Several years back, Pastor Jeff, the previous lead pastor here, spoke on the gift of tongues. After the service two people approached me and asked me if I agreed with him. The two people were on the opposite side of the issue, and my response was the same to each: I agree and disagree with Jeff on many issues, but he is the lead pastor, and if I agree or disagree with him on any issue, that is between me and him. And today, we’re going to dive into, what I hope we walk away with, a clear biblical understanding on the role of tongues in the Church. No Jeremiah’s or Jeff’s or anyone’s thoughts on the subject, but rather God’s frame work for the gifts that we can work within.
So, let’s open again to 1st Corinthians, where we will be picking up the letter in chapter 14, starting in verse 1. And as we come back to 1st Corinthians 14:1, let’s bring ourselves up to speed once again.
The letter Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians is focused on bringing unity, to a un-unified Church. They were dealing with many different issues, but Paul basically deals with these by combing them in one of two ways. The first half of the letter deals with the issues that were causing disunity in the believers' personal interactions with each other, while the second half of the letter deals with the issues that were causing disunity in the community worship time.
And the main thrust of this disunity in the worship time, revolved around the use of spiritual gifts. So, for the last four weeks we have been walking through Paul’s words in chapters 12-13 to try and fully understand how we can make sure that when dealing with the spiritual gifts, we can come together and have unity, even if we come to the end and disagree on aspects of what we have talked about.
But we walked through these four weeks, with a focus first on the Holy Spirit as the giver of the gifts, then the fact that the gifts are given for the benefit and uniting of the Church, then on what the gifts are through the understanding of the words Paul uses, and finally last week, where we looked at the better path to unity in the Church that Paul says is through agape love for each other.
With all of that being said, we are now going to get into the controversial subject of the gift of tongues, because today, we’re going to be looking at 1st Corinthians chapter 14, verses 1-25. And we’re going to do something we usually don’t do, and that’s go through the chapter pretty much verse-by-verse.
We don’t really do verse-by-verse studies on Sunday mornings, because we try and look at the whole picture of Scripture to see it in it’s whole context. But when dealing with controversial topics such as this, we need to really dig into the language and how the author is putting his ideas together.
But before we start, I want to mention this. 1st Corinthians is the most comprehensive section of Scripture on the gift of tongues. The Greek word for tongues, glóssa (gloce-sah’), which is used both of the physical tongue and of language, is used fifty times in the New Testament. Twenty-eight times in reference to the gift of tongues specifically (Mark 16:17, Acts 2:3, 4, 11, 26; 10:46, 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10(2x), 28, 30; 13:1, 8; 14:2, 4, 5 (2x), 6, 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 27, 39, ). With twenty-one of those times in the 1st Corinthian letter, and sixteen of those times are found in this one chapter. So as we talk about tongues, Paul is giving us a very comprehensive view of the gift and it’s purposes right here.
So let’s open up to 1st Corinthians chapter 14, starting in verse 1.
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
Let’s start off where we left off of last week. Paul opens this chapter with a transition sentence from his more excellent way of uniting the Church, which is the agape love way. These opening words read, “Follow the way of love…” Paul uses two Greek words that translate directly as “Pursue love” This is the idea of the hunter relentlessly going after it’s prey. This is how Paul tells us we must go after love in the Church. In other words, do not let anything else deter you in your pursuit of loving one another. So, as we move into the controversial parts of this chapter, we must remember this, nothing should take our focus off the pursuit of loving one another as Christ loves us.
But Paul doesn’t stop there, and he doesn’t throw off the gifts as if they are not good and useful. No, instead he says to, “…eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit…” This eagerness carries with it the want to be used by the Holy Spirit in maximum usage. It’s seeking the use of the gifts in our lives to reach the maximum purpose of those gifts, which is to bring unity to the Church. So Paul is saying, desire the gifts for the same purpose as the Holy Spirit’s intent. Which is always, what God intends for us. His desire is for us to desire what he desires, which is to love him, and love each other, in the agape way.
And then Paul says about the gifts, “especially prophecy.” Why that particular gift? Why not miracles, teaching, service, helping, or one of the other fifteen? That’s what he’s going to explain, and he’s going to use tongues to do it. Let’s drop down and read verses 2 through 4.
2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
Here Paul gives us some key things to understand about the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy. First, in verse 2, Paul tells us that when a person speaks in tongues it’s a conversation between man and God. The word spoken during this gift is a Spirit derived and Spirit led matter. And in this conversation, divine mysteries or the synonymous New Testament term revelations, are given. In verse 4, we’re told what results from this conversation, is an edification of the person, or in some translations a building up of the person. Now this building up is not the vain look at me, but rather God molding a more robust and firm faith in that person.
But also in these verses we have Paul giving some key things about the gift of prophecy. In verse 3, we’re told that the one who speaks prophecy is not speaking in a conversation with God, though we know this is also a Spirit derived and led matter, but rather the conversation is meant to be directed at the people of God. And not only that, but where the gift of tongues is meant to build up the individual speaking it, the gift of prophecy is meant to edify or build the Church as a whole.
