10/4/26 “Say What?”
“Say What?”
1 Corinthians 14:1-40
Uncertainty.
As human beings, we don’t like that word.
We don’t appreciate the fact that there are some things in this life that we may never completely know or understand.
For instance, as I mentioned last week, we don’t know how light can be both a wave and a particle at the same time.
We don’t know what happens to matter after it gets sucked into a black hole
We don’t know why we dream...
We don’t know why Bears fans can’t stop talking about the ‘85 Superbowl!
We – as humans – are uncertain about many things.
However...uncertainty has never stopped us from formulating some strong opinions about a particular subject.
I once listened to a 10-minute argument between 2 people over who would win a one-on-one game of basketball while both in their prime....Michael Jordan or LeBron James.
It was the Most wasted 10 minutes of my life....we simply don’t know....but we want to know, right?.....(By the way, Michael Jordan would easily DESTROY LeBron James! 😊)
Sometimes we encounter passages of scripture that speak of topics beyond our full comprehension...
Topics that inherently bring with them a certain amount of uncertainty.
The book of Revelation is well known for its numerous passages that defy our ability to fully comprehend them...
...Yet I know plenty of pastors who – when it comes to end times prophecy – will preach their opinion as if it were the inspired word of God.
As believers – we need to be very careful about understanding the difference between what is clearly taught in scripture (Which does make up the vast majority of the Bible)....
.....and what is taught with a certain amount of ambiguity.
Today’s passage of scripture is one that involves a bit of ambiguity....
It involves a bit of uncertainty....
It involves subject matter that is difficult to fully contextualize for a modern audience...
...And...over the past 200 years or so, the topic of tongues has been a lightning rod of controversy....and - unfortunately - a significant source of division within the modern Church....
There are individuals....everyone from laypeople to Biblical scholars....who hold very opposing – and very passionate - views concerning the gift of tongues....
And the tension we see within the church surrounding this particular topic has....in many ways....far outdistanced the importance of the gift itself.
Paul even says here in verse 19 (1 Corinthians 14:19) that he “...would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
Paul is telling the Church in Corinth that – as a gift meant to edify (or, uplift) a body of believers – tongues has a place....
...But - at the end of the day – there are much more important gifts to serve the body....such as accurately teaching and articulating the Word of God...
So...for today as we look at this chapter...I’d like for all of us to be reminded by Paul’s own words here that the gift of speaking in tongues has absolutely nothing to do with salvation....
....or with one’s relationship with Jesus Christ....
...It also has nothing to do with how mature you are as a Christian.
We need to remember that – no matter how you view tongues today – at least, in the 1st century - it was just one of many gifts of the Spirit that God used to edify the church...as well as to provide tangible evidence for the validity of the Gospel message to those outside of the Church.
One of the blessings of serving here over the past 4 years, is that I’ve been able to have conversations with some of you over the topic of tongues....
And I know that there are people in this room this morning who wholeheartedly believe that the gift of tongues.....
....as well as the gifts of miracles and revelatory prophecy...are no longer practiced in the church today...
...it's the belief that these particular gifts – what are generally referred to as the ‘sign’ gifts – ceased to be active in the church after the apostolic era...and the canon of the New Testament was completed.
This view is called Cessationism.....the view that sign gifts have ceased from being distributed to believers today.
...I also know that there are people in this room who wholeheartedly believe that the gift of tongues – and the other sign gifts – are fully active today just as they were in the days of Paul, Peter, and the other apostles.
It's the belief that the gift of tongues – the ability to speak in a language unknown to the speaker – can...and does...still occur today...
...and that – by necessity – the gift of interpretation also exists today as it did in the early church...like in Corinth.
This view is called Continuationism.....The view that the sign gifts have continued to be distributed to believers throughout the last 2,000 years of Church history.
...I also know that there are people in this room – perhaps the majority of you - who are uncertain about what to believe when it comes to the gift of tongues...
Did it cease along with the apostles?....Is it completely gone?
