On Speaking in Tongues

One of my dear friends called me yesterday and was troubled. He had visited another church. Apparently the worship was very charismatic and the several people were speaking in tongues. Anyway, my friend felt depressed and saddened. Listening to him, it seemed there was a weight on his spirit.

One has to wonder why would that be? I believe his instinct was to maybe feel about about his feeling bad. In other words, what he experienced was a turn-off. But he may have thought that it isn't appropriate to be uncomfortable with what he’d experienced. But the fact is that the worship experience made him feel bad about himself. I have to say that raised some serious “red flags” for me.

I’m all for lively (some would call it charismatic) worship. But the Bible couldn’t be more clear about speaking in tongues. The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 14 is the most helpful in understanding this Spiritual Gift and how it is to be used. Some refer to is as speaking in tongues and others refer to it as a private prayer language. It is both, but in modern day context, it is probably more useful and most often more appropriate as a private prayer language.

I don't want to re-publish the Bible on this blog, but God's Word is really necessary to get the full context of the truth here. Let’s take a look at what the Scripture says about it:

"Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities (e.g., Spiritual Gifts) the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy. For if your gift is the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking to God but not to people, since they won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will be mysterious. But one who prophesies is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging and comforting them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

I wish you all had the gift of speaking in tongues, but even more I wish you were all able to prophesy. For prophecy is a greater and more useful gift than speaking intongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church can get some good out of it.

… if I should come to you talking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you some revelation or some special knowledge or some prophesy or teaching --- that is what will help you. Even musical instruments … are examples of the need for speaking in plain language. For no one will recognize the melody unless the notes are played clearly. … If you talk to people in a language they don’t understand … You might as well be talking to an empty room.

Since you are so eager to have spiritual gifts, ask God for those that will be of real help to the whole church.

So anyone who has the gift of speaking in tongues should pray also for the gift of interpretation in order to tell people plainly what has been said. For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but (even) I don’t understand what I am saying.(!)

Well then, what should I do? I will do both. I will pray in the Spirit and I will pray in words I understand. I will sing in the Spirit, and I will sing in words I understand. For if you praise God only in the Spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying?

… in a church meeting I would much rather speak five understandable words that will help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

… don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. … be mature and wise in understanding matters of this kind. It is written in the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 28:49 & Titus 26:11-12):

'I will speak to my own peole through unknown languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me.' Says the Lord.

So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.

… When you meet, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has iven, one will speak in tongues, while another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in the Lord. No more than two or three should speak in an unknown language. They must speak one at a time, and someone must be ready to interpret what they are saying. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

… God is not a God of disorder, …

… be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order." - 1 Corinthians 14

The Apostle Paul was writing to the Christians at Corinth. The use of speaking in tongues was causing disorder in their worship --- because the Corinthians were using it as a sign of spiritual superiority (if there could be such a thing). There weren't interpreters, so Paul was telling them (and he is telling us) that it is inappropriate in a public setting. Without sufficient interpreters and an orderly application, there is no place for speaking in tongues in any public worship service. That gift should be used only in private conversations with God --- when it becomes a private prayer language.

God intended for speaking in tongues to be a sign to unbelievers (as it was in Acts 2). After speaking in tongues, believers are supposed to explain what was said and give credit to God. The unsaved people would then be convinced of a spiritual reality and motivated to look further into the Christian faith. This is the only public value of the gift of speaking in tongues. Done any other way, it is selfish, self-serving, arrogant, pompous, condescending and sinful! (No wonder my friend felt bad!)

By the way, the main purpose of this Spiritual Gift called prophecy is to communicate God’s message to people, providing insight, warning, correction and encouragement. It's often seen in people who are teachers, preachers and leaders.

Any of the Spiritual Gifts are only useful when they are properly used to help everyone in the church.
Speaking in tongues primarily benefits the speaker --- which is why this gift is so helpful in private worship.