Speaking in tongues is a subject of great interest to almost every denomination. Its rise in popularity has given way to greater acceptance, and in some cases, harsh criticism. It is believed by some to be demon inspired and divisive. By others, it is believe to be a lovely prayer language which can be exercised at will.
Speaking in tongues, to say the least, is greatly misunderstood. We find prophecy concerning tongues in Isaiah 28:11, "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people." God chose man's untamable member to use as the instrument by which to manifest the initial sign of His infilling with the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:4 gives this account, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." While Acts 8:17 records they received the Holy Ghost without making mention of whether or not they spoke with tongues, Acts 10:44-46 presents this strong affirmation of evidential tongues speaking. "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (v.45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost. (v.46) For they hard them speak with tongues, and magnify God…" The term "for they heard them speak with tongues" certainly indicates that his is the evidence by which they knew they had received the Holy Ghost. Acts 19:6, "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them and the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongue, and prophesied."
The Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian church in I Corinthians 12:1 says, "now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." The ignorance of which he speaks has to do with the availability as well as the proper administration of the gifts.
Tongues, as well as other good gifts of God, have been misused and abused. The Apostle Paul in I Corinthians, Chapter 12, very clearly describes the "nine spiritual gifts." In Chapter 13, Paul's discourse on charity has no equal in the annals of literature. In Chapter 14, he is dealing mainly with the misuse of spiritual gifts. Verse 19 of I Corinthians 14, the most quoted by those opposing tongues, says, "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." If one reads verse 18 in which Paul says, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all", it is easily understood he is not speaking against tongues. As a matter of fact, in verse 39 he gives this admonition, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."
In Chapter 14, v. 31, Paul is teaching the people to prophesy one at a time. Dealing with divine discernment in verse 30, he says, "If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace." Paul was no more condemning tongues than he was condemning prophecy, charity, or any other gift. He was simply putting every gift in perspective.
Concerning tongues, also in Chapter 14, he said, (v. 2) "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God…" Surely we could not condemn anyone for speaking to God.
The next negative argument is that tongues are of less importance than prophecy. Verse 5 is used to substantiate this contention. Let us allow the word of God the liberty of self-analysis. (v. 5) "I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied:" (please not the colon punctuation, indicating do not stop reading; this is an incomplete sentence. So, let us continue.) "for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret…" Tongues without interpretation equals less than prophesy; tongues with interpretation equals prophecy. This verse presents a problem for those who contend that tongues were only to enable the early church to preach in foreign languages as a missionary mode. If something must be interpreted, it is not being understood by those to whom it is being interpreted.
There are two distinct types of tongues in the Bible. One is the evidential tongues, which is spoken when one receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This tongue may be a language foreign to the person speaking but could be understood by others native to that dialect. Such was the case on the Day of Pentecost when men of every nation heard the 120 Jews speak in the native language of every person present. This phenomenal manifestation has led many to believe that this experience was for the purpose of evangelizing foreign countries. However, the Bible does not record any such use of this gift for this purpose.
The next type of tongues the Bible teaches is a tongue of edification; no man understands this tongue.
This tongues, if spoken openly in a church service, must be interpreted. If there is no interpret after such a message is given, the person is instructed to keep silent and to speak to himself and to God. This means not to dominate a service with un-interpreted messages. This seems to have been the problem in the Corinthian church. People were postulating an exalted position on the strength of being able to speak an unintelligible language. The Apostle Paul condemned this attitude and gave strict guidelines regarding coherency in al public speaking. This is why he put more value on five understandable words than ten thousand words un-interpreted. Paul concludes the matter thusly, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (v.40) Let all things be done decently and in order." (I Corinthians 14:39-40).
