"I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may recieve edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So Likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it mayb be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me." - 1st Corinthians 14:5-11
First off I would like to make clear that the purpose of this blog devotion is not to bash Pentecostals or any follower of Pentecostalism on their belief of their interpretation concerning the doctrine of tongues, for I know of a few Pentecostals and Apostalics, who do speak in tongues, that are genuine Godly born again people. But the purpose of this blog is to more ask a question and give food for thought and that question simply being "Where is the Interpreter?" In 1st Corinthians 14, Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, confronts the issue concerning speaking in tongues, not saying that it was false and ungodly, for even I believe in the gift of tongues, though from a different view than most Pentecostals (my belief on tongues is that of Acts 2 where men from all around heard the Apostles speak praises to God in their own language: Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, ect.), but to say that, without interpretation of the words being spoken, it is pointless and does nothing for the church. Even comparing it to the use of instruments that have no distinction of sound, like an out of tune musician. Yet even though Paul speaks clearly on the matter, most Pentecostals from what Ive witnessed, will all began to speak praises to God in tongues and have no interpreter. Would that mean the usage of the gift of tongues was done in vain, since it brought no edifiying to the church in any way, shape, or form? Ill let you ponder that one.
"If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." - 1st Corinthians 14:23-25
Out of these set of scriptures, 2 things I can say. The first being obvious of how people, sinners especially, take to that where everyone is speaking in tongues, Paul even went to the point where he says "will they not say that ye are mad?" and most of the time, people do unless they understand what is being done. The second point being what Paul states constantly is that the prophecying and preaching of God's word is more affective compared to the gifts of tongues, that it brings edifying to the church and bring a sinner to repentance.
Paul gives two answers of how the situation is to be handled concerning the interpretation of tongues. Either that he prays for the ability to interpret or keeps to himself.
"Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understnading also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at they giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? Fo rthou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather peak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." - 1st Corinthians 13-19
"If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." - 1st Corinthians 14:27-28
The second verse mentioned of how to handle the situation reminds me of a story. I went to a campmeeting like 1 year ago at a independent Apostalic church. Nearly everyone that spoke in tongues was speaking in tongues, except for the good friend that invited me, as an outsider just simply observing I was wondering to myself "Lord, why isnt she speaking in tongues?" Then the Lord spoke and said "listen to her closely!" I payed attention and listened closely and she was speaking in tongues, but in a biblical matter, simply because there was no interpreter present (and I know an interpreter wasnt present simply because nothing was interpreted!). And thats personally when I knew she was a genuine saint, she wasnt in it for show, but she did what the scriptures commanded on the situation, that if there be no interpreter then to keep it between her and God. So the question remains to my Pentecostal brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, not as an act of bashing but for food for thought, "Where is the Interpreter?"
Bro. Michael Grant
A Cry in the Wild Ministries
