15. A Final Word: Tongue Advocates Must Face and Answer 9 Questions
A FINAL WORD Here are some final issues which tongues advocates must face and answer, without evasion:
1. Pastors and Deacons.
If tongues are for everyone, as most tongues advocates claim, surely God would have made this a requirement for all pastors and deacons. When we examine the word of God, we find this is not the case. Read carefully for yourself the requirements for a pastor in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Now, read the requirements for a deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS NOT A REQUIREMENT!
If speaking in tongues is as important as those who endorse them claim; then, God was mistaken in not requiring this of pastors and deacons who are to be the overseers and examples to the congregation. No, God did not include tongues as a requirement for pastors and deacons, today, as it is not needed. We now have the written, complete Word of God at our disposal. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). God said tongues would cease, and they have! I will stand on God’s Word rather than the word of those who advocate tongues. What about you? (Psalms 118:8).
2. Grieving the Holy Spirit.
If the tongues advocates are correct in this assumption which Kenneth Hagen has stated in one of his books, "...every Christian should speak in tongues...", would it not grieve the Holy Spirit if a Christian did not speak in tongues? Read carefully in Ephesians 4:22-32 the list of all the things that grieve the Holy Spirit. NOTHING IS SAID ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES! If tongues are for today, I am sure it would grieve the Holy Spirit if one did not experience the so-called "gift". Again, I will place my trust in God’s word. (Psalms 118:8). What about you?
3. Acts, Chapter Two.
If tongues advocates today dare claim Acts 2:1-47 to support their speaking in tongues, why does not everyone understand in their own language when they speak? Acts 2:1-47 does not endorse private speaking in tongues at all, as Acts 2:1-47 was a public meeting with various nationalities present and everyone understanding in their own language. The claim of tongues speakers today, in no respect, coincides with that of Acts 2:1-47. Which will you believe, the record of God’s Word or the testimony of men? (Psalms 118:8).
4. Mark, Chapter Sixteen.
Almost without exception, every tongues advocate I have talked to has referred to Mark 16:1-20, quoting Mark 16:17 in part. When I say "in part", I mean they quote only part of the verse or verses that endorse their claims. Allow me to illustrate from a book written by one of the leading tongues advocates today. He listed several reasons why every believer should speak in tongues. Here is his quote of Scripture to support one of those reasons, "and these signs shall follow them that believe ... they shall speak with new tongues." (Mark 16:17). Now if you read only his book and did not check the Word of God you could very well be deceived. I will now quote from God’s Word all of Mark 16:17-18 :
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (16) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (18) My question is: Why did this preacher omit and not even mention the other four signs? The word "signs" is plural. If you could do one sign, you could do all of them. I would think that healing the sick would surely have pre-eminence over speaking in tongues, wouldn’t you? To pull tongues alone out of Mark 16:1-20 would be to mutilate God’s Word to endorse one’s desire. If tongues are for today, so are the other four signs. Who will you believe, God’s Word or man-made claims? (Psalms 118:8) 5. 1 Corinthians, Chapter Twelve. This chapter reveals several interesting observations con-cerning tongues and the gifts of the Spirit. Let us enumerate:
(1 Corinthians 12:1). They were ignorant concerning spiritual gifts.
(1 Corinthians 12:3). Some in Corinth, who were speaking in tongues were actually cursing Jesus by a false spirit and yet were not aware of it. The demonic spirits were having a field day in Corinth, cursing Jesus through the speaker without his realization.
(1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Tongues are given last, yet the Corinthians placed them first. Compare that with the tongues movement of today and you will see the same thing taking place.
(1 Corinthians 12:13). The baptism of the Spirit is into the Body of Christ, not into tongues.
(1 Corinthians 12:13). This verse says that all have been made to drink (same as baptized) into one spirit. Tongues cannot be evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit since not all speak with tongues (1 Corinthians 12:30); but, all believers are baptized into the Body of Christ. This verse refutes one of the major errors of Pentecostalism, who say that speaking in tongues is evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12:11; 1 Corinthians 12:18; 1 Corinthians 12:30). God’s Word says that He dis-tributes the gifts to believers as He (God) sees fit. This makes an absolute liar out of those who say tongues are for everyone.
(1 Corinthians 12:14-24) God’s Word emphasizes that all gifts are of equal importance. Personally, I hear a thousand times more about the gift of tongues than any of the other gifts. Something is wrong somewhere—God says they were all equal.
If one honestly compares this chapter with the claims of tongues advocates today, one can easily see their claims are false and filled with the error of false doctrine predicated on the wisdom of men instead of the infallible Word of God. You have a decision to make, will you believe God’s Word or man’s word? (Psalms 118:8).
