Do you really speak in Tongues?

    Glossolalia is simply speaking in tongues or it is a practice in which people utter words or speech-like sounds or language one does not know under the influence of a deity or spirits.

It is one of the many spiritual gifts spoken about by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14, occurred several times in the Bible and it is given to some of us Christians by the Holy Spirit who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 

This is not to argue whether speaking in tongues is for today or not. I don’t think that is the problem.

I pray by the Grace of God, we will know the biblical truth of this marvelous spiritual gift, speaking in tongues.

Now, let us take a look at the following about tongues in Christianity, i.e. biblical view of tongues speaking.

1. Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) is not unique to Christianity.

Other religious groups have been observed to practice some form of glossolalia. It is perhaps most commonly in Paganism, Shamanism, and other mediumistic religious practices such as voodoo.

2. Tongues were/are not unintelligible but [known] languages

Acts 2:5-11 - Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under the heaven. And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Cretans and Arabians – we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

The varieties of nations represented (Acts 2:8-11) and the phrase “devout men from every nation under the heaven” (v. 5) would confirm this. The word used across in the extract is “language” (vs. 6, 8). That is, Language (a body of words and a set of methods of combining them i.e. Grammar understood by a community and used as a form of communication) = dialekto = dialect (A variety of language that is characteristic of a particular area, community, or social group).

As there is the gift of speaking in tongues or languages, there is also the gift of interpretation of the tongues or languages. And all are done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40). For God is not a God of Confusion but of peace. (1 Cor. 14:33).

1 Cor. 14:9 - So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

An illustration of tongues would be this: In a typical local twi church in Ghana setting where everyone speaks and understand twi and no one, absolutely no one understands Greek. And then a member, say Kofi would stand up and as the Holy Spirit has given Kofi the Gift of Speaking in Tongues, Kofi would start speaking fluent Greek which is unknown to Kofi [the speaker]. Then say, Ama who is also having the gift of interpretation of tongues given by the Holy Spirit would translate it right afterward.
And that is how it would look. Decently in order to maintain peace and not create a chaotic confusing situation. 

3. If in public, an interpreter must always be present to interpret

1 Corinthians 14:26-28 – What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for the building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

An interpreter must always be present to interpret since tongues like the other spiritual gift, is for the building up of the Church. What good is a mystery being told in an unknown language that can be interpreted or understood?

4. Not all believers can or should speak in tongues.

1. Tongues are a spiritual gift. Spiritual gifts are varieties of gifts but by the same Spirit, varieties of activities but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. And all these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills (1 Cor. 12:1-11).

2. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. All are apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Cor. 12:27-30) – These are rhetorical questions Paul asked to show that we are all members of one body with many gifts which all work together for the building of the church.

3. If therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? (1 Cor. 14:23).

5. Tongues are “a sign for unbelievers” and were “a sign of judgment”.

What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 14:21-25 that tongues are a “sign not for believers but for unbelievers””
In 1 Corinthians 14:21, Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11 saying, “In the Law, it is written, ”By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord””. When God speaks to people in a language they cannot understand, it is a form of punishment for unbelief. It signifies His wrath. The unfathomable, unintelligible speech will not guide or lead to faith and repentance, but only confuse and destroy.

A typical meaning or example of what Paul quoted from Isaiah 28:11 may be found in Deuteronomy 28:29 – “The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand”. This was a curse or a form of chastising God would bring upon the Israelites if they violated the covenant. Thus, the confusing and confounding speech was a sign of God’s judgment against a rebellious people.

And so, if unbelievers come in and you speak in a language they cannot understand, they will simply be driven away. You will be giving a “sign” to unbelievers that is entirely wrong. Because their hearts’ hardness has not reached the point where they deserve that severe sign of judgment.

Again, when you come together, if anyone speaks in a tongue, then there should and must be an interpretation. Otherwise, the person speaking in the tongue should be quiet in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:26-28). However, prophecy, on the other hand, is a sign of God’s presence with believers, hence, Paul encourages its use when unbelievers are present that the unbelievers will be convicted, they are to account, the secrets of their hearts are disclosed, and so falling on their faces and worship God and eventually come to the Christian faith. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).
For that, Paul is not talking about the function of the gift of tongues in general but the negative result only of one particular abuse of tongues (that is being used in public, church, without the interpretation) since it runs the risk of communicating negative sign to people (unbelievers) that will only drive them away.

6. Tongues can be practiced in an ignorant, ungodly manner - 1 Corinthians 13:1

Speaking in Tongues in Christianity is totally different from the tongues in other religions. Christianity tongue is a spiritual gift from God used in man by God to glorify God as it builds the church.

However, tongues in other religions are used in chants to worship their gods.

And in the process, drums are beaten and songs are sung to seduce, sensationalize and initialize the whole mood for possession by spirits to occur and then they do as the spirit wills.

Therefore I am asking you, do you really speak in tongues? Do you practice scripturally right tongues? Or you've been practicing paganism as Christianity?

Let us not confuse these chants and acts of idolatry with the Spiritual Gift of tongues from God.

Let us make sure that everything we do is biblical.

Sola Scriptura.

Grace to you.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Ecko Owusu