NOV 22

1 Corinthians 14

Memorise 1 Corinthians 14:15

“…Let all things be done unto edifying.”

WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT TONGUE SPEAKING?

With the prominence that Charismatism has come to enjoy in the Christian scene today, I am sure that you have many friends and classmates who worship in Charismatic churches. You may even have witnessed some of them praying in tongues before. But are such so-called spiritual gifts truly of God?

In his letter to the Corinthian church, one of the big issues that Paul had to deal with concerned spiritual gifts - in particular the gift of tongue speaking. A situation had arisen whereby the members were all clamouring to be heard speaking in tongues in the church. Paul thus had to educate them of the right attitude with which to regard this gift – that what matters most is that there be understanding, through the help of an interpreter to interpret the unknown tongue into a language which is commonly understood by the hearers. If not, none of the hearers would be edified and there would be no benefit at all! Paul made use of a hyperbole to emphasise his point – he would much rather speak five words with understanding so as to “teach others”, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue which would be understood by no one (1 Corinthians 14:19). Do note that the tongues spoken of in the Bible refer not to gibberish or nonsense, but to known languages, just that they were foreign to those who miraculously developed the ability to speak them.

How does this relate to the modern tongue-speaking movement? Unlike during the time of the early Church, tongues today are simply gibberish, so-called “ecstatic utterances” which do not come from any known language in the world. How, then, can there be any understanding and edification at all? And if there be no understanding nor edification, of what benefit can there be to the hearers? Realize that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). The modern tongue-speaking movement only promotes chaos and confusion! Instead, in church, all things should be done “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Dear teen, may you thus seek to equip yourself with a better understanding of tongue speaking, that you will be able to be fully convicted in your heart and to explain it to your friends too.

Thought: Spiritual gifts are always for the edification of others.
Prayer: Lord, grant me understanding regarding the truth about tongue speaking.