This past training camp, I had an epiphany.�
I’ve felt the need for the last several years to defend the position, integrity, and reputation of Adventures in Missions and if I’m honest, defend God.� I don’t know what possesses me to take on these burdens (as if I truly understood what I was doing) but I work fiercely to protect the things I see as important.� Not that it’s all bad, but wow, the stress is unbelievable.
This past training camp we had some of the most outrageous, amazing, momentarily terrifying but truly honest and real experiences with the Lord.� The Spirit of God moved through our midst in unprecedented ways.� Freedom began to occur, new understandings of God began to be realized, celebrations, grievings, joy, honesty…I could go on.� The fruit of our time was precious, sacred even.
When these nights happen, I get the rush of Holy-Spirit-adrenaline and just bask in the wonder of it all…until it’s done.� Once it’s done I immediately launch into crisis management mode.� “Who had a problem with this?”� “How am I going to back this up?”� “What are people going to say about our ministry (truth or not)?”� All these management thoughts run through my head.� They’re not all faithless, some are pastoral, but the emotion that accompanies them carries a little trepidation.
This past camp I realized a truth that has changed everything for me.� The truth isn’t “I’m a people-pleaser” (though I do have those tendencies).� The truth isn’t “let God be your defender” (though He IS and I am learning to trust that everyday).� The truth wasn’t even that ground breaking…but it’s given me clarity that is taking away anxiety.
Speaking in tongues is always an issue.� No matter what the Spirit did (laughter, tears, dancing, worship, even people falling to the ground) nothing gets challenged the way speaking in tongues does.� As a Southern Baptist kid I get it.� I’ve seen the whole “we believe it we just don’t encourage it” argument.� I’ve heard the cessationist doctrine (I studied in seminary).� And at the end of the day, I realize that the notion of tongues sounds irrational.�
It’s always the hardest issue to overcome, but it’s always so surprising to me that the issue arises not from a conviction from Scripture but from fear of loss of control.� Remember, we fear what we can’t control and when our control disappears, our backup plans get haphazardly thrown into gear.
If doctrine is the stumbling block for you, I want you to listen to this.� I was able at this past camp to talk through some of the core doctrinal issues on tongues with a group of racers.� I feel a good understanding of audience, context and the simple facts of what Scripture says will alleviate any crutch it affords when you want to challenge the fruit of experience people have when God moves.
So here goes:
Question #1: Is tongues real?
Scripture talks frequently about tongues.� Acts 2 and 4 note that the Apostles spoke in tongues, preaches in tongues, etc.� Some might argue 1 Corinthians 13 but factually, it has no conclusive language to say that tongues is irrelevant for today.� If you’re still skeptical, talk with someone who prays in tongues and see the fruit of that discipline in their lives.� It’s either Satan, their flesh or the Spirit.� Decide for yourself.
Question #2: Scripture never actually talks about a �prayer language’ what’s that all about?
Romans 8 talks about the Spirit groaning and uttering words we do not understand as He intercedes on our behalf.� Keep in mind that the Romans were highly educated and the Roman church was well established when this epistle was written.� If we are to interpret this through the lens of philosophers and scholars (as the Romans were), the Spirit inside us intercedes to the Father on our behalf.� If that’s what’s happening then we must be the ones uttering and groaning right?� It’s not about the content of our prayers (though God might choose to reveal the meaning), it’s about the Spirit inside us communing with the Father.
Question #3: Isn’t tongues only of God when it has an interpretation?
People always throw this out and never seem to be able to refer to where this is actually listed in Scripture.� So here you go: 1 Corinthians 12 refers to a list of “spiritual gifts” noted by a specific Greek word for “gift” (“charis”).� These include things like healing, miracles, faith and also tongues and interpretation.�
Let me pause here and suggest something: does God only heal people when someone with the gift of healing prays?� What about miracles?� Faith?� We can infer then that if someone is given supernatural faith without necessarily having the “gift of faith”, couldn’t someone also be able to speak in tongues under the influence of the spirit without necessarily having the “gift of tongues”?�
Another way to think of this is: is a gift for a lifetime or for a moment?� If it’s for a moment, then we truly have no control over when God chooses to give and have no obligation for performance.�
1 Corinthians 14 spends several paragraphs talking about this whole “tongues and interpretation” issue.�� I want you to read carefully what 1 Corinthians 14 says.� Keep in mind that the audience is an unlearned, unestablished church.� They are at the very beginning stages of their spiritual journeys and establishing any kind of system needed guidelines.� The verse clearly states that if someone speaks in church there must be an interpretation.� Think through this scenario: God gives a word to an individual while the body of Christ is assembled.� The intent is to build up the body (though Paul admonishes elsewhere that prophecy is better for this) and is a direct word to a congregation.� This is different than a prayer uttered to the Lord by the Spirit inside us.
My epiphany is this: I don’t think I have the gift of tongues.� I think I allow the Spirit of God to pray on my behalf, but not once have I felt the Lord call me to give a word to a body in a tongue.� Following this to its logical conclusion, praying in tongues doesn’t fall under the guidelines of 1 Corinthians 14 because it’s not directed to an individual or body where an interpretation gives the tongue meaning, credibility and accountability.
Question #4: If it’s alright for us all to chatter away in tongues as long as we’re praying, it feels chaotic, isn’t God a God of order and peace?
My question back is this: when then is passionate prayer appropriate?� If the community operates in freedom and in unity, then prayer should be passionate.� Can God not hear our prayers even if we utter them at the same time?� Christians all over the world pray like this but Americans tend to have the utmost of concern for this method of prayer.� Even in English, praying in a “concert of prayer” can be a faith-building, life-giving thing.� The principle is not “order vs no order” it’s about freedom, loving one another, and refusing to venture down the road to judgment and legalism.� Is there a threshold where we’re simply babbling in our own pride? Absolutely.� Is that why we live in a community that has permission to bring correction and guidance?� Absolutely.� Is the answer to mandate that the only way to pray is reverently in a circle listening to one voice hear from the Lord at a time?� God forbid.
