“I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me, says the Lord.”

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭18‬-‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It’s important to continually remind the reader that Paul is not setting up the argument of tongues or no tongues, but rather personal edification and corporate edification along with some “rules” for both in order that non-believers are not left confused or misinterpreting the reason for the manifestation. It seems reasonably clear that private or public tongues may indeed be expected, even within the corporate gathering. Understanding each one’s usage is what helps bring the edification.

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“Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Church of Corinth was not a perfect church. Most of Paul’s letters had significant aspects of correction for the churches to which he was writing. Corinth had much to be corrected, in this chapter mostly due to their zeal rather than any blatant rebellion, especially in the area of spiritual gifts and specifically in the area of tongues. Paul wasn’t dousing their zeal, but rather trying to define it and direct it.

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“But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.”

I Corinthians 14:6-12 NKJV

Why muse about such things on your Facebook page? Why crack the lid on what has historically been a place of contention and even division? (Please read Part 1 to catch up)

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Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

I Corinthians 14:1-5

I did not initially embrace Pentecostal / Charismatic (Continuationist) theology because I experienced some emotional or ecstatic phenomena. I did not land in this square because I was overwhelmed in a moment by the Holy Spirit (although I would not discount that possibility). But rather, I wrestled with Scripture for numerous years and refused to be hermeneutically strong-armed into a cessationist position which left far more questions for me than answers. I have listened to untold numbers of sermons and teaching on chapters 12-14 in I Corinthians, which quite honestly left me irritated at the so called expositor. Now, I do understand that people might land in some differing squares of interpretation with regards to spiritual gifts and especially tongues, but the square you land in must be Scripturally solid and not simply personally preferred or be denominational “pre-understandings” which were absorbed through Sunday School or group think.

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I have written my thoughts on public education before and every time I do I get some of the most fierce blowback of any subject on which I might pontificate. That dynamic, in and of itself, might warrant some exploration, as the normal spiritual analysis of such a phenomena would be that you challenged someone’s idol. Why else would one be so touchy about analyzing a secular, government establishment? 

That said, I certainly understand that the public education system has been almost sacrosanct in the public mentality throughout its history. It is true that upon its establishment we believed collectively that the education of our children was beneficial to ALL people and civilization in general. Of course, that premise was formed when education was more about reading, writing , and arithmetic rather than social engineering, gender dysphoria, and drag queen story hours. It was also considered beneficial as the culture was predominantly Christian and its leaders and teachers were most often committed Christian people. Even into the 1990’s, my sons had Baptist preachers’ wives as their teachers in public school and it provided some sense of confidence concerning their education. But that era has passed.

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