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The "Evidence" of Speaking In Tongues
I appreciate churches and Christians who still believe in the experience spoken
of in the book of Acts concerning the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I believe it is
a work of the Holy Spirit which happens after one becomes a believer, and is a
distinctly separate work of a believer being immersed, baptized, and filled with
the Spirit of the Living God through Christ Jesus.
Too many Christians gloss over this divine work, and try to minimize it in
various ways, including teaching a believer that it happens only during the
salvation experience. But scriptures mark a distinct difference.
Believers in Jesus were told to tarry in the upper room to wait for the promise
filling of power that only the Holy Ghost could give them. It was a distinctly
separate work given to those who already believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
In fact, the accounts given all through the book of Acts clearly show the pattern
of believers being saved first, then baptized in water and filled with Holy Ghost.
So I struggle to sit still in any church pew when I hear a minister minimize and
reduce this mighty work to an ongoing "progressive" process, or one that
happens simply at the time of salvation. But in this message, I do not want to
focus on the theology of the actual filling of the Holy Ghost. What I want to
address is the error that is being taught by many well-meaning Christians known
as "the evidence of speaking in tongues".
My precious brethren who believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit usually fall
into one of two main categories. One teaching is that after a person is saved,
he or she reaches a point in their walk with Jesus that they receive the "filling"
or "baptism" of the Holy Ghost. This teaching is biblically sound, however,
along with this truth is added a special condition. The believer who is filled
with the Holy Ghost will ALWAYS speak in tongues, and that is the "initial
evidence" of this person's baptism.
The other group of believers are even more intense with this "initial evidence"
of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This segment of believers believes that not
only every believer that is filled with the Holy Ghost will indeed speak in tongues,
in addition, it is the initial sign that you are even saved! In other words, they
proclaim that if God does not give you this spiritual gift, you are not born again.
In the careful study of God's Word, I would have to reject both forms of theology.
Upon a brief study of the book of Acts, most instances where people are filled
with the Holy Spirit do indeed speak with tongues. It is upon this premise that
most spirit filled Christians conclude that one will always speak in tongues. But
it isn't always mentioned. In one place we see that people are filled with bold-
ness. (Acts 4:31) But one must be cautious to not design an entire church
doctrine around one portion of the bible at the expense of it's entirety.
The Apostle Paul saw this same error in reference to the church's understanding
of spiritual gifts. He wrote entire letters to the Corinthian Church in an attempt
to bring a true understanding of not only the gift of tongues, but other Holy Spirit
gifts as well. Brother Paul begins a letter to the Corinthian believers this way:
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant".
It was a concern of Paul that believers understood fully why they would receive
supernatural gifts from the Holy Spirit, and also was his concern that they use
them properly. It is in this chapter 12, of I Corinthians, that the Apostle Paul
makes very plain statements concerning spiritual gifts, and the gift of tongues.
He declares in no uncertain terms that there is no one gift that every believer
is supposed to have, including tongues. There is no mention whatsoever of
tongues being the only initial evidence that one is filled with the Holy Spirit:
12:1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
12:2
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
12:4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
12:5
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
12:6
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
12:7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
12:8
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
12:9
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
12:10
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
12:11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12:12
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
12:14
For the body is not one member, but many.
12:15
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
12:16
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
12:17
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
12:18
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
12:19
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
12:20
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
12:21
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
12:22
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
12:23
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
12:24
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
12:25
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
12:26
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
12:27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
12:28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
12:29
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
12:30
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
I have made it a point to shade in and underline areas of this passage to show
you how Paul made it very plain to believers in Corinth that not every believer
was to be given the same common gift from the Holy Spirit, including the gift of
tongues. In fact, he goes into quite the detail of describing spiritual gifts in
relation to different parts of the body, and how a body wouldn't function properly
if every member was just an ear, or eyes, etc.
When I bring up this passage of scripture to my pentecostal brethren, I am
quickly reminded and corrected by them with the explanation that Paul was
only talking about "part" of the administration of the gift of tongues, not the
complete gift. Of course, Paul never said this in the text. He simply stated
this to be the gift of tongues.....period.
To further prove my point, I would like to address this so-called "two fold"
teaching of the gift of tongues. I don't believe it is correct to assume that
there is a particular gift of tongues that is given verbally with an interpretation
that is separate from a gift of tongues used in prayer.