....Do some people today actually possess the gift of tongues?....
....And are those who claim to have the gift of speaking in tongues really tapping into a real language...or are they just speaking gibberish?
....Does tongues refer to saying something in a human langauge?....
....or does it include the ability to speak in a heavenly prayer language of some kind?
These are all great questions....
...magnified just this past week when a famous football coach by the name of Dion Sanders began a post-game press conference with about 10 seconds of what can be described as speaking in tongues.
The clip immediately went viral with millions of people chiming in to express their opinion of what they’d just seen...
And – If I showed the clip to all of you right now, there would be a range of opinions right here in this room as to what you’d just seen.
So...I can’t wait to make some of y’all upset with me this morning!
....Maybe its a good thing I’m hopping a plane for the middle of nowhere tomorrow!
But...all joking aside...please know that my personal opinions on the topic of tongues come from a humble position....
If my view on what this chapter is teaching concerning tongues differs in some way with how you see it....please know that I respect your viewpoint...
I may not agree with it...but I respect it.
...Because, I think if we’re all honest with ourselves, there is a certain level of uncertainty in this chapter about what tongues are....and what they are not.
So....with that being said, let’s dig into the text.
Paul has just informed us in chapter 13 that none of the spiritual gifts are worth using if they aren’t expreseed in love...
....and that the primary purpose of spiritual gifts are to build up and encourage the body of believers...
First of all, let’s define what speaking in tongues is – biblically.
We read in the Bibe that speaking in tongues begins back in Acts chapter 2...
Remember that?....The Holy Spirit descends like tongues of fire upon the apostles and others who were waiting for Him to appear in the upper room?
...Then, those who were filled with the Holy Spirit began speaking in different languages – different “tongues” – that were unknown to the speaker...
....but were recognized by people there in Jerusalem who spoke those specific languages.
By the way....theologically....This event was a beautiful illustration of how the confused languages at the tower of Babel in Genesis 11...were now being undone at Pentecost...
Confusion was eclipsed by clarity....at least for the moment.
....But that ‘s another sermon for another day.
Keep in mind, the tongues at Pentecost were actual languages spoken somewhere on the earth at that time...
...and this would remain the standard definition of tongues throughout the time of the early church....
Cessationists will argue that the only form of tongues that is biblical in nature is that of what we see at Pentecost...
....someone speaking in an intelligible language....and then reiterated to the local body by someone with the gift of interpretation...
Keep in mind...all spiritual gifts are meant to edify the body.
But Verse 2 (1 Corinthians 14:2) seems to indicate that there may be another way in which tongues could potentially be utilized for those possessing the gift.
Look what it says, “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.”
This is interesting because the text here in 1 Corinthians is describing what seems to be a different form of speaking in tongues....
...Paul seems to be talking about more of a personal prayerful utterance between the speaker and God...
Remember, the tongues at Pentecost – and other places in the New Testament – were designed for others to hear...
But in this verse, Paul describes an activity that seems to be occurring privately between the speaker and the Holy Spirit...
In some ways....this may clear some of the confusion about tongues as we wrap up this chapter...so, stay tuned.
In the next few verses, Paul elaborates on this “alternate” form of tongues.
He writes in verse 4 (1 Corinthians 14:4) “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophecies edifies the church.”
Again...we see a form of tongues that seems to be moving away from the corporately edifying standard of tongues...to that of a more personal, less effectual gift.
Paul says in verse 5 (1 Corinthians 14:5) that, although tongues was a good gift, the prophetic declaration of God’s Word was far more beneficial to the body of believers...
He even says near the end of the verse that prophetic instruction is far more valuable to a local congregation than that of tongues...
Remember....NT prophecy is simply a proclaiming of God’s truth....not the revelation of new information.
What good is it to hear the truth of God’s Word if we can’t understand it...?
It would be like if someone who knows no Spanish attends a Hispanic worship service...and there was no translator present...
