Speaking in Tongues - Whats the Point? (Part Two)

Over the past sixty years it has become quite common to find Christians in almost all denominations that speak or have spoken in tongues.  It is often referred to as a charismatic gift.  The first record of anyone speaking in togues (it simply means 'languages'), is on the Day of Pentecost.  This occured first yays after the death of Jesus Christ on a cross.  He rose on the third day from the crucifixion, ascended into heaven on the fourtieth day, and poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit on the believers in  Jerusalem (possibly 120 people) on the fiftieth day.  The relevance of his death for our salvation through the forgiveness of sins, and the timings afterwards are dealt with elsewhere.

In Part One of this short series I showed how the Day of Pentecost was only the first of several mentioned in Acts, and how it was not uncommon for speaking in tongues to be mentioned when these events took place.  At the start of the 20th Century, a spititual awakening took place that is usually referred to as the Pentecostal revival.  In this movement, ordinary Christians in the UK and various other parts of the world also experienced a profound baptism in the Holy Spirit, often associated with speaking in tongues. By the 1960s what had been separate from other Christian traditions became common with the development of the charismatic movement within almost all denominations.

My own engagement with traditonal Pentecostalism began in 1963, and my eersonal experience of as profound baptism of the Holy Spirit took place in the end of autumn 1964 (See A Baptism of Love).  At the time of that experience I did not speak in other tongues.  But a few weeks afterwards, while having my regular time of prayer I began praying in a language I had never learned.  But what is the point?

Tongues is not for sharing the gospel with foreigners.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings.  It arises from a combination of the reference to people from various parts of the Mediterranean world who were in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, and general lack of understanding.  There is nothing in the account in Acts two to suggest that the gospel was preached in these various languages.  What people heard them speaking was "ho megaleios ho theos" which means the spleandour of God.  In other words, they were praising God, and not preaching the gospel.

The crowd was drawn by the noise and the behaviour of the disciples that gave the impression they were drunk.  Only then does Peter start to preach, and what he start doing is explaining what the phenomina was.  It is during that message that people came under conviction and asked what they should do.  Peter would have probably preached in Aramaic as it was the common language of the time and place.  He could also have used Greek which was an official common language but Jesus usually used Aramaic and I am confident that all the visiors would have understood Peter's message or why would they respond?

Further, what is the point of speaking in tongues to the Ephesian believers or those in Cornelius' household?

If tongues is not for talking to unbelievers, who is being spoken to?

Writing to the Christians in Corinth, Paul states, " For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit"  (1Corinthians 14:2).

Later in the same chapter in verses 13 to 17 he writes about praying, praising or giving thanks in tongues.  All of which makes clear that it is a communication from a bliever to God.  They do not necessarily understand what they are saying and do not need to.  It is a spiritual communication and not an intellectual one.

While I might not uderstand what I am saying if I pray in a tongue, I edify or build up myself.  That implies a spiritual strengthening.  Many years ago I was invited to a meeting with a number of Strict Baptist Christians who had become curious about what was happening in another church.  After a period of difficult conversations, one senior deacon asked if his brethren had noted that, when he was taking a service, in the hymn immediately before the sermon, he would sit bowed in prayer.  They said they had noticed.  He then told them that this when he prayed in a language he had never learned.  That was news to us all.

Is it alright to ask God for the meaning of my prayer in tongues?

My answer is that while it is not wrong, it is absolutely pointless.  But this arises from a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 14:5, 13  In this section Paul is writing about the comparative vakue to the congregation of speaking in tongues and prophesying.  In the King James Version of the Bible it says that the one who prophesies is greater than the one who seaks in tongues "unless he interprets".  But the original Greek does not mean the person who has spoken in tongues, but someone else.  In verse 13 it is simply comparing prophesy and tongues.  Someone who speaks in togues is of less vakue to the church compared to someone who has the gift of prophecy.  But if he also has a gift of interpretation (of others speaking in tongues) he or she will be valued.

In neither of these verses does it say "Interpret what he has said".

God give different gifts to different peple.  Some have the gift of interpretation by the Holy Spirit.  Those who can speak in a tongue (an unlearned language) should not do so in the congregation unles there is someone present with the gift of interpretation present (14:).

What if there is noone present who has the gift of interpretation?

1 Corinthians 14:28 says, " If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God."

This passage also makes clear that the gist of speaking in tongues is not beyond the control of the person who has that gift.  It should be exercised with discipline.

