The Bible: It's All About Jesus
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Of all the Christian practices, speaking in tongues is second only to baptism in causing divisions in the body of Christ. And ironically, most of the truly Biblical instruction about this subject comes from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. It's not where he praised them for using the gifts properly, but instead for misusing Spiritual gifts. Let's take a look at what the Bible has to say about speaking in tongues.
Until the episode at the tower of Babel (recorded in Genesis 11), everyone had a single language with a common speech. The desire for power and control which first showed itself at mans' fall, became evident when some "would-be" leaders decided to make themselves appear as gods by creating a great tower that reached up to the heavens where "only God can be." To put down the rebellion, God blocked their ability to lead and control others. He did it by confusing the language and speech --making it unintelligible. The opportunity for a small number of people to have power over all humanity was lost because the people were divided into many smaller groups --each group speaking its own language, going its own way and selecting its own leader. Throughout the Bible these groups are referred to as countries or nations.
The Bible passages used to support speaking in tongues state very clearly that tongues are all languages that are known and used. Yet, many of the "New Testament" churches today neglect what is said in chapter two of Acts. It pictures "God-fearing Jews" who came from every country under heaven; they gathered to listen to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the apostles spoke, there was no unintelligible babbling, rather each man plainly heard and understood the gospel message in his own familiar language.
Paul said that he wished that all of us had the gift of speaking in a foreign language (he spoke in several "tongues"). But God distributes His Spiritual gifts as it pleases Him. Just as God chooses who He wants to be a teacher in the church, He also chooses who He wants to speak in tongues. He doesn't give everyone in body the same gift. There are many gifts for the many functions of the body of Christ. Yet there is one common ability that every Christian has; it's sharing His love to a fallen, hurting world. Paul refers to it as the "most excellent way"!
All spiritual gifts have one, and only one, purpose. Their purpose is to promote the common good of the body of Christ; they are never for the benefit of the individual. That would only inflate the pride of the gift holder!
In regard to speaking in tongues, the book of Joel (referenced in Acts 2) declares that God's people --the Jews-- have wandered away. And yet, through His Spirit God will bring them back for salvation. He will reach them with prophesy through people from all over --Jews and Gentiles-- retelling the gospel message which was fulfilled at the resurrection. The Jews are still mixed into the nations of the world and they have adopted their languages. So the gospel needs to be told to them in the language that they understand. That's what tongues are for!
The answer is yes, but only if it is used as intended. The purpose of speaking in tongues is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus. Before Jesus came and lived among us, God spoke to a specific few people --giving them a message to repeat (prophesying) to a particular audience (usually Israel). In Hebrews 1:1, the Bible describes how God changed the way that He communicates with people; He has now spoken to us through His Son. So a person prophesying Biblically today will be retelling the message that Jesus has already told us. And that message is an explanation of God's plan for redemption --although it is concealed in the Old Testament --it is revealed in the New Testament! There is no other reason to have tongues except to proclaim the gospel to those --particularly the Jews-- who haven't heard it in their normal, everyday language.
For being such a supposedly important gift, there is only one Scripture passage that talks about praying in tongues. What's more, it is described as being unfruitful --of no benefit! What more needs to be said? Yet it continues to be elevated and flaunted by so many Christians.
With only a short time available each week in church, speaking in tongues isn't the best way to use that time. It's much more beneficial to the body to have the gospel story retold. That can be by explaining how the Old Testament relates Jesus to people through foreshadows (He said that the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms were about Him). Or using the New Testament which shows the requirements of the Law being fulfilled through Him so that we can live an abundant life of love instead of constantly checking to see if we are adequate for God's acceptance.
The History of Tongues
Until the episode at the tower of Babel (recorded in Genesis 11), everyone had a single language with a common speech. That desire for power and control which first showed itself at mans' fall, became evident when some "would-be" leaders decided to make themselves appear as gods over all men by creating a great tower that reached up to the heavens where "only God can be." To put down the rebellion, God severed their line of communications --removing their ability to control others by confusing the language and speech. The opportunity to have power over all humanity was lost when the people were divided into many smaller groups --each speaking their own language and going their own way.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel-- because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:4-9)
From that time on, nations have been unable to effectively communicate with each other because of the difference in their languages. However, at Pentecost God broke through the language barrier --supernaturally. He used the apostles and others, speaking in languages they didn't know, to tell about His plan of redemption that had been completed through Jesus.
What Are Tongues?
The tongues described in the Bible are known and used languages. Every tongue is a language that has meaning to ordinary people somewhere in the world.
Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. (1 Corinthians 14:10-11)
The passage in chapter two of Acts pictures Jews who came from every country under heaven and gathered to listen to the apostles tell about the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the apostles spoke, each man clearly heard and understood the gospel message in his native spoken language --not mere babbling, but in his own familiar language.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-- we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" (Acts 2:5-11)
There is a passage in Isaiah 28 describing the lengths that God would go to in order to bring the rebellious nation of Israel to salvation.
Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose" —but they would not listen. So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there —so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured. (Isaiah 28:11-13)
God explained that He will reach His people using foreigners and the heavy burden of the law to do it. Now here in this 1 Corinthians 14 passage, Isaiah 28 is quoted to plainly lay out the purpose of tongues. Speaking in tongues is a sign to the unbelieving Jew and it started at Pentecost. God's purpose was to communicate the Gospel. It's to bring the lost Jews to Christ.
