Unbiblical Tongues is a Distraction from Christ

One of the lies being perpetrated in the Pentecostal churches is that tongues are the most important aspect of the Christian life and evidence of salvation This could not be farther from the truth.

Who is the evidence for? God already knows who belongs to Him.

Those talk about tongues frequently as evidence of salvation cannot produce any Biblical proof that it is stated as the evidence in Scripture. Just because someone else did it on Pentecost does not mean that everyone should do it as proof of salvation.

The thief on the cross never spoke in tongues and he was never baptized in water, making it claer to me that these things are not evidence of salvation. I know people who have been baptized in water who have no more zeal for the Lord than a gnat but feel safe because of this work.

I chose baptism to witness my new life to other believers as commanded by God, but it is not evidence that I became born again.

Evidence of the Holy Spirit in someone is the fruit of the Spirit. Man needs no work that is evidence for salvation the Lord already knows who is saved and who is not. However, the Fruit of God is for the living out of His principles that is our witness of His dwelling in us.

Matthew 7:15-20

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

Galatians 5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

Tongues is a witness for the unbeliever, not the believer.

1 Corinthians 14:21-22 "…21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.” 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers."

Tongues in other languages were earthly and spread the gospel quickly when someone was speaking to those who didn't know their language. If it was done in church gatherings there must be an interpreter so that others could understand. It was forbidden without interpreters and it was never just babbling incoherent gibberish.

Tongues have not been done away with but are rare because everyone speaks the same language, it is rare that someone comes in a gathering who does not speak our language. And, if there were a "private tongues" between God and His believers then it would be done in private.

Matthew 6:6 "But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

A question I have always asked has been; "why would God have us speaking in a language we cannot understand and no one else can understand while alone with Him? God gave us a degree of good sense to discern things, speaking wildly in baby talk style gibberish doesn't make good sense. Also, God made all the languages, why would He have us speaking things we can't even understand to Him when He already knows our thoughts and desires.

I would like to understand better the passages that say tongues edify self but prophecy edifies the whole body. I question this because perhaps the passages about tongues have been misinterpreted that tongues we don't understand are not real tongues but glorify the self in a sense of pretense to feel spiritual. Even the pagans speak in strange tongues. Perhaps the "edifies self" actually means "glorifies self"?

1 Corinthians 14:1-4

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but [b]in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation.

4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

Pentecostals have placed tongues as the most important gift when God said it was the least of the gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:1-5 "14 1a Follow, then, the way of love, while you set your heart on the gifts of the Spirit.

1b-4 The highest gift you can wish for is to be able to speak the messages of God. The man who speaks in a “tongue” addresses not men (for no one understands a word he says) but God: and only in his spirit is he speaking spiritual secrets. But he who preaches the word of God is using his speech for the building up of the faith of one man, the encouragement of another or the consolation of another. The speaker in a “tongue” builds up his own soul, but the preacher builds up the Church of God.

5 I should indeed like you all to speak with “tongues”, but I would much rather that you all preached the word of God. For the preacher of the word does a greater work than the speaker with “tongues”, unless of course the latter interprets his word for the benefit of the Church."

Is it possible the tongues Paul speaks of here is Hebrew but we have no way of knowing if the tongues people speak without interpretation is not the tongues of devils.

I knew of missionaries in Trinidad where witchcraft is common. They told me that sometimes the people coming from paganism into church gatherings were speaking in tongues, but when someone who was spiritual interpreted the tongues the people speaking them were actually speaking blasphemies against God.

I am appalled at how many people are "pressured" to speak in tongues as though the power is within themselves. When tongues are real no one "tries" to do it and no one is "instructed" how to do it, it would be a work of the Holy Spirit for the edification of those in the body who do not speak the same language.

And, it makes no sense to speak a tongue in a group of people who all speak the same language and the words spoken were straight from the bible.

I have the strong sense that tongues have not necessarily ceased but they are uncommon because there is no need for them. Also, Paul admonished the people to speak the language of those in the gathering that they would build up the faith of the church because they would understand.

Tongues are not needed in a gathering where we have the Bible. Everything we need is in the bible already, just speak what God gave in the Bible.

I once someone told me they had a word from the Lord for me. they said; "God loves you", I said; "God didn't need you to come and tell me that it is already written in His Word." This person was indignant as though I did something wrong in not accepting his false love. The indignance was evidence that he did this to glorify himself and when he didn't get the result he desired he was angry.

I love it when people speak to me from the Word of God in sharing something precious to me. I do not like it when people grandstand to elevate themselves. I have lived long enough to see the difference.

Let's not use the word of God and His principles to glorify ourselves, may we always glorify God when we speak of His Word.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

I admit that I do not understand what people call "private closet tongues", I personally sense no need to speak to my Lord in anything but the language He gave me. I could understand meeting someone who does not speak my language and needs to hear the gospel while the Holy Spirit gives me the ability to speak to him in his language, that makes very good sense.

I have never encountered anyone who could explain to my satisfaction the "private closet tongues", they call it a mystery because they don't know what is happening or even what they have said.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; "

Let's concentrate on speaking the gospel to those who are lost, uplifting other believers with God's Word and living the principle of Christ, these are the important matters in the life of the born-again believer.