Is speaking in tongues unimportant - the least valued gift?

The apostle staes that he thanks God that he speaks in tongues more than others (verse 18) and also says, that he wished that all the believers spoke in tongues (verse 5).  This would not make sens if the gift is insignificant.  Paul's writing on the subject in his forstletter to the Corinthians makes clear that is a gift of great value to the person who has it, but of less value ina congregational setting.

Speaking in a language that the Holy Spirit has given and which you do not understand inevitably seems strange if not wierd.  But do not write off this gift, or any of the none manifestations of the Holy Spirit .  We should all seek to be constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit and learn to take the risky step of letting the Holy Spirit have its way.

Speaking in Tongues - What is the Point? (Part One)

 I am writing this on Pentecost Sunday because I find a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding about the Holy Spirit - even in contemporary Charismatic churches.  The challenge I find, as I start to write, is how to be concise but sufficiently thorough.  You will have to decide whether or not I have achieved that.

Early in the 20th Century many Christians became aware of something new taking place in many churches.  It became known as the Pentecostal Revival and seemed to happen simulateouly in the UK, USA and Sweden.  No doubt it was experienced in many other coutries.  In the UK, among other leaders at that time, were two Welsh Christians, the brothers Stephen and George Jeffreys.  I understand that both were teenagers during the Welsh Revival of 1904, and both became popular speakers at Christian events.

Stephen became significant in establishing the Assemblies of God in the UK, while George was the main person in setting up the Elim Church.  George later left Elim and started the Bible Pattern Fellowship.  When I became aware of Pentecostalism in 1963, there was also another significant denomination, the Apostolic Church with headquarters and Bible School in Penygroes, Wales.  There was also a previously related denomination, the Apostolic Faith Church, though there were fewer churches.  The mission organisation I joined in 1963 undertook missional activity and took services for all these denominations as well as other historically established churches such as Baptist, Methodist and Congregational.

As a passionate teenage Christian I found myself excited by Pentecostalism, which at that time existed outside other mainline denominations.  The emphasis on revival and the teaching about a personal experience of being filled or baptised in or with the Holy Spirit to empower evangelism found a welcome response in my heart.  The term 'baptism in/with the Holy Spirit' comes from the Bible (Matthew 3:11) and it might help to differentiate the three forms of baptism.

The Greek word translated baptise in English is βαπτίζω.  It means to immerse, and the two accounts of an individual baptism in scripture (Jesus and the Ethiopian Eunoch) both are clear that they went into the water.  To understand the difference between the three bapisms we need to not, who is baptising and into what we are baptised.  They are clearly not referring to one experience described in three different ways.

Baptism into the body of Christ.  This is a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit by which all beliecers in Christ, together, form one body.  See 1 Corinthians 12:13.  Some transalations state, "In one Spirit" but it is clear that what we are baptise - or immersed into- is the body of Christ.

Baptism into water.  This is something done by another Christian (possibly a priest, pastor or church leader).  It is usually done to a new believer.  The Greek word for baptism means immerse but some denomination sprinkle or apply some water rather than immersing. (See Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38,39)

Baptism in or with the Holy Spirit. (See Matthew 3:11).  Here it is Jesus who is the baptiser.  The medium is the Holy Spirit.

The promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit was clearly fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost and associated with speaking in tongues.  But this was not a once for all experience.  There are at least three identical occasions involving other people at other times.  In Acts 8 Peter and John lay hands on belivers at Samaria who have previously been baptised in water.  There is no reference to speaking in tongues but Simon's desire to be able to emulate Peter and John implies something significant was heard or seen to happen.   In Acts 19 Paul lays hands on Christians after they have been baptised in water and they recive the Holy Spirit and speaak in tongues and prophesied.

A thrird occasion takes place in the home of Cornelius, a Roman Cnturion.  This is the first unambiguous occasion that gentiles welcomed the gospel.  Even as Peter was still preaching they experienced exactly what had happened at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost with speaking in tongues (See Acts 10:46 and Acts 11:15-17).    These believers were baptised in water after they were baptised in the Holy Spirit.  The record of three occasions when tongues are mention when people were baptised in the Holy Spirit led to many 20th Century Pentostals referring to speaking in tongues as "the initial evidence" of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

(More to follow)

A Baptism in Love

Way back in the mid 1960s I was introduced to Pentecostal churches and Christians.  I was still in my teens and had not long come back to the Lord, having forsaken the Baptist church where I had grown up.

