Intelligibility in worship
“Follow the way of love and eagerly
desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 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. But the one who prophesies
speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. Anyone
who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies
the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but even
more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in
tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
(1 Corinthians 14 - New International
Version)
Having had some interesting experiences
in a variety of churches and ‘religious gatherings,’ I have heard many
differing views about ‘speaking in tongues’. It has always been a thorny
subject that has caused me some concern.
As we can see from 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 we
are encouraged in the use of speaking in tongues, but it is clear that if a person
is praying or singing in tongues they are doing so to speak directly to God,
not other people. It is also clear that speaking in tongues in not as important
as some people make it out to be; prophecy is much more important.
The problem I often have with people
speaking in tongues is that they do so in contradiction of the ways in which
scripture instructs it to be done. I worry that there are too many people out
there who have learned to ‘babble in gibberish’ and have fooled themselves, and
others, into thinking it is from God and via the Holy Spirit. Babbling in
gibberish is NOT something that God wants us to do. It is
sometimes excused as speaking in an ‘angelic’ or ‘holy’ language, but that doesn't have any scriptural foundation.
In every case in the Bible where an
angel has appeared there is no mention that they have spoken to their audience
in an ‘angelic’ or ‘holy’ language (sometimes referred to as Glossolalia). They have spoken to the recipients in a language
which they could easily understand - a real human language.
“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? 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? Again, if the
trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 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. Undoubtedly
there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without
meaning. 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. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of
the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
(1
Corinthians 14:6-12 - New International Version)
Speaking in tongues is designed, as
stated here, to build up the church. Paul makes it clear that speaking in tongues should be used to
reveal knowledge or give some form of instruction. Unfortunately, in many
churches, this does not happen and congregations are encouraged to babble in what
is mistaken for speaking in tongues. This babbling, which is rarely if ever
translated, seems to be more for show than for edification. What does it
actually achieve? Is it a form of spiritual one-upmanship? Keeping up with the
spiritual Joneses? Where does it say in the Bible that any of the apostles spoke
in tongues that were not real languages?
“All of them were
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
enabled them. Now there were
staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this
sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.”
(Acts
2:4-6 - New
International Version - UK)
The purpose of speaking in tongues is
for the recipient – as we can see here in Acts 2. The Spirit descended on the
apostles, they did speak in other tongues, but each was a REAL language which was then able to be interpreted by someone listening. Don't be fooled by misquoting of scripture which only mentions the “other
tongues” part as an explanation of this use of 'Glossolalia' without clarifying what "other tongues" actually means. It does not mean the babbling
gibberish ‘language’ which is used incorrectly in many churches today; it means REAL HUMAN LANGUAGE other than that normally spoken by the person speaking in tongues. For example...I don't speak Chinese, but the Spirit could allow me to do so in order to pray for someone who spoke only Chinese. In comparison, what good would 'Glossolalia' do them?
“For this reason the
one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my
mind is unfruitful. 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. Otherwise
when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put
in the position of an enquirer, say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since they do
not know what you are saying? You are giving
thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
(1
Corinthians 14:13-17 - New International Version)
It is clearly shown here that speaking
in tongues in church should ALWAYS be interpreted, not just used as an
alternative form of prayer or worship. Speaking in tongues is clearly shown to
be something to edify the people hearing it, which cannot happen if no-one
interprets it.
Some people will argue that 1 Corinthians 13:1 is 'proof' of an angelic language. Have a look here for an explanation and deconstruction of this argument.
Some people will argue that 1 Corinthians 13:1 is 'proof' of an angelic language. Have a look here for an explanation and deconstruction of this argument.
Why doesn't interpretation happen very often? Why is prophecy considered to be better?
Speaking in tongues is sometimes used
without interpretation as it can make the person or church using it seem ‘super-spiritual’.
It is often used wrongly by people in positions of authority in churches. Why they do so – what is their motivation? Is it because when interpretation
does not occur, these ‘prayers’ are never tested for accuracy as would happen
with prayers or prophecy in an understandable or interpreted tongue? Paul makes
this very clear when he adds:
“But in the church I would rather speak
five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
(1
Corinthians 14:19 - New International Version)
So what therefore is the use of this
unintelligible babbling? It’s of no use at all except for making
the person or church doing it seem like they are ‘in touch with God’. Do they
do so with deceit in mind? Hopefully not,
especially as it is so clear in scripture what speaking in tongues should be
used for and how it should be structured.
How SHOULD speaking in
tongues be used in church?
Paul gives VERY clear instructions as to
the use of tongues. They are unambiguous and if not followed, then what is
happening is NOT of God, as the Bible does not allow for contradiction of
itself. It is not a pick ‘n’ mix where you can discard the bits that do not
suit your personal preferences.
“If anyone speaks in a
tongue, two – or at the most three – should speak, one at a time, and
someone must interpret. If there is no
interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself
and to God.”
One at a time – not babbling in a large
group or congregation, either spoken or singing.
Two or three at most in a service – not tens, hundreds or
thousands corporately ‘speaking in tongues’.
A REAL language - not the babbling 'Glossolalia'.
Someone MUST interpret – if this does
not happen it is not scripturally sound.
If there is no interpreter, the person speaking in tongues should KEEP QUIET in church.
If these instructions
are not followed then the modern church becomes like the church in Corinth. Paul
wrote this epistle to instruct them how to worship correctly, as they had
become corrupted. The Corinthians’ worship services demonstrated their problem with
pride and self-centredness and Paul gave these
instructions to them and through the Bible us, so we would not become proud or
self-centred too.
“So if the whole church comes together
and everyone speaks in tongues, and enquirers or unbelievers come in, will they
not say that you are out of your mind?”
(1
Corinthians 14:23 - New International Version)
Paul
clearly states that when this corporate use of speaking in tongues occurs, even
if it is all in intelligible ‘real’ languages, it will sound like the babblings
of madmen. Should the church sound like this? Is it edifying? Does it instruct?
No…and for those reasons it should not be done.
Speaking in tongues is definitely something that is a gift from God...but only if it is REAL and used in the right way.