Contemporary Church Issues

I understand people’s discomfort with tongues. I lived in that land of misunderstanding myself for many years. To me, tongues was emotionalism, hype, becoming frenzied, certainly irrational. It was an experience for the weak-minded. It didn’t fit in my hyper-rational filter of “discernment”. I discounted its reality without really laboring in the Scriptures in an honest way. I simply accepted the “exegesis” of those who also came with a built-in bias against such things. The result was an anemic and powerless Christian life which left me in a vulnerable and defeated place. I knew that state wasn’t God’s Will or promise, so for me, the question of whether or not I “had to” speak in tongues was becoming a moot point. While it has never been THE issue in church life, it was becoming THE issue in my own personal life. There had to be some divine assistance more readily available which could cut through the fog of defeat and produce a genuine and lasting victory. I cannot speak for everyone who criticizes spiritual language, but for me, there was a laziness in apprehending what the Bible was actually teaching. It was a sense of desperation that provided the open door for my eyes to be opened. This is why the next critique is of particular interest to me.

CRITIQUE #4 – It is FALSE that all believers should speak in tongues.

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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.

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For those starting with this post, you may wish to go back and get the background of why these are appearing. I have always sensed a calling to answer those who mock, criticize, or diminish the on-going work of the Holy Spirit. It’s not because I feel like I have the intellectual firepower to answer every question, but it is more feeling like someone needs to defend the honor and place of the Holy Spirit Himself. I know He doesn’t need defending. The Holy Spirit has been managing His image for time and eternity and does not need me as His public relations person. The Holy Spirit is magnificently settled in His own identity. But He also inspired Paul to remind us that He can be quenched (I Thessalonians 5:19) and He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). The Bible unquestionably shows us that there are qualities and manifestations of the Spirit’s activity. We need to be reminded of these things on occasion and exercise caution as to how we discuss His presence in the life of the church and individual. Our personal feelings of discomfort with the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in a life or the Church is not a reason to dismiss Him. Sadly, many critiques of spiritual language boil down to an over reliance on rationalism and misidentifying what initially is thought to be emotionalism. 

The second posted challenge to the speaking in tongues was much like the first, based on the individual’s veracity.

CRITIQUE #2 – “Tongues can be practiced in an ignorant, ungodly manner.”

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I have written over the years on social media my exegetical, theological, and apologetic on the subject of tongues. I have a rather extensive commentary on I Corinthians 14, posted on my blog site, DrKevinbaird.com . Just use the search engine on the site and type in “tongues” and you will find 6 articles walking through carefully the chapter which Paul writes to address the phenomena at Corinth. There is also another article referencing as to what language Peter used when preaching in Acts 2. I understand that Facebook posts resolve nothing, especially a topic such as this; however, there are moments egregious posts are offered and it bears a response. I have learned as I have aged, that there should be a certain exegetical humility from the Bible student. Especially on subjects which Bible-believing Christians may differ. Tongues, or what I often times refer to as Spiritual Language, is one of those topics. Swift dismissals and pithy memes condemning its validity (or reality) does not constitute a biblical critique. 

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