In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is very concerned that false teaching be acknowledged and corrected.
In our last message, we began to look a Christ’s corrective teaching on prayer.
During that study, I made a short reference to the subject of speaking in tongues.
I noted in that message that I was planning to go further regarding the question of speaking in tongues, and that is what we are doing today.
We are going to do so by simply asking a very basic question:
WHY DON’T WE SPEAK IN TONGUES?
READ: Matthew 6:7
In our previous message, I described the definition of this phrase which Jesus uses in our text today, but to ensure we all remember allow me to repeat myself.
When Jesus says, “Do not heap up empty phrases” or in the KJV “vain repetition”, what we have is a prohibition against believers engaging in mindless repetitive words in prayer.
The Greek term “Battalogeo” comes from battus, which means to stutter or repeat words tediously.
This is clearly a rebuke against those who chant or repeat themselves mindlessly in prayer, without engaging their minds in what is being said.
As I noted previously, much of what is referred to in the modern church as “speaking in tongues” certainly fits this description.
It is often just mindless chatter filled with indiscernible sounds.
Now, for those of you who may not be familiar with this issue, I want to give a short overview of the divide which exists within the modern church.
Churches are normally designated as “Pentecostal” or not, sometimes as “Charismatic” or not.
Pentecost is referencing the day in Church history when the Holy Spirit fell on the church and miracles came as a result.
Charismatic refers to the “charis” or grace gifts which God the Holy Spirit gives to the church.
Probably the more accurate distinction is made in the terms “cessationist” and “continuationist”.
Cessationist - Belief that certain gifts were meant to be signs to affirm the apostolic age only and were never intended to continue on.
Continuationist - Belief that all of the gifts of the early church were meant to continue until the return of Christ.
The continuationist makes a distinction between the “sign” gifts which are designated as those which were meant to accompany and affirm the teachings of the apostles in the early church.
These “sign gifts” would include divine healing, the gift of speaking prophetic revelation, and the gift of tongues.
It is noteworthy that the one gift that tends to get the most attention is the gift of tongues.
It has been pointed out that “Tongues” is likely the most popular charismatic gift because it is the easiest to fabricate.
Prophecy which is specific is more difficult (which is why the vast majority of prophecy today is very non-specific).
Healing is also hard to fake, which is why we see them healing non-verifiable disease like back pain and ear ringing, not broken bones and amputated limbs.
Recently I saw a post which said the reason why faith healers don’t work in hospitals is the same reason psychics don’t win the lottery. (i.e. Its because they are frauds!)
Interesting Note: No one could deny the miracles of Christ, not even his detractors. They said He did his miracles by the power of Satan, but they didn’t say He was not doing miracles. This much was obvious! Even they had to admit the did things He did which were miraculous.
But modern miracle workers are recognized as frauds by everyone who is not their followers, because their miracles are not-verifiable.
As we go through the lesson today, we will reference certain aspects of these other gifts, but we will focus on this issue of the tongues.
The question today is, “Why don’t we speak in tongues?”
I mean “we” as a church. Sovereign Grace Family Church does not endorse the practicing of these gifts within the church body, and we would rebuke someone who came into the fellowship and tried to interrupt our worship with them.
This message is intended to help us as a church understand why we worship and pray the way we do, and why we do not worship and pray in the way another group does.
There is a great charismatic dividing line within the church today, and we should know why we stand on one side and not the other.
Why Don’t We Speak in Tongues?
I. The genuine gift of tongues was a real discernible language and not unstructured repetitive sounds.
It is very important to note that the gift of tongues is not mentioned much in the pages of the bible.
It is possibly eluded to by Christ in Mark 16 (though this passage is debatable in regard to a textual variant.)
It is spoken of by the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians.
And it is described in the Acts of the Apostles.
It is in the book of Acts that we see the first (and by extension the definitional) instance of this gift being demonstrated.
The Apostles are in the Upper Room, awaiting the sign from heaven for them to begin their ministry of the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit descended upon them as divided tongues of fire and rested on them and they began to speak in “other tongues”.
