Today there are many disagreements about the gift of speaking in tongues.
Some Christians do not believe in speaking in tongues because for them it's merely "babbling." Some think it's fake. Some even go as far as to believe that it's not of God but of the devil. Very sad and untrue.
To some who believe in speaking in tongues, even their understanding of it is limited.
- Some think that tongues are only a way to praise or worship God.
- Some think that tongues can be manipulated or controlled by man.
- Some think that tongues aren't really helpful in our growth in Christ.
Well, let's ask the Bible about it. What does the Bible say about speaking in tongues?
Jesus said it's one of the signs following those who believe in Him:
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues..." (Mark 16:17)
It's a sign of the Holy Spirit's baptism:
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)
It's a sign to unbelievers:
"Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."" (Acts 2:7-11)
"Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers..." (1 Corinthians 14:22)
When we pray in tongues, our spirit is the one who prays:
"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful." (1 Corinthians 14:14)
It's the language of angels:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels..." (1 Corinthians 13:1)
When we speak in tongues, we speak to God alone:
"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." (1 Corinthians 14:2)
It edifies whoever speaks in it:
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..." (1 Corinthians 14:4)
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit..." (Jude 20)
It's a perfect prayer, prayed by the Holy Spirit Himself:
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27)
It must never be forbidden:
"Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues." (1 Corinthians 14:39)
It's a gift of God, meant to profit all:
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
