What About Speaking in Tongues?
Pastor Scott McDermott
This is one of the most interesting phenomenon in the New Testament. Both the writings of Paul and Luke affirm its existence. What precisely is speaking in tongues? Larry Christianson, in his book entitled “Answering Your Questions about Speaking in Tongues” provides an excellent definition. “Thus speaking in tongues is a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit, whereby the believer speaks forth in a language he has never learned and that he does not understand” (loc 133-38 ereader). Christianson’s definition is very helpful because it provides insight into the fact that as the speaker speaks, she/he has no idea what they are saying. What they are saying is unknown to them (1 Cor 14.2). At times, as on the day of Pentecost, speaking in tongues can be a real language while at other times it is not a known language at all, but rather praying in mysteries (1 Cor 13.1; 1 Cor 14.1-5). Whatever the nature of the expression, the speaker has not learned the language beforehand.
Unfortunately, this gift of the Spirit has often been mischaracterized. Some, for example, describe this gift as “ecstatic tongues.” The implication is that those who speak in tongues are in some way caught up into an emotional frenzy and have little control over this spiritual expression. However, nothing could be further from the way the Bible describes it. In both Luke and Paul’s writings, speaking in tongues was a genuine expression of the Spirit’s work and fully under the control of the one who speaks. Those who speak in tongues are not in an emotional frenzy at all. They are simply praying as the Spirit enables them to pray.
In fact, in first Corinthians chapter 14.1-5 Paul provides some important insight into this gift. First of all, we discover that those who speak in a tongue speak to God and not to people (1 Cor.14.2). This is not the language of discourse and teaching. It is the language of prayer and praise. Secondly, speaking in tongues is for personal edification (1 Cor. 14.4). In other words, as one prays in the spirit, they build themselves up. Finally, Paul tells us that since this gift is primarily for personal edification, it should only be manifest in a church setting if there is a gift of interpretation (1 Cor 14.5). Church is not to be a selfish expression. All things must be done for the common good, and the common good includes others being able to understand what is being said (1 Cor. 14.6-12).
Must one speak in tongues to be filled with the Holy Spirit? This question has provoked a lot of discussion in the last 100 years since the Azuza Street revival in Los Angeles in 1906. As we will see from the book of Acts, while speaking in tongues is a very common manifestation of the Spirit’s filling, it does not seem to be the exclusive expression of the Spirit’s fullness. Paul seems to confirm this by noting that not every believer he knew spoke in tongues (1 Cor. 12.30; 14.5). Curiously, even within early Pentecostalism (the movement that arose in church as a result of the Azuza Street revival), other voices arose questioning the legitimacy of reducing the Spirit’s filling to be evidenced only by speaking in tongues. In fact, William Seymour, the key leader of the Azuza street revival himself called this doctrine into question, noting that he had known people who spoke in tongues who did not exhibit a life of the Spirit. Based upon their lives, he himself questioned whether they had indeed been filled with the Holy Spirit even though they spoke in tongues. In fact, while Seymour never denied that speaking in tongues was a sign of the Holy Spirit’s filling, it was only considered legitimate if that person exhibited a life of love. (See “Thinking in the Spirit: Theologies of Early Pentecostalism”, by Doug Jacobsen.)
I remember when I first asked God to fill me with his Holy Spirit. I was alone in my room and carefully considering the request I was about to make. Quietly, and humbly I asked the Lord to fill me with his Holy Spirit. I cannot say it was a wild emotional experience at all. Rather for me, it was a gentle peaceful loving encounter. As I sat there before the Lord I began to hear new words well up inside me. It was not a language that I recognized nor one that I understood. In faith I quietly began to whisper the words that came to my mind. For many minutes I prayed in my prayer language.
I cannot even begin to describe the enormous benefit this gift has been to me over the years. When I have felt overwhelmed and I have not known how to pray, I have been able to call upon this gift of the Spirit to help me. Nothing brings me such peace as surrendering more deeply to God’s will through the Holy Spirit. Other times praying in tongues has brought both clarity and understanding regarding difficult requests. I will pray in the Spirit and then pray with my understanding. Going back and forth like this has given me an excellent rhythm to my prayer. As I have done this, God has helped me to see more clearly what I am praying about. In fact, I have gotten better insight regarding how I should pray for a particular need. It has become so important to me that many times throughout my day I will pray quietly in the Spirit. Sometimes this prayer is audible and other times it is not. This has a way of helping me keep my spirit in a constant state of prayer as I seek to walk with God.
Does this mean that “you must speak in tongues?” Absolutely not. But if God should give you this gift, learn to grow in it. Here is what I would ask you to do. Stay open and seek for all that God has for you and that includes all the gifts of the Spirit. Paul exhorts us to desire earnestly spiritual gifts. (1 Cor 13. 31; 14.1). If you speak in tongues, that is wonderful. If you don’t, be at peace. You are loved by God and you are not a second class citizen in God’s kingdom. Let God’s love well up inside you. Ask the Holy Spirit to love others through you.
Here are some other resources on speaking on tongues:
