13 truths about speaking with tongues

1. Tongues are (or were) real languages not gibberish.

2. Speaking with tongues (i.e. miraculously  speaking in a foreign language) was not meant to benefit believers, but to serve as a sign to persuade unbelievers.

3.The spiritual gift of tongues does not empower believers to speak an angelic language

4. The spiritual gift of tongues does not empower believers to speak a mysterious language.

5. “Praying in the spirit” or “praying in the Holy Ghost” is not a command to pray with tongues.

6. Paul criticizes, ridicules and discourages the practice of praying in tongues (without the gift of interpretation).

7. Speaking in tongues is useless unless there is an interpretation.

8. Not all believers are granted the gift of speaking with tongues.

9. God issues the command to be quiet in the church unless it is possible for the tongues to be understood (interpreted).

10. Since God is not the Author of confusion, speaking with tongues in church without providing a valid interpretation is not from God.

11. If tongues are spoken in the church, it should only be done by one person at a time, and then by no more than three persons in total. Therefore, a church collectively speaking in tongues is madness.

12. Women are not permitted to speak tongues in the church.

13. Tongues and other spiritual gifts will eventually cease.

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1. Tongues are (or were) real languages not gibberish. See Acts 2:4-11 & 1 Corinthians 14:21-22

The words lâshôn ^[H3956] in the Hebrew and glōssa ^[G1100] in the Greek, literally refer to the tongue; a member of the body and the organ of speech located in the mouth. However, to lexicons of both the Old and New Testaments of the bible, this word tongue is figuratively used to refer to any “language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.”¹ In fact, the English words gloss and glossary are both derived from their cognate glōssa. Therefore, when the bible employs the word tongue to refer to the spiritual gift granted by the Holy Spirit to believers, it is the gift of speaking a foreign language that is in scope.

Is Sin Alive In Our Bodies?

The Conventional View of Sin

I would venture to say that most Bible-believing Christians know how to define sin. In fact, when asked, I suspect that most of them would rightly tell you that sin is the breaking of God’s commandments, or as 1 John 3:4 says, the transgression of God’s law. Sometimes the Bible uses other words when referring to sin. These words include: trespass [ma‛al ^H4604], iniquity [‛âvôn ^H5771] and transgression [pesha‛ ^H6588]. Though some theologians have argued that there are significant differences between these words ¹ , it is absolutely clear that they all refer to the same idea and are thus effectively synonymous. Accordingly, we see the truth of this claim demonstrated in the Scriptures. One example that comes to mind is Psalm 32:1-2 where we read:

…Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity…

Finishing Well!

This past Sunday, our pastor Lon Solomon preached an excellent and heart-moving sermon entitled: “Finishing Well” where he briefly surveyed the books of Philemon, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. In the course of his presentation he listed 4 suggestions which would help believers to finish well  in accordance with Paul’s famous analogue about the Christian life as a race (1Co 9:24-25) in which the goal is not to start well but to finish well (2Ti 4:7-8).

1. We need to stay vitally connected to the Word of God (Psalm 119:9-11)

2. Don’t minimize how evil the human heart is! (Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 26:2 )

3. Don’t overestimate yourself (Romans 12:3)

4. Think about the consequences of our actions before we act (Proverbs 23:3)

When I think about the idea of starting well, I am reminded of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed (in Mathew 13:20-21) where the second group that received the Word of God (the seeds that fell on stony ground) are said to have initially and immediately received the Word with joy; in other words, one could say that they started the race well. But as we read on we find out that they never finished the race. Why? Well, they did not begin the race with the intention of finishing the race. They had “no root” in themselves so that when tribulation and persecution arises (and we are promised that all Christians that follow the “How To Be a Christian” Manual AKA the Bible, WILL face persecution) these folks that started the race well end up dropping out of the race. They become castaways.

Consider the following verses by Paul:

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
(1Co 9:24-25)

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2Ti 4:7-8)

Let us strive to finish well.