TONGUES— THE GIFT OF—IN THE CHURCH SERVICE

 

Tongues - rules for use in the church

A study on 1 Cor.14 and the use of the gift of tongues

This is about the serious ability to speak another language not ever learnt

by Keith Hunt This study is pertaining to the true spiritual gift of TONGUES in the context of divine worship services, the rules of how this gift is to be used as laid down by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Church of God at Corinth. I recommend you read 1 Corinthians 14 as found in the AMPLIFIED BIBLE. I believe this translation gives the intent of the Greek, especially the word "prophecy." I want you to grasp the OVERALL point of what Paul is concerned with when it comes to the use of tongues in the public worship assemblies, in comparison with "prophecy." I will start with the last words of Paul in this chapter. Whatever the gifts of the Spirit, to Paul there was NEVER AT ANY TIME TO BE DISORDER OR CONFUSION (see also verse 33) IN THE CHURCH ASSEMBLY. To him, any disorder or confusion was NOT from God. If such was not of God, then it left only two other sources from where it came - 1)carnal human nature, and/or 2) the demonic world. I am not saying the gift per se was of demonic power (yet we must remember that demons can copy the gifts of the Spirit and thereby deceive many) but using it wrongly and disorderly could be influenced by the forces of the evil one. Let me make this crystal clear with this illustration and example. I have the God given gift of being able to YODEL. I have control over this gift, I can choose to yodel or not yodel. This gift does not control me but I control it. When in Church worship services I still have complete control over this gift. I can be joyful and very enthusiastic or quiet and meditative, my gift of being able to yodel is under my control, never does it control me. I can at any time I choose start to yodel. There is a time and place to use this gift. If I should rise and start to yodel in the middle of the sermon, it would be disorder. It may also lead to someone else thinking they could stand and say or do something, and before you know it there is confusion on every side. Paul STRESSED very clearly that all things were to be done in ORDER and CONTROL. To Paul the exercising of the gift of PROPHECY in the worship service was far more important than the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues was not to be disallowed BUT PAUL HAD GIVEN SPECIFIC RULES AND COMMANDS AS TO HOW AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS THIS GIFT COULD BE USE IN THE CHURCH ASSEMBLY. Please NOTE, the things Paul had instructed, ruled, and laid out to be followed were NOT his suggestions, but were THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD (verse 37). We do well to TAKE HEED and UNDERSTAND the things said by Paul in this 14th chapter of Corinthians. I have found that VERY FEW of the ministers, let alone the members, of the Church of God, understand Paul's teaching of the use of tongues in the worship services, which in turn leads to a breaking of the commandments of the Lord. PAUL'S OVERALL THEME Note again all the sections I have underlined. Verse one - "especially that you may prophesy." Verse three - "prophesies.......speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation." Verse four - "....but he who prophesies edifies and improves the church...." Verse five - "....so that the church may be edified and get good out of it." Notice verse twelve - ......concentrate on striving to excel and abound (in them) in ways that will build up the church." Verse seventeen - "....but the bystander is not edified - it does him no good." Then there is verse nineteen - "Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with my understanding, and intelligently in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a (strange) language." Verse twenty four - "But if all prophesy.......outsiders come in, he is told of his sin and reproved and convinced by all." Look at verse twenty six - "What then, brethren, is (the right course)? When you meet together.......(But) let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all." Verse thirty one - ".......so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged." The main concern and theme of Paul in this chapter regarding the church assemblies, should now be clearly seen. Church worship to him was for EDIFYING, for INSTRUCTION, for CONSTRUCTIVE TEACHING, for CONVINCING SINNERS AND UNBELIEVERS TO REPENT, for the UNDERSTANDING and GOOD of ALL. To Paul, those that spoke in tongues (without any interpretation, and obviously that was happening in the church at Corinth) were speaking only TO GOD, while no one else UNDERSTOOD or was EDIFIED by it (verse 2, 9, 11, 16). This practice of speaking in tongues in church AND NO ONE BEING EDIFIED BUT THE ONE DOING IT, WAS TO PAUL COMPLETE SELFISHNESS THAT HE COMMANDED NOT TO BE DONE BUT PRIVATELY BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL AND GOD. The important theme of worship services to Paul was EDIFICATION! If anything was done that did not impart understanding, knowledge, and/or conviction of sin and Godliness, for EVERYONE PRESENT, it was not to be engaged in, it had no place within divine public worship. OTHER DRAWBACKS TO TONGUES NOT INTERPRETED Besides it being only a selfish type of "good" to the individual using the gift of tongues where no interpretation was given so all present could be edified, there was a deeper and darker drawback to this happening in public worship services. Paul elucidates on this darker side in verses 6-11, 23. For those outside the church, not knowing