Speaking in Tongues by Jeff Wehr
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A Chinese gentleman visited a charismatic church in which the members
were speaking in tongues. One of the elders of the church recognized
the Chinese man and visited his business the following week. When he
asked the Chinese man how he liked the church service, the man shook
his head in disapproval.
The elder said, "What was wrong? I thought I heard a lady speak in
tongues that sounded like Chinese."
The Chinese man said, "She did speak in Chinese, and she was cursing
God the whole time."
This is just one of many such examples, of which I have heard, of
individuals who believed that they were praising God, but who were in
fact cursing Him.
How could this be? Certainly the Holy Spirit would not lead someone to
curse God. Could the devil have a counterfeit of the Biblical speaking in
tongues?
For those of you who have never heard of this phenomenon of people
speaking in an ecstatic tongue, let me take a brief moment to explain.
Today between 7% and 20% of all Christians "speak in tongues" from
time to time in a language that is not their mother tongue. The example
above, of the lady who spoke in Chinese, is exceptional because usually
those who speak in "tongues," speak in a language that linguists say
has no systematic resemblance to any human language that is spoken
today. It is this most common form of "speaking in tongues" (the
nonhuman, nonintelligible language) upon which we will focus our study.
This phenomenon of spontaneously speaking in a language that is
generally strange to humanity is of recent origin. While there were
several incidents of tongue speaking during the 1800s, the first wave of it
occurred at the beginning of the twentieth century.
It began on December 31, 1900, at Bethel College in Topeka, Kansas.
When Pastor Charles Parham laid his hands upon some of the students,
they began to speak in a form of speech that was not recognizable to
anyone. One of those young students was Miss Agnes Ozman.
Six years later, in 1906, Ozman and several other students, who had
received this experience, moved to Los Angeles and held meetings
which started the "first Pentecostal effusion."
Since then, this tongue-speaking experience has taken in over 300
million Christians. What phenomenal growth! However, why is it
happening now?
Some say it is a sign of the soon coming of Christ, and perhaps it is.
Yet, that alone does not explain or prove that it is of God, or of Satan.
We do know that this form of ecstatic speech in an unknown language is
not peculiar to Christianity--or even to religious people. This same
phenomenon of speech is found among non-Christian religions,
especially in Asia and Africa. This ecstatic speech is also found among
atheists and agnostics.
Certainly it is not the Holy Spirit who is performing this phenomenon in
religions that reject Jesus as the Saviour, and through others who even
deny the existence of God, but it is happening. Research has shown
that all of these forms of ecstatic speech in Christian and non-Christian
communities is identically the same "cross-linguistically" and
"cross-culturally."
Along with this gift to speak in an unknown tongue has come the gift to
interpret these ecstatic utterances. Are these interpreters accurate?
An experiment was performed in which someone speaking in an ecstatic
tongue was recorded on tape. They then replayed the tape to several
different people who claimed to have the gift to interpret these
utterances. However, there was no similarity in the several
interpretations. They ranged in their interpretation from saying that the
utterances referred to a prayer for the health of someone's children--to
praising God for a recent and successful church, fund-raising effort. It is
evident from this example that the interpreters were not accurate. So
where are they getting their gift to interpret?
Of course, this phenomenon raises some very serious questions. If it is
of the Holy Spirit, why do people misinterpret what is said? After all, the
Bible says that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. See John 14:26. If
this is of the Holy Spirit, then why is He manifesting the same gift
through different religions that teach contradictory beliefs. After all, the
Bible says that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. See John 16:13.
It is easy enough to see that Satan would want to join the world's
religions together through some spiritual manifestation. However, what
does the Bible say concerning the speaking in tongues or in a different
language?
Mark 16
First of all, Jesus foretold that His disciples would speak with "new
tongues," "And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt
them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark
16:17-18.
The context of Jesus' words is His commission for His disciples to
evangelize the world. The speaking with "new tongues" was to enable
the disciples to speak with people who spoke other languages. The
disciples would speak in a language that was "new" to them but
understood by their audience.
When Jesus trained His disciples during His three-and-one-half-year
ministry, He limited their training to reach out to the Jews living in Israel
and Samaria. However, after Jesus ascended into heaven, He desired to
send His disciples to every nation, tongue, and people. Consequently,
He gifted them to speak in "new tongues" or languages.
Acts 2
In Acts 2:1-13 we have recorded the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction. The
disciples and other fellow believers, 120 in number, gathered together for
prayer and consecration in preparation to receive the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit.
