Speaking in Tongues : Real or Fake?

 

Speaking in Tongues : Is it real or fake?

Speaking in tongues is the New Testament phenomena where a person speaks in a language that is unknown to him. This language is either the language of angels or other earthly languages (1 Cor. 13:1). It occurred in Acts 2 at Pentecost and also in the Corinthian church as is described in 1 Corinthians 14. This New Testament gift was given by the Holy Spirit to the Christian church and is for the purpose of the edification of the Body of Christ as well as for glorifying the Lord.

There seems to be three divisions in the use of tongues: First, a private prayer language that is not interpreted; second, a language that is interpreted — this defines proper usage in the Christian congregation; and third, missionary context — that is, it appears in the context of evangelism where people are presenting the gospel.

Speaking in Tongues : Must for Salvation?

Some churches maintain that you must speak in tongues in order to be saved. This is a grave mistake since not all people speak in tongues because not all people are gifted by the Holy Spirit this way. Tongues must not be focused on as being the only evidence of having received the Holy Ghost/Spirit. It is NOT the only evidence of Holy Spirit! 1 Cor. 12:27-31 Everyone does not receive the gift of speaking in tongues. Just as we must not forbid it, we must also not require it. The bible does NOT say that speaking in tongues is required and it does NOT say that speaking in tongues is the only evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.

1 Cor. 12:7-11,28-31 — “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills…28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

So, the gifts of the Spirit are varied and they are for the edification of the body of Christ. Speaking in tongues is not necessary for salvation and it is not a prerequisite proof of Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We must remember the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 13:1-2,13 given below.

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing….13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Speaking in Tongues : Holy Bible says

Acts 2

Acts 10

Acts 19:1-7

1 Cor. 12

1 Cor. 14

Mark 16:17

Speaking in Tongues : Conclusion

Speaking in tongues is a Real Gift from GOD. Sometimes some people speak false gibbish, some times people speak in devil tongues but other times some people do correctly use the real gift from GOD known as speaking in tongues. If and when done from and of God, it is Biblical. The ministers that forbid it are going against 1 Cor. 14:39 “forbid not to speak with tongues”! Paul’s solution to the tongues problem in the Corinthian Church was not to forbid tongues, but to correct the improper use of the gift from GOD.

It was not for just the day of Pentecost. Pentecost happened in Acts 2. But speaking in tongues was continued in Acts 10 and Acts 19. No where in the Bible does it say that it stopped being allowed or that it was reserved only for the early days of the church. In fact, it says it will also be for the end times! And if it was for the early days AND the end times, then it is also for the in-between times! Acts 2:16-20.