That's Crazy Talk! (Part 2)

As you (my dear two readers) may recall  from my last blog post I explored the definition of tongues as found in Acts 2. A simple exegetical read of the passage shows evidence that tongues is in fact a coherent, established language as opposed to the modern day “gift” of tongue speaking which is usually an incoherent train of repetitive syllables. Also, I briefly touched on the ideas that modern tongues (gibberish) are a necessary sign of salvation, a secret prayer language, and an undiscovered language, and gave a smidgen of evidence as to why none of these theories could be true. In Part 1 I stated that one reason as to why God gave this ability to speak in foreign languages to the apostles and disciples was to witness to the men who had traveled to Jerusalem during Pentecost. This time I would like to explore further what I discussed as well as the second reason as to why God gave this ability. I would ask though, for the sake of space on this blog, that you follow along in 1 Corinthians 14 because I will not be posting the verses here, but will only be referencing them.

1 Corinthians 12-14 gives a great amount of discussion to spiritual gifts with chapter 14 focusing on tongues. Paul begins this chapter by stating that prophesy is a greater gift than tongues because prophesy edifies the church, whereas speaking in tongues only edifies the one doing it. This runs both ways if we view tongues as the biblical “language”, and the unbiblical “gibberish”. If an American was in an American church and say, for example, stood and began speaking Chinese then no one would know what he was saying but himself. However, prophesying is not done in a foreign language and therefore everyone understands what is being said. Therefore, Paul instructs the Corinthian believers that they must have someone to interpret (Vv. 1-5). If someone was to speak gibberish then nobody would understand. If someone was to speak Russian in an underground Chinese church, without an interpreter, then nobody would understand. Based on the understanding from Acts 2 that tongues are an actual language, then it makes sense. If you read through these verses and think “gibberish”, and if you read and think “languages”, then it works for both and you can certainly steer your interpretation in either direction.

However, we have determined that these “tongues” are actual languages from Acts 2. It would seem quite odd that God would have the believers speak actual languages, then have them start speaking non-languages. For what purpose? As Paul clearly states throughout 1 Corinthians 14 it is to edify the church. He says “Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise, you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.” (Vv. 7-9). There is no glory to God given if we speak nonsense to one another. No one will understand. You may say “that’s what the interpreter is for”. True, but in modern tongues the thought is that someone speaks gibberish and then someone else, through the spirit, stands and reveals to everyone else what is being said. That again takes us away from the idea that tongues are an actual language. In this biblical definition if someone was to speak Chinese, then there needs to be someone there to translate that back to English for the English-speaking congregation. If this Chinese speaking person did not have an interpreter then they would worship God in silence, yet speaking to God from within in their native tongue. This would be how the biblical definition of tongues would apply to verses 6-18. Paul also gives credence to the idea of tongues being an actual language when he says “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.” (Vv. 10-11). There are certainly many kinds of languages because they are defined by their nationality. However, there is only one kind if gibberish because gibberish is a non-language that cannot be defined. It is apparent from these verses that Paul is speaking of actual foreign languages that needs to be interpreted and therefor verifies that the tongues in Acts are actual spoken languages.

Another thought that I would like to toss to this is verses 20-25. As you may recall from Part 1 that the purpose of tongues in Acts 2 was to witness to the foreigners. Here Paul lays out the other reason why God delivered tongues as a sign gift- judgment. Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11-12 when he says, “In the law it is written: ‘With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says the Lord.” (v.21). Isaiah was prophesying the judgment against Israel when they were taken into Babylonian captivity by people who did not speak Hebrew. So why would Paul requote that here? It is because the tongues that were being spoken here, as well as the day of Pentecost, were languages that were unrecognizable to the Jewish people. Therefore, they accused the apostles of being drunk. Throughout this section Paul states that tongues are a sign to unbelievers, because it was a sign that they were being judged for rejecting Christ. Maybe that’s why so many were saved during Pentecost? Because they remembered Isaiah’s prophecy and realized that God was judging them?

A few other nuggets about tongues: Many who speak modern tongue gibberish may defend the transition from languages in Acts 2 to ecstatic language in 1 Corinthians 14 as the establishment of some sort of special prayer language. First of all, that is reading something into the text that is based on an assumption and that is where heresy is born. As I had mentioned before Jesus had spoken against vain repetitive nonsense in Matthew 6. He also said, “not like the heathens do”. What did he mean by that? Well it is well known that since the Old Testament days that paganism existed as it did in Jesus’ time and it does today. One of the things that many pagan religions do is speak in ecstatic languages very much like the gibberish nonsense that modern tongue speaking Christians do. So, if you think that speaking gibberish is in fact some sort of special language that bypasses all obstacles and gets you directly to the feet of God’s throne- think again. You are doing nothing more than what the Satanic pagans do. Second, Paul certainly gives the instruction that there should be an interpreter. In most Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, many people speak out in gibberish without an interpreter, as well as speaking all at once and in a disorderly fashion. This goes against verses 26-33 and 40. Whether you follow the biblical model of speaking in languages, or the pagan model of speaking in crazy talk, there is a good reason why both should be done with an interpreter and in an orderly fashion, otherwise confusion will ensue and no one will be edified. Imagine if an unchurched guest was to walk into one of these churches, not knowing much about church or Christianity. If all verbal chaos broke loose then he would think that we all were out of our minds and probably would think that about all of Christianity. He probably would have nothing more to do with any church or religion. He wouldn’t know any different and would just assume that this insanity is what Christ is all about. “Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (v.23). Therefore, you had lost the chance to witness.

Again, with the last blog, my purpose is not to bash anyone. This is a continuation of my Holy Spirit Hoedown post. The purpose in these last three posts is to illustrate that the work of the Holy Spirit is not anything that would bring about confusion. Modern tongue speaking is viewed as the epitome of the Holy Spirit’s work. However, modern tongue speaking is nothing more than confusing gibberish and has nothing to do with the tongue speaking that had taken place during the early church in the New Testament. What had taken place then was actual true established languages and verifies the work of the Holy Spirit as a “helper”. So, if you choose to speak in uncontrollable nonsense, either with or without an interpreter or in or out of order, then fine. But as I had mentioned before please, PLEASE, do not say that it is the working of the Holy Spirit. Anything of the such is contrary to His work.

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

In Christ Alone.