And so we begin to see why Paul tells us in verse 1 to especially seek the gift of prophecy, because it brings more unity to the Church, because it is purposefully directed towards the Church.
Now, this isn’t to say, that Paul is dismissing the gift of tongues, because of what he says in verse 5.
5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
The phrase “I would like” comes from the Greek word theló (eth-el’-o) which translates as “I desire, or I want”. The word carries with it the idea of desiring an optimal situation. In this case, Paul desires that the optimal situation, which is, that not only would every believer be able to speak in tongues, but that in doing so the people would also have someone who interprets what is being said. To Paul, this is the best situation and even better than the gift of prophecy. This is because, then both the individual and the body of believers are benefited. But without an interpretation given, tongues is not used in the optimal way, and so Paul lets us know that prophecy would be a more desirable gift.
But like he did with all the rest of the gifts in chapter 13 verse 8, here in verse 6 of chapter 14, Paul puts tongues into perspective.
6 Now, brothers and sisters, 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? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
Again, Paul’s focus is on the unity and the benefit of the Church. So he let’s us know, what is the point if there is not revelation (an unveiling of God’s plans), knowledge (how to live out God’s truths in every day living), prophecy (a calling back of God’s people to his revealed truth), or teaching (unpacking of the Scriptures), that is relayed which would benefit the Church.
So then, Paul compares the gift of tongues without an interpreter who can relay revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching, to musical instruments that have no clear notes as to make music. And so, just as an instrument sounds bad when we cannot hear the correct notes, so too the gifts of tongues make no sense without an interpreter. And Paul lets us know this in verse 9.
9 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. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.
Paul makes the argument that, just like we need an interpreter to speak between different languages of man to grasp what each one is saying, we must have an interpreter between the group and the gift of tongues, so that it can be understood, so that it can benefit the Church as a whole. And it’s, again for the benefit of the Church that Paul writes this in verse 12:
12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
The Church is being called to seek gifts that will, again, benefit and unite the Church, and not solely the individual. And so, Paul encourages us, if we have or seek the gift of tongues, then we should also, at the very least, seek to interpret or have an interpreter of that gift, so that the Church would benefit from it.
But it is here, that one of the most important passages in this section is written. Let’s drop down to verse 14.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
Paul brings up an important teaching in these verses. A combination of worshiping with our spirit, which is the breath of life of a person or the whole of who a person is, and worshiping with our mind, which is our cognitive ability and reasoning. Both are needed in worship. But when we emphasize one over the other, we tend to go off the deep in, in one of two ways. Either we focus solely on our ability to understand God, which leads to our mental doctrine putting God in a nice neat box, or we focus on our more emotional experience of God, which embraces the feeling of God over the understanding of God. Both can lead to a type of legalism in which the Church is not built up but divided, and where we cannot allow others in the Church to experience God as he intended them to.
But then Paul brings us back to his central point yet again, in verse 16.
16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
Paul uses the word, idiótés (id-ee-o’-tace) that is translated sometimes as inquirer or outsider, but this word is not necessarily speaking of an outsider, meaning a person who is a unbeliever, but rather the word means uninstructed. This means it could be someone who is either seeking to understand Christianity, or someone who is new in the faith and has yet to understand the gifts and their purpose. This word is a root to the word ignorant.
Such a person cannot say “Amen” or “Let it Be” because they themselves do no understand what is happening, so they cannot be in agreement. This is a reminder of what Paul mentioned earlier in his letter in chapters 8 through 9. We must be looking out for other people’s spiritual walk, just as we are looking out for our own.
And here in verse 18, Paul again brings the gift of tongues into perspective.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Paul uses the number ten thousand, which is a stand in for how we would say a million, it’s just a huge or an innumerable amount. Therefore Paul is saying that an innumerable amount of words spoken in tongues, but not interpreted, is worth less than five words of clear instruction that people can understand.
Now, depending on your experience or understanding of the gift of tongues that last part might offend you. And I think that’s why Paul writes this in the next few verses.
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written: “With other 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.”
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
Paul’s encouragement here is to be infants in regard to evil, carries with it the idea of not doing evil things. Infants are not intentional in doing evil, because they have no undertaking of it. So we too are to not engage in evil. Instead, Paul encourages the people to be mature, thinking through the use of the gifts, for what they are designed for.
And I hope we have seen the location that Paul focusing on, it is the Church gathering. The whole context is that of the Church worship time, that Paul is focusing on. And so, if everyone is speaking in tongues in the Church worship time, yet there is no interpretation, then the unbeliever won’t know what’s going on. But if prophecy is happening in the Church worship time, then the unbeliever can understand and experience God’s moving.
Now we know that the primary purpose of the gifts is for the unity of the Church, they do have a secondary purpose of causing an unbeliever to respond to the Gospel. And the gifts of tongues along with the interpretation, can be one of the most eye opening gifts for those who are truly seeking God. We see this in Acts 2 where the gifts were first given.
Now, before we close, I want to highlight some of the controversy, fairly quickly.