The word tongues is from the Greek root word “glossa” (This is where we get the word “glossary”).
This word indicates a real language; like when we speak of the “English tongue” or the “German tongue” we are talking about their languages.
This was not nonsensical sounds; this was a language which was being spoken.
We know this because the men who were present, who heard them speaking, understood them.
Acts 2:5-8 “Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?”
The term “language” here comes from the Greek word “dialecto” wherein we get our word “dialect”.
They were speaking a new dialect (specific language), one that they had not known before; and those who knew those languages understood them.
This is a true miracle, one that would be impossible to fabricate --- and impossible to deny.
Throughout Acts, we see this “pentecostal” experience repeated, and never once is there an indication that it is anything other than the same experience that was had by the believers on Pentecost - that of speaking real, discernible languages.
The place wherein most modern supporters of “modern” tongue speaking go to support their practice of unstructured repetitive sound is 1st Corinthians.
However, there is no reason why we must assume that Paul is speaking in 1st Corinthians of anything different than what we see in Acts.
Some argue that Paul supports unstructured speech in chapter 14.
1 Corinthians 14:6-9 “Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.”
First, we must recognize that chapter 14 is a rebuke against those who misuse this gift - and second, we must understand that Paul is not saying that the person is actually speaking “unintelligible language” but rather that “any” language which is unknown by the hearer will “sound” unintelligible because it is unknown.
The context bears this out...
1 Corinthians 14:10-11 “There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.”
You see, its not as if the people speaking in tongues are speaking an ABSOLUTELY indiscernible language.
They are speaking a language which is discernible to people who do not know it.
German is indiscernible to me, because I do not speak it.
But to a German, it makes sense.
The genuine gift of tongues was the ability of a person to speak a language which he had never learned before.
Tongues ALWAYS refers to an actual language and not unstructured speech.
Those who support “unstructured repetitive sound” as the definition of tongues must prove that from the text.
The onus is on the one who is saying this is legitimate to prove its legitimacy from the text.
What about the word Mysteries 14:2; isn’t that a reference to a mystical type of language that could be defined by unstructured repetitive sounds?
No, the mystery is the language which is spoken within a group that did not already know that language - it is a mystery to those who do not know it.
Only God can discern ALL languages.
This is why the gift of interpretation was necessary.
If a person was speaking in a tongue unknown by the group, as a sign to the group, the group would be unaware of the revelation if not for the interpreter.
This is why Paul forbids the speaking (or prayer) in a tongue apart from an interpreter (v.28).
NOTE: The word “interpret” is also important, because it assumes the language to be a genuine language and not just indistinguishable sounds.
The word means “translator”.
You can only translate something which is a real language; You cannot translate repetitive noise.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is no group today, not even among the Pentecostals, who claim to have the gift of tongues as it is described in the scripture; i.e. the gift of speaking in other languages without training.
There is no one in these churches who is claiming to speak or interpret different languages, human languages, that they were not previously taught.
In fact, when these groups send out missionaries they give them language training!
Why would that be necessary if the gift of tongues was still operable today?
NOTE: There are many stories of missionaries who, while ministering in a foreign lands, had a miraculous moment wherein they were able to speak a language that they did not formerly know.
I do not deny that possibility anymore than I deny the possibility of God working in miracle of healing in someone's life.
We are not denying the ability of God to do the miraculous.
We are denying that the normative practice of the church includes the use of these gifts.
There was a time in the churches history where these gifts were the norm, but that time has ceased.
The question which is often never asked is “Why was this gift given to the early church?”
The answer is that it was a sign to unbelieving Israel that the Gospel was now going out into all the world.
Formerly, the Word of God was held among the people of Israel, limited to their language.
But now, it is going to all people, tribes and TONGUES.
This miraculous gift of languages aided in the immediate expansion of the Gospel message into various languages.
NOTE: Before I move on to the next point about why we do not speak in tongues, I need to address an important question.
What about “praying” in tongues? Is this a “secret prayer language” as some have suggested?
Some people teach that we are not only to speak in tongues, but we are also to pray in tongues.
