Bible Reading Challenge #45

Speaking in Tongues

1 Corinthians 14:6–12

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

I must confess that I have no direct experience of worshiping God in this manner or being part of a gathering where God was worshiped in this way. That is not to say it cannot happen in our day, but this personal form of worship can become dangerous to the church if handled improperly — as Paul warns here.

Paul gives several cautions about speaking in tongues during worship:

• Tongues can be abused as a counterfeit style of worship. Some may fake a spiritual moment by speaking in gibberish and calling it worship.

• Tongues should have purpose. Just as an instrument makes a distinct sound, human speech should be sensible and intelligible — even if it requires interpretation.

• Tongues without interpretation are not beneficial for the common good.

John MacArthur says it well: “The purpose of every language is to communicate, not to impress, and certainly not to confuse, as the Corinthians had been doing with their counterfeits.”

I personally do not hold to a strict cessationist view of spiritual gifts. Cessationists believe that the sign gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 ceased after the death of the apostles. I do not believe we must limit God’s gifts to a specific era. I believe God can still use miracles, languages, and signs to bring people to Himself all over the world. While this is less common in our Western culture — where we enjoy the blessings of modern medicine, Bible translations, and the internet — I am not willing to say that God has stopped using signs altogether.