Truths about speaking in tongues

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Jun Malazo

It is one of the hallmark doctrines of the Charismatic/Pentecostal movements.  Most, if not all, Charismatic and Pentecostal-like churches encourage their followers to practice the gift of speaking in tongues.  The emphasis within these groups is always about personal experiences and not about Biblical truth.  Notice what David W. Cloud said about the modern day tongues movement:

“The view that tongues is a gift for every believer and that it is to be exercised today has been an integral part of the Pentecostal movement from its inception.  Tongues-speaking, according to most Pentecostals and Charismatics, has a three-fold purpose:  First, it is a sign of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”  In this capacity it is a sign both to the believer himself as well as to those who are observing.  Second, it is a means whereby God communicates to the church.  This allegedly occurs as the messages of tongues are interpreted.  Third, it is a “private prayer language” whereby the user edifies himself.  Under this category the private edification is said to produce a wide assortment of benefits, including encouragement during spiritual trials, physical healing, spiritual guidance, even a sleep aid!”

Is this gift of tongues meant to be practiced today?  Does the modern-day tongues movement have any biblical merit at all?  What does the Bible say about the “gift of tongues”?  In this article we will discover what the Bible says, through the first century Christians, regarding the purpose and plan of God concerning this practice.

There is no doubt that “speaking in tongues” does happen and that those who practice this are sincere in what they are trying to achieve. 

However, the question at hand is this:  Is speaking in tongues or praying in some unknown language something that is commanded by God today?  If not, then what is causing this phenomena?  There is a force behind this phenomena.  The Bible says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…”  (1 John 4:1, KJV).  We need to question whether this modern day phenomena called “speaking in tongues” is really from God or some other force. 

The Greek words for tongue are glossa and laleo which are found 50 times in the New Testament.  Of these, 16 times they refer to the physical organ in the human body.  Once they refer to flames of fire (see Acts 2:3).  The majority of the time (33 times) they refer to human languages. 

When Jesus commissioned His disciples He also mentioned in Mark 16:17, " And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. . . .”  First, the word “tongues” used here is the same word we referred to earlier—glossa.  Secondly, this additional command to the commission was all fulfilled in the Book of Acts when the disciples spoke with tongues or languages that were unknown to them but known to the listeners.

The Bible does talk about the gift of tongues.  We see this throughout the Book of Acts (in Jerusalem, Acts 2:1-4; in Caesarea, Acts 10:44-47; and in Ephesus, Acts 19:1-7) and in Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthian Church.  As we examine the gift of tongues in the Book of Acts, we will find out that tongues were real human languages and not some unintelligible and repetitive babbling. 

Acts 2:5-11 records the first time the gift of tongues was practiced in the New Testament.  This event is known as the Day of Pentecost in which many Jews from varying regions gathered together to worship in Jerusalem.  Notice how these Jews responded when the disciples “…began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (v.4):

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."  (Acts 2:5-11, KJV)

These traveling Jews were amazed to hear the disciples who were unlearned speak their own language groups.  There were multiple languages mentioned above and there was no mention of some new or strange language which no one had ever heard before.

Next, Biblical tongues were not a sign to believers.  According to most Pentecostal and Charismatic Movement doctrines, tongues are commonly said to be a sign to believers.  They consider tongues as a sign of spiritual maturity, faith, blessing, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in someone’s life.  The Apostle Paul plainly refutes this notion when he said in 1 Corinthians 14:22, “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:  but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe"  (1 Corinthians 14:22, KJV).

The Apostle Paul did mention to the church in Corinth, “And forbid not to speak in tongues,” but he also gave many strict guidelines on how tongues should be practiced.  These are outlined in 1 Corinthians 14:27-40.  The first guideline we see is that tongues are to be spoken by course (v. 27).  Those who have witnessed people “speaking in tongues” in churches today would testify that tongues were spoken by many people at once.  Also in the same verse, Paul mentions that whenever tongues are spoken, there must be an interpreter.  Most of the time this command is also not followed in modern day churches.

One of the other strict guidelines that Paul mentioned is something that proponents of the Modern tongues movement ignore.  This is that women are not to be allowed to speak in tongues (v. 34).  Those that have challenged me about the gift of tongues in the past were mostly women. 

While some may think this sounds offensive, we must remember that God is the One that gave the order.  Paul challenges those that may defy the clear leading of the Lord regarding this situation, that if they are truly spiritually mature they will recognize “that the things that I write to unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (v. 37).

The Apostle Paul also mentions that if someone is “speaking in tongues” everything is to be decent and orderly (v. 40).  Anyone that has ever seen a video clip online on many social media and video sharing platforms of people speaking in tongues, knows that it creates an environment of disorder and chaos.  This is not characteristic of the Jehovah God who is the God of order (1 Corinthians 14:40) and the God that is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). 

The gift of tongues is a divine miracle and is sovereignly given by God (see 1 Corinthians 12:11).  In every account in the Book of Acts where there was speaking in tongues, it was divinely and sovereignly given by God.  The apostles never coaxed, forced, or taught anyone to learn how to speak in tongues.  Notice what a Charismatic believer David Bennett says:

“Open your mouth and show that you believe the Lord has baptized you in the Spirit by beginning to speak.  Don’t speak English, or any other language you know, for God cannot guide you to speak in tongues if you are speaking in a language known to you…”

The above statement is nonsensical, and it has absolutely no Biblical merit. 

Does God mean the same gift of tongues practiced in the early New Testament church to be something that Christians should seek to practice in their lives today?  The Apostle Paul answers that questions for us. He says:

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."  (1 Corinthians 13:8-10, KJV)

Paul said that, “…whether there be tongues, they shall cease….”  The word “cease” is the Greek word pauo which means “to come to an end.”  However, the grammatical tense indicates that it will be a gradual cessation of the tongues.  When will this cessation be completed?  Verse 10 gives us the answer, “But when that which is perfect is come….”  This is referring to canonized Scripture—the Bible which we hold today.  Therefore, the cessation of tongues is completed.

In closing, the modern day tongues movement is not only unscriptural, but it is also dangerous.  It gives innocent bystanders a false sense of spirituality.  It elevates experience over the revealed absolute truth of the Word of God.  It confuses key biblical teachings regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  It is not in line with the character of God.