I once had a man tell me that his prayers in a tongue were his “perfect prayers” to God, because his mind was shut off and his spirit was engaged.
The only reference we have to “praying in tongues” is again found in 1 Corinthians 14.
Some say there is a reference in Romans 8:26 (Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.), but that passage is about the Holy Spirit interceding for us in prayer, not praying in a tongue.
What we see in 1st Corinthians 14 is that both proclamation and prayer were done through the gift of languages as a sign to the church.
There is no admonition that praying in tongues is to be done privately, but rather it was to be done for the edification of the body.
Spiritual gifts are meant to build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:12 “So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”
Someone might ask, “What about v.4, where it says speaking in tongues builds up the believer”, isn’t that a good thing?
Actually v.4 is considered by many to be taken in the pejorative (negative) sense.
Remember, 1 Corinthians 14 is a rebuke.
1 Corinthians 14:4 “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.”
Spiritual gifts are meant to build up the church, not the individual, as such this is not likely a positive statement, but is a rebuke (i.e. the one who speaks in tongues “exalts” himself, which is not positive).
The gift of tongues, whether it was done in prayer or whether it was done in proclamation before the people, was a genuinely discernible language which could be interpreted, not just repetitive sounds.
As such, most of what is today called “speaking in tongues” does not really qualify for being identified as the genuine “gift of tongues”.
I. The genuine gift of tongues was a real discernible language and not unstructured repetitive sounds.
II. The majority of those who practice modern speaking in tongues do so in violation of the clear Scriptural parameters.
In 1st Corinthians 14, there are so many parameters set down regarding the gifts, in particular the gift of tongues, that many churches which practice it completely ignore.
Many teach that this gift is for everyone. (12:11; 30)
(Some even say it is required for salvation)
- Many practice the gift without any interpreter. (v.28)
Many allow women to practice the gift in public. (v.34)
Many interject the gift in the midst of the service, which is confusing (v.33) and out of order (v.40).
(“God is a God of order. If our worship is order-less, it is God-less”)
QUESTION: What about those who make attempts to meet the biblical parameters?
If they are speaking or praying unstructured repetitive sounds, this is not a language, and thus does not fit the biblical parameter.
Even if they practice every other thing right, if they are not speaking legitimate, interpretable languages, they are not practicing the biblical gift of the tongues.
In addition, when they do try to have “interpretations”, how does anyone know if the interpretation is correct when the person is not speaking a discernible language?
Illustration: “Lord’s Prayer in Latin” A number of years ago, the son of a pastor visited a tongues-speaking church in order to see exactly what they were practicing. Various members of the congregation would stand, supposedly speak in a tongue, followed by another member who would rise and provide an interpretation. During that time in the service, the pastor's son stood up, recited the Lord's Prayer in Latin, and then sat back down. A person immediately rose and gave an interpretation that had absolutely nothing to do with what the young man had actually said. (http://www.blogos.org/exploringtheword/gift-tongues-2-today.php)
Again, this type of activity is so easily fabricated that if it were true that this is what speaking in tongues were supposed to be, there would be no way to tell if it were a legitimate miracle or not.
We are commanded to “test the spirits” to see if they are of God.
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
The modern practice of tongues as being “unstructured repetitive sounds” does not pass the test.
It is not a genuine expression of a miracle from God, and it does not fit the description of what the Bible describes as the miracle of tongues.
I. The genuine gift of tongues was a real discernible language and not unstructured repetitive sounds.
II. The majority of those who practice modern speaking in tongues do so in violation of the clear Scriptural parameters.
III. The gift of tongues has served its purpose.
The purpose of the tongues was to demonstrate that the Gospel had gone from the single language of the Hebrews to all peoples and tongues.
As I said, this gift enabled a huge expansion of the Gospel to happen quickly.
As the church began to be established around the known world, the need for the gift decreased.
There is even a text in 1 Corinthians 13 which says, “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Cor 13:8)
The word “cease” here is in the middle voice, indicating that it will cease on its own... it will in essence peter out in its own time.
When will this happen? Once its served its purpose.
NOTE: History bears this out.
