I believe in the supernatural ability to speak in tongues, but God doesn’t give it to me.
Why not? Because he has given me responsibility to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery of Christ (Eph 3:9).
Tongue talkers have not uttered such words since Paul’s day.
I am looking for someone who has the gift of tongues and understands the revelation of the mystery given to Paul. What a helpful ministry tool that would be.
Charisma magazine teaches people how to speak in tongues. But as far as I can tell, they do not understand the revelation of the mystery given by the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a big problem.
They constantly find their pattern in Israel’s covenants, Jesus’ ministry to Israel, and the early Acts ministry of the apostles.
When the charismatic faithful read my website they try to cast out the devils.
For them, if speaking from tongues is from God, then not speaking in tongues must be… well… missing something.
Paul says there is something more excellent than speaking in tongues (1 Cor 12:13). Hint: it is more excellent than prophecy, too.
He says I am complete in Christ even when my tongue is silent (Col 2:10).
What are they saying?
Billy Graham coordinator and lead pastor, Brian Alarid, explains in a recent Charisma article what people are saying when they speak in tongues. I am very interested.
(He must do this, because nobody else understands.)
First, he says they are speaking to God (1 Cor 14:2), but isn’t Paul’s point in 1 Cor 14:2-3 that we ought to speak to men and not to God if no one can understand?
Second, he says they are declaring God’s wonders because of Acts 2:11. However, the unbelievers in Acts 2:11 could understand what was said. The tongues being used were known by the hearers.
It would be a bad thing if no one understood what was said, and this must be why Mr. Alarid wrote the article. So we can all understand what is being said by millions of tongue talkers.
Third, he says they are praising God. It is in response to this that Paul says, “I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Cor 14:18).
Yet, Paul’s statement continues in 1 Cor 14:19:
“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
Apparently, Paul would rather not speak in tongues if others did not understand his “prayer language”.
Fourthly, he says tongue talkers are edifying themselves, but this is Paul’s reason for not speaking in unknown tongues without interpretation. Charity is not edifying yourself; it is edifying others.
Lastly, he says speaking in tongues helps us understand God’s will. Yet, God’s will is clearly revealed already in the scripture according to the revelation of the mystery (Eph 1:9; 1 Tim 2:4; 1 Thess 5:18).
This is why I said God won’t give me the gift of tongues even if I wanted it: he has since revealed the mystery of his will, and I understand it.
Charisma magazine does not.
If they did, their tongue talking would be different. What comes out of their mouth would be (after interpretation, of course) the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Rom 16:25).
God is not the author of confusion, but it is confusion when tongues are spoken so that no one understands, or when the interpretation confuses the prophecy and mystery of Christ.
If you can speak in tongues then speak for the glory of God making all men see the fellowship of the mystery (1 Cor 14:32).
If you can’t speak the truth of the Bible rightly divided with your tongues, then you are not God’s gift to anyone.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Tim 2:15
Article Index Published: September 27, 2014
Last Modified: May 23, 2020