Don't misunderstand me, I do indeed see different ways that this particular
gift is used, but I don't see where these different administrations mean that
the actual gift differs inside a believer. For example, again the apostle Paul
speaks of the use of this gift in a church service. He actually lumps the use
of tongues in prayer together with a sign gift of tongues for the entire church
body which needs an interpretation. The entire chapter of I Corinthians 14
brings valuable insight to this fact, and dismantles the false teaching that
there is a separation between a sign gift of tongues that is spoken in church,
apart from the gift of tongues used in prayer:
14:27
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.
14:28
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him
speak to himself, and to God.
Here we see the obvious. If the sign gift needing interpretation in church
was different than the one used in prayer, why would our brother Paul tell
the person that has this gift to refrain from using it in a service where someone
else may not be present to interpret, and then for him to go ahead and pray
in this same tongue in this same church service? (speak to himself and to God)
I don't believe the believer shifts "spiritual gears" by God to be able to do this!
Why would God give a believer a special anointing of tongues as a sign gift in
the church if there were no interpreter in the first place? The fact is that there
isn't a difference, and God expects a believer to listen to Him in every given
situation and know how to properly use this one gift.
I can tell you by my own experience that the gift of tongues given me is one that
I can speak even easier than English. I never had to learn it! It was given to
me, and I can speak it plainly, at will. I don't need a lightning bolt from God,
and my mouth pried open forcibly to operate in this gift. I can use this gift in
prayer at will, and when directed biblically in a church service and by His Holy
Spirit, I can deliver a message in tongues at church for interpretation.
I do find, however, when truly directed to do so publicly in a church service or
for some other spiritual reason, my language can change. I have seen this a
number of times, both in prayer for others, and in a church service. It is
amazing and beautiful to observe! Once I noticed while praying in the Spirit,
the utterance coming out of my mouth became beautiful poetry. This has only
happened once thus far in my entire Christian experience, but it was wonderful.
With all that said, why am I so concerned that churches not teach that this gift
from the Holy Spirit is the only "initial evidence" of the filling of the Holy Spirit?
Obviously, because the bible does not support this view. And there are other
reasons as well. There is a danger present to believers who try to force God
to give every believer this one gift of the Holy Spirit instead of allowing Him
to give them "severally as He wills" (I Cor 12:11) I will state these dangers
one by one, as I am aware of them:
1) In desperation, or with the desire to have this gift, a believer might be
tempted to manufacture, or "fake" this gift, making up words while thinking
it is the Holy Spirit doing the work.
This is dangerous, and gives the enemy room to intervene with a counterfeit.
I once knew of a church that told a man at the alter seeking the baptism of
the Holy Spirit, to say "can of salmon" as fast as he could until his words got
tangled up, then the Holy Spirit would take over! Can you imagine that?
Does the Holy Ghost need this kind of help? Do you see this practiced in
the book of Acts? What did this man really receive at the alter?
I have also know of and seen people trying to get you to mimic their gift
of tongues as they spoke it in the person's ear. Others tickle the person's
chin. I have seen many strange things, when all that needed done was
perhaps the laying on of hands, and simply asking Jesus to bring the
anointing of the Holy Ghost to fill the person. What spiritual gifts manifest
would then be God's business, and they might receive other gifts from the
Holy Spirit other than tongues. A good listing of these gifts are made known
in I Corinthians Chapter 12.
2) To tell a person that he or she must speak in tongues to be saved or that if
they don't speak in tongues they aren't filled with the Holy Ghost can leave
the person with a terrible belief that God has rejected them.
I have seen this happen with more than one believer, and some have
eventually walked from God thinking there was no hope. In reality, we are
saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His blood
atonement on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead. Period. What
gifts He gives us when filled with the Holy Spirit is His business, not ours.
We can indeed ask for specific Spiritual Gifts, and it isn't wrong to do so.
But we must never feel rejected by God if He chooses to bless us with other
gifts than what we may desire.
3) In churches where the gift of tongues becomes the pinnacle of their
baptism in the Holy Ghost, a situation can develop where others that
haven't received this particular gift can then feel like inferior Christians
to those that have.
The fact is, the gift of tongues isn't a short cut to spiritual maturity! In
fact, I believe often that God gives this gift to those who desperately
need spiritual help........like me! Look at the Corinthian Church. They
possessed this gift, yet look at all the areas they needed to grow.
