Studying
I Corinthians 14 I ran across something very thought provoking, at least it was to me. I was reading David Guzik's commentary from Enduring Word. He said that since Paul establishes the fact that when a man speaks in tongues he is speaking to God, when tongues is spoken in the church and its interpreted, the interpretation should reflect words spoken to God, not a "message" spoken to man. Now that's not a direct quote, but that is how I interpreted what he was saying.
Think about it: that actually is a more consistent view with what Paul is saying than what I've normally experienced throughout my history. We have interpreted
I Cor. 14 to say that there is a "message" in tongues along with the private individual speaking in tongues to God. We say in those cases that the interpretation would be a "message" to the church. But the more I pondered this (and I am speaking less than 24 hours worth of pondering) I couldn't think of a place in
I Cor 14 or anywhere else where a "message in tongues" is spoken of directly. And the more I ponder this, I'm beginning to maybe see it isn't there indirectly either.
It is a more consistent view with "they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." What the devout Jews heard the disciples say in the languages from where they were born on the Day of Pentecost was "the wonderful works of God." Not a "Thus saith the Lord, you have heard my servant Peter tonight say to thee what I have anointed. Do not question my Word but go with the authority with which I the Lord hath cqlled thee..." or something like that. They didn't hear a "message" in tongues with instructions or exhortations communicated from an interpreter, but what they heard spoken were words declaring God's wonderful works!
I don't know if I've got it all figured out. I need more time to meditate on this, but it was very interesting food for thought. I will say in all the years I've heard "interpretations" of "messages in tongues", I can't ever really remembering anything really profound or revelatory. It has been in my recollection a lot of generalities that anyone could say and be correct. There have been times, I must say, that the interpretations didn't seem authentic at all. But I've tried to believe the best in people and not be a skeptic, even though truthfully inwardly I wasn't sure. I believe in the gifts of the Spirit. I believe the are for the church today. I'm just not sure we've handled them properly. Kind of like the Corinthians in ignorance we create scenarios that are confusing to unbelievers and unprofitable for them. It seems Paul is saying that if there are outsiders leaving our gatherings scared, bewildered, turned off, etc. we have created an atmosphere that God does not create. He isn't the author of confusion.
What do you think? Again I'm just processing this and want some feedback and input..
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