the word of the Lord, not understanding the doctrine of the gifts of the Spirit, those outsiders coming into the assembly and hearing people uttering things none understand or can interpret, they will think the people of God are MAD! Truly this would be a natural reaction from outsiders, and Paul knew it. It would bring shame upon the Church of God, it would cause the wrong kind of talk about the people of God. You can imagine words being spread around like, "Those people are out of their mind" or "They are a bunch of mad-men" or "What a lunatic house that is." Paul could have no part with this and laid down rules that became the commands of the Lord. ONE RULE The first edification rule laid down by Paul is in regards to the situation where some in the church have the gift of tongues, but there is no one with the gift of interpretation. He covers this situation in verses 12 to 19. This MUST be talking about when there is no person in the assembly with the gift of interpretation of tongues, otherwise there would be no need to raise the question and give the answer, if Paul knew that there would ALWAYS be an interpreter when someone had the gift of tongues. Paul had already made it clear in chapter 12 to the Corinthians, that the gifts of the Spirit were not given to everyone, but to those whom God chose, as He chose, and when He chose. It was not promised that all churches would have these gifts, nor how many a church congregation would have, if it had any. The gifts were individual and not necessarily given in pairs. They were personal, given as God directed. Paul knew there could be some in a congregation who had the gift of tongues yet not one person in the same assembly had the gift of interpretation. So, the question could be asked, "What can be done about that situation?" Paul gives ONE answer to that question in verse 13, "Therefore, the person who speaks in an (unknown) tongue SHOULD PRAY (for the power) to INTERPRET AND EXPLAIN what he says." Paul knew that any given congregation, its regular members, WOULD KNOW EACH OTHER - THEY WOULD KNOW WHO HAD WHAT GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, especially in a congregation like Corinth, where there was many spiritual gifts evident. Spiritual gifts are to be used in the proper way and opportune time within the order of the law of God, for the furthering of the gospel. A congregation would know who had what spiritual gift, it would not be hid. An individual would know what spiritual gift they had been given. Those within a church group who had the gift of tongues, but there was no one with the gift of interpretation, could do something, they COULD PRAY TO GOD THAT HE WOULD ALSO GIVE THEM THE POWER, THE GIFT TO INTERPRET AND EXPLAIN WHAT HE HAD SAID, IN EASY TO UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE FOR THE EDIFYING AND UP-BUILDING OF ALL IN THE ASSEMBLY. If there was no edifying to all present then no one could say Amen. No one will receive any good for none will know what has been said by the speaker of tongues, and to Paul that was USELESS WITHIN THE CHURCH ASSEMBLY, because the "bystander is not edified." So if there was no interpreter (and people would know who had that gift in a congregation) the one with the gift of tongues could ask God to give them also the gift of interpretation, yet if God chose not to give them or any one that interpretation gift, then Paul clearly instructed (which was a command of the Lord): "Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with MY UNDERSTANDING and INTELLIGENTLY in order to INSTRUCT OTHERS, than ten thousand words in a (strange) language." People with the gift of tongues but did not have the gift to interpret (and they and the congregation knew of no one with the gift of interpretation in their midst), those persons should NOT EXERCISE that gift of tongues as it would edify not one single soul outside of themselves. Paul, who had the gift of tongues above them all, would not have used that gift unless he could have interpreted, or he knew someone in the group DID HAVE the gift of interpretation. He would have asked or inquired before hand from the leaders of the congregation if any did have the gift to interpret before he would have used his gift of tongues. This is what I clearly see from how Paul wrote, the words he used, the emphasis he put on EDIFICATION and having all UNDERSTAND what God wanted to say during church worship services. He would have been happy to only say a few words that all could understand than ramble off in a tongue that none understood and were not one wit edified by. As the gift of tongues need not be used in a congregation where all understand each other within their common language, Paul would have gone the extra mile to make sure he would not appear vain, selfish, or a "chance taker" (just taking a chance that someone was there who could interpret). Paul is teaching that tongues should only be used in public worship IF the one using tongues KNEW they could also interpret, or KNEW there was someone there present who could interpret. Making sure this was possible would then EDIFY everybody, otherwise it was pointless and useless within public worship, except for the negative of unbelievers among the assembly of the church thinking such are mad, and silently laughing to themselves. In verse 20 Paul asks them to be MATURE in THINKING, in their MINDS. They were not to be BABES in their reasonings. I believe the mature thinking of what Paul is teaching in this chapter so far discussed, IS WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN THIS ARTICLE THUS FAR. Paul did not want one word said in the public worship