First of all let's take a look at what the Bible has to say about the gift of "Speaking of tongues."
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. (1 Cor 14:2)
From the above mentioned Scripture, we see that the speaking of tongues is a spiritual language. It is a language that speaks directly to God. We do not necessarily know what we are speaking, for it is our spirit that speaks directly to God. This is being done through moans and groans which come from our spirit. It is important, however, to know that not everyone can and will speak in tongues. The apostle Paul specified this as follows:
Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us. (1 Cor 12:8-11)
We see that the gift of tongues is one of the Gifts of the Spirit, but not the most important gift, for the most important gifts is the gift of prophecy which we will discussing later on.
Early in the twentieth century, the Charismatic movement has re-introduced the gifts of the Spirit back into the Church. This is a good thing, for the Gifts of the Spirit have been long forgotten by the Church. The Bible tells us that the early Church did in fact make much use of these gifts of the Spirit, but the churches later on have dismissed these, stating that these were only relevant for the early Church. That is a lot of nonsense. These gifts are as relevant and important today as they were for the early Church!
Unfortunately, there are many churches today who forbid the speaking of tongues, saying that this is unbiblical, stating as I wrote before, that these gifts were only given to the people of the early Church. It has always puzzled me why these people think so. What difference is there in a believer from the early Church and a believer today? None. We all believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Him being the Savior of the World. This is nothing else but a huge mistake for the Bible itself tells us that the gifts are biblical and very much needed by the Church. That is why God gave the Church these gifts in the first place!
On the other hand I do understand where this concern comes from. The devil, our adversary, counterfeits every gift of God. Thus, he counterfeits also the speaking of tongues. And many, many people have been deceived by this. They think they speak in tongues, while in reality they are speaking in a ‘demonic tongue.’ Most probably, these people, instead of edifying themselves and God, curse themselves and God whilst speaking in ‘tongues’. This is why the Bible so sternly warns us that if we do speak in tongues, this should be done in the company of two witnesses, so that there can be an interpretation of the tongues.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret 1 Co 14:27
The problem in my opinion is, however, that way too many people are being misled by Charismatic leaders who ‘supposedly’ have a strong anointing, and have their hands laid on in order to receive the Holy Spirit. People who then are being told they have received the Holy Spirit are told to speak immediately in tongues. As if every new born believer who receives the Holy Spirit will be speaking in tongues! Wrong! My concern here is what exactly is being imparted on these believers. Is it in fact the Holy Spirit or is it in fact some sort of a demonic transference. I say this because many leaders do NOT walk in the fruits of the spirit. We just need to look at their live (style) to see it has NOT much to do with God. They pursue their own lust of the flesh (material riches) instead of the way of God. These are the supposedly leaders who are bestowing the gifts of the Spirit upon thousands if not millions of believers. The Bible does not warn us for nothing when it says that we ought to look at the fruit of the Spirit in a leader’s life (Gal 5:22 ).
Countless times, I have witnessed the passing on of these supposedly gifts of the Spirit by these leaders. People automatically assume that because these people preach the Word of God, that these are true followers of Jesus. This is wrong! The Bible itself tells us that these kinds of leaders are “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.”(2 Co. 11:13)
These leaders convince (and I have heard them preach this) that only ‘spirit filled believers’ who speak in tongues are true Christians. They forget what the apostle Paul told us, that God bestowes the gifts upon us as He pleases! (1 Co 12:11). Not everyone who has received the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues. That is a fable! The Bible very explicitly tells us that some will speak in tongues, while others will interpret tongues, and others will have other gifts.
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.”(1 Cor 12:4-5)
We must, however, not generalize nor accuse every charismatic leader either. There are lots of good leaders out there who genuinely care for God’s flock.!!
But let’s see what the purpose is of the speaking of tongues. The Bible tells us in 1 Co 14: 4 that “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.”
So we see that the speaking in tongues helps us to edify ourselves. What else does the speaking in tongues do for us? Let’s take a look at Romans 8:26:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom. 8:26)
From this verse we see that the praying in tongues, is actually a form of prayer; for it helps us to pray for our infirmities. It is a prayer that our spirit utters to the Spirit of God for us when we do not know how to pray. It makes intercession for us when we fall short of words. But the apostle Paul told us also that even though this is an important gift, we ought not to desire this gift so much as we ought to desire the gift of prophesy. Why? Simply because the gift of prophesy edifies the Church and the speaking of tongues edifies oneself.
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speakto you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”(1 Co 14:4-6)
Through prophecy the Church is edified, and this will benefit the whole Church. “ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort”(1 Co 14:3). A prophecy is a revelation from God that will edify the whole body of Christ. This is why we need to aim more for the gift of prophecy than for the gift of tongues.
Many people who speak in tongues make the mistake to look down on people who do not speak in tongues. During Church service they jump up and make haste to show off their gift to everybody else. What they do not understand is this:
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped (1 Cor. 14:6-7)
Are you getting my point? The speaking in tongues in church is only of benefit to the Church when it suits God’s purpose of revelation. Otherwise we do well in keeping the gift within its order. Way too many people come to church showing off their gift speaking in tongues and it benefits nobody, for no revelation nor prophesy nor does anything come out it that will benefit the church. Nothing disturbs me more than to see everybody using their God given gifts at the same time during Church service, making a lot of noise with the result that through this noise they end up disrupting the whole church. Even the apostle Paul said that these gifts should be used with caution. “Let all things be done decently and in order.’(1 Co 14:40).
I am by no means saying that we should not use the gift of tongues in Church. No, for the apostle Paul told us that we should allow these gifts in Church, but in their proper order. Also, if someone is compelled by the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues during Church service, let him call for two or three witnesses, of which one has the gift of interpreting the tongues, so that the whole church will be edified. I am thoroughly convinced, that when the Holy Spirit prompts somebody to speak in tongues in Church, it is because God wants to edify the whole body of Christ, and to just for the edification that person. Usually it will involve a prophecy or some sort of relevant for the Church revelation.
So let’s make use of the gifts of the Spirit in a wise manner that will lift, exhort and edify the Church for the benefit of all its members. That is why the gifts are given to us in the first place. We are all members of the body of Christ, and as such, we need to help and strengthen each other. We need each other. That is why God bestows upon one the gift of prophesy, upon the other the gift of faith etc. So we will all benefit from it. Not just ourselves, but the church as a whole. Let’s aim for this. We are all members of the body of Christ. Let’s work together. Have you seen the heart work without the blood? I haven’t. They need each other. The same goes for the gifts of the Spirit and for us.
I am not saying that you ought not to pray in tongues. By no means, for this gift is given to us for the purpose of praying. It is given to us to edify us during prayer, to help us pray whenever we run out of words to pray. What I do say here, is that when we speak in tongues in Church, it should be done in a biblical way in order to benefit the Church .Another point which I would like to make here, is that by no means does everybody who receives the Holy Spirit speak in tongues. It is unbiblical to assume otherwise. God bestows His gifts upon us as He thinks fit. Do not let someone tell you otherwise!