Worship

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(Before reading on, I suggest reading I Corinthians 14 in its entirety.) The issue of tongues is one that really ought not be as disputed as it is, yet it remains one often misunderstood and frankly pointlessly practiced. Why did the apostles speak in tongues at all? Well, we know from Acts that God used “tongues” at Pentecost to convert thousands of unsaved people. I think it best to be sure we all understand that the word “tongues” refers literally to the word “languages.” We are not referring to gibberish, but to foreign languages (unknown to one’s audience; a real language.)

We know that God used tongues at Pentecost to grow the church. “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:”(1 Corinthians 14:22a.)

The miraculous numbers of languages spoken at Pentecost allowed many to hear the gospel and thus understand it and repent. It had a purpose and effect. If their is no such purpose–with the goal of understanding and edifying in mind–it is vain and unscriptural. “But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:28.) The key here is that the people listening need to be able to understand or the “tongues” are of no profit, and I therefore say they are wrong. Matthew Henry wrote, “Would it not make Christianity ridiculous then to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he or the assembly understood? But if those who minister plainly interpret Scripture…a heathen…might become a convert to Christianity.”

The key, once again, is clarity and understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:9 and 33 reaffirm this truth; “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Focus on the phrase, “ye shall speak into the air.” Paul warns ministers to simply preach the Gospel in languages that the congregation will understand and therefore profit from. Some ministers were more concerned with impressing their congregation with unknown tongues than with edifying them with the Gospel of Christ; this is why Paul is writing in such detail and with such great logical form. John Calvin emphasizes the “speaking into the air” by noting, “For when persons hear a man speaking in a foreign tongue, their admiration is commonly excited…inasmuch as it does not at all contribute to the edifying of the Church. He that speaketh in another tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: that is according to the proverb, ‘He sings to himself and to the Muses.’[he preaches to himself and the bare walls.]”

The picture painted here for us is actually rather comical; in other words, when a preacher uses a language unknown to his audience and has no translator, he is preaching or praying something that only God can discern. The sad fact is that many misled Pentecostals constantly practice tongues, well–in their case gibberish. Speaking in tongues [other known languages] is fine on two conditions: Firstly, if the need for several languages arises (e.g. multiple ethnic groups.) And secondly, if there is a translator present; otherwise, you are “preaching into the wind.”

9 King James Version

10 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on I Corinthians

11 Commentary of John Calvin Vol. XX

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