) Who says speaking in tongues is 'babble'? To me, Mandarin sounds like 'babble', but to a native speaker it is understandable. Just because we don't understand a language doesn't make it 'babble'.
    2) Who says it doesn't glorify God? In fact, Scripture says otherwise: "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" (1 Cor. 14:15-16).
    3) Prophecy is in action today as the 'forth-telling' of God's Word. Every time someone reminds you of a Scripture and it resonates in your heart, that's prophecy in action. Sure, we don't have prophecy in the sense of new revelations from God, but the gift has not ceased.

    I acknowledge that there has been an abuse of tongues and gifts of the Spirit in recent years. But let me also pose another question to you concerning tongues: if it wasn't something real, why would Satan try so hard to imitate it?

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