Are You Out Of Your Mind?

Alba 3-8-2026

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

I Corinthians 14:20-25

They say that “Crazy is as crazy does.” James Snyder, minister with Family of God Fellowship in Ocala, Florida, said he remembers once getting in trouble with his wife whom he calls “The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.” He said he was in his easy chair reading a book when his wife came in very anxious and said, “Have you seen my glasses? I can’t find them.” He looked at her and assumed this was a trick question and she was setting him up for something because her glasses were on the top of her head. He didn’t know where this “joke” was going, but he thought he would just play along.

Looking at her, he said, “Are you crazy or what?” Then he laughed hysterically as she stared at him. “I am not crazy; I just cannot find my glasses.” She wasn’t laughing. Looking through the living room, she finally reached to the top of her head and said, “Oh, here they are on top of my head. Why didn’t you tell me? Are you crazy or what?”

In other stories that James Snyder tells, it sounds like that phrase “Are you crazy or what?” comes up frequently in their conversations. Now if someone were to call you crazy, you may not take it very kindly unless it is in jest or in fun. Otherwise we usually like to be taken seriously in what we say or do, don't we?

As we turn to scripture, we see in First Corinthians chapter fourteen that the Corinthians in the church there considered themselves to be blessed with spiritual gifts. And one gift in particular seemed to receive the highest recognition – the gift of tongues, languages. And while the apostle Paul encourages the use of spiritual gifts among them, he has some words of caution in their use. He warns them that used improperly people will think that they are crazy.

Here is what he tells them in I Corinthians 14:20-25.

“Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. In the law it is written: 'With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me, says the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”

Using the illustration that a Christian should be wise in understanding, Paul uses scripture from Isaiah 28:11-12 to help us understand the purpose of tongues. The choice of that scripture in Isaiah is interesting because it was given as a warning that in the same way the Northern Kingdom had been defeated by the Assyrians, the Southern Kingdom of Judah would be taken captive by the Babylonians. Isaiah is telling them that they would be hearing words spoken in another language, but it wouldn't be a blessing to them.

It was a warning of judgment that was coming because of their unfaithfulness to God. And Isaiah says that even that would not cause them to repent. In applying that scripture, verse 22 says, “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers.”

The “sign” that Isaiah was giving was a sign of judgment. So is that the purpose of “tongues” in the New Testament? It is interesting that scripture does not record words that were spoken given through the gift of tongues. It simply speaks of it as a spiritual gift. Even though the apostles amazed people on the Day of Pentecost by speaking words that people from all over could understand in their own language, it took the apostle Peter speaking in plain language explaining what was happening to cause 3,000 people to respond in obedient faith.

In a way, tongues on that day was a message of judgment. In his message, Peter quoted from the prophet Joel who said that a day was coming when God would pour out His Spirit and there would be prophecy, visions and dreams from old and young. That appears to be what happened on that day.

And the rest of Joel's scripture says this: “And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.” That sounds like judgment. But then the next verse promises, “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”