"….TO ANOTHER VARIOUS KINDS OF TONGUES, AND TO ANOTHER
THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES." I COR. 12:10
IN HIS BOOK ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, PETE GILQUIST SAYS OF THESE TWO GIFTS
"Buckle up, friends, because here we go on the two gifts that qualify as the
biggest 'Christian friendship and oneness busters' of the century (p 87)
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN FOR UNITY
THAT WAS AND IS GOD'S PURPOSE IN THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
THAT WAS AND IS THE PURPOSE OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO BIND THE BODY OF CHRIST TOGETHER IN INTERDEPENDENCE
BECAUSE EACH NEEDS THE OTHER TO BE COMPLETE
REMEMBER PAUL'S WORDS TO THE EPHESIANS…
"eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
THEN HOW IS IT THAT THESE TWO GIFTS
RIP THE UNITY TO SHREDS???
AND BOY, ARE THE VARYING VIEWS DOGMATIC !
Dennis Bennett "What if I don't speak in tongues? Can I receive the Holy Spirit without
speaking in tongues? It COMES IN THE PACKAGE!"
Robert Gromacki "EVERY experience of tongues-speaking is either a result of demon
influence or psychological suggestion."
WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THIS SERMON SERIES ON THE GIFTS
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE I STAND ON TONGUES
AND THEY OFTEN WITHHOLD THEIR FELLOWSHIP AND LOVE
UNTIL THEY FIND OUT "DOES HE?" OR "DOESN'T HE?"
AND I KEEP ASKING MYSELF
WHY ARE WE, IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, SO DIVIDED
ABOUT THAT WHICH WAS GIVEN TO UNIFY US?
ONE WRITER PUTS HIS FINGER ON THE REASON - IT IS THE WORK OF SATAN
(NOT the tongues, but the division of the gifts)
HE WRITES, "The charismatic movement has placed and unbalanced emphasis on the
importance of tongues. They have drawn unscriptural conclusions about a GENUINE
and bona fide spiritual gift. The more the (rest of the) Christian world has criticized their
movement, the greater the claims that have made of tongued. The more that have
sought to validate their emphasis with biblically unsupportable claims, the more
conservative biblical scholars and Christians have resisted them. With a polarization
like this, who do you think is the winner? You guessed it! Satan! He goads both sides
on in their causes and then stands back and laughs while they battle each other instead
of him." (Hal Lindsey, Satan is Alive and Well, p 147ff
WELL, LET ME STATE RIGHT HERE AGAIN
(I HAVE MANY TIMES - BUT SOME OF YOU ARE NOT HEARING ME)
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY ONE OF THE GIFTS OF THE H. S. ARE FOR US TODAY
I DO NOT THINK THAT THEY ARE ALL COMMON TODAY
AND I DEFINATELY DO NOT ACCEPT THAT ANY ONE GIFT IS FOR ALL
IT IS SORT OF SADLY FUNNY
SOME OF YOU THINK I AM TO SOFT ON THE CHARISMATICS
SOME OF YOU THINK I AM ANTI CHARISMATICS - TO HARD
BUT FRIENDS, HERE IS THE ONLY QUESTION I CARE ONE SNAP ABOUT…..
AM I BIBLICAL?
THAT IS MY AUTHORITY AND MY ONLY AUTHORITY
YOUR EXPERIENCE AND MY EXPERIENCE IS FASCINATING
BUT NEITHER ONE IS AUTHORITATIVE
GOD'S WORD IS !
SO NOW LETS LOOK AT IT AGAIN WITH REGARD TO TONGUES
I. FIRST, WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT TONGUES IS NOT
(I can almost hear some say, "See how negative his is about tongues!")
A) TONGUES ARE NOT NORMATIVE
THAT IS - NOT EVERY SPIRIT FILLED PERSON SPEAKS IN TONGUES
I COR. 12:13 - ALL ARE BAPTISED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO ONE BODY
Vs 30 PAUL ASKS "…Do all speak in tongues?" IMPLIED NEGATIVE
THUS IT CANNOT BE THE SIGN OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
AT SALVATION EVERY BELIEVER IS BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT INTO BODY
IF A PERSON HAS NOT BEEN BAPTIZED IN THE SPIRIT
IS NOT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST / THEREFORE UNSAVED
BECAUSE THAT IS ONLY WAY OF ENTERING CHRIST'S BODY
ARE A HOST OF PASSAGES CONCERNING THE FILLING OF THE H.S.
