“Come, let us go down and there confuse
their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” So the
LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left
off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the
LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed
them over the face of all the earth.” (Genesis 11:7-9 ESV)
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were
all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a
mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4 ESV)
“There
are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without
meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a
foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me … For if I pray in a
tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray
with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my
spirit, but I will sing with my mind also … For God is not a God of confusion
but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:10-11, 14-15, 33 ESV)
The day-of-Pentecost
experience is about empowerment for service, given to followers of Jesus that
prayerfully ask for the Heavenly promise. Much of the controversy surrounding
the Blessing centers on speaking in
tongues. Of the nine manifestations of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) the
gift of tongues is the only one bringing personal edification.
Many people
attend Pentecostal churches in order to benefit from things associated with the
immersing nature of the Holy Spirit, such as experiential rather than only
cognitive worship. Although every believer needs the fullness of the Spirit,
some just want selected benefits.
At the age
of 16 I visited a Spirit-filled church in Seattle. The well-to-do congregation
gathered in an upscale part of the city, the University district. Approximately
a thousand people attended on Sunday mornings. They wore stylish clothing,
drove pricey vehicles, and lived in attractive homes located in well-manicured
neighborhoods. These were not the typical attendees of Pentecostal churches,
more associated with lower income people.
The
expressive worship was uplifting yet almost seemed out of character with their
social status. They sang with enthusiasm and prayed with authority. During my
visit, as the congregational singing was coming to a close, a distinguished gentleman
in the balcony began speaking in tongues. He simply spoke a firm, clear and pure
utterance, given by the Holy Spirit instead of through the normal processes of human
reasoning. What followed was an interpretation (not a translation) from another
believer in the auditorium.
As a guest
at the church, the experience surprised me but did not alarm me. A sense of
genuineness and reality came over me and made me more curious about Christ. The
gift of tongues has the ability to generate belief as well as confirm the presence
of God.
Many
statements are made about speaking in tongues from various perspectives:
A psychological perspective describes it
as “fabricated speech in a strange tongue, occurring chiefly in states of
religious ecstasy but found also in psychopathic cases.”
An anthropological perspective describes it
as “unintelligible extemporaneous postbabbling speech that exhibits superficial
phonologic similarity to languages without having consistent syntagmatic
structure and is not systematically derived from or related to known
languages.”
Yet the
Greek word glossa used in Acts 2:4
denotes a “program of intelligible sounds produced by the physical organ inside
one’s mouth when it is under
intelligent control.”
So why should believers manifest the gift in tongues?
Speaking in tongues is a means of reflecting a new image
The human tongue
reflects the inner-person.
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking
deceit. Turn away from evil and do good….” (Psalm 34:13-14 ESV)
“I will guard my ways, that
I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle….” (Psalm 39:1 ESV)
“[They] whet their tongues
like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless….” (Psalm 64:3-4 ESV)
Proverbs makes comments
about speech:
“An evil man is ensnared by the
transgression of his lips….” (Proverbs 12:13 ESV)
“…the mouth of the wicked
pours out evil things.” (Proverbs 15:28 ESV)
“…the mouth of the wicked [only speaks] what is perverse.”
(Proverbs 10:32 ESV)
Jesus mentions speech:
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
(Matthew 12:34 ESV)
“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a
person, but what comes out of the mouth … But what comes out of the mouth
proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:11, 18 ESV)”
James records
some observations about speech:
“And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a
perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” (James 3:2 ESV)
“And the tongue is a fire, a
world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the
whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life….” (James 3:6 ESV)
Every time people gossip, speak
half-truths, make derogatory remarks, or express vulgarity they are saying more
about themselves than about others. As an organ of speech the tongue mirrors
the inner condition. The propensity for speaking evil is great and must be
guarded against. The tongue is the part of the body whose control signifies the
control of the whole person.
Speaking in tongues gives testimony
of a new Lord in residence and a new nature being built up in Christ.
Speaking in tongues is a reversal of Babel
Three characteristics were part of the Tower of Babel.
(Genesis 11) The people moved east to a plain in the land of Shinar in
disobedience to God. They attempted to reach greatness using manmade materials
and individual efforts. Their actions led to disunity and confusion.