The teaching of God’s Word would not be of benefit for that person, because they wouldn’t understand it...
The same would hold true for attending a Latin Mass....unless you understand Latin....you wouldn’t learn anything.
....and it is by learning about God that we may become closer to our savior.
Paul goes on to use the illustration of how musical instruments need to be played in a way that brings forth a recognizable melody....
...otherwise, a chaotic cacophony of random notes will make no sense to the listener....
Paul continues this thought in verse 9 (1 Corinthians 14:9) when he says, “....Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.”
In other words...when the body of Christ comes together....we are to speak in a way that is clear and understandable...
...Why speak in a foreign tongue when plain, simple language is much more useful for the body of believers.
Then, after revealing in verse 18 that Paul himself had the gift of speaking in tongues....
In verse 19 (1 Corinthians 14:19) he puts HIS own gift in its proper perspective: “But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
...and Paul had the gift of tongues...so it’s not like he’s trying to belittle a gift that he didn’t himself possess out of envy or jealousy...
Paul understood that the clear instruction of God’s Word was by far the most important part of a worship service....as it is today.
Verses 22- 25 begin to reveal what the gift of tongues was originally meant to accomplish...
Verse 22 (1 Corinthians 14:22) is one of the most important verses in this chapter.
It reads, “Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.”
Here’s where we see that word ‘sign’....
Paul clearly states here that the Acts chapter 2 form of tongues....
...was specifically meant to be a sign to unbelievers.
Did you catch that?
Paul went from speaking of private, prayer utterances where the edification was for oneself....
...To now reverting back to the form of tongues that took place at Pentecost...the form of the gift that had one primary purpose...
....and that purpose was to let unbelievers know – through a miraculous rendering of linguistic capabilities – that the message of Jesus Christ was trustworthy and true.
The idea was...if someone was suddenly (and miraculously) speaking in another intelligible language that was unknown to the speaker...
...but known to the unbelieving listener....
Then that unbeliever best pay attention to the prophecy....or declaration... of truth that would soon follow.....and hopefully, lead them to the cross.
The remainder of chapter 14 is a lesson on how to go about utilizing the gifts of tongues and prophecy within a worship service setting...
Paul reiterates the idea that all gifts...including the corporate usage of tongues...were meant to strengthen and encourage the body of believers...
....He goes on to teach that if people spoke in tongues during a worship service, that it was to be done in an orderly way....with a seperate interpretation of the tongue.
...It was not to be done in a chaotic, emotion-fueled, frenzy of sensationalistic ecstasy.
Verse 33 (1 Corinthians 14:33) says, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”
And verse 40 (1 Corinthians 14:40) the final stamp on the entire 3-chapter instruction on spiritual gifts says, “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
We see this sort of instruction throughout scripture....
....including in Hebrews 12:28 where the author writes, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
Far too often today, we see churches that make a complete mockery of worship....
Where reverence and awe are nowhere to be seen.
We do, however, see people doing things that resemble more of a ritualistic paganism than actual Spirit-led worship....
Don’t get me wrong...I’m not saying that all – or even most – Pentecostal churches fall victim to this kind of unbiblical sensationalistic revelry....
...but there are some that certainly do....
When I see videos of people going into uncontrollable seizure-like convulsions....running around the sanctuary waving their arms like birds.... doing back flips....laughing uncontrollably....
I don’t see reverence and awe.
Rather, I see a mockery of true worship...
I see a farce of faith...
In fact, Paul writes in verse 28 (1 Corinthians 14:28) that if one had the gift of tongues without someone there in the worship service to interpret their speech....they needed to remain silent.
For someone to speak out loud in a language that wasn’t known to the rest of the congregation would inevitably result in an unnecessary distraction....
...and it would just bring attention to that individual....rather than keeping the focus and attention where it should be....upon God.
Near the end of the chapter – in verse 34 (1 Corinthians 14:34), Paul provides more instruction on orderliness within the church....
Here’s where I get to make all the ladies upset with me this morning...
