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What is speaking in
tongues?
Speaking
in tongues is the New Testament phenomena where a person or persons
speaks in a language that is unknown to him. This language is
either the language of angels or other earthly languages (1 Cor. 13:1). It occurred in
Acts 2 at Pentecost and also in the Corinthian church as is described in 1 Corinthians 14. This New Testament
gift was given by the Holy Spirit to the Christian church and is for the
purpose of the edification of the Body of Christ as well as for
glorifying the Lord.
There seems to be three divisions in the use of
tongues: First, a private prayer language that is not interpreted;
second, a language that is interpreted - this defines proper usage in
the Christian congregation; and third, missionary context -- that is, it
appears in the context of evangelism where people (in the New Testament)
are presenting the gospel.
Today there is much debate as to the validity of
speaking in tongues, especially since there is so much apart misuse of
it in Christian circles. Nevertheless, some Christian churches
teach that all the charismatic gifts (speaking in tongues, word of
knowledge, prophecy, etc.) have ceased with the completion of the New
Testament (1 Cor. 13:8-12). Others
maintain that the charismatic gifts are still for the church today (1 Cor. 1:7).
It is not the purpose of this paper to take sides on this issue since it
is so divisive and believing or not believing in them does not affect
one's salvation. Nevertheless, there are good arguments on both
sides and the Christian church needs to be as gracious as possible to
those with opposing views on this debatable issue.
But there is an important point worth making here. Some
churches erringly maintain that you must speak in tongues in order to be
saved. This is a grave mistake since not all people speak in
tongues because not all people are gifted by the Holy Spirit this way.
1 Cor. 12:7-11,28-31, "But to each one is given
the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to
another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9
to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing
by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of
miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing
of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the
interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit
works all these things, distributing to each one individually just
as He wills...28 And God has appointed in the church,
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets,
are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of
miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings,
do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not
interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater
gifts.
So, the
gifts of the Spirit are varied and they are for the edification of the
body of Christ. Speaking in tongues is not necessary for salvation
and it is not a prerequisite proof of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
We must remember the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 13:1-2,13
"If I speak with the tongues of
men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong
or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of
prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have
all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am
nothing....13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these
three; but the greatest of these is love."
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