“Chrysostom and Augustine – the greatest theologians of the eastern and western churches – considered tongues obsolete. Chrysostom stated categorically that tongues had ceased by his time. Writing in the fourth century, he describes tongues as an obscure practice, admitting that he was not even certain about the characteristics of the gift.” (Charismatic Chaos; 284)
Augustine wrote that speaking in tongues was speaking languages “which they had not learned”. He went on to write, ‘why is it that no man speaks in the tongues of all nations? Because the church itself now speaks in the tongues of all nations’. Before, the church was in one nation, where it spoke in the tongues of all. By speaking in the tongues of all, it signified what was to come to pass; that by growing among the nations, it would speak in the tongues of all.”(Charismatic Chaos; 285)
In addition, tongues which were intended to be direct revelation from God ended with the death of the apostles.
We have the completed revelation from God in His Word, the Bible.
We do not seek to find “new revelation” from God.
In fact, this is what really separated the “Protestant Reformation” from “Pentecostal Revival”.
The Protestant Reformation was a revival; but it was a revival which was founded on the bedrock of scripture NOT individual experiences.
The most dangerous aspect of Pentecostal theology is that it places the experience of the individual above the word of God.
A few years ago a statement became very popular. "A man with an experience is at no mercy of a man who has an argument".
Tell that to Eve. She had her experience with the serpent and she had the word of God. The serpent spoke to her, there is no doubt that she had a legitimate experience.
The problem was her experience contradicted the word of God. And we know what the results of her rejection of the word of God resulted in.
Heretics have experiences.
Atheists have experiences.
Pagans have experiences.
Experiences are not the foundation of truth.
The experience argument is the same one used by those who support homosexual sin.
They have "experienced" good people who are gay, so what the bible says about homosexuality must not be applicable.
This issue is important, but there are some very good theologians who would hold to the continuationist position on the miraculous gifts, like Wayne Grudem.
This is not an issue over which I believe that error would automatically constitute a person being a heretic.
However, what we do see in a lot of these churches is the departure from sound teaching on this issue has resulted in a departure from sound doctrine in other areas as well. Unfortunately, within the Pentecostal/Charismatic groups, there is a wide array of false doctrine which often goes seriously unchecked.
It is difficult to stop bad teaching when all a person has to do is claim “an experience” as their basis for truth.
Beloved, the gift of tongues has served its purpose.
We see this expounded in Scripture and in history.
To argue otherwise from an individual experience... based on flimsy theology and bad exegesis... is a recipe for serious theological error.
CONCLUSION: I remember a time when I first realized how divisive this subject really can be...
Illustration: My time at the camp meeting. I was at a camp meeting once where I was inquiring about the churches involved. When the person I was speaking to found out I had graduated from a Baptist seminary he immediately informed me that their group believed the “Evidence of Sanctification is manifest by the utterance of speaking in Tongues”. I had not even mentioned Tongue speaking! But it was such an important thing for this person, that he made sure I understood their position.
This event which happened early in my ministry was very eye-opening because it demonstrated that for many people, this issue runs deep, and the lines are clearly drawn.
But beloved, I believe we are on the right side of that line.
I believe we are on the correct side of both scripture and history on this matter.
We stand with men like Chrysostom, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Spurgeon, and Warfield, all of whom attested to their conviction that the tongues ceased.
Some say, “Look 500 million Christians who profess to having charismatic experiences can’t be wrong.”
But if that logic were true, we would have to say that the 1 billion Catholics who venerate the Pope can’t be wrong either.
We would also have to say that the 1 billion Muslims who reject the deity of Christ can’t be wrong either.
But the truth is that 500 million people can, in fact, be wrong.
So, why do we not speak in tongues?
Because...
I. The genuine gift of tongues was a real discernible language and not unstructured repetitive sounds.
II. The majority of those who practice modern speaking in tongues do so in violation of the clear Scriptural parameters.
III. The gift of tongues has served its purpose.
Our goal as believers should not be to seek after a miraculous experience.
Our goal should be to follow Christ and trust His Word.
And know that the Holy Spirit will gift us as He wills for the purpose of ministering within the Church.
