Again, I would suggest to any reader stumbling across these series of posts to go to my page and begin with Part 1.
I think Christian people, especially the next generation of young adults, are super inquisitive about the things of the Spirit. There is a hunger to simply know the Bible and God’s ways in an unvarnished, bottom-line sort of way. The American Church had its years experimenting with the “seeker” and “attractional” models of church life, and it left many people unsatisfied. So, there has awakened a hunger for the genuinely spiritual. That pursuit has brought great openness to the gifts of the Spirit. However, with that openness has come misunderstanding and even confusion. One of those is presented in common misconception in the third critique by this individual concerning the modern day manifestation of tongues.
CRITIQUE #3 – If in public, an interpreter must always be present and must interpret.
The response to this critique is both “yes” and “no”. You may ask, “How can it be both and not one or the other?” It is because by and large we conflate differing tongues as requiring the same restrictions. Because a “tongue” sounds the same to the natural mind, we assume that ALL tongues are the same. And yet Paul clearly starts the instruction concerning tongues by stating in I Corinthians 12:10, that there are “various KINDS or types of tongues”. Not all spiritual language is the same. Let that sink in…
Just because it sounds the same to your natural mind, does not mean its function and purpose at that moment is the same.
In the previous article I referenced that there were two types of spiritual language to which Paul was addressing. To be even more precise, I could argue that there may be 3 types of tongues referenced in the whole of Scripture. (It might be good to acknowledge at this point that some of you have been taught that tongues is a “known” earthly language. I will address that in a forthcoming post as well, but for now to navigate the criticism, I must simply stipulate that I believe the Bible teaches that tongues are an “unknown” language of spiritual design.)
The THREE types of tongues which may be referenced are:
- Unknown language which is supernaturally revealed to the hearers ears (as in Pentecost, Acts 2:6, Isa 28:11). I would call this the PROOF TONGUE.
- Unknown language which is FROM God TO people which has an interpreter making it analogous to prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:3-5, 22-25). I would call this the PROPHETIC TONGUE. *And by the way, Paul states that interpretation may come from one of two ways: (1) The individual themselves (I Co. 14:13), (2) Another person with that gift (I Co. 12:10; 14:27).
- Unknown language which is from the Holy Spirit inside of believers TO God as a personal moment of prayer, devotion, or worship and needs no interpretation (I Corinthians 13:1; 14:2, 13) *Why would God need to interpret Himself?* I would call this the PERSONAL TONGUE.
Each of these manifestations have differing functions and uses:
- The proof tongue is a sign to unbelievers (I Corinthians 14:22).
- The prophetic tongue is a source of edification for the Church (1 Corinthians 14:3-4, 1 Corinthians 14:6)
- The personal tongue is a source of edification and intercession for the believer (1 Corinthians 14:4, Rom 8:26-27, Jude 1:20)
Now, follow me me to understand the lines of distinction between these three expressions of this ONE gift:
-The personal tongue benefits the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).
-The prophetic tongue benefits the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26).
-The proof tongue benefits the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 14:22).
-The personal tongue requires no interpreter or interpretation to be beneficial to the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).
-The prophetic tongue requires an interpreter to benefit the Church (1 Corinthians 14:26).
-The proof tongue requires no interpreter for the interpretation to be understood by the unbeliever as God supernaturally opens their hearing. (Acts 2:8).
-The personal tongue is understood by no one but God (1 Corinthians 14:2).
-The prophetic tongue is understood by the Church with the aid of an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:27).
-The proof tongue is supernaturally revealed to the unbeliever (Acts 2:8).
One gift, three expressions. Each expression serves a different purpose.
Now the only question which actually remains is whether or not a personal tongue can be practiced orderly in a congregational (public) setting. For me, I see no reason the congregation might pray or sing in the spirit together as a group to God. In much the same way churches practice “concert” prayer and corporate worship in a natural language, those times of the people ministering personally to the Lord as a group with spiritual language seems appropriate and valid. Of course, because of interpretive confusion and sensitivities, not every local church culture would be open to such moments. So, those who are in authority of that local church have delegated right under God to determine its protocols and practices. My point is not to foist this upon every church, every Sunday, but rather respond to those critics who believe continualists are somehow “out of order” or being unbiblical. We may land in a different theological square on this, but a heresy it is not.
Whew…
I leave it there for today.
Back tomorrow for #4…
Hope this is helpful.
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