There is another topic on this, but it is really clouded up with arguments, so I'll post this here and there.
We know that tongues are a gift to the church [1 Corinthians 12] and is part of a body of unique gifts. Before I go into a bit of detail let me stress that a lot of Christians believe the gift on tongues has ceased. This idea is taken from the passage below.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
[1 Corinthians 13:8-13]
This is basically saying that tongues, prophesy and knowledge will cease. Many believe that these have already ceased with the maturity of the church. This comes from the next bit, when perfection comes however this can be translated maturity.
I personally believe that tongues still are in existence, and perfection is the perfection of the church which shall only take place when the church is present with her Lord in heaven. I believe this because Paul also says, Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face This can only be speaking of the glory of God in Christ. None of us have seen the full glory of Christ. We can see his glory in the bible, in our lives, in the church, but we have not seen the full visible glory, and this is our reward in heaven. This makes sense as we will not need prophecy in heaven cause God can speak to us face to face, we will not need knowledge because all mysteries shall be revealed. We will not need tongues in heaven, because we can praise God directly without the Spirits intervention [Romans 8:26-27]
So I believe tongues to still be in existence, and they shall be removed at the coming of Christ.
I want now to outline what tongues are.
Tongues can be seen as two things. We have tongues as in earthly languages, when the believer is gifted with the ability to speak a language they have never known for the purpose of speaking Gods word. We see this on the event of Pentecost in Acts 2, when the apostles speak in several languages to a crowd from many different parts of the world.
The second form is seen as an angelic language, a language of heaven, which Gods Holy Spirit speaks through the person, for the purpose of revealing mysteries [1 Cor. 14:4] This idea is taken from 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul talks about the language of angels.
(*I have addressed possible errors with the angelic language at the bottom)
Now, many who claim to speak in tongues will claim it is a private prayer language for their personal edification. Now I have a slight issue with this as it seems to me that Paul claims this should not be so.
Remember the roles of spiritual gifts, they are not for personal edification, but rather for the edification of the whole body:
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
[1 Corinthians 12:7]
In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul outlines the uses for the gifts of prophecy and tongues.
Now for a short history snap! The church in Corinth, among its many problems, had become self absorbed. Many were speaking in tongues because it was seen as super spiritual. The rich were coming to services and getting drunk on wine and full of food during the Lords Supper while the poor went hungry [1 Corinthians 13:17-33] They then proceeded to go on to worship God, and many would be speaking in tongues trying to show their spiritual maturity. It must have been a chaotic scene as people competed with each other to see who could speak the greatest in tongues. The scene was chaos, that is why Paul addressed the church and told them only two or three to speak in a tongue, and outlined the importance of organized and orderly worship [1 Corinthians 14:26-40]
Tongues are to be interpreted at ALL times, so that the whole body may be edified. This is how Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 14. He didnt say ban tongues, he did however say, control it. It must be organized and orderly. Nowadays we find too many scenes were people just speak in tongues without either someone with an interpretation gift nearby, or without praying for the interpretation. This simply shows the immaturity of such people, and their lack of knowledge of scripture.
Some also claim, I cant control it; the Spirit just leads in me in tongues. To this I would ask, What spirit? because it doesnt sound like the Holy Spirit. In response to prophecy Paul says, The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. [14:32-33] this applies to tongues also, because tongues were set in this context just a few lines before. Gifts can be controlled by the believer. A teacher can choose when to teach and not to teach. A healer can choose when to heal and not to heal. A so a tongue speaker can choose when to speak or not.
When a person with the gift of tongues is around ANY other person they are to not speak in tongues unless there is an interpretation, so that each person may be encouraged and the body strengthened [14:26;31]
Also, a whole congregation cannot speak in tongues. Tongues are given to specific people for their contribution to the church. It is not a sign that can be given for evidence of a Spirit filled life.
If God chooses you to have a gift of tongues then that his is choice, we cannot conjure him to do so.
My advice to anyone who is not sure of their gifts is to simply lead a Spirit filled life of love, and God will show you your gifts in time. Do not be amazed by people speaking in tongues, it doesnt mean they are any more spiritual, and if anyone claims that it does make them more spiritual then that is a spirit of pride.
I hope this helps,
Peace Out!
* Possible problems with angelic tongue.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
[1 Corinthians 13:1-2]
This is the only passage implying that tongues may be a form of angel speech. However lets examine what is going on here. I am not sure if Paul is saying it it possible to speak the language of angels. Look at what he says about prophecy. He says if I could fathom all mysteries and all knowledge. Now think about that. Th gift of prophecy does not give anyone all mysteries and all knowledge. I believe Paul is using an over exaggerated speech to put across his point. The same could be true for the angelic tongues. He could be saying that it isn;'t possible to speek angel talk but if it were, without love it would be nothing. Just a thought.
