Speaking in Tongues
Teaching #1: Is it Gibberish?
“And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” - Acts 2:7-8
Do you speak in Tongues? The word tongue literally means language. If you are not speaking in an intelligible and coherent language, then you are not speaking in tongues.
Διάλεκτος (dialektos) = dialect or language
Most charismatic Christians are just speaking gibberish. They are deceived to think that they are speaking in tongues because they were coerced by their Pastor to just let their tongue wiggle loosely and run wild. The result of this is babble! It’s nothing at all really. It’s just noisy nonsense! If these people were speaking an actual language, then their speech would consist of syllables, vowels, and consonants in the sounding-out of real words in the utterance of complex sentences for the expression of deep and sincere thoughts. God created mankind with the unique ability of language because He desires a vibrant relationship with redeemed men and women by this means.
“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 may 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.” – 1 Cor. 14:8-11
Have you heard all these so-called Christians loudly babbling at the Church down the street? They are shouting in gibberish, and therefore no one understands anything that they are saying! In fact, they aren’t saying anything at all. Random sounds and incoherent slurs offered to God in prayer is nothing short of blasphemy. This is obviously contrary to the divine purpose of tongues according to Acts 2:7-8. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Apostles stood up and spoke in tongues, the bystanders heard and understood what was being said because they were hearing about the wonderful works of God in their own native languages, all of which were foreign to the Galilaeans.
“…we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” - Acts 2:11
This was an observable miracle that glorified God! While no miracle is required for men and women to speak babble! This is a modern invention of devils to trick mankind to behave like animals. Even animals can speak gibberish! Why would God want mankind to behave like animals? This debases mankind and distorts the image of God in which we were created (Gen. 1:26-27). It is offensive to God, humorous to devils, and alienating to people of other religions.
“…will they not say that ye are mad?” – 1 Corinthians 14:23
If perhaps anyone does truly speak in tongues as a miraculous utterance from the Spirit of God, then unbelievers would hear and understand the Word of God in their own languages, or an interpretation would be given and the Word of God would be heard and understood, and God would be glorified (1 Cor. 14:19, 27-28). Those who are unbelievers wouldn’t be driven away from Christianity as a result; they would be drawn to Christianity (1 Cor. 14:22). The Muslims must think that all these tongue-speakers in Churches these days have gone crazy! This is a great reproach to the name of Christ.
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