assembly that could not be understood by all present. His reasoning: Public worship was for edifying, teaching godliness, building-up, convincing of sin, and bringing unbelievers to repentance. The use of tongues to Paul, in the public service, was of no value unless interpreted by the user or another, as they would only be speaking into the air. The sound of the Trumpet is only edifying if those listening UNDERSTAND the sound they hear. The tongue and sounds produced by it is edifying if those listening understand with their minds what is being voiced. I find that many who use "tongues" in public assembly worship, and KNOW they cannot interpret, and KNOW there is no person present with the gift of interpretation, are either lacking in the ability to grasp what Paul is teaching in 1 Corinthians 14, not willing to acknowledge the command of the Lord through Paul, and/or just wanting vain public atten- tion. It can also be due to out and out uncontrolled emotions that can be manipulated by the world of the Adversary. Not that the gift is not from God (as my gift to yodel is from God) but the using of it can be at the wrong time or outside the boundaries God has laid down pertaining to public worship. Those who say, "Well maybe there was someone present who could have interpreted, so I took the chance to use tongues." I answer: Paul is MUCH TO STRONG on his teaching for EDIFICATION in public worship (that all words spoken should be for all to learn the truths of God, nothing said that is speaking into the air, or having some think the church is mad) TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. If time is not taken to enquire who if anyone has the gift of interpretation within a congregation (a few seconds of inquiry from the ministers or deacons would answer it) then I believe Paul would call tongue users who only have THEMSELVES in mind, immature children in polite language, and much stronger language if he felt they were willfully rebelling against the commands of the Lord. STILL FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS TO THE TONGUES USER In verse 26 Paul starts to lay down some specifics, some rules and regulations, which later he says are the commands of the Lord. Again he is concerned with everything being done in a constructive, edifying, instructive manner. Verse 27 is very clear. The number of persons who may speak in tongues during public assemblies must NOT EXCEED THREE. Notice also what is said, "and each one (taking his) turn, and LET ONE INTERPRET AND EXPLAIN (what is said)." Paul did not say, "If there is someone who can interpret, let them do so," or "We will hope there is someone in the assembly who can interpret." Paul was quite emphatic in his statement and instructions - LET ONE INTERPRET! From what he has already told them, as previously discussed in this article, it is natural he would be dogmatic and very clear with his words to them that an interpretation in understandable language for the edifying of all would be A MUST. His following words make this VERY PLAIN if any thought differently. "But if there is no one to do the interpreting, LET EACH OF THEM KEEP STILL IN CHURCH and talk to himself and to God." The argument of some is: A person is allowed to talk in tongues in the assembly, and all will wait to see if there will be an interpretation given by the speaker or someone else. The argument continues: How do we know if there is an interpreter in our midst unless someone speaks in tongues first. Such reasoning goes on: If there is no interpreter the speaker in tongues will be asked to be silent if they want to say more. This is to some extent a "wait and see" a "chance we'll take" a "hit and miss" conduct and proceeding of divine public worship. To which Paul in his writing to the church at Corinth WOULD NOT GIVE NOTION TO IN ANY MANNER OR FORM. He is expounding that, "all things should be done with regards to DECENCY and PROPRIETY and in an ORDERLY fashion" (verse 40). The very wording of verse 28 shows that Paul had in mind NOTHING CLOSE TO THE ARGUMENT ABOVE, namely, one is allowed to speak in tongues UNTIL no interpreter is found, or one is allowed to use tongues TO SEE IF there is someone with the gift of interpretation. Paul is predisposing NOTHING OF THE KIND, but contrary, that KNOWLEDGE among the assembly is the natural ORDER of the day and the gifts of the Spirit are known among them, who has them, and what gifts they are, especially the VERBAL gifts. There was no "chance taking" with Paul. This is proved by the VERY WORDING OF VERSE 28. Notice it carefully, "But if there is NO ONE to do the INTERPRETING" are words that carry with them BEFOREHAND ORGANIZED KNOWLEDGE that such was the situation. This is clearly what Paul was saying with these words as shown by what he said next. ".... let EACH OF THEM KEEP STILL." He did not say that after the FIRST one had spoken with tongues and there was found to be no interpreter (no one with the gift of interpretation among the assembly) the OTHER one or two were to keep silent and not use their gift of tongues as they were planning to. ALL OF THEM - EACH OF THEM - FROM THE FIRST ONE TO THE SECOND ONE TO THE THIRD ONE were to be still, be SILENT and keep their gift of tongues in the public assembly to themselves and God. To Paul, the very FIRST person who wanted to use tongues in the public worship service, was to REMAIN SILENT, not even START, keep it to themselves, between them and God only, IF THERE WAS NOT AN INTERPRETER! All this shows that Paul had no thought WHATSOEVER in his mind about public church services being "hit and miss" or "taking a chance" type of assemblies. Everything