In Defense of Speaking In Tongues

[LetsBeReal]

This is a short essay I wrote after seeing many false statements against speaking in tongues. I wrote this while I was angry so there may be some "holes". Just let me know so I can fix it ASAP. Thanks.


In America, words play a big role in our society. Wars are started, people are tortured, treaties are signed, and many other things happen because of simply words. They can motivate us to think we can achieve the impossible and sting our hearts like steaming hot stakes. However, in our society, many words have been voided, because of their divine inspiration. These words are words inspired by the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God in man which allows the utterance of unknown tongues as worship unto God.

Speaking in tongues, as the above statement is known as, is a common occurrence in many apostolic churches. To these churches, it is believed to be a form of worship, a “heavenly language.” However, to many others, it is a form of devil worship or just plain foolishness, not a heavenly language of any kind.
An author on SkepticalScience.org published an article July 25, 2010, stating how he used to believe in speaking in tongues, but stopped because he no longer believed that it was, in any way, divine. In his article, he explains how modern tongue speaking is simply mindless babbling. According to his article, speaking in tongues is a hoax, because it is not a human language, the way the speech comes out is irrelevant to the concept being used, and it is meaningless. Additionally, some say that it is false, because people practice it and because it started in 1906. Let’s break that down.

1. It is nearly impossible to prove that it is not a human language. There are more than 3000 languages spoken in Africa alone. That’s not including the rest of the world. That would mean that you would have to track down every tongue speaker claiming to be filled with the Holy Ghost and take them around the world until you either found the language they were speaking, or went through each language. When it was decided that speaking in tongues was not a human language, they probably forgot to test every language.

2. No one speaks perfect, flowing sentences all the time. And how can you determine if the way the speech comes out is relevant or not if you don’t know what they are saying anyway?

3. The last one is simply an opinion, and a misguided one at that. Speaking in tongues, as a mentioned earlier, is used a form of worship unto God. It is most definitely not meaningless.

4. Lastly, this is the one that stumped me for a while. I’ve seen many articles stating that real speaking in tongues is impossible, because some people practice it. If you don’t throw any logic in there, the anti-tongues theory makes sense: People practice it = Mindless Babbling = Other people see it = People Don’t Know It = People practice it. Here’s a thought: not everyone are these people. Sure, maybe some people are so misguided that they DO practice, but what about the new converts that walk in and immediately start speaking in tongues. [Mindless babbling?] Again, I’d like to see proof that this is mindless babbling. [Increased activity levels in the brain, especially in emotions!] A lot of things increase emotional activity in the brain. And while some people may be faking, those are some people. Not all people. That theory doesn’t come together.

5. Actually, it started in Acts 2. Enough said.

Next, a post from Jesus-is-savior.com caught my eye. In short, it ranted on about how speaking in tongues is demonic, of all things. The Bible does talk about speaking in tongues, by the way. A key point I noticed was the argument presented about Acts 2:4 and 1 Corinthians 14:18. This argument states that Paul, on the day of Pentecost, was fluent in 14 languages. This, according to the article, explains why each person could hear their own language. However, this is inconsistent with the scripture. Acts 2:7 says that the onlookers were astonished, for weren’t all these men those which spoke the language of the Galileans? Wait, stop right there. According to the scripture, all the men were in the language of the onlookers. It did not say they were only shocked at Paul, but at the whole congregation. Why? Because they were speaking their languages! Why? Because they were speaking in tongues!

 

[eyerobot]

I guess the argument here, Would be that some people say all tongues are demonic, And the defense is, All speaking in tongues are of God?

It is true that a brain scan of someone speaking in tongues, Shows an increase in the emotional, And motor control centers of the brain. But it is also true that the areas of the brain that control coherant thought, Such as forming words, Are almost completely shut down.

Now if I were under the direct control of the Holy Spirit, And he was speaking by using my body, I wouldn't have much use for forming words. But at the same time, I can begin speaking whenever I want, And stop it. There is absolutely nothing stopping anyone from starting, Or stopping speaking in tongues, At any given time.

