What You Believe
Part 5
Speaking in Tongues is for Today
There is some discussion over the details, such as the exact mechanism (does God get into your head and literally control the speech function, or what?) and proper use (interpretations of
1 Cor 14 vary, e.g.), but you all (far as I can tell) agree on this: it's the real thing, and it's supernatural. I think you also would agree that there can be fake tongues. But, when it
is the real deal, there seems to be agreement on certain uses and purposes of tongues:
Initial Evidence
Aside from whether it is necessary for salvation or not, when there is a filling with or baptism in the Holy Spirit, tongues will be spoken. Not sure if there is unanimity on exceptions, such as mute people, so let's leave that issue aside. The
norm, at least, is tongues, put it that way. Also not sure if everyone agrees with how to account for the possibility of fake tongues in the "initial evidence" doctrine. Actually, I'm not sure how
anyone accounts for it. But again, leave it aside. You all seem to agree: speaking in tongues will occur when one is
filled with or
baptized in the Spirit. (Are those terms interchangeable, or have I touched on another disputed point?)
Prayer Language
One can and should "pray in tongues". (Unanimous on this, are you? I think so.) Praying in English is fine, but in tongues, it's even
better. The idea is that sometimes, humans don't know what to pray for. The Holy Spirit then can "take over" the praying, and give you the words to pray. Normally, you never find out what it was you were praying about. Sometimes, you might find out later that so-and-so was having some kind of problem, and at the same time you were praying in tongues, they found the solution. That's always nice, but rest assured: even if you don't hear such confirmation, God really was praying through you, and it was about something important, and it (most likely) got results. (God is more likely to answer what are, in effect, His own prayers!)
A variation of this type of speaking in tongues is simple praise and worship, in tongues. (I'm not really sure how this one is supported, either by scripture or by logic -- God giving you the words to say for praising Himself?
-- and maybe it's not 100% agreed on, so I'll just leave it there.)
Messages in Tongues
At an appropriate time in a church service (always decently and in order!), someone may speak out a message in tongues. Usually, it's someone in the congregation, standing and speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear. Then, when it's over, there may be a short time of silence while everyone waits for the interpretation. That's when someone else (or, rarely, the same person again) stands and speaks out the interpretation of that message: some kind of encouragement, or admonishment, or ... well, anything the Lord wants to communicate to this particular congregation: both the tongues
and the English interpretation came from Him.
Preaching in a Human Language
Occasionally, someone will give a message in tongues that is in a
human language, and one that has never been learned by the speaker. Chinese, for example. Someone hearing it will be a native speaker of that language, and get some kind of blessing (or feel conviction) from the message. The event, of course, is also spoken of many times afterward, as confirmation that tongues really are real (at least,
that time), and their church/fellowship/denomination really is in touch with God.