When in disobedience human language deteriorates and
becomes mere babble. Since the Tower of Babel the human race has not only been
speaking different languages but also babbling.
Paul wrote to Timothy that speech void of the Spirit is worldly
fables, empty chatter that spreads like cancer. In other words, babble! (1
Timothy 4:7, 6:20)
The outcomes at the Tower of Babel were reversed
at the Feast of Pentecost. They stayed in Jerusalem in obedience to the Lord. Instead
of seeking greatness by human effort they waited for the promise of the Father,
the clothing of divine power. Their actions led to unity and harmony.
Babel was a place of disorder, yet throughout the book of
Acts the church is described as of one mind, one heart and one purpose. The
Lord restores order out of chaos.
Speaking in tongues is a testimony of moving from
babbling to simplicity. The manifestation testifies of moving from rebellion to
submission, shifting from the tower of confusion to the upper room of
confidence.
Communicating to God in a heavenly language suspends worldly
nonsense and synchronizes life in Christ. Speaking in tongues is not a ritual
recall but an edifying experience, clearing up indecision and insecurity.
Speaking in tongues is not irrational but super-rational
Scripture records
the content of tongues is “speaking the mighty deeds of God” (Acts 2:11), a
transcendent praise that goes beyond ordinary capacity and expression. Speaking
in tongues enables a believer to convey His splendor in words beyond human
comprehension.
God always understands the language of tongues (1
Corinthians 14:2) and always listens (1 Corinthians 14:28). Speaking in tongues
is a gift to a person’s spirit that bypasses human comprehension. The inner
spirit intermingling with the Holy Spirit communicates to the Lord, unhindered
by flawed wisdom and limited understanding.
What was the Apostle Paul’s opinion and instructions
about speaking in tongues? “Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts … I want you all to speak in tongues … if I pray in a
tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray
with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also … I thank God that I speak in
tongues more than all of you.” (1 Corinthians
14:1, 5, 14-16, 18 ESV)
Is there a therapeutic dimension to
tongues?
Becoming built up by
super-rationally expressing the mysteries of God is the Scriptural element. (1 Corinthians 4:2)
Opening all aspects of the outward
and inward person to Jesus is the theological aspect.
Could a psychological feature
be an ongoing integration of the human personality? Is the total psyche (the conscience,
subconscious, and unconscious) going through defragmentation and recalibration?
Is a restoring of unity to the inner person becoming enhanced and enriched by
this manifestation of the Holy Spirit?
When not knowing how to pray,
God provides the means. When not knowing what to pray, God provides the
direction. Speaking in tongues gives divine enlightenment.
Speaking in tongues is a liberating
phenomenon
Two
older covenant festivals are associated with fifty, the fiftieth day after Passover known as Pentecost and every
fiftieth year after entering the Promise Land known as Jubilee. (Leviticus 25)
In the Year of Jubilee property was liberated from toil
and freed to return to the original owner. All slaves were released from
bondage. What a terrific picture of the manifestation of tongues!
The 13th Century churchman Thomas Aquinas
wrote, “Jubilation is an unspeakable joy which one cannot keep silent,
yet neither can it be expressed…it is beyond comprehension.”
Speaking in a heavenly language is jubilating, liberating
the believer from one of the toil aspects of prayer – knowing what to say. It
frees the person to fully express joy and thanksgiving to the Lord, and
releases the believer from the bondage of limitations.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV)
Tongues
Speaking
in tongues is a means of reflecting a new image, reverses the events of Babel,
is a super-rational experience, and a liberating wonder. From heavenward
perspectives the manifestation of tongues is not controversial but brings
wholeness to life. As with every component of faith, this grace-gift is indispensable.
Some
have said to me, “I believe speaking in tongues is genuine but just not for
me.” The book of Acts reveals they were all filled and all spoke
in tongues.
Pride and
sometimes doubt prevents believers from experiencing
various dimensions of eternal living. Be assured, the day-of-Pentecost
phenomenon is genuine and for all who love God and seek to live fully for Him.
Is
pride holding you back from this blessing? The very nature of pride
opposes heavenly qualities and is the barrier to all spiritual advancement. Humbly ask and receive this priceless edifying gift of
the Spirit.
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