And I believe that the words "as the spirit gave utterance", Are the key to understanding this whole thing. It's not wether it's a human language your speaking, Or some unknown angelic language. It's wether or not you are doing it yourself, Or is the spirit giving utterance?

Now I'm not saying that all tongues are false, Or demonic. What I am saying, Like you said, Is that some of this is practiced, And hence false tongues.

One other thing to beware of, Is intense emotionalism, Which seems to lead directly into spirit movement within the congregation. God doesn't need a floor show to hype people up to get them to start speaking in tongues. All he needs to do is show up, And we will have nothing to say, Because we don't have the words to describe him anyway.

I knew a baptist minister once, That was absolutely against the idea of speaking in tongues. He began his sermon, And within just a few minutes, He started speaking this bizarre language. At first people thought he was having a stroke. But one elder said let him continue! After church, The people in the front row stood up, And began speaking the same language, And of course it was all gibberish to me. It wasn't until their translator arrived late into the service, That everyone realized, The preacher had spoken in their native language, From some african nation. And had told these people exactly what they needed to hear.

When the preacher was asked about it later, He said, I didn't speak any foreign language, I just delivered my sermon exactly as I have it written down on this paper.
So this man had no knowledge that he had even spoken in tongues, He had no control over it, And was actually shocked to find out, That it had happened.
He was not able to stop it, Because he never started it.

I know this is an extreme example, But it works fairly well to make my point.

By the way, Your post didnt seem angry to me. It couldnt hurt to throw some bible verses into it though. Maybe it will come in handy again someday.

 

[tturt]

No, your post don't seem angry to me either. I would get upset previously too but came to realize that it's their opinion and I can not be offended. I chose not to be offended and I'm glad that they're saved because I don't want anything to hamper my relationship with Yahweh. I decided if someone is interested in learning about tongues and other topics or helping me learn so we can grow spiritually then that's where I need to spend my time.

Some discussions on tongues are like someone who doesn't have children trying to advise you on how to raise yours.

The enemy has a counterfeit for most everything. But there is the Godly because Scripture says so I would include many of them. As you've already pointed out - both parties look at the same Scripture and interpret it two different ways. Even the research that's been done, the exact same information we look at as supporting tongues, I've read on other forums, they see as not supporting tongues. Again I'm glad they're saved and want to live for Yahweh.

But I'm not saying for you not to write a response, I would change #2 wording to "No one speaks..."

 

[Cribstyl]

In your post I see faith in what God's word declares in spite of whatever men may say.
(I'm not only a believer in God's word, I'm the club's president.)

Here are just a few scriptures that will not change until Jesus comes back.
If we read the context we can know what God has set in the Christian churches.

1Cr 12:1¶Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1Cr 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

1Cr 12:28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.



Not everyone will agree with certain explanations about what the gift of tongues entails.
It's a spiritual gift, it's not something we earn or work for.

The bible tell us to covet after certain ministry gifts.
We can bet that God will equipt His church with faithful people to carry out His eternal purpose, through the ministry gifts that only He can set in place in the churches.

 

[Biblicist]

LetsBeReal,

Even though I believe that the normative Scriptural pattern is that all believers can (and should) speak in tongues at least for private prayer and praise, I would have to disagree with your statement - 1. It is nearly impossible to prove that it is not a human language.

Paul tells us in 1Cor 14:2-3 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. Paul tells us back in 1Co 12:3 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, ... As such tongues are not given in human languages but in angelic languages and their languages do not appear to follow the rules behind human languages.

Even though the tongues that were spoken on the Day of Pentecost were given in the languages of those who were nearby, this was still a unique and probably an unrepeatable event – at least from within the Scriptures. The Lord could certainly use tongues in this manner say within a people group who had never heard the Word before but even then as with the Day of Pentecost we would still need someone who could follow through with an Evangelistic message in the local language as Peter had to do.

Overall the cessationist position seems to have been relegated to the Theological sidelines at least by the mid 90’s and in a large part this was due to the ministry of people such as Gordon D. Fee, D.A. Carson and Piper. These men completely disarmed the cessationist position where many who are still within the cessationist fold seem to be content to leave well enough alone – if no one asks, then they don’t have to tell which helps (at least in their way of thinking) to keep the peace.

 

[Yitzchak]

I think the distinction between public tongues and private tongues should be clarified. To pray in an unknown language to God in private prayer does not require for it to be an earthly language.

Public tongues has a different purpose. In 1 Corinthians 14 it speaks of public tongues needing an interpretation in order to fulfill their purpose.

 

[eyerobot]

I think the distinction between public tongues and private tongues should be clarified. To pray in an unknown language to God in private prayer does not require for it to be an earthly language.

Public tongues has a different purpose. In 1 Corinthians 14 it speaks of public tongues needing an interpretation in order to fulfill their purpose.

Hmm, I didn't make that point at all did I? Well that's what I get for thinking.
I've never heard it called "public tongues" before, It doesn't seem to work as a name. Kind of like "outdoor fingers". Maybe we need one of those acronym threads to find a better name.

 

[Yitzchak]

Hmm, I didn't make that point at all did I? Well that's what I get for thinking.
I've never heard it called "public tongues" before, It doesn't seem to work as a name. Kind of like "outdoor fingers". Maybe we need one of those acronym threads to find a better name.

You made some good points. I only brought it up because the thread asked for advice about what the opening poster wrote. I agree there has to be a better name for it.

 

[stormdancer0]

You made some good points. I only brought it up because you asked for advice about what you wrote. I agree there has to be a better name for it.

There are prophetic tongues - those with interpretations, meant as a message. And then there's personal tongues - that language which expresses my devotion to God in such a way that only He understands.

 

[LetsBeReal]

LetsBeReal,

I would have to disagree with your statement - 1. It is nearly impossible to prove that it is not a human language.

Paul tells us in 1Cor 14:2-3 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. Paul tells us back in 1Co 12:3 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, ... As such tongues are not given in human languages but in angelic languages and their languages do not appear to follow the rules behind human languages.

Also, could it mean that the tongue speaker is only speaking to God, and only God understands the reason for their speaking in tongues, which would mean no one else understood the reason (and it could still be an earthly language)?

I only say this because there have been occasions where a person who knows only English received the Holy Ghost and was speaking fluent Spanish, French, and other earthly languages in praises unto God. I could be misinterpreting...

 

[Yitzchak]

Another issue that is frequently missed concerning tongues is that it is a sign. It is a fulfillment of an Old testament prophecy concerning the last days.

1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

This passage in 1 Corinthians references a passage in Isaiah 28. The passage from Isaiah is actually not a positive one. It is a rebuke to Israel and Judah for their unbelief.

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

I find it ironic that I have heard it preached that precept upon precept is a good way to study the scripture. Here is the passage from Isaiah in a more modern translation. The rebuke was that they were unteachable even when God set it out like he would for a baby.

Isa 28:9 You drunken leaders are like babies! How can you possibly understand or teach the LORD's message?
Isa 28:10 You don't even listen-- all you hear is senseless sound after senseless sound.
Isa 28:11 So, the Lord will speak to his people in strange sounds and foreign languages.
Isa 28:12 He promised you perfect peace and rest, but you refused to listen.
Isa 28:13 Now his message to you will be senseless sound after senseless sound. Then you will fall backwards, injured and trapped

The chosen people who pride themselves as the ones who communicate God's word to the world , meaning the Jewish people. They had set themselves in unbelief and become unteachable. They study and study and study making this pretense of being experts. Thousands of hours , literally thousands of years of men studying the scripture in yeshivas.

I have spent many hours myself in the library at the Hebrew University where I used to live. There are some awesome insights. They have thousands of books which go verse by verse through the Old Testament. Looking at the original language and how one verse ties to another.