In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 14:21-22)
Tongues are not for the saved, especially not in their assemblies. In fact, if an unbeliever were to walk in while someone was speaking in a tongue (a foreign language), he would think the whole group to be crazy.
So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (1 Corinthians 14:23)
There is another way for believers to communicate in their assembly: Prophecy. That's merely speaking what God has told us through His Son. --It's all recorded in the Bible.
But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)
Can Every Christian Speak in Tongues?
Paul said that he wished that all of us had the gift of speaking in a foreign language (he spoke in several "tongues"). When you remember the focus of his ministry was "first to the Jew and then to the Gentile" this really makes sense. The previous section explained that the purpose of speaking in tongues was to reach the Jew with the gospel.
God distributes His Spiritual gifts as it pleases Him. Just as God chooses who He wants to be a teacher in the church, He also chooses who He wants to speak in tongues. He doesn't give everyone in body the same gift. There are many gifts for the many functions of the body of Christ, but each one is for building up and unifying the body of Christ.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Ironically, we Christians have made speaking in tongues into a big issue, yet it is least in the list of the gifts of the Spirit.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:27-30)
There are much more important gifts than speaking in tongues, but everyone should desire the greatest gift of the Spirit: To communicate God's love --His good news-- to others that He has placed us with (our family, neighbors, co-workers,acquaintances). And that is done by living a life motivated by that love.
And now I will show you the most excellent way. 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. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3)
What Is The Purpose of Speaking In Tongues?
Here it is once more --that same 1 Corinthians passage. Notice that it states that spiritual gifts --including speaking in tongues-- have one, and only one, purpose. They are for the common good of the body of Christ --not for the good of the one who has the gift.
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant ... There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-6)
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:11)
In regard to speaking in tongues, the book of Joel (referenced in Acts 2) declares that God's people --the Jews--- have wandered away and through His Spirit He will bring them back. He will reach them with prophesy through people from all over --Jews and Gentiles-- retelling the gospel message which had its climax at the resurrection. The Jews are mixed into the nations of the world and have adopted those languages. So the message needs to be told to them in the language that they understand.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (Acts 2:14-16)
"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' (Acts 2:17-21)
Again, spiritual gifts are not just for the good of a particular individual or assembly of believers, but for the good of entire body of Christ. So if you come in contact with a group of believers that focuses its attention on practicing spiritual gifts, you might ask yourself: According to the Bible, are they really using or misusing those gifts?
Can Speaking In Tongues Be Beneficial?
Speaking in tongues can be beneficial, but only if it is used as it is intended. Don't let the desire for tongues distract you from a much better gift --one that can be more beneficial to the body of Christ-- that gift is prophesying.
Prophesying is speaking forth God's word. Before Jesus was born, God spoke to prophets and they in turn repeated that message.
Since that time, He has given us the Living Word --Jesus; and His life and influence have been recorded in the written word --the Bible. Now we have God's message that we can repeat. The message, whether through the Old Testament prophets or through quoting the Bible, has always been about God's redemptive plan accomplished through His Son.
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
Remember what we read previously in 1 Corinthians 14:21-22. The purpose of speaking in tongues is to tell the gospel of Jesus to unbelieving Jews. Then what would be the purpose of speaking in tongues in an assembly of believers? Maybe, if there happened to be an unbeliever in the midst, there might possibly be some benefit in it. But most people --including the speaker-- won't be able to understand what is being said. According to Paul, rather than speaking in tongues, it is much better if the body understands what is being said so that it might be instructed.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:18-19)
Although it is misused in so many churches today, we aren't to forbid speaking in foreign languages (tongues) simply because God continues to reach out to the lost Jews.
Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (1 Corinthians 14:36-40)
Praying In Tongues
There is only one Scripture passage that talks about praying in tongues. For being such a supposedly important gift, it is described as being unfruitful! It has no fruit --of no benefit! What more needs to be said? Yet it continues to be elevated and flaunted by so many Christians.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. (1 Corinthians 14:14-17)
If a person is praying in a language that is foreign, then the prayer is not edifying the body of Christ but rather the one praying. And the only one who could possibly understand what is being said (in that foreign language) is God. The prayer doesn't even help to renew the person's own mind. Remember, God has chosen to use tongues as a sign to unbelievers (specifically Jews), not to the body of Christ.
For some reason "the tongues of angels" usually accompanies this topic. If there are languages of angels, then angels use them to communicate with each other. It's the same for the languages of men; they are used for communicating with men. In both cases those languages have real meaning to the hearer and also to the speaker --they are not just gibberish.
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. (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Did you notice that the emphasis in this passage? It is the single passage mentioning the tongues of angels. And the emphasis is not on speaking in tongues and not on angels. It's on communicating God's love through life's circumstances rather than through our many --often empty-- spoken words.
In Summary...
With only a short time available in church, speaking in tongues isn't the best way to use the time. Rather speaking what the Bible says (prophesying) is much more beneficial to the body. Speaking in a foreign language shows off the speaker's gift because few understand him.
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. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:2-5a)
He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? (1 Corinthians 14:5b-6)
Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? (1 Corinthians 14:7-8)
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. (1 Corinthians 14:9-11)
So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. (1 Corinthians 14:12-14)
Even if there is an interpreter present, its better by far to tell others what God has taught you about Jesus and how it has made a difference in your own life.