When the day of Pentecost had come, the Holy Spirit came upon every
individual, and they "began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance." Verse 4.
The speaking in an "other tongue" did not come by man's own efforts,
but it was a gift the Holy Spirit bestowed upon the followers of Christ
when they were gathered together. "Jews, devout men, out of every
nation under heaven. . . . And they were all amazed and marvelled . . .
because that every man heard them speak in his own language." Verses
5, 7, 6.
Notice that the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak in a foreign and known
human language was bestowed upon believers--not upon unbelievers.
The purpose of the gift was to give unbelievers an opportunity to hear the
gospel in their own language. Consequently, the gift itself would serve as
a sign to unbelievers that the message they heard was from Heaven.
The result of Jesus' followers receiving the gift to speak in a different
language was the conversion of "three thousand" precious souls to
Christ in one day. Verse 41.
There were also present those who scoffed and mocked the disciples by
suggesting that the disciples were drunk. See verse 13. They heard the
gospel in their own language, thereby signifying that the gift bestowed
upon the disciples was a definite sign that the message had the signet
of Heaven. Yet, they rejected the message and the messengers.
Acts 10
The next example of "speaking in tongues" is found in Acts chapter 10.
In this passage, the apostle Peter has an opportunity to teach Gentile
believers in Caesarea. The Holy Spirit "fell on all them which heard the
word. . . . For they heard them speak with tongues." Verse 44, 46.
On this occasion as well, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers--both
Jew and Gentile Christians. The Holy Spirit "fell" upon them suddenly,
representing that it was a special endowment from Heaven and not from
man. The purpose of the gift was the communication of what God had
accomplished through His Son Jesus.
Again we find this gift employed in a large metropolis where many
different peoples and languages were represented. When Peter gave his
report on the events of Caesarea, he said, "The Holy Ghost fell on them
[in Caesarea], as on us at the beginning [in Jerusalem at Pentecost]."
Acts 11:15. Of course, what happened in Jerusalem was that every man
heard the gospel in his mother language.
It is important to note that Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, did not
need to explain the manifestation of "speaking in tongues" in Caesarea.
Why? Because he, the author, had already defined the gift in Acts
chapter 2. Peter himself confirms that it was the identical manifestation
of the Holy Spirit as experienced at Pentecost.
Acts 19
In Acts chapter 19 we see this gift exercised in another major
city--Ephesus. Here the apostle Paul met with some believers who had
no knowledge of the work of the Holy Spirit. Because these disciples in
Ephesus were baptized with John's baptism, Paul instructed them about
the true baptism "in the name of the Lord Jesus." Verse 5.
Paul then baptized them in the name of Jesus and laid his hands upon
them, and "the Holy Ghost came on them." Verse 6.
This practice of the laying on of hands is often represented with the
reception of the Holy Spirit, and as a sign that those involved were called
to evangelize the world. Of course, the laying on of hands is not
necessary for someone to receive the Holy Spirit. See Acts 2:1-4;
9:10-18; 10:46-48. Nor does everyone "speak in tongues" because he
received the laying on of hands. See Acts 2:41; 8:38-39; 9:18; 16:15, 33.
It was simply a practice in those days as they dedicated themselves to
receive God's Spirit, to accept Jesus as Lord, and to fulfill the gospel
commission.
Greek scholars tell us that the Greek form of the verb "to speak" in this
passage is in the imperfect tense, indicating that the gift was bestowed
for continuous and prolonged use. The believers in Jerusalem and
Caesarea also received the same permanent gift to proclaim the gospel
far and near.
Commenting on these verses, Sister White wrote, "Thus they were
qualified to labor as missionaries in Ephesus and its vicinity, and also to
go forth to proclaim the gospel in Asia Minor." Review and Herald,
August 31, 1911.
1 Corinthians 12-14
Now the passages that have generated the greatest amount of confusion
and controversy are those found in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14.
Some have suggested that Acts chapters 2, 10, and 19 do indeed
describe speaking in a foreign language known to man, but that the gift
represented in Corinthians is different. They argue that this form of
ecstatic tongues is an angelic language used for personal prayer and the
edification of the church.
However, when we study the terminology found in all of these passages
from Mark 16:17 to Acts chapters 2, 10, and 19, we find that the Greek
word for "tongue" is the same. In fact, the verb "to speak" in tongues is
the same in all of these accounts. Consequently, there is only one gift of
tongues.