Now, before you folk that don't speak in tongues get pious the other way,
remember, it was the Apostle Paul that thanked God that he "spoke in
tongues more than ye all"! (I Corinthians 14:18) The truth of the matter
is that God gives spiritual gifts to the believer to empower him or her,
and also to be used as a sign to the non-believer that Jesus is risen and
lives within the body of believers. There is a difference between
possessing the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit possessing you!
4) If you teach that a person must speak in tongues to be saved, you are then
placing salvation of a man's soul into the area of works, and not what Jesus
did for them on the cross by their belief in that atoning work and their
actual faith in Him with their very lives.
It is the faith in Jesus Christ that allows Him to then motivate us and work
obedience in us. If we are saved, we obey Him in water baptism in His
Holy Name. If we are saved, He brings us to that special day when we
are filled with the Holy Ghost, and these gifts from the Holy Spirit then
follow. And if we yield all on the alter for sanctification, He then can not
only give us gifts from the Holy Spirit as shown in the book of Acts, we
then can produce the actual fruit of the Holy Spirit as listed in I Corinthians
13. It is possible to have the gifts of the Holy Spirit, yet not have the
fruit. And for those thinking that they had the gift of tongues and only
used it once in their lives, but no more, I would challenge them by God's
Word, for in it, it shows that the "gifts and calling of God are without
repentance". (Romans 11:29) In other words, God will not take back a
gift He has given you. Backslidden Christians can still operate in the
gifts of the Holy Spirit. The big problem is that when they do, they mock
the Holiness of God by their actions, and there is more accountability in
this state than if they had never received in the first place.
5) By teaching falsely that tongues is the only "initial evidence" that a
believer is filled with the Holy Spirit, they ignore not only all the other
gifts of the Holy Spirit, but also the many other true signs that a
believer is filled:
A. The power to witness (Acts 1:8)
B. The boldness to witness (Acts 4:31)
C. A deep understanding of scripture (I John 2:27)
D. A Comfort planted in you that abides (John 14:16)
E. An imbedding of truth to keep you from being deceived (John 14:17)
F. A fire that purges the "junk" within you (Matthew 3:11-12)
G. The fruit of the Holy Spirit as you yield to Jesus (I Corinthians 13)
H. The demonstration of mighty works to follow your witness (I Cor 2:4)
I would say to the church as a whole to have the proper understanding of
all the gifts of the Holy Ghost. If you believe in the actual filling of the Holy
Spirit and pray for believer's regularly for this power, allow God to give
them the gifts He chooses. Don't try to force the believer to receive one
particular gift, and definitely don't try to force God to be limited to one
sign gift for your personal "proof" that the person is filled with the Holy
Spirit! Pray in faith and ask for His true Holy Ghost, book of Acts anointing.
It is then that you can see the true power of God move on believers, and
yes, many will still speak in other tongues.
If your not in a church that believes in all the gifts of the spirit listed in
I Corinthians 12, I would like to urge you to choose a different church.
We are not to quench the Holy Spirit, and we are also to allow people
to speak in tongues if done in order according to the instruction set forth
in I Corinthians 12, 13, and 14.
In my personal testimony, I have utilized the gift of tongues for nearly
30 years. No one had to coax me or use some special gimmick to help
me receive this particular gift. I believe that I am well qualified by the
Lord to speak on a subject such as this not as a novice, but as one that
practices this gift in prayer on a regular basis, and has been used to
also bring it as a sign gift to the church and even non-believers.
But I would be unwise and unscriptural to tell any fellow believer that
he or she is required this particular gift to be filled with the Holy Spirit,
or to obtain eternal life.
If you are in a position where you have prayed to be baptized in the Holy
Ghost, but have not received this particular gift, simply ask Jesus to
manifest all the spiritual gifts in you that you need to fulfill God's ministry
and call in your life, and He will be faithful. It is never wrong to seek
after spiritual gifts. (I Corinthians 14:1) But don't allow the enemy to
condemn you if God chooses in His perfect plan to give you other
fortification from His Spirit.
If you have not yet been filled with His Holy Spirit, I would urge you to
seek after this work of God. The times we are living in do not afford
us lamps that have little oil in them. We are reaching the midnight hour
before we hear the cry of the bridegroom, our wonderful Savior. Let
us have our lamps full of fresh oil so that we may find our way safely
home to Him.
Kevin J Wilson
Alpha & Omega Outreach Ministries
Bible Headquarters
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