In an age when sensationalism buys the Christian vote, the claim to
spiritual gifts and propaganda such as the gift of tongues has
shifted the body of Christ from essential Christian doctrine into
nothing more than socio-psychological manipulations. Our cause and
focus can no longer be directed outside the church; the church must
reform before we can be change-agents to an unbelieving world. Is it
possible that spiritual gifts such as tongues are still in effect
today? In this article we will take another look at Scripture in hope
to resolve this most intriguing phenomenon.
To understand more
clearly when scripture refers to the gift of “speaking in tongues”
and what role it plays in the edification of the church, we must first
take the step of scrutinizing the roots of the reason for its
necessity. This takes us back to the post-flood event mentioned in
Genesis chapters 10:32 to 11:1-9. Verse 32,
These are the
families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations:
and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood (Ch.
11 verses 1-9). And the whole earth was one language (Heb.,
śâphâh;
śepheth), and of one speech (Heb.,
dâbâr).
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a
plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to
another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they
had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go
to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven;
and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of
the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower,
which the children of men built. Verse 6, And the Lord said, Behold,
the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin
to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have
imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their
language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the
Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth:
and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called
Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the
earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face
of all the earth. [Emphasis added].
At this point we should understand
that God separated the people from a unified or universal language. We
can reason that if the generation mentioned in the passage had not
dishonored God’s plan, we would still be confined by one universal
language, thus, no need for linguists or interpreters to bring the good
news of our Savior.
Later in scripture, particularly in
the book of Isaiah (Chapter 28 verses 11-12), a prediction is made:
For with stammering
lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] To
whom he said, this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;
and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Again, in Joel (v.
2:28-32) we find the predictive prophesy of the mediators receiving the
“gifts” from God to spread the message of our Deliverer. Verse
28,
And it shall come to
pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your
sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon
the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I
will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and
pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon
into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it
shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be delivered… [Emphasis added].
These depictions of
forthcoming events clearly demonstrate a formula for the final
deliverance of man and the mission given unto the apostolate. God was
setting up the stage. Jesus confirms the predictive prophesy in the
following passage:
Mark 16: 17-19,
And these signs
shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Verse 19, - So then
after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and
sat on the right hand of God. [Emphasis added]
Again, the foundation
that was to be laid to carry out the Gospel aided in the authentication
and validity of the apostolic message.
On the day of the
Pentecost (Gk., pentekoste, pentekonta); the 50th
day after Jesus’ resurrection, 10th day after His ascension
to heaven; beginning of the Gospel era, on Sunday; 15 nations named
(Acts 2:9-11). The Galilean apostles speaking to them in their own
language (Gk., glossa also called; glossolalia from
glossa-language, lilia-talking). The risen Christ sent
the Holy Spirit to the church to equip His followers for their worldwide
task of spreading the good news of salvation:
Acts 2:4,
And they were filled
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues [other than
their own], as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Verse 7-8,
And they were all
amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these
which speak Galileans? And how we hear every man in our own
tongue, wherein we were born? (See also Verses 9-11). [Emphasis
added]
As you can see it was
not an utterance of babbling that happened on the day of the Pentecost.
Rather, they were anointed to speak a foreign language for the
furtherance of the Gospel.
The apparent disparity
between Acts 2 and Romans 8 verse 26 is easily reconciled when reading
the passage contextually:
Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. [Emphasis added]
Acts 2 verse 4 makes it clear that
tongues are utterable and intelligible. The intercession with
“groanings” (Gk., stenagmos – sigh; groan) can be referred
to as a sigh too deep to utter, since it would be a clear contradiction
otherwise. Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 14 verse 2 followed by chapter 14
verses 7 thru 11 correctly acknowledges that “there are, it may be,
so many kinds of voices in the world” that the distinction of
foreign tongues are only comprehensible in their native land, thus
unintelligible to anyone else. [Italics added]
In our times, we can
easily identify the fallacy of sensationalist movements; clearly it is
not so much that they “speak in tongues,” it is that they don’t speak in
a tongue at all. In other words, they have not been given the
“gift” (ability) to speak in a foreign language as written in the book
of Acts. We can be certain about two things lacking in the church
today: 1) legitimacy and 2) interpretation.
