Praying in Tongues?
Does the Bible teach that the gift of tongues was to be used in
prayer? Those within the charismatic movement believe it does. They
believe tongues was a devotional gift used to speak to God through
languages unknown to man. As a basis for these ecstatic utterances or
heavenly languages, they cite the Apostle Paul's words in 1
Corinthians 14:2, "For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto
men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit
he speaketh mysteries". They also refer to part of verse 4, "He that
speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself".
Either......Or!
Charismatics interpret these verses to mean: (1) tongues were used
to speak to God not to man; (2) no person could understand the tongues
spoken; (3) tongues was a devotional gift to edify the believer.
An examination of this 14th Chapter of 1 Corinthians, reveals that
these claims are not substantiated by the context. For instance, if
tongues were directed to God not man, why does the apostle quote
Isaiah's prophecy, "...with men of other tongues and other lips will I
speak unto this people." (vs. 21)? Notice, this gift was intended to
speak to people, not God. Next, if no man could understand the
languages spoken, why does Paul mention the need of an interpreter?
Obviously the interpreter understood what was being said as did the
men from various nations in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.
Lastly, if the purpose of tongues was to edify the believer, why does
Paul say, "Tongues are for a sign not to them that believe, but to
them that believe not." (vs. 22). Let's face the facts......it cannot
be both ways, either tongues were for devotional purposes or as a sign
to unbelieveing man.
The One and Only
God promised and gave only one gift of tongues, not two or more.
When the Bible speaks of "kinds of tongues" or "diversities of
tongues", it is speaking of a variety of different languages that were
spoken. We never read of the gifts (plural) of tongues. This
miraculous gift prophesied in the Old Testament became a historical
event on the Day of Pentecost. On that day, people asked, "How hear
we everyman in our own tongue wherein we were born?" The answer is
that the Holy Spirit had suddenly given the apostles ability to speak
in foreign languages previously unknown to them. This is the one and
only meaning of the gift of tongues in the Bible.
Here's the Point
The point in 1 Corinthians 14:2,4 is that it was foolish to speak
to a congregation in a foreign language that it could not understand.
He is saying that when any one did so, unless there was no
interpreter, he was merely edifying himself and not the congregation;
that while God would understand the mysteries spoken, the people could
not. This is what he means when he says "speaketh not unto men but
unto God". He further reveals that it was their spiritual immaturity
that caused them to use the gift in such an unscrpitural way. They
were being childish by showing off.
This is why Paul says, "Brethren, be not children in understanding"
(vs. 20). He goes on to show that the gift of tongues was used as a
sign to unbelieving Israel (vs. 21-22) not self-gratification.
What Then?
We are aware that some charismatics do pray in the manner they
claim. They practice speaking in utterances unknown to man. We are
also aware that communication with the spirit world through ecstatic
utterances has long been claimed by various religions. It was
practiced centuries before Christ came and is still in effect among
certain Hindu groups, Mormons, spiritualists and others. The fact is,
however, this practice has no biblical basis and is not a gift of the
Holy Spirit of God. Since the Spirit of God is not the giver of
devotional tongues, there remains two alternatives: the human spirit
and the demonic spirit. What then is being exercised by charismatics?
Frank W. Bumpus, D.D../