The rebuke is that after all this learning about God and what he is saying , they still don't believe. Oh they make an outward profession of faith and talk about God every day. But inwardly , they are stubborn and unteachable.

This is the picture painted that Paul references in 1 Corinthians 14 when speaking about tongues. Into this context , God send tongues as a sign to these stubborn religious people who pride themselves on their vast knowledge but lack a heart that really is open to God's truth.

The modern equivalent in the church world is people who spend decades listening to thousands of sermons. They can quote hundreds of verses. if you mention an issue , they will respond with all the well known passages which speak to that issue.

An example to illustrate the feel of it for us in the church. If I mention or start a thread on divorce in the church world and people will bring up the passages in Matthew , Deuteronomy , and maybe Malachi. they will quote a verse that says that God hates divorce and what God has put together , let not man separate. They will debate about the cause of fornication and whether spousal abuse is covered. But with all this knowledge , the divorce rate in the church is over 50%. There is a disconnect. A lot of knowledge , but they missed the main point God was making.

I am not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings. I have been through a divorce myself. But I think it helps to understand the context of this sign of tongues. To put it bluntly , it is the prophesy that God gave to his people that he would humiliate them by having people who are not religious speak the mysteries of God to them in gibberish. It is like when Balaam's donkey spoke , but worse.

Again , context is helpful. Imagine now , this debate about divorce amongst all these veteran religious people who have spent twenty years studying the Bible and walking with God. Then in walks this person who has never set foot in the church or opened a Bible to read a single verse. They are rough around the edges , full of sin. maybe they cuss and swear and have all kinds of offensive habits that good religious people would know better than to have. In this context , they speak a message about divorce in gibberish with an interpreter. God speaks through them and gives the simple message.

Now I used the subject of divorce , but it is really the Gospel which is being proclaimed. The message of how a person is made right with God. The message of salvation and who God is. These were subjects that the Jewish people were the experts on. Even if they argued amongst themselves , it was within certain parameters. Certainly some outsider who knows next to nothing about the Bible is going to come in and tell them what God is saying about it.


So back to the main point. tongues is a sign to the religious people who do not believe even though they have spent their whole life studying the Bible and talking about God. If you have been around those in the church who attack tongues , you have seen this already. After decades of learning and pretense about their devotion to God , these people reject God when the Holy Spirit shows up. Just like Israel....Do you feel the edge that it has? God is rebuking some people with tongues.

 

[Yitzchak]

Understanding the back round of the prophesy concerning tongues and that the Gospel would come to the Gentiles, sheds light on these sort of passages. They heard them speak with tongues and knew what it meant.

Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The thing that was happening was these Jewish Apostles knew all the well known debates amongst the religious people. Just like Christians who would recognize John 3:16 or understand what it meant if someone asked which side of the issue you are on about specific religious issues. If I asked , are you for or against Christians drinking alcohol ? How do you feel about word of faith ?

In the same way , there are these type of statements all through the New Testament stories. The shock for the Jews was because they knew the prophecies about the second coming of the messiah. The one that we are looking for now. But they glossed over the cross and all of that , the first coming. they had a wrong expectation , but it was an expectation based upon scripture which speaks of his Jesus' return to restore the kingdom.

Which takes us to this issue of the Gentile believers. The Rabbis expected this to happen but not until the Messiah had come and ushered in the messianic era. The shock was that everything was turned on it's head. They thought that since they had a covenant with God , that they would have the inside track. Much like what the church believes today. The church figures that if God is going to send a great revival , it will come through the church. Through the religious structures and leaders. They do not expect that all the Buddists or Muslims will suddenly turn to God in one day and be the cutting edge of what God is doing while the church is left with only a remnant and largely pushed to the side.

Anyway , I am just setting the context so that we can feel the impact of this. Understand the context. Tongues was God's way of saying he doesn't need all our religious smarts. In fact , many times , the religious pride that goes with those religious smarts may actually be a big smokescreen for a heart of unbelief.

