No Other Name

Part One

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I will attempt to focus more on the Tongues aspect of this Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Much has been made of this gift, positively and negatively. My question is simply why would anyone not want all that the Lord Jesus has for them, no matter what? I want all that is his, no matter what it is or how it appears to others or even how stretching it is for me.

Tongues are a vital gift. It is not as some have declared, simply something that was limited as just for the first century church. It seems that all who were there in the upper room spoke with other tongues, or spoke in languages that they did know. This was borne witness by those of various nations and languages that were present. This did not happen only here. We see that it took place within the early church to the point that it seems to have been common. I think that this is important. What I mean is that in the days of Acts and the early church, the gifts of the Spirit, including Tongues, seem to be simply accepted as part of a believer’s and of the church’s life. It all seems to have been rather prevalent. Yes there were issues of abuse or misuse, not unlike today, but not issues of having to defend their use; yes, a need to explain, set in order, correct, but not defend. There was encouragement to not forbid speaking in tongues or to not despise prophecy, for example, but not a need to defend their rightful place within the church and its ministry.

If one does not see this contextual reality I am sure that it hinders one from understanding other passages such as 1 Cor 12-14. Let’s look briefly at 1 Cor 12:27-30.

1 Corinthians 12:27-30 (ESV) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Now it is in verse 30 that we see the all too frequently quoted text, “Do all speak with tongues”. I have pasted here most of the paragraph so that you can see more of what is being said in the text. Notice Paul’s list of questions. He lists as questions, are all… apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, speakers with tongues, interpreters? Now I wonder if you noticed in this list that all of these are corporate ministry gifts. The question isn’t directed to the roles of everyone in the congregations. Nope. The questions are concerning those gifts that have to do with actual ministries within the corporate life of the assembly.

You may question this in terms of tongues but follow along with me through this. There are tongues for personal use and there are tongues for corporate use. The personal use tongues are for just that, personal edification, etc. However tongues with interpretation are as prophecy, and therefore are for corporate ministry and edification. So, when Paul asks, do all speak in tongues, it appears more accurately that he is referring to corporate tongues with the corresponding but separate gift of interpretation. As you can see Paul lists in his questions, tongues followed by interpretation. If indeed this is the case, and I believe that it is, then the question doesn’t mean what it has been used to mean at all. Paul isn’t referring to the question of do all believers speak in tongues personally, rather he is asking do all believers have the corporate gift of tongues, that which is for the edification of the fellowship of believers. The answer to this question is of course no.

1 Corinthians 14:13-19 (ESV) Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
 
Notice in verse14 that praying in tongues is equated with praying with my spirit. So that in verse 15, praying with my spirit, must be understood as praying in tongues and praising with my spirit must also be praising in tongues. Then in verse 16, giving thanks with my spirit must again be understood as giving thanks with my spirit in tongues. Paul then in verse 18 continues with, I speak in tongues more than you all do. This context of scripture clearly states not only the importance of the gift of tongues for the church as a whole, but also clearly equates that in order for us to pray, praise, and give thanksgiving with our spirit, we must have the gift of tongues, at least in this text.
 
Paul is in no way playing down the use of tongues. Rather he was affirming their place and importance within the church, the personal believer’s life and within the worship expression of the church. Paul’s concern correctively isn’t whether or not tongues has its place within the Church, No! Paul’s concern is that tongues are used appropriately and if corporate, then for the edification of the Body gathered together. The use of speaking in tongues is not however to be forbidden. Then why are they forbidden in so many Bodies of believers? Simply because somewhere along the way someone taught that they were not for today. I cannot find anywhere in scripture where this can upheld.