Because the gift of tongues had become a permanent gift for those who
received it, Paul gave some rules for the exercising of the gift during
church. Apparently, many of the Corinthian believers were (1) causing
commotion because several were speaking in tongues at the same time,
(2) there was no one present who understood what they were saying,
and (3) to the nonbelievers, who were watching, it seemed awkward,
disorderly, and confusing. See 1 Corinthians 14:23.
When one considers that the purpose of "speaking in tongues" was to
reach unbelievers, it was disastrous when many of the Corinthian
believers were misappropriating the gift. The gift was to be a sign to
unbelievers that God had a message of salvation for them personally.
See 1 Corinthians 14:21-22.
First, Paul counsels them to speak in order, and then let only one
interpret. See 1 Corinthians 14:27. The word for "interpret" means to
"translate"--as from one known language to another. Consequently, one
man would speak in an intelligible foreign language and then another
man would translate it into the local language.
Second, if there is no one to interpret, let the one who speaks in tongues
keep silent. See 1 Corinthians 14:28. The gift of tongues was given to
communicate truth. If a believer speaks in German, but there are no
unbelievers who understand German, then another believer who
understands German should translate the message in a language that
the others can understand, otherwise, the message is aimless and
unintelligible to all. Paul testified that he would rather speak five words
that people could understand than ten thousand words that no one could
understand. See 1 Corinthians 14:18-19.
However, some have misunderstood the words of Paul when he said,
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." 1
Corinthians 13:1. The Greek conditional clause used in this passage
indicates that Paul is speaking hypothetically. In other words, we know
that man does not speak in the language of angels, but even if he could,
it would profit him nothing if he had not the love of God in his heart.
Then in another place Paul says, "For he that speaketh in an unknown
tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth
him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." 1 Corinthians 14:2.
The believer who speaks "in the spirit" is speaking by the Holy Spirit.
What is he speaking? He "speaketh mysteries"? Does God inspire men
to speak about odd and secret things? No. Believers are the "stewards
of the mysteries of God." 1 Corinthians 4:1. His servants speak about
the "mystery of godliness." 1 Timothy 3:16. We are to make known the
mystery of God. We are to declare the truth about God that has been
previously misunderstood. This truth is revealed by the power of the Holy
Spirit. As Paul said, "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the
gospel." Ephesians 6:19.
But why does it say that "no man understandeth him"? The problem in
Corinth was that nobody present could understand him. He spoke in an
intelligible language, but there was no one present who could understand
that particular language. Consequently, he was not speaking unto men.
As Paul said, "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy
to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall
speak into the air." 1 Corinthians 14:9.
In summary, let it be understood that (1) Jesus predicted the need and
the endowment of this special gift to speak in a foreign and "new
tongue," so that the gospel could be preached throughout the world. (2)
The very manifestation of this gift was to be a "sign" to unbelievers that
the message they were hearing was from Heaven. (3) The gift of tongues
is not some ecstatic and unintelligible tongue, but it is indeed a known
human language. The purpose of the gift was to communicate the gospel
to the world's billions who have spoken thousands of different languages
and dialects. (4) There is indeed a counterfeit to the Biblical speaking in
tongues. It has taken the world by storm. Satan will use this counterfeit
manifestation to communicate error. He endeavors to work upon the
senses and the lower nature of man, namely, man's appetite, passions,
and desires. This is to keep man from settling into the truth with his
higher nature, namely, man's intellect, reason, and conscience.
So often Satan has found success by playing upon the emotions of man
and his senses, thereby bypassing his intellect, reason, and
conscience. However, God's people must be intelligent upon that which
is written in the Word of God. They must choose to do right, because it
is right and because right doing is pleasing to God. They must allow
their conscience to be wooed only by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4. Yet, so many are
unsatisfied with the plain words of Scripture. They have a false
salvational security because of this spiritual manifestation of tongues.
Yet, those who shall make up the kingdom of God must live by faith.
Day by day, moment by moment, they must walk with their Lord and
Saviour. They must hunger and thirst for righteousness. See Matthew
5:6.
In summary, none of us are saved because we speak in tongues.
Speaking in tongues is not even evidence that someone is saved. Many
non-Christians and atheists speak in the same ecstatic and unintelligible
tongue. Jesus warned the religious world, "Except ye see signs and
wonders, ye will not believe." John 4:48. We are not to put our faith in
the signs and wonders. They will increase as time draws to a close. We
are to trust in the promises of God and prepare to live with our Maker
and Redeemer forever and ever.
