Tag: spiritual gifts

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)

We Must Grow Up 

Friday’s Column: Supplemental Strength

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Brent Pollard

 

Sometimes our television plays to an “empty room.” People are present; they just are not paying attention. I suppose you could say the television just serves to offer “background noise” on those occasions. Today, an action-type show played on a broadcast network. A childhood favorite was playing. Though I might be accused of “hassling the Hoff,” I noted, as an adult, the show I enjoyed as a child was replete with terrible acting from the show’s star and the supporting cast. The only character that retained an air of sophistication was the car voiced by William Daniels. Even with KITT, though, it wasn’t that “he” had great lines, but a great accent. 

 

I couldn’t help but think of Paul’s words to the brethren of Corinth. 

 

“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13.11 NASB)

 

I will explain this verse in its context before I make application of it. In the immediate context of Paul’s discourse on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul was comparing their reliance on spiritual gifts such as tongue-speaking to being like a child. Love was the more excellent way (1 Corinthians 12.31ff). The spiritual gifts would pass away. Love would be what would guide the church after the miraculous age had passed. Rather than quibble over who had the best spiritual gift, they needed to grow up and be motivated by love. 

 

Within the context of the epistle, though, Paul’s words in our text serves as a reminder to Christians that a failure to mature as we should, signifies a childish mind (1 Corinthians 14.20).  Only in one’s desire to sin is such a childish disposition a positive, since it’s childlike innocence which epitomizes the ideal child of God (Matthew 18.3). Thus, we are innocent like children, but stay like adults in our thinking. 

 

This brings me back to Knight Rider. Why did the show make me cringe? I know some might accuse me of being quite capable of immaturity. Nevertheless, I am an adult now. I see things like plot holes. I can tell I am watching D-list actors. And the entire premise strains credulity. In the episode airing, Michael and KITT had gone to a South American country whose American advisor was imperiled by a coup begun during a volcanic eruption. They were responsible for safely extracting this advisor.  Naturally, they accomplished their task with little difficulty within the hour.

 

Now, let us bring it on home where it counts. How many Christians are easily swayed by the smooth words of a false teacher because he plays on those things appealing to an immature mind? How many base their convictions on how they feel instead of a “thus saith the Lord?” The Hebrews writer admonished his recipients to stop being milk-drinkers so that can tear into the solid food found in God’s Word (Hebrews 5.12-14).  That takes spending time in prayer and Bible study.

 

In closing, I remind you of what God said to Job when He finally granted the latter the audience he had requested: “Now gird up your loins like a man…” (Job 38.3; 40.7).  May we heed those words also and make those needed adjustments to become the Christian men and women God would have us be.
 

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