As I said in my previous post. if you want to test this , simply take religious people and place them around tongues. Many times their response is to accuse the tongues of being from the devil because it does not fit into their religious system of thought. But look around at the thousands upon thousands of sermons preached in this orderly and respectable manner and yet little has changed. What is the end result ? Many times , it is churches that mirror the world and lack the power of God. It is like the passage in Isaiah 28 where God speaks and speaks to them and they just ignore what God says and keep on doing their own thing. Oh they make a good pretense that they are following God with their whole heart , just like Israel did.

I am not anti church , by any means. But it amazes me how blinded religious people can be to this. Look into the statistics sometime. More abortions are given to church members than non church members.In other words , more abortions are performed by professing Christians than on non Christians. Porn use is an epidemic among church members and even Pastors.


Porn Use Epidemic Among Christians « A Wife’s Submission

* A 1996 Promise Keepers survey at one of their stadium events revealed that over 50% of the men in attendance were involved with pornography within one week of attending the event.

* In 2000 Christianity Today survey, 33% of clergy admitted to having visited a sexually explicit Web site. Of those who had visited a porn site, 53% had visited such sites “a few times” in the past year, and 18% visit sexually explicit sites between a couple of times a month and more than once a week.

* Out of 81 pastors surveyed (74 males 7 female), 98% had been exposed to porn; 43% intentionally accessed a sexually explicit website

Similar troubling statistics emerge concerning bankruptcies and Christians who mishandle money and simply do not pay their bills. Adultery , divorce , domestic violence , etc, etc.

My point is not to put condemnation on people who are struggling. My point is how amazed I am at the blindness of many in the church who listen to the stories about the Pharisees of Jesus day and shake their heads at them as though they are not religious hypocrites also. Thousands of sermons and yet the outside is painted up to cover hearts that are still in need of a savior. I don;t know who these people are specifically. But there are literally millions of professing Christians who preach , pray , witness for Jesus , study their bibles and defend sound doctrine, etc. In short , they do all the religious things that we respect. But they also beat their wives , have abortions , cheat on their spouses , mishandle their money , lie , cheat , steal , etc.

All of these things are symptoms of unbelief.

1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

The Bible says elsewhere that the generation in the wilderness was judged by God because of unbelief. Immorality is a symptom of unbelief.



This is a the sign of tongues. That God selects people to speak the word of God to our generation in this silly way. Take away all the religious high minded pride and you have some person speaking tongues. The signs and wonders accompany them including tongues.


But the tongues is God's way of saying this to those who are in unbelief. You have heard a thousand sermons , answered a hundred altar calls , prayed a thousand prayers , studied the Bible and defended doctrine. But in all of that , you have still missed the main point and refused to give in and change your heart. You have just become really good at doing religion. So now here is my message one more time , this time in tongues. It resembles a baby telling gibberish in order to humble you and take you off your high horse.

Unfortunately , there are some in the church who have now made tongues a sign of religious pride. But a person does not get tongues by religious works. It is all God.

By the way , I personally believe that God often has people during a church service speak in tongues that are a known earthly language. I know of people who went to a church service and heard the Gospel in their native tongue and were converted. Imagine a rabbi walking into a church service and he has studied Hebrew for decades. thousands upon thousands of hours of study. This Gentile gets up and speaks a message about getting saved through Jesus and it is perfect Hebrew. They talk about Moses and the prophets and all the scriptures that point to Jesus. All in perfect Hebrew. I have heard a testimony where this actually happened. The Rabbi knew that this kind of knowledge of Hebrew and the Bible in Hebrew only comes after thousands of hours of study at a high level. yet here is this Gentile who know none of that speaking it out under the Holy Spirit. A thousand sermons in the synagogue and thousands of hour of study and yet one short two minute message in tongues cuts through it all and asks the question , do you believe yet ?