Speaking in Tongues
An Interpretation by Rev. Tom Durrance
Purpose:
There has been a resurgence in the number of people claiming to speak in tongues
since a new movement of the Spirit began in the late 50's. There are those that say that if
you do not speak in tongues, you are not filled with the Holy Spirit, much less "saved".
There are others that claim that speaking in tongues is evil only serves to splinter the
church into even smaller parts. Many are just plain afraid of it because they believe it is out
of their control.
The purpose of this paper is to clarify what the Spiritual gift of tongues is all about.
I seek to answer the questions of what is tongues, is it real, and if so, how do we use this
gift? The primary resource I will use is scripture, with a large dose of my experience, as
well as tradition and reason. I ask you to read it with an open mind to the Spirit of God,
and reach your own conclusions.
All scripture quoted is from the Revised Standard Version. When the word
"tongues" is addressed, I am referring to the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues.
Tongues in Acts
Pentecost: Acts 2:1-42
The first time we really encounter speaking in tongues in scripture is the Acts
passage that describes the movement of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The verses that
describe tongues:
(Acts 2:4 RSV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(Acts 2:11 RSV) Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own
tongues the mighty works of God."
It is obvious that the gift of tongues in Acts 2 is a gift of the Spirit (as the Spirit gave them
utterance), it is a "known" tongue, a language that someone who is present would
understand or interpret cognitively. Scripture is not clear if the language becomes
understood to the tongue talker, is it a crash course in Arabic or simply a faith experience?
An example today would be if I found myself trying to evangelize Iranians and I
didn't know Arabic nor they English, tongues might come in handy. I could ask for the
gift, commence to speak in tongues and God willing, they would hear in their own tongues
the mighty works of God. Again, it is not clear if I could understand what I was saying.
The primary purpose of tongues in Acts 2 then was for evangelism purposes.
Reaching the lost in their own language. This was critical for the fast spread of
Christianity. I believe the principal here is that if language is a barrier, God provides the
means to break down those barriers, it is a kind of fixing the problem of Babel.
Peters and the Gentiles: Acts 10:34-48
The next time we come across tongues in Acts is when Peter found himself
preaching the story of Jesus to some Gentiles in the house of Cornelius.
(Acts 10:44-46a RSV) While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on
all who heard the word. {45} And the believers from among the circumcised
who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out even on the Gentiles. {46a} For they heard them speaking in tongues
and extolling God.
Again we find that, the Holy Spirit fell, it was an act of God. It becomes evident to the
circumcised (Jewish Christians) that the Gentiles have received the Holy Spirit because
they speak in tongues. Here it seems that speaking in tongues is the proof that Holy Spirit
has come upon a new believer.
Paul at Ephesus: Acts 19:1-7
Paul comes across some people taught by Apollos. They knew of John's baptism
but nothing of Jesus nor Holy Spirit. Paul tells them that Jesus was whom John was talking
about when John said he was preparing the way for one greater than he.
(Acts 19:5-6 RSV) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus. {6} And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came
on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
This again seems that tongues is the evidence of the Holy Spirit coming upon someone.
Other cases of Holy Spirit coming in Acts without tongues:
I would note here that there are cases where others are baptized into the church, or
even with the Holy Spirit and tongues is not mentioned at all. In Acts 8:14-17, Peter and
John pray for some folk to receive the Holy Spirit, no mention of tongues there. In the
latter part of that same chapter (v.26-40), we are not sure if the Ethiopian eunuch was
baptized in the Holy Spirit or just by water, though the evidence suggests that since Phillip
was working with Peter and John (though he was only a deacon) that he had the authority
to pray that the eunuch would receive the Holy Spirit. Now, again, in this situation there is
no mention of tongues. Also, Paul converts some people in Acts 14:21-23, no mention of
Holy Spirit at all, much less tongues.
On a side note:
In Peter's case above, Holy Spirit came before the water baptism, in Paul's case it
came after water baptism. In the other cases as well, in what name the water baptism was
performed differs. The conclusion that I have reached is the God has no single way of
bringing people closer into the faith. God reaches people where they are, with what they
need, when they need it.
The bottom line on tongues in Acts:
It seems the gift of the Holy Spirit called tongues is of a "known" language and is
primarily used for evangelism. Its purpose seems to be to speed the spread of the gospel by
breaking down the language barrier.
Tongues is an evidence of the Spirit coming upon a believer, though it is not a
required evidence. If you speak in a known tongue that you did not previously know, I
would have evidence the Spirit came upon you. To prove this was the case though,
someone who knew the tongue would have to be present to identify it.
I have heard of cases in which a "message" was delivered in tongues at a Pentecostal
worship service. When the congregation was asked if someone had the gift of
interpretation, a woman from the back stood up and identified the language as Mandarin
Chinese and proceeded to interpret the message for the congregation. The woman later
identified herself as a missionary who had just returned from China. When I have shared
this story that I heard many years ago with other people, I have also heard of other stories
which were similar.
Tongues in Corinth
Tongues as a gift:
Acts, though is not the only place where we learn about speaking in tongues. Paul
spends much ink and precious paper to discuss tongues with the people of Corinth.
Tongues are addressed in three chapters of I Corinthians.
In chapter 12, he identifies Tongues as one gift of many, given by the Holy spirit.
(1 Cor 12:8-10 RSV) To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of
wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same
Spirit, {9} to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the
one Spirit, {10} to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to
another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of
tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
Note that tongues is on the bottom of the list. It is common that we move the most
important things to the top of a list and the least to the bottom. This might shed some light
as to how important an issue this might be. If we don't have wisdom and knowledge from
God, why seek tongues? Should we be Christians that puts major emphasis on a minor
gift?
It is also interesting to note that the gift of interpretation of tongues is also listed.
This seems that if one does not know the language, this gift would let you understand what
was being said. There are people I have talked to that have experienced this gift of
interpretation. A message was given in tongues in a worship service. The person with
interpretation seemed to know exactly what was being said. It was not a cognitive knowing
of the language (as in knowing high school German), but an "AHA!" experience where the
Spirit was talking directly to the heart of the interpreter, through the tongue talker.
Skipping down to verse 28, we find that God has a role (at least in the early church)
for those that speak in tongues. Again we also find it as last on the list. If we do not have
Apostles (those sent by God for a particular mission) and prophets (those that "forth tell"
the truth), should we be looking for those that speak in tongues?
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers,
administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues.
It is also interesting to note: "in various kinds" of tongues. What we don't know is if that
means "various kinds" of languages, or if there is several kinds for tongues, one "kind" for
evangelism, another "kind" for prophesy, and perhaps another "kind" for a prayer language
(which we will address in detail later).
The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit:
We would be remiss in our duties if we did not understand a little about WHY we
are given the gift of tongues in the first place. Verse 7 states is plainly:
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Now, if a gift of the Holy Spirit is not being used for the common good, the gift is being
abused. Now I have also seen this done. I have seen the gift on tongues used as a club to
make the tongue talker feel superior to those that do not and the non-tongue talker to feel
like an inferior Christian. This is the plain and simple abuse of a gift of the Spirit. I do not
know why God allows us to abuse these gifts, but it seems that He does.
The proper use of any gift of the Spirit is to build up the body of Christ, not tear it
down. Any use of tongues which breaks the church apart is improper. Any use of tongues
that does not make us stronger Christians is improper.
The Gifts and Love:
The gifts of the Spirit are to be used for the common good and done with love as the
source, motivation, and sought result:
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a
noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13:8 Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for
tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
If there is no love, there is nothing at all. Tongues cease, but love is the essence of God,
and is the only thing that really matters. If we are going to be tongue talkers, let us make
sure love is the goal and motivation. If we are not going to be tongue talkers, let us love
those that do.
Just as we have many body parts, so does God. The mouth does not reject the eye
because it sheds tears, and the eye does not reject the mouth for saliva output. God knew
what He was doing when he put our physical bodies together. God knows what He is
doing when He calls His church together. We must trust God with how He apportions His
gifts to His people. That takes love. Which brings us to the next issue.
To speak or not to speak, that is the question:
We are to earnestly seek the higher gifts (12:31), though we are not prohibited from
seeking tongues. But the bottom line of who receives any gift comes from the Spirit of
God, not us.
12:11 All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to
each one individually as he wills.
It is God's prerogative whether to grant the gift of tongues or not. If you are not to have it,
you will not get it, no matter how hard you seek it. You might learn how to fake it, but it
will not be the genuine gift of the Holy Spirit. For others, it may be in your Holy Spirit tool
box whether you know it is there or not, and it will be available when you need it.
I have never been given a task by God that He has not provided the gifts to
accomplish it. He often accomplishes this by sending me another person with the gift I
need. An example would be if I have the gift of healing of the spirit, but no discernment,
God would send someone with discernment to help me bring the healing of the spirit more
effectively to those I minister to. The Lord will provide.
