Tongues: Spoken to God or Man?
TONGUES SPOKEN TO GOD OR MAN?
My friends, were the messages of those who spoke in "tongues" in New Testament times directed to God or to man? Some people who claim to speak in tongues affirm that speaking in tongues in New Testament times was a matter of speaking to God and not to man. This argument is offered as proof that men speak in "tongues" today. It is obvious that no one understands those who claim to speak in "tongues," and according to their argument, no one is supposed to understand because they are speaking to God and not to man. Let us consider the matter.
Speaking in tongues, whether to God or man, was a miraculous gift, whether by the power of the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit, as in Acts 2 nd Chapter, or by the laying on of the apostles' hands, as in Acts the 8th chapter , the 10th chapter, or the 19th chapter. In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul definitely declared that these miraculous administrations of the Spirit included the word of knowledge, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. If tongues continue today, then miracles definitely have not ceased and these other miraculous administrations of the Spirit must be in evidence just as much so as speaking in tongues. May I ask, where is the person who definitely has supernatural knowledge, who receives divine revelations from God in heaven? If such a person could be found, then the inspired men of God falsified when they declared that the gospel of Christ, the word of God, is the complete and final revelation from God to man.
Hear the apostle: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-8).
Where is the person with the gifts of healing, who can heal an incurable disease, cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead? My friends, I can tell you that wherever you find people who can heal incurable diseases, raise the dead, and speak by divine revelation, as in New Testament times, you may also find those who can speak in tongues. If you find one , you will find the other. The claim that tongues are directed to God, rather than man, and you can't understand them, will make no difference. If you couldn't understand their tongues, you could certainly understand if they really healed a body diseased with leprosy, or raised a person from the dead! But, ladies and gentlemen, you will find neither be-cause miracles have ceased.
Tongues For A Sign
Let us give more consideration to the texts referring to the gift of speaking in tongues. According to Acts 10:44-46, the Gentiles, who received the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit, did "speak with tongues and magnify God." While in Acts 19:6, "when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied." In 1 Corinthians 14:22 the apostle said that "tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." While in 1 Corinthians 14:2 Paul wrote, "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."
In Acts 2:4; Acts 2:6 it is recorded that "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Then, when "the multitude came together, they were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." In verses 7, 8. and 11, of Acts 2 nd chapter, it is written that "they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born?" They concluded, "we do hear them speak in our tongues the won-drous works of God."
Now, all these references to speaking in tongues are relevant and are certainly worthy of our serious consideration. What are the conclusions
First: There can be no doubt that, in each case, regardless of the purpose or circumstances, the speaking in tongues was a miraculous gift, or administration, of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues, whether to God or to man, was a miracle! In Acts, the 2nd Chapter there can be no doubt that the speaking in tongues, by power of the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit was definitely to man and not to God. It was divine revelation! In the other cases of "speaking in tongues" it is evident that all did not speak by divine revelation, since they did not receive the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit. Is seems evident that speaking in tongues was not always for the same purpose. But one thing is certain; those who did speak in tongues did so by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44-46 : ". . . on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." Has the miraculous "gift of the Holy Spirit" been "poured out," directly from heaven , upon those who claim to speak with tongues today?
Acts 19:6 : "And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied."
Question: Has the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, which would enable one to "speak with tongues" and prophesy, been imparted to anybody today through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, especially now that the apostles have been dead almost 2, 000 years? If not, then no one has the miraculous gift of the Spirit to speak in tongues!
Divers Kinds of Tongues The apostle declared, in 1 Corinthians 12:10, that there were "divers kinds of tongues." The matter of speaking in tongues by miraculous power of the Spirit evidently included different gifts, possessed by different people, for different purposes. According to the examples in the New Testament at least two primary purposes are revealed which were divine revelation and edification. It were seems that in some cases the gift of 'tongues" enabled one to interpret "tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:26; 1 Corinthians 14:28). Yet, it seems that others were to be their own interpreters (1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:13).