WHERE NOT A HINT OF TONGUES IS GIVEN AS ACCOMPANYING IT
Acts 4:8 Peter filled - before Sanhedrin - spoke without tongues
Acts 4:31 Believers - "and when they had prayed, the place where they
had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness."
Acts 6:5 Deacons all filled with the Holy Spirit but no mention of tongues
as a prerequisite or even mentioned
IN FACT -
TONGUES ARE MENTIONED ONLY 3 TIMES IN ACTS
NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN H.S. GIFT LISTS IN ROMANS OR EPHESIANS
EACH ACTS MENTIONING WAS ON A SPECIAL OCCASION
1) ACTS 2:3,4 "And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves,
& they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the H.S. and
began to speak with other tongues,as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
THESE WERE JEWS
THE NOISE ATTRACTED A CROWD OF PASSOVER VISITORS
PROVIDING A SPRINGBOARD FOR PETER'S SERMON
(which was not in tongues)
AND HELPED WIN 3,000 SOULS
IT WAS A RECOGNIZED LANGUAGE TO THE HEARERS
IT AUTHENTICATED THE MESSAGE CONCERNING JESUS
(by the way - why do some want to make tongues normative but say
nothing about the tongues of fire or wind as accompanying signs?)
2) ACTS 10:46 "….for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and
exalting God" (folk at Cornelius' at Caesaria)
THESE WERE GENTILES
JEWS HATED THEM AND WOULD NEVER ACCEPT THEM IN BODY
BUT LISTEN - "and all the circumcised (Jewish) believers who had
come with Peter were AMAZED, because the gift of the H.S. had
been poured out upon the Gentiles also" vs54
THIS HUGE INNOVATION OF GOD (INCLUDING GENTILES)
NEEDED DIVINE AUTHENTICATION
TONGUES CONVINCED THE SKEPTICAL JEWISH BELIEVERS
AND THEY REALIZED GOSPEL FOR GENTILES ALSO
3) ACTS 19:6 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the H.S. came upon
them and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying"
THESE WERE THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
THEIR GOSPEL WAS INCOMPLETE
PAUL TAUGHT THEM OF JESUS
TONGUES CAME AS AUTHENTICATION OF PAUL'S MESSAGE
IF TONGUES ARE NORMATIVE - WHY ONLY THESE 3 SPECIAL MENTIONINGS?
EACH AUTHENTICATING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
TO JEWS - TO GENTILES -- TO DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPT.
AND WHY DOES PAUL ONLY MENTION IT
ONLY TO DEAL WITH ITS ABUSES?
B) TONGUES ARE NOT THE BIBLICAL METHOD OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH
THE NEW TESTAMENT'S EXPLANATIONS OF THE LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
IGNORES SPEAKING IN TONGUES
THIS FACT IS BECAUSE GROWTH IN GODLINESS (SANCTIFICATION)
IS NOT A SUDDEN ACQUISITION OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
BY WAY OF AN EXCITING EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE
IT IS A GROWTH PROCESS OF OBEDIENCE
BY WHICH CHRISTLIKENESS IS PRODUCED
BY THE INDWELLING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
C) TONGUES ARE NOT THE EXCLUSIVE DOMAIN OF CHRISTIANITY
CHARISMATICS READILY ADMIT THE THE GIFT CAN BE COUNTERFEITED
HINDUS / MUSLIMS / MORMONS / ZULUS / SPIRITUALIST MEDIUMS
EVEN UNITARIANS (WHO REJECT THE DEITY OF CHRIST)
ALL HAVE AN EXPERIENCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES
D) TONGUES ARE NOT THE SIGN OF MATURITY OR SPIRITUALITY
THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THIS FACT
PAUL CALLS THEM CARNAL, IMMATURE, BABIES
THE MARK OF SPIRITUALITY IS FRUIT-BEARING
(not tongues nor any gift - we are to be fruit inspectors not gift checkers)
My Texas preacher buddy, Curt Jennings, used to quote his granddad, "I don't
care how high a man jumps or how loud he hollers, just as long as when he lands
on the ground he walks straight !!
E) TONGUES ARE NOT THE TEST OF TRUE ECUMENICITY
HOW CAN TONGUES BECOME A TEST OF FELLOWSHIP AMONG CHRISTIANS?
