In the late 1960s a movement started in the denominational world called the charismatic movement. This movement became a branch of the Pentecostal denomination, with a few differences between the two. One of their biggest agreements, however, is the belief that spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues, still exists today. Those who agree with these denominations are fully convinced that if you are devout, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, cause you to speak an angelic language that man does not understand, and, if you are Pentecostal and not charismatic, save you from judgment. This is not an outlandish viewpoint. There are many who believe in speaking in tongues. As Christians who claim to be true in serving God, we need to look at the scriptures to know just what to think of this doctrine.
First, when looking at examples of people speaking in tongues in the New Testament, not much is told of what is said. However, enough is revealed for us to know that speaking in tongues cannot be some form of language that is of Heaven. Consider Acts 2:1-4: “When the day of Pentecost had come, they (the apostles) were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” In these verses, it sounds like the argument Pentecostals make, but then you continue to verses 6-11, when the crowd heard the apostles they “… were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? … we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.’” This proves that when people spoke in tongues, it was not gibberish that no one can explain, but that the one filled with the Spirit spoke an understandable language.
Second, just because you had the gift of speaking in tongues did not mean you were at that point saved, nor did it mean you did not have control over this gift. In Acts 10, we have the story of Cornelius and his family being saved. Peter came to them, preaching Christ, and when we reach verses 44-48, Cornelius and his family begin speaking in tongues. From the standpoint of the Pentecostal, nothing more is needed. However, Peter still commands that they be baptized, indicating that there was still something more for Cornelius and his family to do to be saved. Furthermore, we also have the example in 1 Corinthians 14 which gives regulations of how spiritual gifts were to be used. The purpose of spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, was to uplift and edify the brethren; but when there was no one to interpret what was said, or if the one who spoke in tongues could not interpret, then he was to silence himself as it did not benefit the congregation. The one with the spiritual gift was not completely helpless, he could choose to use it for the benefit of the congregation.
After all that, however, the question still remains, do spiritual gifts still last today? Does miraculous speaking in tongues still occur today? To answer this question, we must turn to 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” First, the verse even tell us that speaking in tongues will cease, claiming it is merely a part; but when that which is perfect has come, the part will be done away with. So what is this perfect thing that is coming? Moving forward from gifts, Paul then begins to talk about knowledge in the form of growing up. When he was a child, his knowledge was complete, it was not mature, it would go back and forth developing. When he reached full adulthood, however, his knowledge has matured, and in a sense become perfected. Paul has not moved on from spiritual gifts, but has rather connected it that when knowledge has become perfected, then those parts that give aid shall be made obsolete, as there is no more need for them. Adding on that we can see from 2 Peter 1:2-3, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Furthermore, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Speaking in tongues through the Holy Spirit did occur in history. However, it was never some angelic language, but rather a language of men that could be understood. More than that, this gift was not something that possessed and compelled you to speak out, but was something that could be kept to yourself if it would not be edifying. It definitely was not a confirmation of salvation; Christ taught that was baptism. The most important lesson is that they no longer exist. Scripture has laid out for us all that we need to reach Heaven, it has been perfected! There is no more need for the things done in part. To say that there is still a need for gifts is to say that there is more that needs to be revealed from God to man, but scripture shows that not to be the case. We can take great comfort in knowing that God has supplied us with everything we need to be with Him.
Kyle Campbell