SHOULD ALL SPEAK IN TONGUE?

Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift given by the Spirit of God to some Christians.

Speaking in tongues was first done in the early church on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled 120 Christians who were meeting together. They burst out in praise to God in a multitude of different languages. According to Acts 2:8-11, they were communicating the gospel in the hearers’ own languages. 2:9-11 lists about 16 nations whose representatives in Jerusalem heard the disciples speaking in their own native language. In later occurrences, when a group of people were baptized in the Holy Spirit, the book of Acts indicates that they also spoke in tongues (10:46 and 19:6). However, not all people spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Spirit (8:15-17), so it wasn’t the only sign that someone had become a true Christian. The Bible tells us that all believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit once they become an integrated member of Christ’s church (1 Corinthians 12:13). The genuine evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit is the “fruit of the Spirit” Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23.

In the days of the early church, some Christians spoke in tongues and some didn’t. According to Paul, speaking in tongues, when it was practiced in the church meetings, required someone to interpret it. If no one could give an interpretation, it was meant to be a personal devotion with God, but it was not meant for the entire church congregation. When it is used in this way, speaking in tongues is simply another way for people to talk to God (1 Corinthians 14:28). Paul wrote these guidelines to ensure that speaking in tongues was used to minister to the entire body of believers. (14:27-33):

1. Only one, two, or three people could be set apart to participate in speaking in tongues each worship service.

2. The people who are speaking in tongues should not speak at the same time. Instead, they should make their contributions one at a time.

3. Before a worshiper decides to speak in tongues, he or she should make sure there is someone who can interpret. If they cannot find an interpreter, they should not attempt to speak in tongues.

4. The person speaking in tongues should not be the person who provides his own interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10).

5. If there are too many people speaking in tongues and not enough interpreters, the people who are speaking in tongues should pray for the power to interpret (1 Corinthians 14:13).

6. Once something has been translated into a language everyone can understand, it becomes a prophecy that needs to be evaluated by the people in the church.

7. The genuineness of the experience should be tested by people who have the ability to distinguish between spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). These people should test everything, so the church members can hold fast to what is good, and abstain from every form of evil.

People who are participating in a worship service should be in control of their conduct at all times. They are not allowed to justify bad conduct by saying they were in an ecstatic state. Because God encourages peace and unity, he does not inspire people to be disorderly or confused.

The gift of speaking in tongues is not a gift of the spirit to be desired. Only the “higher gifts” that involve communication in a language most people can understand should be sought after (1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1,5). However, if the gift of speaking in tongues is present, it should not be stifled as long as it is used according to the guidelines given.

3.      What is the meaning of 1^st Corinthians 15 verse 32?

 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. 1Corinthians 15 verse 32

 “I have fought with beasts at Ephesus” This should be understood as a metaphor, since there is no record of Paul having been subjected to the torturous attack of wild beasts (a punishment not inflicted on Roman citizens.) Paul was writing from Ephesus (16:8), where his life was in danger every day from many enemies (16:10). It was very soon after he wrote this letter that the riot occurred (Acts 19:29-20:1), and Paul had to leave immediately for Macedonia (northern Greece).

The human enemies that Paul had faced in Ephesus had been as vicious as wild beasts (Acts 19). Paul was saying; If there will be no resurrection from the dead, then what value was there in standing up for his faith against those in Ephesus who wanted to kill him (Acts 19:31)? Why bother standing for anything at all? If there is nothing more to look forward to than simply to one day die and return to dust, then why deny oneself? Instead, it would make far more sense for everyone to feast and get drunk.

“let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die” Paul here quotes from Isaiah 22:13, a parody of the message of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:24. Which in essence is; “With no hope for the resurrection, life offers little more than eating and drinking”

 “If men persuade themselves that they will die like beasts, they soon will live like beasts too.” It shows that Life with no meaning leaves one with the need to simply indulge oneself and get all one can for enjoyment here and now.