In my childhood I had developed faith within an evangelical and evangelistic Sunday School attached to a traditional and rather dead church.  But God had turned my life upside down and my Christian life was in overdrive, leading me to join an evangelistic organisation serving various churches in the rural areas of Sussex and Kent.  It was through this organisation, led by three Pentecostals, that I experienced worship in Pentacostal churches.  I appreciated how Christ-centred they were, and their love and knowledge of scripture set them apart from many other traditions.  I wanted to know more.

In the pre-charismatic days it was quite common for there to be 'tarrying meetings' where those seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit would prayerfully wait on God.  I attended several at which I saw my friends transformed by the Holy Spirit, sometimes speaking in tongues, but always caught up by God in a glorious experience.  But again and again I went home feeling more empty than I had felt at the stat of the meetings.  Why was God not honouring his promise?

The director and principal evangelist prided himself on being a perfectionist.  As with many other perfectionists he was a pain to work with, both demanding and highly critical of the performances of subordinates.  His harshness was dreadful to experience or to observe.  My first Sunday out with the team ended with me in floods of tears because of how he spoke to others.  But he was a great and effective preacher and gospel singer.  The two other senior team members seemed to accept his behaviour so I did too.

We were still a part-time ministry when we were booked to take a service for the Assemblies of God church in the village of Ash in Kent.  I was still a trainee so only had minor parts to play in the services.  The morning meeting went well as we shared in communion, and a few spoke in togues, or interpreted, or prophesied.  Best of all, the elderly men and women were lovely and loving.  It was great to be there.

Before the evening meeting the director gave me a note with the Bible reading.  It was Acts 20:21 to 31 and I was already very familiar with the sermon he preached on this passage.  It would be based on verse 27 which reads (in the King James Version which we used in those days) "I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God".  There would be four points to his sermon:  Jesus the Saviour, Jesus the healer, Jesus the baptiser in the Holy Spirit, and Jesus the coming King.  I soon discovered that my expectations were correct.

As I sat in the pew, listening to the start of this sermon, I already had a problem.  All the nice Pentecostal people were clearly baptised in the Holy Spirit.  So were all the team members except me!  Often, these dear Pentecostals would take my hand and ask, "Have you received the Holy Spirit?".  It was always embarrassing.  After all it was not for want of asking to be filled.

As the preacher reached the third part of his message I knew that he could only be preaching at me.  My frustation and anger bubbled over and I bowed my head and prayed in retaliation.  I told God what a hypocrite the director was.  How unforgiving and unloving he was.  How he cruelly treated his colleagues.  But then, as I rehearsed his shortcomings, something unimaginable and unexpected took place.  I felt God's presence in my heart suddenly depart.  It was as definite as if someone had thrown a swich and I had been plunged into darkness.

But I knew why I had grieved the Lord.  I was doing the very thing that I was accusing the director of doing.  I was being judgmental, criticising and unloving.  At once I silently cried out to God.  "Please take away this bitterness and baptise me in our love".  I had not stopped to think through any theology behind my prayer.  All I wanted was for God to fill me with his wonderful love.  Nobody but God and I knew the moment of terror that had led to that prayer.  

But suddenly, as the sermon went on, my prayer was answered.  A foutain of love and the power of the Holy Spirit errupted within me, seemingly to burst out of my stomach.  I felt his love being poured into me.   "Praise the Lord!" I uttered, whether aloud or silently, I know not.  But, immediately, a sond fountain joined the first.  My heart was bursting with the joy and sense of the Holy Spirit's presence within me.  "Hallelujah!" was all I could say, but that released a third fountain of love.

I coul not stand to sing the final hymn that evening.  I was drunk in the Holy Spirit.

On the way home in the minibus that evening I listened to the mission director criticising the senior colleague who had led the service.  I laughed.  It was not what was being done that was funny, it was the extraordinary sense of brotherly love I was feeling for my rather unloveable director.  As it flowed out I knew that it was not natural.  It was God's love that was being poured out into my heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

I had always thought of myself as being loving, but my love was nothing compred with God's love for me... and the director.  Underserved and unreserved love.  God had kept me waiting so that I could learn why I need the Holy Spirit.  That love - His love - has fuelled my Christian life since that day.  I now rejoice in knowing my shortcomings because I know that his grace abounds more.

6th June 2025