done and SAID was to be for the edifying, understanding, upbuilding, instruction, teaching and correcting of ALL PRESENT, which the speaking in tongues, WITHOUT AN INTERPRETATION, did not fulfil, was useless for others, as none could say Amen. And it was speaking into the air, purely vain selfishness, which could lead some unbelievers to think the people of the Church of God were mad. Paul in verse 28, was saying that NOT EVEN THE FIRST of the two or three should START with their gift of tongues, unless there was an INTERPRETATION to be given by themselves or another who had that gift to interpret. All this shows that Paul taught and believed that ANY local congregation would have KNOWLEDGE BEFOREHAND of the gifts within its midst. That they would possibly INQUIRE from those visiting if any had the gift of interpretation, prophecy, tongues, or revelation, IN-ORDER that services would be conducted with decency, propriety, and with no confusion. Why should this seem strange to some today? Possibly because they have not meditated upon and understood what Paul is teaching in this chapter of 1 Corinthians, and/or, because the practice of their church is very much in contradiction to all or nearly all, that Paul instructs to the church at Corinth. Any church, with its Elder/s and Deacons, together with its local members, would have enough inter-action to know who had what gifts of the Spirit. With a church like that at Corinth where many had various spiritual gifts, there would need to be KNOWLEDGE and ORDER especially emphasized or utter confusion would prevail, as it apparently did, so Paul had to correct them and set rules to follow. In such a church they would probably have to enquire with a public announcement before services began, if there was any one present with the gift of interpretations of tongues. If there was NOT, then those with the gift of tongues WOULD KNOW TO KEEP STILL AND BE SILENT WITH THAT GIFT AS IT WOULD NOT EDIFY OR IMPART UNDERSTANDING TO ANYONE PRESENT IF USED WITHOUT AN INTERPRETATION. To Paul there was no such thing as "well I just could not help myself, the Spirit made me do it." It was not in the theology of Paul that the gift of the Spirit was in control of the individual. To him it was always the other way around. The person always had control of their gift, as he said, "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (verse 32). Because of that, God's order of divine public worship services was NEVER confusion, but PEACE and ORDER, verse 33. WOMEN TO REMAIN SILENT? I have covered this teaching of Paul elsewhere in some depth, notably in my article called WOMEN'S WORK (now in two parts). I will not here restate all that I have previously written on it. But I will give an overview. Paul's context is TEACHING INSTRUCTION TO EDIFICATION AND UPBUILDING OF THE CHURCH IN PUBLIC WORSHIP. To that intent all gifts of the Spirit could to be used in public services. And with all that, Paul's instruction (which was the command of the Lord - verse 37) was that "women should keep quiet in the church, for they are not AUTHORIZED to speak, but should take a secondary and subordinate place, just as the LAW SAYS" (verse 34). As the gifts of the Spirit could be given to ANYONE - male and female, with what Paul had already said it would have been a natural question to have asked: So is it true that women can use their gift to TEACH and EXPOUND the oracles of God to all (men and women) present in public worship assemblies. Paul anticipated such a question and GIVES THE INSPIRED ANSWER in verses 34 and 35. Women are not permitted to use their special gifts of the Spirit in and during public divine worship. What this amounts to in our specific study is this: Even if there is someone with the gift of interpretations of tongues in the assembly. A woman CANNOT use that tongues gift in public worship, as it constitutes TEACHING THE ORACLES OF GOD, which during public services she is not authorized to do. She is in such services to take a secondary and subordinate role as required and taught by the law from the Lord. The public worship service was to Paul a time of TEACHING and LEARNING for all present. That duty fell upon the MEN of the congregation to the point that Paul said if any woman has a question on anything said, they had to note it and ask their husbands at home concerning it, and not to bring up their question in worship services. All this outlines, underlines, and follows through with God's order as he created, that man is head of the woman. The spiritual conduct of the Church of God in public worship services was to reflect that order of creation as instituted by the Eternal God who established that headship and order at creation. In verses 36-38 Paul pulls no punches as they say. Anyone claiming some spiritual gift or special power from God, will KNOW, Paul says, that what he has spoken IS THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER - IS THE COMMAND OF THE LORD. Those that disregard it, will not acknowledge this truth, then Paul puts them in with a group that shall not see the favor of the Lord. Again let me say, this question of "women speaking in the assembly" is covered fully in another two part study of mine, which will be sent free to anyone who requests it, please ask for the article called "Women's Work?" Then I also recommend the book (300 pages) by Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi, entitled "WOMEN IN THE CHURCH - A Biblical Study of the Role of Women in the Church." Chapter 6 will be of special interest with regards to our study in this article of mine. ................................ Written June 1995.