The Gift of Tongues

Today's lesson takes us into one of the most debated subjects in Christianity—the gift of tongues.
Before we ask how the gift should be used, perhaps we should ask what Paul meant by it.

Throughout the New Testament, whenever this gift appears—at Pentecost, in the house of Cornelius, and at Ephesus—it is the Spirit-given ability to speak languages the speaker had never learned.
If that is Paul's understanding, then another question follows.
Why does he devote almost an entire chapter to this one gift?

Perhaps he's emphasizing it because it had become the church's greatest source of confusion.

That surprises me.
Most debates today ask whether tongues is genuine. Paul seems much more concerned with what happens when believers gather for worship.

Exactly.
Listen to the words that keep appearing in chapter 14:
"Understand." "Interpret." "Edify." "Order."
Paul keeps bringing the discussion back to one question:
"Does this build up the church?"

So Paul wasn't questioning the gift itself? He was correcting the way it was being used?

Precisely.
The problem was that God's good gift was being used in a way that left people confused instead of strengthened.
Paul repeatedly says, "Let all things be done for edification."
"If there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church."
"God is not the author of confusion."
His concern is not simply that people speak but that people understand.

Then was Paul against speaking in tongues?

Not at all.
He even says, "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all."
But then he adds something remarkable:
"In the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in a tongue."

If Paul spoke in tongues more than all of them......why does he seem so reluctant to use the gift publicly?

Because Paul refused to make any gift the centre of attention.
Even a genuine gift became secondary if it failed to communicate God's truth.
He would rather leave a congregation enlightened than astonished.

Then why insist on interpretation?

Because language exists to communicate. God did not give languages so speakers could display spirituality. He gave languages so hearers could understand the gospel.
That is why Paul insists that interpretation accompany tongues in public worship.

That reminds me of Pentecost. People from many nations heard the gospel in their own languages.
The miracle removed barriers.
In Corinth, Paul seems to be dealing with a situation where barriers were being created.

At Pentecost, the crowd exclaimed,
"We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own languages."
Communication took place.
The gospel crossed language barriers.
In Corinth, Paul keeps asking,
"Who understands?"
At Pentecost, the gift united people around the gospel.
In Corinth, its misuse threatened to divide and confuse the church.
The same gift that removed barriers at Pentecost was never meant to create barriers in worship.

Why do some churches teach that everyone must speak in tongues as evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit?

Paul himself answers that.
After listing the gifts, he asks,
"Are all apostles?"
"No."
"Are all prophets?"
"No."
"Do all speak with tongues?"
Again, the expected answer is,
"No."
The Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His wisdom.
Paul never makes one gift the universal evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit.

Suppose a church never speaks in tongues.
Its services are orderly.
Its doctrine is sound.
Its sermons are understandable.
Has it automatically fulfilled Paul's teaching?

Not necessarily.
Paul wasn't trying to produce quiet churches.
He was trying to build strong churches.
A church may avoid the confusion of Corinth and still fail to encourage, strengthen, and build up its members.
Order without edification misses Paul's point just as surely as enthusiasm without understanding.

Then perhaps we've been asking the wrong question all along.
Instead of asking,
"Can a person speak in tongues?"
Perhaps we should ask,
"When they do, does it help people understand God's message, strengthen His people, and know Christ better?"

I believe Paul would answer,
"Now you're asking the right question."
He never despises the gift.
He never forbids it.
Neither does he allow it to become the centre of worship.

For Paul, every spiritual gift must answer one question:

Does it build up the church?

• If it communicates Christ clearly...
• If it strengthens believers...
• If it helps people understand the gospel...
• If it reflects the love described in chapter 13...

...then it is accomplishing the purpose for which the Holy Spirit gave it.

And perhaps that is the lesson every generation of Christians—including ours—must learn.