Topical

You may or may not have ever heard of this thing called “Speaking in Tongues.” However, the term is used for something that happens in a lot of churches in America as well as around the world that claim to teach the Bible. These churches often look very similar to ours and they may even teach the same things we teach on a lot of subjects. As you get older you are going to meet people, if you haven’t already — some who are Christians and some who are “Christians” (that is they claim to be, but are not) — who believe that they are following what Jesus wants them to do by “Speaking in Tongues.” But, in actual fact, they are either lying or have believed a lie. We generally call these people, “Charismatic.”

There are also other errors in the teaching of these churches, many having to do with other spiritual gifts, such as healing, predictive prophesy, special revelations called “a word of knowledge,” and etc., but we are going to just focus on “Speaking in Tongues” today.

What kinds of things do some churches teach and/or some people believe about “Speaking in Tongues” that are untrue?

1. They might believe that “Speaking in Tongues” is the evidence that someone is a real Christian or that a person has received (or been baptized in) the Holy Spirit. They give it top priority in the evidence of Salvation.
2. They might believe that everyone that is a Christian can and should “Speak in Tongues” or that if you don’t – then you’re not a real Christian.
3. They might believe that interpretation or understanding of what is spoken is unnecessary.

What does the Bible say “Speaking in Tongues” really is?

1. A real language.
   
   1. The word in Greek (the language the New Testament was originally written in) is glōssa, which – like in English – can refer either to the tongue in your mouth (which is obviously not what is meant here) or a language. So, “Speaking in Tongues” means “Speaking in a Language.” Clearly, the idea is that it’s a language other than the one the speaker and reader would be used to. For example, we wouldn’t say, “I heard Shelley speaking English by the water fountain.” Why? Because we all speak English and we would expect that Shelley spoke in English – there would be no need to define the language, unless it was something unusual. But it makes sense to say, “I heard Shelley speaking Russian by the water fountain.” If I didn’t know what language it was, I might say, “I heard Shelley speaking some other language by the water fountain.” I can assume that Shelley was speaking something other than English. The same is true for the term “Speaking in Tongues.” I don’t know what language, but I know that it’s some language that is being spoken.
   2. The first record of “Speaking in Tongues” in the Bible happens at Pentecost. This is the time when the prophecy of Jesus is fulfilled that He would send the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1-11. Look – what does it say? The apostles were “filled with the Holy Spirit” and began speaking in “other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (utterance = something to say).  What is the reaction of the crowd? “Each one heard them in his own language.” His own what? Language. He even goes so far as to list actual places, languages and dialects of languages that these people heard him speak in. It doesn’t get much clearer – it’s a real language, an “other” language, and, in this case, one that the speakers were supernaturally enabled to speak by power of the Holy Spirit.
2. No where does the Bible say that “Speaking in Tongues” is necessary for Salvation. What is necessary for Salvation? In Mark 1:15, Jesus says, “Repent and believe the gospel.” In Romans 10:9, Paul says, “Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead.” In Acts 2:38, Peter says, “Repent, and … be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for (because of) the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Christians received the gift of the Holy Spirit when we repented and were saved – nothing about speaking in tongues. No – but evidences of having the Holy Spirit are called the “Fruit of the Spirit” found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Teaching anything else is clearly unbiblical.
3. Fruit of the Holy Spirit should be evident in all Christians. No where does the Bible teach that all Christian should be able to “Speak in Tongues.” In fact, it says in I Cor. 12:28 - 30, “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? (implied answer – “no”) All are not prophets, are they? (implied answer – “no”) All are not teachers, are they? (implied answer – “no”) All are not workers of miracles, are they? (implied answer – “no”) All do not have gifts of healings, do they? (implied answer – “no”) All do not speak with tongues, do they? (implied answer – “no”) All do not interpret, do they? (implied answer – “no”) But earnestly desire the greater gifts.”
   Paul specifically places tongues as the least of the named gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul specifically points out that not every Christian spoke in tongues even in his day. Teaching that “Speaking in Tongues” is an important spiritual gift or that everyone who is baptized in the Holy Spirit “Speaks in Tongues” is contrary to clear Biblical teaching.
4. Paul spends three chapters of the book of I Corinthians (12-14) correcting the errors surrounding Spiritual Gifts in the church of Corinth and specifically addresses “Speaking in Tongues.”  One of the most glaring errors of the people who teach this Charismatic “Speaking in Tongues” has to do with interpretation. Turn to I Cor 14:6-28. Notice especially verses 27 and 28: “If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.”
   I was in a Charismatic church once and there were 50 or more people all supposedly “Speaking in Tongues” – all at the same time – no one interpreting. That is clearly wrong. We know that because it’s in the Bible that this teaching is inspired of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16), but in this case Paul even specifically states that this is a “commandment from the Lord” (v 37). This isn’t some “open to interpretation” doctrine – this is clear direction from God and violation of it is sin.

