Speaking In "Unknown Tongues"

Speaking In "Unknown Tongues"



Speaking in "unknown tongues" is a common  experience in many denominational bodies.  This activity is a revival of the old Pentecostal Holiness practice. It grows out of an emotional, religious hysteria.. It is accompanied by a claim of Holy Spirit baptism, women preachers and alleged miracle working. The general confusion that marks these services indicates God is not the author of them (I Cor. 14:33). What say the Scriptures on speaking in Tongues? 

I. The gift of speaking in unknown tongues was a reality in the early church (Acts 2:4; I Cor. 12:10). It was a miraculous gift (Mk. 16:17-20). This gift could only be received in one of two ways:  For the apostles, it was by a baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5; 2: 4).   For others, it was by laying on of the apostles' hands (Acts 19:6). "Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spake with tongues..."(See also Acts 8:14-17). 

II. What was the  gift of speaking in tongues? Was it the ridiculous jibberish heard in churches today? Let God's word define tongues: The action is described as follows: new tongues (Mk. 16:17); other tongues (Acts 2:4);  divers (different) kinds of tongues (I Cor. 12:10); to speak with tongues of men and angels (I Cor. 13:1); it could be interpreted (I Cor. 14:13), "If any man speaks a tongue...let one interpret... but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church"(I Cor. 14:27-28).  Every man heard them speaking "in his own language wherein he was born" (Acts 2:6-8). The gift of unknown tongues was simply the miraculous ability to speak in an intelligent way, a language the speaker had not acquired by natural means. If you, an English speaking Christian, lived then, God may have given you the miraculous ability to speak Greek, or Spanish. To you this was an unknown tongue or language. 

III. The purpose of the gift was to aid in the spreading of the gospel to new sections where people spoke different languages,. It served as a sign to unbelievers (I Cor. 14:22). It confirmed the words of its possessor (Mk. 16:20). 

IV. The gift of tongues ceased to be given at the close of the first century (I Cor. 13:8-10). Paul said,  "tongues...shall cease." The tongue speaking of 2007 and the confusion and false teaching that goes with it are not a true demonstration of Christianity, rather they are evidence of a misunderstanding of God and the Bible.  Paul said, in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that then thousand words in a tongue"(I Cor. 14:19).

Sincerely,



 


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