Use of tongues in worship service:
Getting back to using God's gifts for the common good and in love, we come to the
question of how we use tongues in the general worship service. Paul addresses this fully in
chapter 14 of 1st Corinthians. Paul moves right from "Love" to the expression of love to
the congregation of believers.
(1 Cor 14:1-5 RSV) Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual
gifts, especially that you may prophesy. {2} For one who speaks in a tongue
speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters
mysteries in the Spirit. {3} On the other hand, he who prophesies speaks to men
for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. {4} He who speaks
in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. {5} Now
I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. He who
prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless some one
interprets, so that the church may be edified.
He returns to the theme that all elements of a church service should build up the members
of that church. Tongues without interpretation is out of order. I would also note that it
takes twice as much time to do, tongues plus interpretation, instead of a prophesy (I would
clarify again that prophesy is not so much fore-telling as forth-telling, telling it the way it
is). Prophesy brings with it, upbuilding and encouragement and consolation, an
interpretation of tongues can do the same, but why not cut to the chase and get a direct
message from God?
Now this is not to say we must forbid tongues in a worship service, but the scripture
that comes to my mind quickly is first the love passages. If we speak in tongues in
worship, are we loving those in the congregation that do not understand what is going on?
My friend Edie was invited to a Charismatic service when she was considering
returning to attending church after many years of shunning organized religion. She had
never been exposed to those that spoke in tongues and knew nothing about it. The service
was going well and she was talking with God (praying) when a person began to speak in
tongues. This of course made Edie very uncomfortable, she was not sure what was
happening and wondered if she was in some kind of cult meeting and became very
defensive. If there had been love involved, the person who invited her should have let her
know what was going to happen in advance. They were not loving Edie. Later I was able
to explain my understanding on tongues and she became more accepting of it. She did
return to church attendance though she now attends a church where tongue speaking in not
used in worship.
I also remember what Paul notes earlier in 1 Cor 10:23 "All things are lawful," but
not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. He was
talking about eating meat sacrificed to idols, but it has further meaning in our use here with
tongues. It is lawful to speak in tongues in a worship service, but it may not be helpful. If
it tears down the body, don't do it. If it builds up the body, go for it, but most of all, let
God be the guide on what you do or don't do.
Given this set of parameters, it seems there will be some worship services were
tongues are employed and some where it will not. Both services are called to love one
another because we are all parts of the one body of Christ, the church.
Tongues (More Than a Word)
There is more to tongue talking than speaking in a "known" tongue to someone who
knows the language, or has the gift of interpretation and "translates" the message for a
congregation. This is where I want to get into the mechanics of how I believe tongues
works, and what other uses tongues might have.
Praying in tongues:
We saw above that For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God;
for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. I want to shift the
speaking in tongues then to praying in tongues, for if we speak to God, is that not prayer?
Now, if we see prayer as only a thing that matters when we (cognitively) know what we are
saying to God, this praying in tongues does not make sense. I do not know what I am
praying, so it must not be prayer.
If however that prayer is entering into the presence of God as we speak, tongues can
get the cognitive mind out of the way so that He can deal with our insides. I believe that is
what Paul meant when he said that He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself. When we
open ourselves up to the presence of God, we are built up (edified). God has complete
access to us. What do we pray for in the Spirit (tongues)? That which God would have us
pray for, after all it is He who supplies the words through the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps Paul alluded to this when he spoke of the tongues of angels. It may not a
"known" tongue, it is in theory the tongues the angels speak with in heaven. If this is
grounded in love, imagine the possibilities of prayer. It is not so much guessing if our
prayers are in the will of God, they will be the will of God, He is the one who supplies the
prayer in the first place.
Have you ever prayed so hard for something that you ran out of words? You are left
there kind of numb. You words stop, but your heart yearns to plow on. Perhaps this is
another time when tongues might be helpful.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know
how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs
too deep for words.
It is these times when we let the Spirit pray through us for the next verse goes on to say that
the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Praying in tongues can be threatening!
When we pray in tongues, we acknowledge that God's plan for us is better than any
plan we can come up with our cognitive minds. So, if you have vices you are not ready to
give to God, don't pray in tongues, for God just might take them. When we pray in
tongues, we are giving God the initiative to where to work in our hearts.
