Tag: confirmation

Speaking In Tongues

Carl Pollard

Recently, Wesley Huff (christian apologist) made comments about speaking in tongues that sparked a lot of discussion online. And honestly, this is a subject Christians need to handle carefully because emotions, experiences, and traditions often shape people’s views more than Scripture does. The real question is simple: what does the Bible actually teach about tongues?

The clearest place to begin is Acts 2. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). Then the crowd responded, “How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” (Acts 2:8). Luke even lists different nations and languages present that day. Thats important because it defines biblical tongues for us.

 In Scripture, tongues were real human languages miraculously spoken by people who had never learned them. The purpose was communication. The people heard “the mighty works of God” in their own languages (Acts 2:11).

Tongues also served as a sign confirming God’s revelation. Hebrews 2:3–4 says God bore witness to the gospel through signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Before the New Testament was fully revealed and circulated, miraculous gifts confirmed the message and the messengers.

Paul also explains in 1 Corinthians 14 that tongues served as a sign to unbelievers, especially unbelieving Israel, connecting it to Isaiah 28 where foreign languages symbolized judgment.

And then there’s Corinth. There we find a church abusing spiritual gifts. Their worship assemblies had become disorderly and self-centered. Paul spends much of 1 Corinthians 12–14 correcting that behavior.

One verse often brought into this discussion is 1 Corinthians 14:4. “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” Some use this verse to argue for a kind of private prayer language. And yet the context shows Paul correcting selfish use of gifts in the assembly. His whole emphasis in the chapter is church edification. He tells them to, “strive to excel in building up the church” (14:12), and “let all things be done for building up” (14:26). 

Paul is pointing out the problem, uninterpreted tongues only benefited the speaker while prophecy benefited everyone. That’s why he says if there’s no interpreter, the speaker should remain silent in the church (14:28). Biblical tongues involved understandable communication that could be interpreted.

Another common argument comes from 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels…” Some will claim this proves ecstatic heavenly speech. And yet the context shows Paul using exaggeration throughout the chapter. He also says, “if I have all knowledge” and “if I have all faith so as to remove mountains.” Paul’s point is that even the greatest imaginable abilities mean nothing without love. He emphasizes love rather than defining a heavenly prayer language. And throughout Scripture, angels always spoke understandable language when communicating with people.

So, do tongues still exist today?  Paul said, “As for tongues, they will cease” (1 Corinthians 13:8). The New Testament shows miraculous gifts connected to the apostolic age and the revealing of God’s Word. Hebrews 2:3–4 connects miracles to the confirmation of the gospel message. Acts 8:18 also shows miraculous gifts being passed on through the apostles hands. As the apostolic age came to an end and God’s revelation was completed in Scripture, those miraculous sign gifts faded. Even early Christian writers acknowledged that miraculous gifts had largely stopped. 

Today, modern charismatic practices often look very different from the biblical pattern. Scripture describes tongues as understandable languages spoken orderly and interpreted in the assembly. Modern practices often involve repetitive sounds, simultaneous speaking, and speech that doesn’t correspond to identifiable human language.

But keep in mind, this discussion isn’t about attacking sincere people. Many are genuine and passionate in their faith. And yet Christians must always let Scripture define spiritual truth. The New Testament consistently points Christians toward holiness, truth, love, faithfulness, and spiritual maturity (Gal. 5). Those things remain the clearest evidence of God working in someone’s life.

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

It’s A Miracle!

Gary Pollard

It is tempting to believe that an incredible recovery, acquisition of a needed job or asset, or escape from a major life issue is an example of the miraculous. In the religious world, a miracle is something a few believe can be invoked with prayer, a special religious service, or even a social media post (“pray that ______ will be healed by a miracle from God”).

Despite living in an age where notions of the supernatural are considered unscientific or are chalked up to circumstances we simply don’t understand yet, there is still much confusion surrounding the miraculous.

Miracles served a specific purpose both in the Old and New Testaments: they were designed to glorify God. Parting the Red Sea, striking a rock to get water, a talking donkey, an endless supply of oil and flour, the sun standing still, and all of the other miracles were – by design – impossible to perform without divine help. The Hebrew word for miracle meant “a sign or wonder” (Hebrew & Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament). Its purpose was to prove to the recipient that God was in control, was all powerful, was perfect, righteous, to be feared, and to be obeyed. Miracles were also used to prove that someone’s message was actually from God or that God was with them.

In the New Testament, miracles served to prove that Jesus was the Son of God and that the Apostles’ message was certainly from God. Water was turned into wine, the dead were raised, sicknesses were healed, people who were uneducated could suddenly speak multiple languages, predict the future, read someone’s mind, etc. The Greek word for miracle meant “a deed that exhibits the ability to function powerfully” (BDAG 263). These deeds were impossible to perform without God’s help, and they served a specific purpose: to prove that a message came from God, or to prove that a purpose originated with God.

While it certainly is a nice sentiment that an otherwise unlikely recovery or escape is an example of the miraculous, it’s important to remember that miracles served a specific purpose no longer relevant to our time. We no longer need miracles to prove our message comes from God because we have His complete and perfect word in scripture (I Corinthians 13).

Not having miracles in our world may be a downer to some, but we have this to look forward to: a place without sin for those who die faithful (II Peter 3.13). A place without death for those who die in Christ (Revelation 20.14). A place without sorrow for those who sleep in God after a lifelong battle in this sinful world (Revelation 21.4).

Miracles existed because this world is fallen (Romans 8). Their purpose was to demonstrate God’s power over Satan and sin in a world characterized by all that cannot coexist with goodness. Those who are living life in view of the next find hope and comfort in the miracle of Scripture, the miracle that will bring us home if we follow it.

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)