PENTECOSTAL UNITARIANS NUMBER 1/2 MILLION
AND THEY DENY THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
AM I ONE WITH THEM?
NO, I CERTAINLY AM NOT !
FULL FELLOWSHIP WITH ROMAN CATHOLICS ON A BASIS TONGUES
IS ALSO A PROBLEM
PENTECOSTAL ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, FATHER O'CONNOR WRITES,
"The traditional devotions of the church have taken on more meaning. Some
have been brought back to a frequent use of the sacrament of PENANCE
through the experience of the "baptism" of the Spirit. Others have discovered a
place for devotion to MARY in their lives, whereas previously that had been
indifferent or even antipathetic toward her. One of the most striking effects of the
H.S. action has been to stir up devotion to the REAL PRESENCE in the
Eucharist."
NEWSWEEK (6/25/73) QUOTES CARDINAL SUENENS
(A BRIGHT STAR IN THE GALAXY OF CHARISMATIC GROUPS)
AS DECLARING, "Unity with the Holy Spirit,
is unity with MARY the holy mother."
THAT SORT OF UNBIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS NOT A BASIS FOR UNITY
I DON'T CARE IF THEY DO SPEAK IN TONGUES
"For by grace are you saved - through faith…"
AND THAT COMMON AND SHARED REALITY
IS THE ONLY TRUE BASIS FOR FULL FELLOWSHIP - PERIOD !
I COULD GO ON AND ON RESPONDING TO WHAT TONGUES ARE NOT
BECAUSE SO MANY NON-BIBLICAL CLAIMS ARE TOSSED AROUND
BUT LETS GET ON - - -
II. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH US THAT TONGUES ARE ?
THE GREEK WORD IS glossa = SIMPLY MEANS LANGUAGE
TONGUES ARE, THEREFORE, LANGUAGES GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
ACCORDING TO I COR 13:1 THEY MAY BE HUMAN OR ANGELIC
THEY ARE NOT GIBBERISH NOR "ECSTATIC UTTERANCES"
A). THEY ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD LANGUAGES
WITH THE SPEAKER IN FULL CONTROL OF THE UTTERANCE
JUST AS IN ANY MORE USUAL PRAYER
NOTE: I COR 14:15 & 28 "…so what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,
but I will also pray with my mind . . . if there is no interpreter, the speaker
should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God."
B). NORMALLY SPEAKER & HEARERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE
NOTE: I COR 14:2 &14 "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not
speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him: he utters
mysteries with his spirit . . . . for if I pray in a tongue, my spirit
prays, but my mind is unfruitful."
C). THERE ARE NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS AND THEREFORE
THERE IS A NEED, WITHIN A GROUP, FOR GIFT OF INTERPRETATION
NOTE: I COR 14:13 & 27 "For this reason the man who speaks in a
tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says .. . if
anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most 3 should speak, one at a
time and someone must interpret."
D). ESSENTIALLY, THEREFORE, TONGUES IS A PRIVATE,
DEVOTIONAL LANGUAGE GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A SORT OF "LOVE LANGUAGE"
AN INTIMATE FORM OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE BELIEVER
AND HIS/HER LORD
WHEN THE MIND IS RELAXED
BUT THE SPIRIT IS STILL PRAISING AND PRAYING
HERE AGAIN NOTE I COR 14:14ff
THIS GIFT IS PRIMARILY FOR SPIRITUAL REFRESHMENT
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself" I COR 14:4
"oikodomeo" = to build up or strengthen
THIS IS WHY THE PUBLIC USE OF TONGUES
MUST HAVE INTERPRETATION
HOW ELSE CAN THE HEARERS BE BUILT UP
IF THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND?
THE GIFT IS NOT, THEREFORE, IRRATIONAL
(meaning unreasonable, illogical, absurd)
IT IS SUPRA-RATIONAL
(transcending ordinary levels of rational communication)
(there are many forms of communication between persons -
silence - "sighs too deep for words"
THESE TOO, ARE REAL & THEY ARE EFFECTIVE
TONGUES IS SIMPLY ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF OUR RELATIONSHIP OF
LOVE WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
E). OCCASIONALLY THERE MAY BE PUBLIC USE OF TONGUES
NOT TO BE MORE THAN 2 OR 3 AT A TIME
AND ALWAYS THERE MUST BE AN INTERPRETATION
BECAUSE THE PRIMARY PRINCIPLE AND PURPOSE IS ALWAYS
THE EDIFICATION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST - HIS CHURCH
I COR 14:5 ". . . he who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,
unless he interprets, so that the CHURCH MAY BE EDIFIED."
