Recently I was reminded of the classic stumbling block for many churches. I must confess, it has been a while since I thought about the issue. Yet somehow it was brought up three different times in as many days – one individual spoke about it and two pastors from two different churches. If you haven’t guessed it yet, the matter was tongues.
What bothered me is that one of the pastors insisted these “gifts” were absolutely necessary. The other did not expand and show the reality behind tongues which is the individual found it difficult. It reminded me of the chaotic time when everyone was pushing tongues like it was the sign of redemption or something. This is exactly the type of teaching that drove me to read and re-read the Bible regularly. How else can you know what it actually says?
The only reference the one pastor gave for his position was the 1 Corinthians 13 – he may have been inferring the previous chapter needed to be included as part of his source but that wasn’t clear. Never the less, neither of these chapters promote such a view. In fact, the latter half of chapter 13 clearly indicates many of these listed gifts will in fact cease, which it appears some certainly have.
The problem with tongues is that most do not read the rest of the Bible to get a sense of what it was and where it was used. Right from Genesis, the term was used to refer to languages. Acts 2:4 is the first indication of what we know of as speaking in tongues. This occurred at the time of the filling of the Holy Spirit but scripture clearly indicates these to be known languages. Act 2:11 says “we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” So two things are notable: 1. it was known languages, 2. it was to bring praise and to glorify God.
There is little mentioned beyond that until the passage in 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 where for some reason, people seem to get tripped up. The passage speaks of the gifts. These gifts, it goes on to say, are distributed at the will of the Holy Spirit and not to everyone. Given that we know it’s only use preceding this was to allow people to hear God being glorified in their own language, then it stands to reason this would have to be the case every time. Furthermore, it isn’t required o something given to everyone. Finally, we note it is subject to expiring.
Obviously, this pastor was wrong. Scripture does not claim these are necessary nor does it suggest they continue for any particular length of time. People standing up and speaking some kind of gibberish without anyone else understanding is simply wrong. Real tongues are known languages and someone has to understand it if glory is to brought to God at all. Even in the apostles day, there was little mention of tongues and with translation abilities now, it would no longer serve a purpose.
This is why it hasn’t been something I considered in some time and why it remains imperative to study things out for yourself. People can and will be wrong from time to time but if you known what the Bible really says, no one can fool you into believing nonsense about it.