The following paragraph was copied from the Associated Press on June 13th, 2007.
“SOUTHERN BAPTISTS HEAR CALL FOR UNITY SAN ANTONIO (AP) The president of the Southern Baptist Convention says that instead of fighting to change the culture and win souls, Southern Baptists have been fighting each other.Before being elected to a second term at the denomination's annual meeting in San Antonio, the Reverend Frank Page said, "In our arrogance, we've been fighting the wrong battles." The latest controversy involves speaking in tongues. Some Southern Baptists believe seminaries and other agencies should prohibit the hiring of people who advocate the Pentecostal practice.Their opponents argue that the Baptist Faith and Message doctrinal statement sets no such standard, and point to a study by the denomination's research arm that found that half of Southern Baptist pastors believe the Holy Spirit can work through speaking in tongues.”
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How important is it to protect our churches from the modern “tongues” movement?
First, let it be clear that the purity of a church and a friendship outside of the church are not connected. These writings do not suggest that the charismatic movement should necessarily divide friendships. However, we are commanded by God to protect the teachings and purity of HIS church. If it were my church, it wouldn’t be so important, but it’s HIS!
Second, all teaching within the church should be founded on the Word of God. When determining what is biblical one should NOT rely on an experience, but the Scriptures! In other words, “What does God say about it?”
Modern Tongues and the Scriptures:
1. An HONEST observation of this modern day movement in churches must lead one to acknowledge it is unbiblical.
A. Many of the leaders in the tongues movement are WOMEN. In I Corinthians chapter fourteen Paul explains the rules of using the GIFT of tongues. One of the rules was that WOMEN were not allowed to speak in tongues.
“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak.” I Cor. 14:34
· Some wrongly use this verse out of context; teaching that women are not to say a word in a church assembly, meetings, or even prayer time. Clearly this is not the case, for the verse in context refers specifically to the issue of tongues.
B. In many churches there are no interpreters for those speaking in tongues.
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church...” I Corinthians 14:28
C. The ability to speak in tongues was a GIFT that not everyone had. Many churches and denominations make the claim that all saved individuals should be able to speak in tongues. I do recognize that everyone does not make this stipulation, never the less it is important to understand the following passage of scriptures.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” I Cor 12:4-11
· Not only could only certain people speak in tongues, no one went to a training seminar on HOW to speak in tongues.
· Today, many churches offer seminars and conferences on how to speak in tongues. Many people catch on by being in a service where everyone around them is speaking in tongues. Again, with no interpreter!
· I do not discredit the reality of the experience some claim to have had, but acknowledge that anyone who imagines in their mind this is the right thing to do can fall into an emotional state and then slur made up words at random. (long sentence… I know)
· The GIFT of tongues was an immediate ability to speak in a KNOWN language, so UNBELIEVERS would be able to hear the gospel message.
“Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers.” I Cor. 14:22
· Never was everyone in the congregation to be speaking in tongues, for this gives a very confusing appearance to unbelievers concerning what Christianity is all about.
“Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” I Cor. 14:23
· On the day of Pentecost the gift of tongues was given to the Apostles which spoke in known languages the “wonderful works of God” in order that the listener could trust in the gospel! On that particular day there were over a dozen different nations and languages represented.
“we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God” Acts 2:11
Acts chapter two reveals the following truths about tongues:
A. Tongues were a gift from God. v.4
B. Tongues were real languages. v.8
C. Tongues were for the purpose of preaching the gospel. v.11
2. I Corinthians chapter fourteen is a follow-up passage to chapter thirteen.
· In order to understand chapter fourteen one must grasp chapter thirteen. In I Corinthians thirteen Paul uses the phrase, “whether there are tongues, they will cease.” I Cor. 13:8
· In chapter 13 Paul writes that one day tongues will cease. Many scholars say the language suggest they were beginning to cease. Since they still existed on some scale Paul wrote chapter fourteen so that the church at Corinth would use the gift for the right purpose, at the right time, and in order. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Cor. 14:40
· Getting past the fact that the majority of those leading out in the tongues movement have failed in the area or PURPOSE, TIMING, and ORDER, one must ask the question, “When does Paul say they will cease?”
WHEN DOES PAUL SAY THE GIFT OF TONGUES, AMONG OTHERS, WILL CEASE?
· Paul doesn’t say exactly when, but he does give us some clues.
a. “and NOW abide faith, hope, and love, these three.” The church at Corinth was using their spiritual gifts to elevate themselves above the general public. They were prideful! In reality Paul was saying, get your focus off of tongues and LOVE people! NOW focus on faith, hope, and love.
b. Why the phrase, “these three”? Why not these three, plus tongues, healing, and prophecy etc.?
c. In I Corinthians 13 Paul says, “prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish…” However, he doesn’t speak of an end to Faith, Hope, and Love! Paul says, NOW these three.
d. Some claim that I Corinthians thirteen says these gifts will cease at the return of Christ. They make reference to verse ten.
“But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” I Cor. 13:10
· It is important to note that the church was in its infancy stage (it was a new concept). For this reason God gave the apostles and the early church special gifts that we do not possess today. These gifts (prophecy, knowledge, tongues) were needed for growth of the church in the area of evangelism and maturity. Paul uses the analogy of infancy or childhood verses the need for manhood in the following verses. These verses in context must be applied to the local church.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” I Cor. 13:11-12
· “WHEN that which is perfect is come” and “THEN face to face” and “but THEN I shall know just as I also am known” all refer to the same time frame.
· It is the opinion of this writer that the phrase “that (meaning a thing) which is perfect (meaning complete or mature)” refers to the stage of the church when it no longer needs these special gifts for evangelism and maturity, for it is well past its infancy.
· Others suggest “that which is perfect” refers to the completed Word of God. In my opinion, this may be one of the reasons the church is mature and no longer needs these gifts, but it is not “that which is perfect.” For those of you who analyze every word, I am not saying the Word of God is not perfect.
· In Ephesians chapter four Paul writes the purpose of spiritual gifts is to bring believers to the point of maturity in Christ.
“11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
· The word “till” again suggest a time frame. It is clear that Paul is referring to the maturity and unity of a local church. This maturity is something God desires us to have NOW, not when Christ returns. Today, he doesn’t want us to be tossed around with every wind of doctrine; He wants to grow up in Christ!
· Again, the purpose of the Word of God is to bring that level or stage of maturity.
“16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
· To suggest that the gift of tongues will cease at the return of Christ is to suggest that believers cannot be “complete” or mature until Christ returns. This causes a problem with the validity of scripture, for the scriptures urge us to mature in the faith!
“11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14
“1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection…” Hebrews 6:1
I have to stop here for now…
Let me conclude this entry by saying, the scriptures are clear on the issue of tongues. The modern tongues movement is of no use to the church today. The purpose of the original gift of tongues has been fulfilled and any counterfeit only causes confusion!
If there is one thing that pastors need more than anything it is a healthy family life! Sometimes we get so busy that spending time with family becomes a thing of the past. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't be busy-it just means that we must make the best of every moment with our family during those times we are busy. I personally need to work on not being so tired from business that I'm useless when I'm around my family.