If however we wish to threaten the hold of evil and vices in our lives, then praying
in tongues will do the trick. As God takes hold of your life through a special prayer life,
the hold of evil is loosened. Praying in tongues is possibly a fast track to becoming the
Christian God calls us to be. Perhaps that is why Paul exclaims (1 Cor 14:18) I thank God
that I speak in tongues more than you all, Pray, be edified, grow in grace, be all that God
has called you to be.
Conclusion
I sought to answer some questions when I started this paper. In conclusion I offer
some answers.
What is Tongues and is it Real?
If we take the bible seriously we must conclude that there once was a gift of the
Spirit in which people could speak in a language that they did not know beforehand. Given
that there are examples of this happening in modern times, we might conclude that this gift
is still available for times in which we might need it. I have the gift of tongues, though I do
not know if it is a "known" tongue or "the tongues of angels". I do know that when I am
depressed and begin to speak/pray in tongues that the depression leaves.
It also seems that when I pray in tongues for a person who needs healing that the
healing is more apt to come, though not in the way we might ask for it with our cognitive
mind. An example is when our cognitive mind would "demand' us to pray for physical
healing, perhaps what the person in need should have is a healing of the spirit so that the
physical ailment no longer holds them in bondage and they are free to worship God despite
their physical ailment.
When to use tongues, a practical guide.
Like Paul, I prefer that tongues not be used in a worship service, I would much
rather have a layperson share what they believe is a word from God in a language we
understand. If there is a time to use tongues in a service, it must not become a stumbling
block for anyone present. That does not prohibit the use of tongues in worship, it does
however mean we must be attentive to those whom might be afraid of tongue speaking.
For a personal prayer life, I am not sure praying in tongues can be beat. It does not
however take the place of cognitive or corporate (prayer group/worship service) prayer life.
It also must not take up so much time as to make you no earthly good. God does not call us
to love Him alone, He also calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Keep your prayer life
in good relationship with other parts of your life.
There is a "gray" area where praying in tongues might come in useful. In praying
for others, I am hesitant to pray in tongues with them. I have visited members of my
church in which I was not sure how to pray. I had the choice of a "generic" prayer which
may or may not have effect, or of praying in the Spirit (tongues), which I am sure would
have an effect.
In these cases, I explain what I wish to do prior to doing it. I then ask permission to
pray in tongues for them. I explain that when I run out of words, perhaps leaning on the
Spirit for the words is the best way to go about bringing the power of God to bear on their
problems and concerns. I have yet to be denied, but I would never force praying in tongues
upon them for that would not be love, (though I might pray in tongues for them after I leave
their presence).
Some Myths About Tongues
1. If you receive the Holy Spirit, you always receive tongues. There are many folk I
know that manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Love, Peace, Joy etc) who do not speak in
tongues. Jesus said His disciples would be known by their fruit not their gifts.
2. The Holy Spirit just takes control and you can't control yourself. God is the perfect
gentleman. I speak in tongues when I want, I turn it off when I want. The only loss of
control is in the words that pour forth and the benefits received, neither which seem
important to control anyway.
3. If you don't speak in tongues, you are only half a Christian. See my answer to myth
number 1. If you don't find peace in the midst of the chaos of life however...
4. Tongues can be faked. Yes and no. Yes we can cognitively make up words that don't
make sense. We can learn other words that other tongue talkers use and mimic them. That
is faking it. On the other hand "real" tongues cannot be faked. If you pray in tongues long
enough, your life will change and you will become more like Christ.
5. Everyone who asks for tongues gets it. It is up to the Spirit of God, who apportions
to each one individually as he wills.
Addendum -
Pentecostal - Charismatic and Other experiences
After some research, I have found that there are several ways the gift of tongues is
manifest. The Pentecostal experience is based on an overwhelming emotional state, you
get so focused in prayer that tongues come on you, almost out of excitement.
The Charismatic experience seems to be less emotional (but not void of emotion).
You decide when to begin and end, though you don't have a cognitive clue as to what you
are praying, if you are focused on a situation, we can trust God to deal with it in His way.
I have also heard of a person who came home to share with his mother about what
was happening at church. He proceeded to tell her, yet she heard an unknown language.
This is the first case like this I have heard of however. Though this same person told me of
going to a house blessing and when several came into a certain room, all present broke
forth in singing in tongues. The interesting part was that none of these people had any
prior experience with tongues.
My closing remark then, is one of my favorite sayings:
"When in doubt, ask God. When not in doubt, ask Him anyway."
Back to the beliefs page.