September 4, 2005

Cawson Street Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia 23860

Mural Worthey

 

First Century versus Modern Tongue-Speakers

 

Claim #1: Every believer should speak in tongues 

 

   Modern promoters of tongue-speaking say that every believer should be able to speak in tongues, if they have received the Holy Spirit.  Yet, in the first century, very few of the disciples had the gift. 

 

   Paul wrote, “Ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.  God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing?  Do all speak with tongues?  Do all interpret?  But covet earnestly the best gifts, and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”  (1 Cor. 12:27-31.) 

 

   These comments are the death knell to the promoters of spiritual gifts for all believers.  Just as not every believer was an apostle or prophet, every believer did not have the gift of speaking in tongues.  The implied and obvious answer to each of the questions is no.  Here is one of the major differences between modern day claims concerning tongue-speaking and what actually happened in the first century.  Remember that even Jesus Christ did not speak in tongues!  Yet, Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit, but he did not speak in tongues.  This has to be explained by modern claims.

 

Claim #2: Every believer should receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

   Tongue-speaking is directly related to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Modern-tongue speakers claim to have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit; therefore, they have the ability to speak in tongues.

 

   Jesus was the Son of God, a divine being with all the powers of the Godhead.  At his baptism in water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descend upon him like a dove.  (Matt. 3:16.)  Yet, Jesus did not speak in tongues.  John the Baptist is another example of one being filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb, and yet he worked no miracle.  (Luke 1:15, John 10:41.)  Every member of the body of Christ in the first century was not baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Here is why.

 

   Paul wrote, “There is one baptism.”  (Eph. 4:4.)  This occurs in a list of seven ones.  There is one body, one faith, one hope, one baptism, one Father, one Spirit, and one Lord.  These are things that belong to the unity of the Spirit of God.  These things are common to the Lord’s people and unite us.  We are commanded to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  What is the one baptism that every believer has and must have to belong to the church of our Lord?  It is the baptism of the Great Commission.  Jesus told the apostles to go and preach to every creature.  Every person, in order to be saved, must do at least two things: believe the Gospel and be baptized.  (Mark 16:15-16.)  This baptism is water baptism which is for the remission of sins.

 

   I know that water baptism is the baptism of the Great Commission, even though it is not specifically named.  All we have to do is observe what the apostles did when they went out and preached to every creature.  In Acts, they taught the Gospel of Christ and immersed people in water.  All of the accounts of conversion reveal that the Great Commission baptism is water baptism.  The kind of baptism is revealed at the house of Cornelius.  Peter asked, “Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit even as we?”  (Acts 10:47.)  The Eunuch asked, “See, here is water, what hinders me to be baptized?”  (Acts 8:36.)

 

   I know that water baptism is the baptism that applies to every believer because of who performs these baptisms.  Every believer can baptize a non-Christian into Christ.  There is no limitation on who can perform water baptism.  Remember that John baptized Jesus Christ.  John objected at first, but then this statement is found.  John said, I indeed baptize you with water, but there comes one after me who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  (Matt. 3:11.)  Only Jesus Christ can perform Holy Spirit baptism.  If you have not been promised that baptism, you will not receive.  (Acts 1:4-5.)

 

   Some believers received both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism.  But everyone did not.  If they did, then we have two baptisms that apply to every believer.  Modern Charismatics must make up their minds which one they believe is the Great Commission baptism.  They practice both; they minimize water baptism and exalt Holy Spirit baptism over the importance of water baptism.

 

Claim #3: Tongue-speaking is for the spiritually mature

 

   At least the insinuation is made that those who speak in tongues are more spiritual and nearer to the Lord.  They are speaking in some heavenly, Holy Ghost language that makes them nearer to God.  Yet in Scripture, there is no connection between speaking in tongues and being more spiritual than others.  All who spoke in tongues did so because they had received this spiritual gift, but it did not mean that they were more spiritual than others.

 

   We have already indicated that neither Jesus nor John spoke in tongues.  Were they less spiritual than others?  The Corinthians prided themselves over their ability to speak in tongues.  Yet, they were childish and divisive over the use of it.  They did not understand true spirituality.  Paul rebuked them for their misuse of the gifts.  Instead of being more spiritual, they were among the least mature.  Peter was an apostle and could show for the signs of an apostle, which was beyond what others had as spiritual gifts, yet Peter had to be rebuked by Paul for his behavior among the Gentiles.  He showed a Jewish prejudice against and Paul rebuked him.  Having spiritual gifts did not ensure that the person receiving them would behavior in a Christ-like manner.

