Tired of dead church life — that is how it is with many today.

Consequently, there is new interest in a more vital, spiritual kind of church.

God has exactly what churches need to be all of that. His special equipment for the fellowship of believers is called “spiritual gifts.”

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (I Corinthians 12:7) God shows Himself as people in the fellowship minister in varied ways to one another.

The twelfth chapter of First Corinthians lists the kinds of spiritual equipment (spiritual capabilities or “Gifts”) with which God endows each member of the church. Three main types of gifts are seen: 1) Those that have to do with handling God’s Word. 2) Those that involve practical help and service to one another. 3) Sign gifts.

We turn now to this last category and focus upon the gift of “tongues” mentioned in verse 10. In the systematic list of verse 28, it is placed last. However, it is high on the horizon of concern today. The so-called charismatic movement is being felt in every part of the world. Tongues-speaking is usually prominent in it.

Groups of believers are being stimulated with new sounds and feelings as both in private and in public the strange syllables pour forth. Some experience ecstasy while others look on in perplexity. Like it or not, a judgment has to be made.

SAFE STEPS TO SPIRITUAL STANDARDS

In evaluating this more recent shake-up on the spiritual scene, the Bible must be the source of final authority. Error usually begins with a false emphasis, a wrong balance.

Therefore, as you look at a new experience, a new teaching, a new group, ask these questions:

1. Is the emphasis on the Person of Jesus Christ? Is He central? Not, is He also mentioned? Nor, is correct doctrine about Jesus believed, but is it consistently set forth? You can tell if a spiritual happening is really of the Holy Spirit, and not a false enthusiasm by this test. Said Jesus, “He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (John 16:14) A speaker always preaching on the Holy Ghost is not led by the true Spirit of God.

2. Is the fruit of the Spirit emphasized? An over-focus on the gifts of the Spirit is contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture. I Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1 and the entire 13th chapter calls on us to stress love. (See Galatians 5:22 and following.) This is “the more excellent way.”

3. Is the Word of God given the spotlight of interest — or does the real excitement and interest fall upon a sign, or “wonder-gift”? Hebrews 2:3,4. God worked through signs as He established the early church in order to grab the attention of people and certify to them that the new teaching was indeed truth. Now, however, we are off the launching pad and have in our possession the full Scripture. There is not the same need as the apostles had and we must never discount fullness of revelation which we now have. Study the principle taught in I Corinthians 13:8-11.

4. Is prophecy given its first place? 12:31 instructs us to desire this ability to proclaim God’s Word – dynamically – and to go for it especially. Read 14:1 and then ask, Whence all this talk of tongues? How wrong to take what God puts at the bottom of the list, 12:28 and make it the measure of the highest spiritual achievement! Many do this, but there is no such teaching in Scripture.

WHAT IS THE GIFT OF TONGUES IN THE BIBLE?

Plainly, those with this special gift had the ability to speak in languages hitherto unknown to them. Study Acts 2 and you will discover that in each case it was a tongue known to the various foreign groups present in Jerusalem at that special season. (see verse 8) This thoroughly amazed the non-Christian hearers. Notice how perfectly this accords with I Corinthians 14:22.

When one comes to the Corinthian passage, he will find no new terms. The gift of tongues should mean then simply the gift of languages. The problem in Corinth was that people still cherished this gift and exercised it with no foreigners present.

The Apostle Paul accordingly forbids any such activity unless there should be one who knew the language and could re-preach in the tongue of the majority. Even the man praying or speaking is not built up himself – for he doesn’t understand what he is saying, Paul says, verse 14. Where then is the poor “average Joe”? verse 16. Stay standard urges Paul.

Surely, any fair interpretation of this section of Scripture will see that Paul is trying to handle a problem. He is not urging the speaking in tongues. He is urging plain prophecy in the language of the people. That alone edifies.

Today’s tongues seems to miss this. It often is a further compounding of the very problems Paul struggled against, excitement and feelings notwithstanding.

Tongues is nowhere else even mentioned in all the instructions to the churches given in Scripture. One does not get the impression from the Bible that it is a matter important to be continued. Its problems are exposed, however.

CONCLUSION

Remember, there is another alternate to a dry, powerless spiritual life besides this particular imbalance.

Seek after the more excellent way of I Corinthians 13. Pray God for a fresh infilling of His Holy Spirit that you might be more Christ-concerned and Jesus-centered. May the Spirit of God lead you to put the emphasis where He puts it and seek the fullness of Jesus Christ.  That is where the fullness of the Spirit will take you.