Unknown Tongues
1 Corinthians 14:2; 1 Corinthians 14:22 : "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God." Again the apostle said, "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." The question is, should there ever be an "unknown" tongue? The inference is that if one speaks in a tongue that is not understood by man, then it would be an unknown tongue. Even though God understood, it would be of no value to man. The very fact that Paul says that "tongues are a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not," is evidence that "tongues" were for the benefit of man. If for the benefit of man, for "them that believe not," then speaking in tongues would not be an "unknown" tongue spoken to God without man's understanding.
Not Unto Men But Unto God The apostle's statement, "Speaketh not unto men" (V.2), indicates not that the speaking was understood by men; not, that it was not intended to be understood by men. The context completely refutes the idea that "speaking in tongues" was addressed to God and not to man. Paul actually states that the primary purpose of "tongues" was for the benefit of "them that believe not" (V.22).
The apostles statement that the speaking was "unto God" simply indicated that such "speaking in tongues," under those circumstances, would be understood only by God and not by man. According to Paul, this would refute the pur-pose of speaking in "tongues."
The apostle concluded, "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air" (1 Corinthians 14:9). Furthermore, why should there be the necessity of an interpreter if the speaking in "tongues" were not to men who were to profit from what they heard? We may not fully understand the full significance of speaking in tongues in New Testament times, whether to convert the sinner, or edify the church, but two things are certain! One: speaking in tongues was done by direct and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. Two: the speaking in tongues was definitely for man's benefit who was to intelligently understand what was said, which necessitated , in some cases, an interpreter.
In Acts 2:3-11 it is positively stated that those of every nation, some fifteen languages, heard and understood in their "language," or "tongue," wherein they were "born." The speaking in tongues in this case was a result of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. To claim that those who spoke in tongues were talking to God and not to man in this text is to deny the full import of this miraculous incident of the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. There can be no doubt that the apostles were they who did receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and it was they who did the speaking in tongues on this occasion, as already pointed out. Furthermore, to affirm the argument that "tongues" were always spoken to God and not to man is to positively deny the plain authoritative statement, recorded at least three times in this text, that "every man heard them speak in his own language"; "how hear we every man in our tongue, wherein we were born?" and "we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." In this case there can be no doubt that the purpose of the speaking in tongues was to enable the apostles to preach the gospel to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem, representing some fifteen nations, and convert them to Christ. As a result, they that obeyed the gospel "were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:38-41).
Tongues To Cease
If the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues continues today, then the inspired apostle Paul was in error when he said, "whether there be tongues they shall cease; whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away" (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Paul said that tongues would cease. In the same verse he said that knowledge, supernatural knowledge, of course would also cease. They both were to cease at the same time, and that was to occur "when that which is perfect is come," when the church had grown to maturity and was no longer in its infancy, or childhood (1 Corinthians 13:10-11). Furthermore, the apostle suggested that time was at hand then. In verse 8 of this text the apostle referred to love, prophecies, tongues, and knowledge. He said that the supernatural gifts of prophecies, tongues, and knowledge were to cease. In verse 13 of the text he declared, "And now abideth faith, hope and love, these three but the greatest of these is love." Evidently they vanished away even then. There are not miraculous gifts of the Spirit today!
Paul's explanation of the "unity of the Spirit", Ephesians 4:3-7, surely includes the complete uniformity of the Spirit's revelation, teaching, and practice for Christians for all time to come. In this treaties on the "unity of the Spirit" there is absolutely no reference to the miraculous works of the Spirit, such as miracles of healing the sick, raising the dead, speaking in tongues, and other miraculous works which accompanied the preaching of the gospel during the infancy of the church. The platform for Christian unity is set forth in the seven doctrinal principles: one body; one Spirit; one hope; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; and one God. The church was to attain unto the "unity of the faith," and having grown to maturity there would no longer be the need for miraculous works of the Spirit to support and confirm the word of God.
May we all endeavor to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." This may be accomplished only through faith and practice as authorized by New Testament authority. Emotionalism and personal experiences can never circumvent God's word.
QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION 1. What source of power enabled people to speak in "tongues"?
2. Were "tongues" spoken to God or man?
3. How long were miracles to last
4. Were "tongues" to cease?
5. Were men to speak in "unknown tongues"?