Bible Question:
There are two parts to my question here, and they both originate in 1 Corinthians 14. First, I pray that God helps my unbelief in that I have not seen or heard people properly (as how Paul describes it) speaking in tongues. For me, it feels hard to accept that it does happen, seeing a number of people abuse it (I'm not saying that I believe it doesn't happen; it's just harder for me to grasp when the people who do speak in tongues around you either 1)don't do it in a orderly fashion or 2)don't have an interpreter present, therefore creating chaos and disorder, at least in this friendly neighborhood bassist for the Lord). Can all spiritual gifts be mishandled like this one? I am thinking of one particual instance when I was at a church and the pastor made sure that he set down the laws for speaking in tongues and order in church, then proceeded to speak in tongues without an interpreter. That was when I knew I had to leave that church. Personal experiences aside, can those gifts be used improperly? I'd like some people of Pentecostal faith to chime in on this one as well. Secondly: Should we still hold true to what Paul says about women speaking in verse 33-35? Or are we talking about two different times? If that's the case, how does that apply today, if at all? |
Bible Answer: I am probably not of Pentecostal faith as your are thinking of, but I do speak in tongues and hopefully within the guidelines set forth in Scripture. I am actually of a Southern Baptist background (BELIEVE IT OR NOT!). So I guess you could call me “Bapti-costal”! Am I a nut. Yes! But not because I speak in tongues! I believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised in Acts1. That promise bore witness as being true thru out Acts (2,8,10,11,19). I believe it is still true today and is verified by the initial evidence of speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. Can speaking in tongues be faked? Yes! Can Jesus’s words in Act1:8 be faked? No! By their fruits you will know them (Matt 7:20). I believe all spiritual gifts will last till Jesus comes back, and none are excluded (1Cor1:7). 1 Cor 14 does not forbid tongues (vs39) in any way, either now or then. It only gives guidelines on how they are to used in public worship. 1. Tongues spoken for the congregation to hear, must be interpreted (vs28). Notice the un-interpreted tongue speaker is not disallowed to speak, but must speak to God and himself, not to the congregation. 2. Who should interpret? The tongue speaker themself (Vs13). Could that have been what happened in the Church you mentioned? Maybe, maybe not, but it seems strange for a man to declare God’s guidelines before the congregation, and them deliberately disobey and be subject to their ridicule. 3. Why must tongues spoken to the congregation be interpreted? For the benefit and protection of the uninformed and the unbelievers (vs23). Uninterprettd, the sign to the uninformed or the unbelievers (vs22) would NOT be a sign of edification, as would occur with interpretation (vs5). They would scoff and the Holy Spirit would be mocked (Acts2:13) and it would become a sign of judgement. The Isaiah quote bears this out. 4. What would be a true interpretation of a message in tongues to the congregation be? A message of man to God not God to man (vs2,16). In other words it will be thanks and praise not prophesy; not “Thus saith the Lord”. 5. Will proper us of tongues ever interrupt the teaching of the Word? NO! I do not think the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself. 6. Can spiritual gifts be misused? OH YES! How? If they are not exercised in love (1Cor13:1-3). Example: Anyone with a I have, you have-not attitude. If they are exercised with pride instead of love. 7. Can tongues be used properly? YES! How? Personal prayer (vs14,15,Rom8:26) Build up your faith (vs4,18,Jude1:20). That the church may receive edification if interpreted (vs5). 8. Should we still hold true to what Paul says about women speaking in verse 33-35?. Jesus came to fulfill the law. One of the ways of fulfilling the Law was showing us Gods intentions, showing us Gods heart. Jesus told the Pharisees that an outward display of obedience was nothing, without an inward change of the heart. I think we have to look at this with Gods intent. If we imposes this as an outside display of obedience with no thought of God’s intent, we miss the point. I think we have to treat this in the newness of the Spirit, as Jesus taught, and not in the oldness of the letter (Rom7:6). The intent here was not to gag women, but to establish order in service. This addressed something that was causing disorder, just as the uncontrolled display of spiritual gifts was causing disorder. The theme of 1Cor14 is craptuted in verse 40, “so all things will be done decently and in order.” |