Why is there “Speaking in Tongues” in the Bible at all?

It is for a sign to unbelievers (I Cor 14:22). In the Bible, there are exactly three instances when we are told about times when people spoke in tongues.

1. Once at Pentecost (Acts 2) that we already looked at, in which case all those who heard and understood what was being said in their own language were the interpreters. It was a sign that the Holy Spirit had come upon these men and they were speaking on behalf of God.
2. The second time is recorded in Acts 10 when Jewish Christians came with Peter when he went to preach to Gentiles, an Italian Centurion and his family. As Peter was preaching, the Gentiles believed and started speaking in tongues and the Jewish Christians were amazed and realized that Gentiles could be saved, because they had spoken in tongues. Think about this: how did the Jews know they were speaking in tongues? Probably because the Italian Gentiles were speaking in Hebrew, a language they almost certainly would not have studied and the Jews could understand. These Jews, then, were the interpreters and had the same sign from God that happened at Pentecost, which confirmed for them that Gentiles could be saved; they would not otherwise have believed that they could.
3. The third and last time is found at the end of Acts and relates what happened when Paul found some converts of John the Baptizer living in Ephesus. They had not heard about the Holy Spirit, but when Paul laid hands on them they began to speak in tongues. That’s all the story we have, so we don’t know for sure what the sign was, who it was to, or who interpreted, but we can surmise that it was a sign to the 12 men that the Jesus that Paul was teaching was the same one that John said was “coming after” him.

Is Tongues Still Happening Today?

There is some debate over whether the gift of “Speaking in Tongues” has stopped or not. If we look at I Cor 13:8, in the middle of Paul’s teaching on Spiritual Gifts, he states “Tongues will cease” – which means that the gift of tongues will stop at some point. Just like the word “cease” in English – in Greek the idea is that it’s going to stop permanently. What is debated is when. Because after Paul wrote this there is no more evidence in the Bible or anywhere else of anymore tongues until the 19^th Century, most Bible believing churches believe that tongues did cease. But, the Bible doesn’t say absolutely when tongues would cease, and whether they have or not, and says in I Cor 14:39 not to forbid Speaking in Tongues.” But, if what people are calling “Speaking in Tongues” is not in line with what the Scripture teaches is “Speaking in Tongues” (and that goes for 100% of everything I’ve ever seen or heard about in the churches that promote so-called “Speaking in Tongues”), then that is wrong. Teaching the precepts of man as the oracles of God is exactly the greatest sin of the Pharisees (Matthew 15:9). 

Then why do they do it?

I think it's because it feels good to feel spiritual. It feels good to feel like you have a special communication channel with God. It’s a great experience to be in a room full of people who are just excited about their special relationship with God and their special way of talking with Him. And, sadly, I think they like people to see them having a very special kind of “spiritual” practice.

There are people who really believe that when they babble in church they are “Speaking in Tongues.” They have really been deceived. Millions of people – I believe that many of them are genuinely saved – truly believe from their own experiences that they can “Speak in Tongues.” Based on the contrast of their experience against what the Bible teaches – I can tell you for sure that they are deceived.

What is our guide?

Do we base our Christianity on our experiences and “what works?” No.

Do we base our relationship with God on what people tell us is true about God? No.

Oh yeah? Consider this: How much of your relationship with God is based solely on what your parents have taught you about God or your Sunday School teacher or your small group leader?

Millions of people who call Jesus Lord are deceived into believing lies about “Speaking in Tongues” when Scripture is so clear in correcting the error they have been taught. How can that happen? Because they are not studying the Word of God for themselves, they believe what others tell them the Bible says without checking. They believe their experience over what the Bible teaches.

That is why it is so vitally important that you read your Bible, study the Word, and to learn how to, as 2 Tim 2:15 says,

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”