6. 1 Corinthians, Chapter Thirteen. This chapter tells the believer when tongues will cease; and informs us that the more excellent way to influence unbelievers is with our actions, motivated by the love of God.
(1 Corinthians 13:8-10). The word "perfect" is referring to God’s Word, not Christ. The Greek word "teleios" is never used in reference to Christ.
With the book of Revelation (God’s completed Word) knowledge, prophecy, and tongues would have ceased.
Three things would remain after God’s Word is complete: faith, hope, and charity (love) .
Since the book of Revelation was completed, God has never given the gift of tongues to anyone. Any speaking in so-called tongues would have to be motivated by a satanic spirit, not the Holy Spirit. If tongues today were of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit would be contradicting God’s Word and that is impossible.
If any person is in doubt reference the teaching concerning the word "perfect," I would advise you to write to several reputable Christian colleges and ascertain from their Greek professors the meaning of the word.
You are now confronted with a decision, will you believe God’s Word that knowledge, prophecy and tongues have ceased with the book of Revelation, or will you say "No" and endorse man’s teaching? (Psalms 118:8).
7. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14.
While tongues existed prior to the completion of the book of Revelation 14:1-20 must be followed concerning the government of tongues.
The speaking in tongues would always have to be interpreted. (1 Corinthians 14:5; (1 Corinthians 14:13; (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
The purpose of tongues was to edify the church (1 Corinthians 14:4-5; (1 Corinthians 14:12), not the individual.
No one was ever to pray or sing in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).
(1 Corinthians 14:20). Paul said they were children in the faith, not mature men because of their obsession with tongues.
(1 Corinthians 14:27). At any meeting there was never to be more than three to speak in tongues, and then only one at a time. After that, one was to interpret each of the three speakers. Compare this with your Pentecostal meetings today. There is no comparison whatsoever!
(1 Corinthians 14:32). Each person is responsible for controlling himself.
(1 Corinthians 14:35). The churches were in a state of confusion because of the speaking in tongues. We have the same thing today.
(1 Corinthians 14:34). No woman was ever given the gift of tongues. They were never to speak in tongues in the church. Tongues advocates have told me this is only referring to a business meeting within the church. This is another example of their twisting, turning, and adding to God’s Word to make it fit their practices. Paul never discussed anything about a business meeting in Chapters 12 through 14.
This is absolute dishonesty with God’s Word. The hardest thing I have found is to get the tongues advocates to accept God’s Word. "Let your women keep silent in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak...for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) Will you believe the Lord or man? (Psalms 118:8).
8. One False Doctrine Leads to Another.
One false doctrine almost always leads to another. I have found, almost without exception, those who endorse tongues speaking also believe you can lose your salvation. This leads to believing that salvation is obtained by good works and not a salvation totally of grace by faith. Then—if they are trusting in works to get them to Heaven—they are not saved! Salvation is by faith, alone, without works; and one can never be lost again. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Some come in the "back door" and say, "Yes, I am saved by faith alone; but, if I sin, I can be lost again. " If you feel you have to help Christ out to "keep yourself" saved, it boils down to works again, and you do not have God’s salvation!
I am only stating what they have related to me personally and every Christian has a right to judge a person’s testimony and preaching against the Word of God. If you tell me you are going to Heaven by your good works, the Bible says you are not. If you tell me you are going to Heaven by faith, alone, trusting in the finished work of Christ, then you agree with the Bible and are saved.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1) 9. Are Tongues Speakers Sincere?
Many people are misled by the fact they know someone who seems so sincere and speaks in tongues. They cannot conceive the fact this person has been misled and deceived because they have not studied the Word of God concerning tongues. False doctrine can only influence a person who does not have a knowledge of God’s word. The sad situation is, the persons who feel tongues speakers are so sincere do not know God’s Word, either. If they did, they could have turned to Corinthians and helped the person who claims tongues, showing them the "more excellent way" of Christian life, since tongues have ceased.
I do not accept the fact that tongues advocates are sincere when they have been shown the Word of God and reject it. Many often do. One cannot convince me they love the Lord and then reject His Word. I will accept their sincerity when they are without knowledge; but, they are not telling the truth about their sincerity when they are shown the truth and reject it. When a tongues advocate will not accept God’s Word and those who are influenced by them do not know God’s Word, you have the end of both. They are well-described by Matthew 15:14. "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." With the clear teaching of God’s Word concerning tongues, there is no excuse for accepting the counterfeit. It would have to be willful disregard for the Bible. Paul concluded that "If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant." There is nothing more that anyone can do, except show them the truth. It then becomes their responsibility to accept it. After reading this exposition, where do you stand? Who will you believe?
"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (Psalms 118:8).
"Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: " (2 Corinthians 3:12)
"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 )
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"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."