 

   In fact, the history of all such Spirit-movements show that the followers and participates shift them allegiance away from Christ to the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit becomes their emphasis rather than Jesus Christ.  If we ask the question: What makes one more spiritual?  From Colossians, where the subject is treated, we must conclude that it is “Christ in you, your hope of glory.”  (Col. 1:27.)  One is not more spiritual by practicing ascetism (neglecting the body), or by worshipping angels.  It is by Jesus Christ living in one’s heart and life.  “As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.”  (Col. 2:6.)

 

   Paul wrote to the quarrelling, immature Corinthians and said that he would show unto them the more excellent way—the way of love.  He said that love would never fail, but tongues would cease.  (1 Cor. 12 & 13.)  There is a danger that spiritual gifts might cause people to boast in the gift.

 

 

Claim #4:  Modern tongue-speakers claim that tongues have not ceased

 

   Those promoting tongue-speaking today obviously do not believe that they have ceased.  Yet, Paul wrote, Tongues shall cease.  Love will never fail, but tongues will fail.  (1 Cor. 13:8.)  If both love and the spiritual gifts continue throughout the Christian era, then there is no distinction between them in regard to duration.  They both will last the same length of time.  But Paul said that supernatural knowledge, prophesying, and tongue speaking would cease, but love would not cease.  This is another huge difference between what the Bible says and the claims of modern tongue-speakers.

 

   Paul wrote, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” 

(1 Cor. 13:9-10.)  The key to understanding this passage is “what is that which is perfect.”

 

   Some, too hastily, apply it to Jesus Christ.  He is the only one who is perfect.  But teleios and telos refer to the completion of a matter, the end of it, or maturity.  It is used to refer to a mature Christian in Christ Jesus.  (Phil. 3:15, Col. 1:28, Col. 4:12.)  It refers to the perfect work of patience.  (James 1:4.)  That is, patience brings about this desired goal of maturity.  James used it to refer to the perfect law of liberty.  (James 1:25.)

 

   If it refers to Jesus at this Second Coming, then tongues and love both will last till the end.  It must therefore refer to something else.  One helpful thing before us is what is in part.  What is being contrasted is something that is complete and something that is incomplete.  We know what is incomplete.  Paul said, We know in part and we prophesy in part.  That is, the truth of Gospel was being revealed part by part.  It was in an incomplete state in the first century.  In fact, the disciples only had the Old Testament written and completed.  They did not have any of the New Covenant.  Their understanding of Christianity was incomplete.  It was in the process of being revealed by the very gifts under discussion.  If that which is in part refers to their partial knowledge of Christianity, then that which is perfect must refer to the completion of that knowledge and understanding.  When the complete came, the gifts would cease.

 

   The debate over the centuries has been over what glossolalia really was, as practiced in the first century.  But it does not matter any longer, if it has ceased.  The debate is a mute matter.  Tongues have ceased.

Claim #5: This is their identity as the people of God

 

   It is interesting to listen to various religious bodies concerning their claim that they are the real people of God.  One body claims that they are the one body of Christ because they have apostles and other churches do not.  Another group claims that they have a right to that claim of exclusivity because they keep the Sabbath Day.  Yet another lays hold of the claim because they emphasize sanctification of the Holy Spirit, a forgotten teaching among most Protestants.  Tongue-speakers claim that they should be recognized as the one true body of Christ because they speak in tongues.  This is their identity as the people of God.

 

   Yet, in the Bible, there are many things that distinguish the people of God.  The chief trait, though, is love for one another.  Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:35.)  Tongue-speaking could never be the deciding factor because only a relative few Christians ever spoke in tongues.  By that method, only tongue-speakers would be real Christians.

 

Claim #6: The practice of ecstatic utterances instead of human language

 

   It is interesting that the real debate over tongue-speaking is what it is.  The first practice of it in Scripture shows that it was speaking in normal human languages so that others could understand the Gospel. The Jews present from fourteen different nations heard the apostles speak in their own language wherein they were born.  (Acts 2:6-8.)  Yet modern Charismatics all contend that it is an ecstatic utterance given by the Spirit of God as a means of worship and praising God.  It is not communication from one person to another, but from the worshipper alone to God.

 

   One very good reason for not accepting this view is that this practice was common among pagans and mystery religions in the first century.  They would give way to their emotions and feelings, letting go of their self-control and consciousness.  The resulting state was euphoric, semi-conscious, and hypnotic.  The mystery religions believe that in such a state one could communicate with directly with Deity, departed spirits, and things of the spirit world.  If such was the nature of tongue-speaking, why would an interpreter ever be needed?  It is the feeling that is the essence; not the meaning.