First, some will say that the gift of tongues is not for today. This is false. We have read that the gifts will only go away when perfection comes. That perfection, is in eternity with God (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). Now some will say, that this perfection is in reference to when the Bible was canonized in the early 300s AD. At the canonization of the Bible, certain gifts were no longer needed, and so they were done away with. But Paul tells us that the gifts will only cease when all is perfected, and until then, we see through a mirror darkly. The Bible is a part of that mirror darkly. The Bible focuses on the restoration of our relationship with God, but in eternity, that restoration is complete and so there is no longer the need for the Bible. Therefore the Bible is not the perfection that Paul said was to come, and so, the gifts in their entirety are for today, and will be until perfection comes. Here’s a little caveat, this doesn’t mean new revelation supersedes the Bible, rather, the Bible is what we are to use to test everything against.
Second, the gifts of tongues is a sign that a person is saved. This is false - We have read that Paul would rather believers have the gift of prophecy over tongues. We have also read Paul desires that everyone would have the gift of tongues, which implies that not everyone does. So either tongues is not for every believer, or it is a base gift and there are more important gifts (1 Corinthians 14:3-5). Therefore, why would a believer want something, when there are better gifts? No, the Spirit gives gifts as he sees fit, for the purpose of uniting the Church. Elevating anyone gift over another to prove one is more spiritual, is in direct conflict with what Paul is trying to get at in the 1st Corinthian letter.
Third, the gift of tongues is a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is also false. There are three instances of tongues, baptism, and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The first two prominent ones was first to the Jewish believers in Acts 2:1-13, then to the Gentiles in Acts 10:44-48. In the case of the Jewish believers, it was a sign that the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 was bing fulfilled; the Holy Spirit was now upon all those who called on Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In the case of the Gentiles, it was a sign that the Holy Spirit would also descend on Gentiles and bring them into the people of God, fulfilling Peter’s prophetic vision in Acts 10:9-16. There is one more mention of the gift of tongues in the book of Acts chapter 19 verses 1-7. In this case were seeing a group of Jews who accepted John’s baptism of repentance, but had not yet accepted Jesus as Messiah. But through the witnessing of Paul, this group of men accepted Jesus as Messiah, were then baptized in the name of Jesus, and afterward Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. In this case they spoke in both tongues and also prophesied.
We know that this wasn’t the case for every of conversion, because of people like the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:26-38, or Lydia in Acts 16:11-15, or the people at Brea and Thessalonica in Acts 10-15. Where no mention of tongues, or any other gift proceeded or followed their conversation.
Fourth, the gift of tongues is an inferior gift. This is false as well, notice a theme? We have read that Paul desires believers to have prophecy over the gift of tongues because it’s easier to understand and quicker to build up the Church, but Paul also says that when there is an interpretation along with the tongue, then the gift is on par or maybe even better than the gift of prophecy. So Paul isn’t elevating one over another, but rather clarifying it’s usefulness at accomplishing it’s purpose within the Church body.
Fifth, there is a gift of tongues and then there is a prayer language of tongues. Here’s a change, it’s both true and false. The gift of tongues is both a personal and public gift. Privately the gift can be a communication with God (1 Corinthians 14:2); in public the gift is meant to be accompanied by interpretation, and if not it should not be uttered. We must be careful though in using such passages like Romans 8:26-27, because the two words used are alalétos (al-al’-ay-tos) and stenagmos (sten-ag-mos’), that we translate as inexpressible groans. These do not have the idea that Paul uses for the gift of tongues which is glóssa (gloce-sah’) or language. Therefore, there seems to be a difference in the two.
Finally, our sixth highlight of controversy, the gift of tongues is uncontrollable or in other words, a person is compelled to speak without being able to stop it. This is also false. In 1st Corinthians chapter 14 verse 27 & 28 Paul writes, “If any speaks 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.” This shows that the gift can be spoken, not in a burst of uncontrolled action, but with a mindful intentionality.
With all that said, here’s the thing, every gift has as it’s primary focus of building up the unity of the Church. If for one moment we think of the gifts as a way to present ourselves as more important because of the gifts we have, then we have missed the point, and that gift cannot be used to it’s maximized effectiveness.
You and I are here, because Christ died for us. We were in rebellion against God, we chose our way over God’s, and we desired the things that God calls sinful, rather than him. And because of this we were marching our way to internal punishment, because God cannot allow sin to be swept under the rug, because he is a just God. But in his justice, he provided a way. the Son came to earth, lived as one of us fully submitting to the Father, and being led by the Spirit. Jesus died on the cross for our sin, and provided the only way to have victory over sin, and eternal relationship with our Creator.
When we accept Jesus’ work on our behalf, we are brought into a family called the Church, where we are to build each other up as we all walk through this world together. To do this, the Holy Spirit gives us gifts to accomplish the unity God desires for his people. And it’s that unity we should seek as we seek the spiritual gifts.
This week, I want to challenge you to go before God and ask him for unity in the Church. In our community of believers here at the Alliance Church, and across the world for anyone who calls on the name of Jesus as their Savior. That even if we may disagree on things, like the gifts, we would stand united as children of God. And second, that God would use your gifts to accomplish this goal of uniting the Church.
Because that is what we are called to, and what Jesus prayed over us in John 17. So let us be the Church, focused on the Father, bought by the Son, led by the Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment