Over the last couple of weeks I have really been learning a lot about the gift of tongues. It had been a hot topic among our squad, almost since day one, but it really became a question that a lot of my team mates have been dealing with especially in the last few weeks. I really started to question what it was really all about after I read Jackie Pullinger’s book Chasing the Dragon. In this book it seems to imply that everyone who becomes a Christian should automatically receive the gift of speaking in tongues. She places such an importance on it, and even dedicates an entire chapter to its usefulness. I wondered why, if it seemed so natural to everyone she was in contact with, didn’t I speak in tongues? Was this really something that everyone should have?
I started asking a lot of questions to people about this. I asked people on my squad, my team leader, and I even asked people from home what they believe. Everyone’s answer is different, and has often lead to more questions than answers. Last Friday morning I spent an awesome morning in prayer. For hours I was in quiet prayer with the Lord. After I had finished praying for everyone and everything the subject of tongues popped into my mind. I felt God telling me to reread Acts 19. This chapter had been bringing me some of my questions about speaking in tongues because while Jackie Pullinger’s book is not the Bible, this chapter had seemed to confirm what I had interpreted her book to be saying.
Acts 19:2-6 [Paul] asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They said, ‘We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit.’ So he asked ‘What kind of baptism did you have?’ They said, ‘It was the baptism that John taught.’ Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of changed hearts and lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They began speaking in different languages and prophesying.
To me, this seemed to imply that speaking in tongues is natural for believers. I also found that Ephesians 6:18a agreed with this saying, ‘Pray in the Spirit at all times’ As well in Ephesians 4:5 it confirms Acts 19 saying that ‘There is one Lord, one faith and one baptism.’ The baptism that Paul gave to the believers, where they received the speaking in tongues is the same baptism that I have had. There is only one baptism. In my quest this looked to me like tongues should be a natural thing for all believers.
However, I did not end my search there. I wasn’t satisfied that this was all there was to it. I know many Christians who do not speak in tongues. I have even heard heartfelt prayers to receive tongues, that have not been answered yet. If what I had found out so far proved to be true, then this would not be. So I looked further. 1 Corinthians 14 has a lot to say about speaking in tongues.
The first thing I noticed in 1 Corinthians was that speaking in tongues is a gift. In verse 2 of chapter 14 it says ‘Those who have the gift of speaking in tongues. . . ‘ So speaking in tongues is a gift, listed among other spiritual gifts such as prophecy, healing, and teaching. This is where my quest became a little tricky, because in Romans 12:6a it says ‘We all have different gifts’. Now I was stuck. Where does this leave me? I was back to the beginning. Should everyone be able to speak in tongues, or is it a special gift for only some people? Should it even matter? According to 1 Corinthians 14 says that it is better to desire the gift of prophecy, and gifts that edify the whole church than to desire the gift of tongues, which only helps yourself.
The next thing I noticed in this chapter is still in verse 2. ‘Those who have the gift of speaking in different languages are not speaking to people; they are speaking to God. No one understands them; they are speaking secret things through the Spirit.’ This confirms that speaking in tongues is indeed a prayer. It is communication with God, through our Spirit. It is secret things from our spirit to the Holy Spirit. Our prayers are made perfect to the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is not only for receiveing God’s message through an interpreter.
Another question I had was about interpreters. Some people believe that they are always necessary. What I found in 1 Corinthians is that this is not always true. It says in verses 27-28 that ‘When you meet together, if anyone speaks in a different language, is should only be two, no more than three, who speak. They should speak one after the other, and someone else should interpret. But if there is no interpreter, then those who speak in a different language should be quiet in the church meeting. They should speak only to themselves and God.’ This tells me that in public there should be an interpretation, but it is ok to speak in tongues in private and not have any interpretation.
The last thing I found out about tongues is that it is a gift that still exists. This is proved to me in two different places. The first is 1 Corinthians 14:39 So my brothers and sisters, you should truly want to prophesy. But do not stop people from using the gift of speaking in different languages.’ This does not give an expiration date of when it is ok to stop people from using this gift. To me, this means that they still exist. In 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 says ‘Love never ends. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will be ended. There are gifts of speaking in different languages, but those gifts will stop. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will come to an end. The reason is that our knowledge and our ability to prophesy are not perfect. But when perfection comes, the things that are not perfect will end.’ This says that the gift of tongues will stop- but not until the perfect one comes. Jesus is coming again. We are all waiting on His second coming. So since this is written after His first coming, I can only assume that it means when Jesus comes the second time. Not all unperfect things have fallen away. Love is not the only thing that remains, and so I believe that this means that when Jesus RETURNS these gifts will end.
Having said all of this, I still have not answered the original question: should everyone be able to speak in tongues? If speaking in tongues is a form of communication with God, a deeper, more meaningful connection, then I don’t understand why God wouldn’t want this for all of us. If it is an edifying, more loving, deeper connection, why wouldn’t He want that for everyone? Not everyone needs to teach or encourage or serve, we work together as a body for that, but the speaking in tongues is personal and individual. Are we supposed to just attempt, practice and have faith in it? Or are we suppopsed to wait for God to bring it forth in us? Are we all truly supposed to be able to speak in tongues?
While I may come across the answer to this question later, I still do not know the total truth of this subject. All I know is what I can read in the Bible, and what I have experienced for myself. I don’t know if everyone should be able to speak in tongues, but I do know that speaking in tongues is not what defines you as a Christian. All that matters is if you have been saved through faith in Jesus. It is not by your works, or by your speaking in tongues, that saves you.