No...not really.
When Paul teaches that women are to remain silent during the worship service...
....Remember...he's still referencing the speaking in tongues during the worship service...
Men were typically given the prerogative of tongues expression in a worship setting more so than the women were...
So....I believe that Paul here is dealing with a specific decorum....or etiquette...when it came to tongues and prophecy....
...rather than that of a universal Church mandate
For support, we can just go back a few chapters....
1 Corinthians 11:5 assumes that women will be praying and proclaiming truth out loud while in the worship service....
....so....these verses in chapter 14 cannot be a blanket prohibition against female voices being heard during worship....
Rather....they seem to be pointing toward an issue of tongues etiquette within the 1st Century Church....
So....how do we process this chapter on tongues in relation to the church today?
...a chapter that leaves a bit of uncertainty as to how we best view and apply this specific gift in the modern body of Christ.
There are definitely two distinct schools of thought when it comes to tongues....and - for that matter – the sign gifts as a whole.
Are the cessationists correct?..... people like Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, John MacArthur, Charles Stanley, Tony Evans, RC Sproul, Al Mohler, JI Packer....and others.
Or...are the continuationists right? People like Ireneaus, William Seymour, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, Kenneth Copeland, T.D. Jakes, John Piper, Wayne Grudem....and others.
Or....is the truth about tongues somewhere in the middle?
Well...remember how – here in chapter 14 – Paul seems to be describing two similar...but distinct....forms of speaking in tongues?
In the early verses, he speaks of a form of tongues that is more of a prayerful, utterance than that of an earthly language....
Then....as we progress in the chapter...Paul begins to reference the standard, biblical sign gift of tongues...the kind we see at Pentecost... that of when an interpreter is needed.
Well....for what its worth....I personally align with a stance that echoes that of evangelist Billy Graham....
Most theologians view him as a practical cessationist.
....meaning that – when it comes to the first-century sign gifts of tongues, miracles (including healing) and revelatory (Old Testament) Prophecy...
I don’t see the Holy Spirit dispensing these gifts today in exactly the same way....and for the same purpose...as during the days of Paul and the apostles...
However....with that being said....I most certainly believe that the Holy Spirit may – and, I think, does – allow certain believers the opportunity to experience visions of God’s truth, miraculous healings, and prayerful utterances of tongues – all in lines with His particular timing...
In other words....I believe that God heals in response to our prayers....but that the apostolic “Gift” of healing is no longer dispensed.
I certainly believe that God allows certain people to have visions of Jesus and conveyances of His truth....but that the apostolic “Gift” of revelatory prophecy is no longer dispensed
And – lastly – I believe that God allows certain individuals to speak in prayerful utterances unto the Lord in personal times of prayer....but that the apostolic “Gift” of tongues in a traditional sense of speaking in a known foreign language with need of interpretation is no longer dispensed.
So....there you go....Those are just my thoughts on a topic that carries with it a fair amount of uncertainty....so please just take’em or leav’em.
....and you can leave the torches and pitchforks at home...you know why?
Because – as we’ve seen - 5 words of intelligible instruction is worth more than 10,000 words in a tongue.
....brothers and sisters....at the end of the day....if your pendulum swings toward continuationism....and you don’t fall into the heretical teaching that only true believers have the ability to speak in tongues....
Then – in my opinion - we can share full, rich, vibrant, Spirit-led worship together.
If your pendulum swings toward cessationism....and you don’t fall into the heresy of limiting God’s omnipotent ability to miraculously use people in any way He desires....at any time He desires....
Then – in my opinion – we can share full, rich, vibrant, Spirit-led worship together.
And – you know what – that's what we’ve done in this church for a very, very long time.
Our church body represents a relatively broad spectrum of the cessationist/continuationist debate...
we've been able to experience sweet worship of the Lord in a bond of love and unity.
Because – at the end of the day – it's not about gifts....its not even about us....
It’s about Jesus......and what He has done for us.
....Let’s Pray.
