I Corinthians 14: Spiritual Gifts (Part Three)

What do you think about speaking in tongues?  Opinions are all over the map, and some Christians can be quite contentious about their viewpoints.

I've met believers who despise and utterly reject tongues-speaking, and others who insist that all real Christians will speak in tongues. (Note: these extremes do not get along well together within the same congregation!)

Personally, I don't have a dog in this fight.  I don't have a "tongues" heritage, but neither do I have an "animosity-toward-tongues" background.  Hopefully, then, I can look with unbiased eyes at that most important question: What does the Bible actually say?

On the positive side of the ledger, Paul indicates that the gift of tongues is real ("speaking mysteries in the Spirit") and that it is a desirable gift, being an edifying experience for the speaker (vs. 2-3).  Paul mentions that he himself speaks in tongues (vs. 18) - apparently quite often -  and that, in general, he wishes the Corinthians to speak in tongues (vs. 5).

But let's not confuse something that may be good with something that is better.  The bulk of Paul's commentary on tongues-speaking is that there are more important and essential gifts to pursue.  For one, the gift of interpretation of tongues is needed for tongues to edify anyone beyond the speaker himself (vs. 6) Indeed, it appears that tongues are only to be expressed in a community worship service when there is also someone to interpret (vs. 27-28).  Interpretation is to be desired (vs. 13) because it is the great "equalizer."  With interpretation, tongues become as useful and edifying to the church as prophecy, because then what is being said can be understood (vs. 5).  Tongues seem to rank lower on the list of spiritual gifts, below prophecy, and knowledge, and teaching (vs. 6) - primarily because of its individual nature, unless there is also the gift of interpretation accompanying it.

So, for me, I believe - based on my reading of the Bible - that tongues is an authentic spiritual gift.  Since I believe that the spiritual gifts are still operative for the Church today, I believe that tongues remains a permissible gift as well.  However, just as no Christian possesses all the spiritual gifts, it would be wrong to presume or believe that all Christians will practice this particular gift.  After all, if it is truly a "gift," it cannot be forced.  We may pray for it, but the Holy Spirit is the One who will determine how it is dispensed.  All the rest of Paul's rules and instructions regarding tongues should be considered in its practice.

Beyond that, I think stressing about it or worrying about it or being obsessed with it is not to be indulged in!