1 Corinthians 14:2 (KJV)
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1 Corinthians 14:4 (KJV)
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
The charismatic Christian puts a positive spin on 1 Corinthians 14:2, claiming that to speak in tongues is to speak to God Himself. That’s a hasty and not so sound spin, since 1 Corinthians 14:4 says that speaking in tongues just edifices self.
It seems to me that verse 2 uses the phrase “speaketh … unto God” about the same way we would use a phrase like “speaking into the air.” What we mean is “nobody’s listening.”
The tenor of the whole chapter is, behaving in a manner that benefits the whole church. Speaking in unknown tongues is, according to the teachings of 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14:
- Devilish
- Childish and
- Selfish
No serious Bible believing Christian should practice it.[1]
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1 Corinthians 14:2 (KJV) Speaking Into the Air
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[1] Or attend a church that encourages it.
[1] Or attend a church that encourages it.
I disagree. Paul talked about speaking in tongues as being one of the spiritual gifts. The apostles received that gift at Pentecost...who are we to say it's bad? It isn't one of my gifts, but why condemn it in others? In the end, does it really matter whether we can speak in tongues or not? I don't think it matters to God, as long as we speak to Him! Do you really believe we will be judged on something like that?
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for disagreeing so agreeably. :-) I would suggest that you consider a couple of resources that may help in this regard. John MacArthur has a book entitled Strange Fire. There is a two part series of blogs at, http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php/2014/01/24/confessions-of-a-former-charismatic-part-1-me-and-benny-hinn/. As well as many other resources that are available by searching online. Bottom line, the sort of tongues spoken at Pentecost is completely different than what the Charismatics practice. Paul suggests that speaking in an unknown tongue (such as the church in Corinth was doing and the Charismatic churches do today) called Jesus accursed and that it was not from the Spirit of God, but rather the devil.
ReplyDeleteWould you not agree that if something is devilish that is something that would be judged?
(BTW I do not endorse everything from John MacArthur or admin.org. I only use them as examples of the many varied teachers, including those who are not Baptists, who demonstrate the error of the modern tongues movement.)