uhm...
what about in 1 cor 14.2,14
v2 for he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him, howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
a few key points.
1. no it does not have to be a tongue that is relevant to any culture or person, it does not have to be a naturaly known tongue, it doesnt have to be something someone understands. it can be anUNKNOWN tongue.
paul said if he spoke with the tongues of men AND ANGELS...
who would understand those tongues? nobody, but its possible.
no it does not have to be clearly understood by anyone. there are times when NO MAN UNDERSTANDS... BUT YOU STILL SPEAK MYSTERIES or profound revelations from God.
2. and just because it is not interpreted does not mean its not from God...
becuase first of all, it isnt always meant for people to hear or be told of, because it says you are speaking NOT UNTO MEN, BUT UNTO GOD...
and even beyond that paul said in verse 13 that we must PRAY THAT WE MAY INTERPRET.... that means that just becuase there isnt an intepretation, doesnt mean it wasnt God... it could mean no one got the interpretation becuase no one prayed. though if you can forsee that happening... dont stand up and give a message in tongues.
3. it isnt always meant for anyone else to hear anyway. sometimes it not for anyone but you and God, thats why it says its NOT UNTO MEN, BUT UNTO GOD... sometimes its just you praying alone to God.
its common sense that you dont need to doit places that it can cause confusion.
4. there is a purpose in it, even if it isnt before people or interpreted to a church... becuase in v4 it says it EDIFIES YOU... which is something not to be taken as trivial, you surely need that. its the most powerful kind of prayer you can pray when you are at your wits end and have no idea what to do or say or ask God for.
5. there can be a diffrence between speaking in tongues, and prophecying in tongues.... when tongues are meant as prophecy and to be interpretted before a church like verse 28 says, its one thing...
but when you do what verse 2 and 14-15 say... its something totally diffrent.
sometimes it between you and God, sometimes it for everyone and needs to be interpretted, and sometimes its not.
look at verse 14
v14 for if i pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
there is such a thing as a tongue prayer language that God gives you for your personal time alone with him, that lifts your spirit and helps you when you know not how to pray. this is a blessing. this is wonderful. and just becuase you dont understand all of what your praying it isnt wrong, becuase its natural for your understanding to be unfruitful.
though you can ask and have God show you the meaning of what you were praying, i guess this is the best way to doit, paul said this is what he would prefer to do in v15. since we can pray that we may interpret as it says in v13.
but its a given,
you dont need to bless the food at a restaurant outloud in tongues.
or have your whole church burst out in their prayer languages when you know very well there are lots of unbelievers present.