ListenDaily - 16 March 2009; Straight talk from Paul
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." Paul spoke in tongues, and was blessed by it.
"But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." But while in church, Paul states that clear words of instruction are preferable to tongues.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. The folks in Corinth (and this can be applied to many churches over the centuries, up to and including today), have been viewing these things in a spiritually immature way.
"In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers." Harking back to the prophet Isaiah, Paul indicates that all sorts of languages, earthly and Heavenly, will be used for God's purposes.
"What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation." Everyone(!) has something to offer in worship...butt not the same thing from each person.
"All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God." Could this be more plain?
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Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion...what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Have you ever experienced public speaking in tongues with interpretation? Without?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
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INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"One may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant."
Stephen Charnock
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