While visiting a Pentecostal church, I witnessed people praying in tongues yet they all used the same syllabic tones and syntax in their tongues. Is this a normal practice? Is this a Biblical practice? They all sound the same but none of it makes sense.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n We must begin with the modern understanding of speaking in an unidentifiable language. This is not Biblical. In order to understand the Biblical perspective of speaking in tongues (languages in the original Greek) we need to turn to the Apostle Paul\u2019s teachings. This will set the stage for the coming of the Holy Spirit and the purpose of the spiritual gifts.<\/span><\/p>\n But to each<\/span> one<\/span> is given<\/span> the manifestation<\/strong><\/span> of the <\/strong>Spirit<\/strong><\/span> for the <\/strong>common<\/strong><\/span>good<\/strong><\/span>. For to one<\/span> is given<\/span> the word<\/span> of wisdom<\/span> through<\/span> the Spirit<\/span>, and to another<\/span> the word<\/span> of knowledge<\/span> according<\/span> to the same<\/span> Spirit<\/span>; to another<\/span> faith<\/span> by the same<\/span> Spirit<\/span>, and to another<\/span> gifts<\/span> of healing<\/span> by the one<\/span> Spirit<\/span>, and to another<\/span> the effecting<\/span> of miracles<\/span>, and to another<\/span> prophecy<\/span>, and to another<\/span> the\u00a0distinguishing<\/span> of spirits<\/span>, to <\/strong>another<\/strong><\/span> various <\/strong>kinds<\/strong><\/span> of <\/strong>tongues<\/strong><\/span>, and to <\/strong>another<\/strong><\/span> the <\/strong>interpretation<\/strong><\/span> of <\/strong>tongues<\/strong><\/span>. But one<\/span> and the same<\/span> Spirit<\/span> works<\/span> all<\/span> these<\/span> things<\/span>, distributing<\/span> to each<\/span> one<\/span> individually<\/span> just<\/span> as He wills<\/span>. \u00a0(I Corinthians 12:7-11)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The spiritual gifts are given for the common good, in serving the saints. If the \u201cgift\u201d that you have and are using is not for the common good, used in serving and building up others, then it is not a spiritual gift, given by the Holy Spirit. So, speaking in tongues must be used in such a way that the saints are edified, others are edified, not you, the speaker. Also, not everyone has the gift of tongues. The gifts are different and given according to the will of the Holy Spirit, not the desire of the believer.<\/span><\/p>\n Further on in this chapter, Paul explains that the believers are people who have been baptized into Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and just as the believers are all different, the gifts are also different. No one has all the gifts and all do not have the same gift.<\/span><\/p>\n Fo<\/span>r <\/span>even<\/span><\/span> as the body<\/span> is one<\/strong><\/span> and yet <\/strong>has<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>many<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>members<\/strong><\/span>, and all<\/span> the members<\/span> of the body<\/span>, though they are many<\/span>, are one<\/span> body<\/span>, so<\/span> also<\/span> is Christ<\/span>. For by one<\/span> Spirit<\/span> we were <\/strong>all<\/strong><\/span>baptized<\/strong><\/span> into <\/strong>one<\/strong><\/span>body<\/strong><\/span>, whether<\/span> Jews<\/span> or<\/span> Greeks<\/span>, whether<\/span> slaves<\/span> or<\/span> free<\/span>, and we were all<\/span> made<\/span> to drink<\/span> of one<\/span> Spirit<\/span>. For the <\/strong>body<\/strong><\/span> is not <\/strong>one<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>member<\/strong><\/span>, but <\/strong>many<\/strong><\/span>. (I Corinthians 12:12-14)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The body of Christ is one body made up of different parts and the gifts are not all one, but many. After teaching this, Paul ends this section with rhetorical questions that the answer is obviously \u201cno\u201d to all of them.<\/span><\/p>\n Now you are the body of Christ<\/strong>, and each one of you is a part of it.\u00a0And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.\u00a0Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?\u00a0<\/strong>Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret?<\/strong> \u00a0(I Corinthians 12:27-30)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So, from Paul\u2019s arguments, we clearly see that not everyone who has the Holy Spirit speaks in tongues. A sign of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is not speaking in tongues. When baptized with the Holy Spirit, we are baptized into the body of Christ and we receive at least one spiritual gift but we do not all receive the same spiritual gift. So, the question is, \u201cwhat is this speaking in tongues that is practiced, speaking in an unknown language that no one understands\u201d? How can it be edifying to others if neither the speaker nor the hearer understands what is being said?