The book of Acts clearly depicts
the formation and spread of the Gospel (the good news of redemption).
Although it is possible to inherit the gift of tongues for the furtherance of
the Gospel, its necessity is less purposeful. Decisively, the
foundation was laid out by the apostles, which authenticated their
claims or the uniqueness
and temporary nature of the apostolate. Today we have preachers,
pastors, evangelists spread all over the world and teaching in every
nation—putting an end to the need of a supernatural gift of tongues (see
1 Corinthians 13:8).
Scripture makes a strong case—indicative to the
authentication of “true apostleship.”
“The signs of a true apostle were performed
among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.” 2
Corinthians 12:12 [Emphasis added].
Scripture is not clear
on the time or day on which tongues will cease. However, it
would be logical to conclude that they may cease when they are no longer
in need or essential concluding the closing of the canon of scripture
(see Rev. 22:18-21). The purpose of the gift of speaking in tongues
is portrayed in scripture as a gift entirely aimed at spreading the
Gospel (Acts 2:11), to communicate with God (1 Cor. 14:2), or
edification (1 Cor. 14:4). Therefore, we can deduce that the
significance of speaking in tongues now and the significance of
speaking in tongues then, are reflected upon a particular
necessity. A necessity much less required at present. We can,
unquestionably, communicate with God in our native language! The Bible
is replete with examples of direct communication with God without the
use of tongues.
1 Corinthians 13:1
mentions the speaking of tongues of men and of angels, but throughout
Scripture where there have been angel appearances (or angelophanies),
angels have spoken the language of man; thus no need for
interpretation. But one major concern about these movements is that
rarely do you see anybody interpret at all. (See also 1
Corinthians 12:10, 12:28, 12:30, 14:18-19, 14:21-23). And again, the
apropos question is, “who is being edified?” Scripture reveals that
even in tongues they will “not listen to me [God].” [Italics
added]
“Brothers, do not be
children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be
mature. [21] In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues
and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even
then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." [22] Thus tongues
are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a
sign not for unbelievers but for believers” (1 Cor. 14:20-22).
[Emphasis added].
Some members of
sensationalist movements amongst some charismatic denominations have
been very dogmatic about what they believe, whether it is scriptural or
not. While searching for the energy and indulgence of an esoteric
experience, the sensationalists have conformed to unbiblical and
unorthodox Christian doctrine instead of the essential Christian
doctrine that begins with “basics” rather than (magical)
experience. Likewise, one can argue such ecstatic utterances as the
speaking in tongues phenomenon to be related to pagan practices. In
some cases the sensationalism has become so outlandish that it makes you
wonder how strong their faith really is.
Cultic denominations as these have relegated the
true meaning of Christianity and have embarked in this “members only”
sect of babblers.
There is no need for
hermeneutics or etymology to distinguish the phenomenon of
Scripture from the false practices of sensationalist movements.
Scripture must be read in it context and as it was intended (refer to
Acts 2: 7-8). No esoteric experience can compare with that of the Holy
Spirit working through us in the process of bringing someone to a
redeeming knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The verdict proposed in
this article is based on three premises:
1. Lack of evidential
authenticity.
2. The unessential use
in the present time.
3. Scripture harmonizes
with cessation.
Lack of evidential
authenticity. Since speaking in tongues can’t be challenged by
empirical assessment, it yields to uncertainty and therefore warrants no
significant conclusion.
The unessential use
in the present time. Since speaking in tongues played a primary
role in the authentication of the apostolate; it is no longer a
necessity.
Scripture harmonizes
with cessation. Based on the necessity of spreading the good news
of redemption and authentication of their claims; cessation is a more
plausible conclusion by the end of the apostolic age. Furthermore,
Scripture only reveals a prediction and a historical fulfillment of what
happened during Pentecost, not what will continue to happen.
Jesus Christ said at
Calvary (John 19:30), “It is finished.” (Gk., teleo- complete;
also, paid in full). There is absolutely nothing that we
can add to His final words, and certainly nothing else that we can do to
further magnify His glory!
Not necessarily a cult, rather cultic in some of their practices.
Works Cited
Eldwell, A. Walter.
Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 1984.
KJV Bible
NIV Bible
Strong, James.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1997.