DAY #260: 1 Corinthians 14:6-25

In Corinth, the gift of tongues was being used as a barometer of spirituality. Therefore, Paul described the natural inferiority of a gift that does not edify. For example, if, on his next visit to the Corinthian church, he was talking in an unknown language, would that help the young church grow in Christ? NO.

However, revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching would be helpful to them. Just as two foreigners cannot understand each other’s language, so those speaking in tongues cannot be understood by the congregation. Thus, their speaking is not beneficial to the church.

Because the Corinthians had been so eager to have spiritual gifts, Paul admonished them to ask God for those that will be of real help to the whole church (Ephesians 4:12). The church as a whole should strive to have the gifts that build up its members. It should support those who serve in those capacities, and it should redirect its zeal from a desire to speak in tongues to a desire to serve the Lord in the best way that will build up the church.

Those with the gift of tongues could continue to speak in tongues privately, but they needed to focus more on praying and singing in their own language in corporate worship. The reason is simple. If a person were praising God in the spirit (meaning in an unknown tongue), no one could praise God along with him. If the rest of the people in the congregation have no clue what a tongues-speaker has said, how can they express agreement with it? The bottom line on the corporate use of a spiritual gift is that it should help the other people present. That is the purpose of corporate worship, and believers must be sensitive to one another in that context—keeping out anything that would interfere with spiritual growth.

Paul’s uses Isaiah 28:11-12. Paul’s point in quoting this passage was to set up his conclusion on this matter. The people in Isaiah’s time did not listen to the prophets who spoke in their language, and when people of other languages spoke to the Jews, they still did not listen. So Paul was saying that speaking in tongues will convince no one.

But Paul argued that after speaking in tongues, believers were supposed to explain what was said and give the credit to God. The unsaved people would then be convinced of a spiritual reality and be motivated to look further into the Christian faith. Prophecy, the teaching of God’s word, will benefit the believers.

The way the Corinthians were speaking in tongues, and the way that many today speak in tongues, was helping and is helping no one.

When Spirit-inspired, intelligible words of truth are spoken, those who truly listen will find God right there among the congregation. The listeners will fall down on their knees and worship God (Isaiah 45:14; Zechariah 8:23). And that is ultimately what the church should desire—to reach out and draw in the unbelievers, bringing them to saving faith in Jesus Christ and then helping them grow to maturity.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Like all other "sign gifts" - healing and miracles - we teach at COV that the gift of speaking in tongues is not in use today. When I speak of the gift of tongues, I am referring to the gift that was on display in the book of Acts, when the disciples were given the ability to speak in other languages, to tell people about Christ.

The other use of the word tongues - the "spiritual language" or "ecstatic utterings" that some practice is not something that I have ever practiced. It is not something that the overwhelming and vast majority of Pastors and Christian leaders that I know have practiced.

Our view of this use of tongues is thus;

Ephesians 4:4-6 says, "There is one body and one Spirit, there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all." There are a lot of things in the Christian life, the Christian walk, that are not essentials. They're kind of open to however you interpret them, as you study, as you pray, as you ask God to show you. There's some things you're going to differ from other people on. We consider a lot of these to be non essentials and in those there's liberty. In those we can have diversity.

Romans 14 says, "Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. So then each of us will give an account to himself to God. So whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God."

For instance: Some people ask, "Is COV a charismatic church?" COV is not a charismatic church but we are not anti charismatic. There are people in this church who are very charismatic, who practice speaking in tongues, who believe that is an essential part of their faith and their walk with God. There are people who think that's appalling and they don't want anybody getting near them talking about speaking in tongues. Because we don't believe it's essential for salvation, it's not an essential doctrine or belief, it is one of the gifts of the spirit that God gives to whomever He will, we say you have liberty.

If God has given you that gift, that's great, as long as you don't try to tell everybody else they have to have the same gift. That would make it something different. That's one example. We are not charismatic, but we are not anti-charismatic.

The point is: In essential things we have unity.