The Biblical Doctrine of Tongues

The doctrine of speaking in tongues is hot button issue in Christianity and has been since the first century A.D. Whole denominations have split off from others because they could not come to an agreement on what tongues are and what the proper use of them are if there is any use for them at all today. To understand the issue we need to first study how the gift was used in the Bible, with that information we can than study the possibility and usage of the gift today. Lastly we can come to a conclusion on how the gift should be used if it exists today.

Throughout the Bible God empowers his people through the Holy Spirit to build up his Kingdom and edify one another. In Acts God chose to bestow spiritual gifts on believers in a way unlike he has ever done before. In an effort to grow the emerging Christian church the gift of tongues was used to bring new wisdom to congregations. At Pentecost there were 14 or 15 earthly languages spoken and everyone who was there understood what was said so that they would believe. The main purpose for the gift of tongues in Acts and the New Testament was to be a sign to unbelieving Israel so that they would be saved. The most controversial passage about tongues in the New Testament is not the Pentecost account though, it is 1 Corinthians 12-14. Paul's intent for writing these two chapters is to rebuke the church of Corinth in their abuse of the gift of tongues. These chapters are the scripture cited by Pentecostals and Charismatics for support of their idea of ecstatic speech. Ecstatic speech is supposedly the gift of tongues except the participant does not speak in a human language but a "heavenly language". It is marked with emotionalism and is viewed by some Pentecostals as the true sign that someone is a Christian. There are no translators of this language and all who view someone babbling this ecstatic speech cannot understand what is being said. The Baptist view is that there is no such thing as ecstatic speech. If ecstatic speech was a true ministry of the Spirit then there should be some specific mention of it in Scripture explaining it. Tongues were supposed to edify believers and bring wisdom to them. Ecstatic speech can do neither since no one can understand it including the speaker himself. Paul himself writes in 1 Corinthians 14:6 "Now, brothers, 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?" The gift of tongues had been given for a very specific purpose for a turbulent time in history. The question remains then, does the Holy Spirit give the gift of tongues to believers today?

There are three major theological viewpoints in regards to the question of the gift of tongues in today's world. The first is that with the closing of the New Testament and the ending of written revelation the Spirit ceased the ministry of tongues since the Christian church was established and growing steadily. The second is that Spirit has not ceased in giving the gift tongues and that He gives it generously to all. The third view is a middle of the road view between the first two, which is that the Spirit continues the ministry of tongues but it is very rare and it is always used with a translator. One question to examine is do we need the gift of tongues today? Considering we have the completed written revelation of scripture I would say that for the most part we don't need to speak in tongues to each other today. That assumption doesn' necessarily rule out the gift existing today though. There could be possible scenarios in which the Holy Spirit might want to give someone the gift; we shouldn't be quick to limit the Holy Spirit in anyway. On the other hand we also shouldn't accept all forms of emotional display as a true spiritual gift. Spiritual gifts are given to build up the church, not to give some one an emotional experience of God.

I have come to three conclusions on this theological issue. First, I conclude that the speech in Acts 2, 4 and 1 Corinthians 12-14 were human languages spoken so those who heard the message would believe. Second I believe that ecstatic speech does not exist and it is not a viable ministry of the Holy Spirit. Thirdly I believe that the gift might be bestowed today on individuals although it is high unlikely and not normative for believers. This is a very sensitive subject to some Christians. Certain denominations put a huge emphasis on tongues. Therefore we should treat other Christians with care when discussing the subject. Even when we have disagreements over such issues we should still have fellowship and never cease loving one another as Christ has loved us.