What are people doing when they speak in tongues?

1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.



     Many popular teachers today condemn the use of tongues, say its foolish, and not biblical. But they wont go through the Bible and show you why its not biblical, and why its supposedly foolish. 

As a Bible teacher at heart and a "Charismatic" I would like to make a defense of the gift of tongues, and show what is happening when these Christians are speaking in tongues.

    I remember in Bible college seeing all these people speak in tongues. I eagerly desired to speak in tongues too. It was just a normal thing among Christians educated about the gifts. I remember it so well, I fasted for 2 days, then on the third day my church had this thing called "Super Sunday" everybody who wanted to get some kind of gift from he Holy Spirit, would go to the side and the elders would lay hands on them and pray. That is a biblical practice, and a historical practice within the first century for passing on "anointing" it was called "Leaning"

1 Timothy 4:13
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the *laying on of hands of the elders.

Many people would speak in tongues and prophesy for the first time. Not everybody would speak in tongues but everybody would recognize the Spirit of God had done something in them.

Acts 19:6 
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they *spoke in tongues and prophesied.

     For me it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, outside of the moment I first believed. It felt as though a well spring of life poured out of the depths of my belly, through my chest, and out my mouth. It was a wonderful thing. After a few months I saw alot of popular teachers condemning the practice and saying it was a unbiblical gift. These preachers were condemning it so harshly and saying people who did such things were demon possessed and blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This was something I had to make sure was true, so like a Burean I went into my study  (acts 17:11) I needed to see if these tongues that nobody understands was a Biblical practice and gift, because as a Christian I want all of my spirituality to have a foundation in Scripture.

    I opened my Bible to 1st Corinthians and started to study. It didn't take long at all to see that tongues are a Biblical gift, that it is simply the spirit of a man praying to God. But there is a structure and way that the gift is supposed to be done. The way it is practiced in many Churches is wrong and needs to be corrected as Paul corrected the Corinthians who were doing the same thing. But Paul never said "God did not gift you" or "stop Speaking in tongues" he only gave them a outline of the way its supposed to be practiced.

Here I am going to give you a Biblical data of the *unintelligible tongues that so many people see Christians doing. This is what people are doing when they speak in tongues

1st Corinthians 14;2 
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for *no one understands him*, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

Now I will show you it is simply the spirit of a man praying, as Paul said.

1st Corinthians 14:14For if I pray in a tongue,my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.


what does speaking in tongues do?

1 corinthiasn14:4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies/buildsup himself but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

      One thing I do not understand about the pastors and teachers that condemn the gifts of the Spirit of God is; Teaching, wisdom, evangelism, knowledge all those things are also gifts from the Holy Spirit. Is it because its weird? well Jonah as swallowed by a whale, an ax head floated, Jesus was born of a virgin, we believe in One God eternally existing in 3 persons. Tell me what part of our faith is normal?

Here are some biblical encouragements that should encourage you to speak in tongues. But especially that you may prophesy

1 Corinthians 14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified

1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

1 Corithians 14:37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this,he himself will be ignored. 39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues

1 Corinthians 14:1  Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.


By Kevin Henderson.