<\/span><\/p>\n What is this modern manifestation of speaking in an unknown tongue?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n First, we have to understand that this modern idea of speaking in unknown languages is not a new phenomenon. This existed during the first century. Unintelligible gibberish was and is an integral part of pagan worship.<\/span><\/p>\n There has been much written on this topic and I would like to reference some of the good sources that I know of and recommend.<\/span><\/p>\n Gerhard Hasel (1) writes that, in Ethiopia, in the \u201czar\u201d cult, the followers speak to spiritual beings in unknown and unintelligible languages. This is pure idol worship and paganism, similar to what was mentioned in the beginning of this article.<\/span><\/p>\n Carlyle May (2) affirms that speaking in unintelligible languages is part of pagan worship in Malaysia, Indonesia, Liberia, and in Artic regions, China, Japan, Korea, Arabia, Burma, and other places.<\/span><\/p>\n Concluding an extensive study on the phenomenon of speaking in unintelligible tongues in the 60s, several psychologists suggest that unintelligible tongues is more of a hypnotic trance produced from religious excitement. (3)<\/span><\/p>\n I think it would be interesting to see some experiments that were undertaken in secret in Pentecostal churches to examine the syntax of the tongues and the interpretation of those tongues.<\/span><\/p>\n Experiment # 1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n An experience of speaking in tongues was secretly recorded and the interpretation as well. The people who claimed to have the gift of interpretation shared what was being spoken. The translations were different. For example, one interpreter said that the message contained a prayer for the health of children, while another interpreter said that the same message in tongues was an expression of gratitude to God for the success of fundraising in the church. The same message had several different interpretations. <\/span><\/p>\n Experiment # 2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The son of a missionary couple, raised in Africa, participated in a meeting where they spoke in tongues. At one moment during the service, he rose and said the Lord’s Prayer in an African dialect which he learned in his youth. After finishing an interpreter immediately offered interpretation of what he had said. The translator interpreted the words as a message about the imminent return of Christ. (4)<\/span><\/p>\n (1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Speaking in Tongues: Biblical Speaking in Tongues and Contemporary Glossolalia. Berrien Springs: Adventist Theological Society, 1991 page 26<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0(2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 L. Carlyle May, A Survey of Glossolalia and Related Phenomena in Non-Christian Religions, ed. Speaking in Tongues: A Guide to Research in Glossolalia, pag. 53.82<\/span><\/p>\n (3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paul Merrit Bassett, Speaking in Tongues, The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia ( Novato, Calif,: The SoftwareToolworks, Inc. 1993 )<\/span><\/p>\n (4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Daniel Scarone, Credos Contemporaneos ( Miami Asociacion Publicadora Interamerican, 1994, Buenos Aires, Asociacion Casa Editora Sudamericana, 1997 ), pag. 319<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: While visiting a Pentecostal church, I witnessed people praying in tongues yet they all used the same syllabic tones and syntax in their tongues. Is this a normal practice? Is this a Biblical practice? They all sound the same but none of it makes sense. What is the Biblical perspective of speaking in tongues? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":75106,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[126,29951],"tags":[7969,16956,16957,16958,16959],"class_list":{"0":"post-75102","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-answer-from-the-bible","8":"category-doctrine-en","9":"tag-church","10":"tag-speaking-in-unknown-tongues","11":"tag-speaking-in-tongues","12":"tag-baptized-with-holy-spirit","13":"tag-body-of-christ","14":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.moldovacrestina.md\/2018\/01\/39595577958_vorbirea-in-limbi.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nWhat is the Biblical perspective of speaking in tongues? <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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