F). TONGUES NEVER TO BE USED AS A DEMONSTRATION OF SPIRITUALITY
NO GIFT SHOULD BE SO USED
THEY ARE GIVEN FOR THE COMMON GOOD -
TO BUILD UP THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST - HIS CHURCH
III. NOW FOR SOME OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THESE GIFTS
1). THE CHURCH MUST AVOID DENYING
THE NEW TESTAMENT GIFT OF TONGUES
EVEN IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE
THAT ITS MAJOR PURPOSE WAS IN THE APOSTOLIC DAY
YOU DARE NOT TRY TO PUT A STRAIT JACKET OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
HE WILL GIVE HIS GIFTS WHEN AND WHERE HE WILLS!!
2). THE CHURCH MUST AVOID BECOMING EVANGELISTS FOR THIS GIFT
THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS BEING HUSTLED BY MANY TODAY
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNBIBLICAL
A NUMBER OF BOOKS GIVE "HOW TO SPEAK IN TONGUES" TIPS
(Start with a simple sound and repeat it over and over and faster and
faster - sort of like priming a pump)
THIS IS NOT ONLY ABSOLUTELY NOT BIBLICAL
IT IS ALSO LUDICROUS
(Why not hustle other gifts that way? - illustration - "If you really want the full gospel you
must have my gift - I set you in a chair - lay my hands on you - praying that you get my
gift - say my gift is the gift of giving - I now place an offering plate on your lap and tell
you to put something in it - again - again - again - faster - faster……ABSURD)
3). TONGUES ARE PRIMARILY A SIGN TO UNBELIEVERS WHEN IN PUBLIC
I COR 14:22 "Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe,
but to them that believe not…"
MISSIOLOGIST C. P. WAGNER tells about a remote Guatemalan village suffering from
a severe drought that had devastated the area - village on verge of extinction -
Christians prayed - God spoke to them through tongues and interpretation - were told to
go up a specific hill which was owned by fellow believers and dig for a well there -
seemed an odd place to dig but they obeyed even in the face of ridicule by the other
villagers - ridicule changed to astonishment as the well diggers struck an abundant
supply of water and the village was saved - resulting in many of the villagers coming to
Christ when they saw the power of God.
4). THERE IS NO BIBLICAL COMMAND TO SPEAK IN TONGUES
IT IS A GIFT GIVEN AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WILLS
THE BIBLE NEVER DIRECTS ANYONE TO SEEK THIS PARTICULAR GIFT
PAUL NEVER EVEN MENTIONS TONGUES IN ANY OTHER EPISTLE
AND HERE IN I COR. HE SOFT-PEDALS IT
AND TRIES TO CORRECT ITS ABUSES
CONSIDERING THE HOST OF PASSAGES CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND THE MINUTE AMOUNT REFERRING TO TONGUES
OVER EMPHASIS OF MANY TODAY SEEMS HARDLY BIBLICAL
AND WHEN THIS GIFT IS THE RALLYING POINT OF HUGE CONFERENCES
IT SEEMS TO BE MAJORING IN WHAT THE BIBLE SEES AS MINOR
WE MUST NEVER SACRIFICE UNITY OR BIBLICAL DOCTRINAL BALANCE
IN ORDER TO EMPHASIZE AN EXPERIENCE
OR IN ORDER TO DENY AN EXPERIENCE
THE AUTHORITY IN BOTH CASES
IS NOT TO BE THE EXPERIENCE
BUT THE WORD OF GOD !
5). LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS STATEMENT - "SEEK NOT - FORBID NOT"
HEAR TWO MAJOR EXHORTATIONS FOR EVERY BELIEVER
PAUL "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling with which you have been called - being diligent to preserve
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. . . " EPHESIANS 4:1,3
JESUS TO DISCIPLES ON LAST NIGHT OF HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY - "A new
commandment I give you; love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one
another." JOHN 13:34, 35
THIS LOVE IS NOT BASED ON A COMMON RECEPTION OF THE SAME GIFT
IT IS BASED ON OUR COMMON RELATIONSHIP WITH
AND OUR COMMON LOVE FOR THE SAME LORD AND SAVIOR
THE RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE BORN
INTO THE SAME FOREVER FAMILY