Learning About Speaking in Tongues

For he who speaks in a tongue

does not speak to men but to God,

for no one understands him;

however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14: 2

            If there is one Scripture that has caused much contention among Christians, especially those of the charismatic and Pentecostal movement, it is this scripture.  Therefore, we must take time to critically investigate what Paul was saying to the Corinthians, also that which pertains to our beliefs.  Some would use this scripture as a proof scripture that they are being instructed to speak in some sort of unknown tongue, although albeit an unintelligible or not understandable or even a sound other than of being gibberish.  Is this true?  We shall allow scripture to instruct us.  As a caveat, I must inform that I am not speaking from my own opinion.  I am not telling you what I believe Scripture to say.  This unfortunately, many pastors, and teachers in the Christian church, preach and teach from their own opinions and not taking time to study the original languages so that they are teaching a lie.  As I pointed out in the previous blog our concern is not with those who are heathens, or atheistic, as much as it is with those who seem to be speaking the Gospel when all it is another gospel and not the truth.  So let's investigate this scripture and not be led to use this as a simple single verse proof scripture.  We must look at what Paul has been writing and why he wrote this particular scripture.  Paul in this chapter instructed us: "Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret"(1 Corinthians 14: 13). It is pretty clear here that the person who is speaking in some sort of tongue understands what he is saying because he is also to be able to interpret what he is speaking.  Paul is using an hyperbole when he says that a person who is speaking in a tongue does not speak to men but to God for this is in obvious and intentional exaggeration, a figure of speech not to be taken literally.  In other words, by the sound that a person is making calling it to be speaking in some sort of unknown tongue, a gibberish type of sound, no man could understand it but only God could.  Now what it says that no one could understand him, yes the Greek word that is used here is the Greek word for hearing: άκούει, third person singular present indicative an active, and is a verb that means to hear, to harken to give audience to something also to understand as it was used in Acts 4:19, et al, and here in this verse we are considering means to take in or to commit to a mental acceptance, in other words to understand.  You heard and you are not able to understand.  What good is speaking in some sort of unknown tongue, a tongue that no one could understand, to the church, to anyone, unless they speak something that is intelligible.  Is all that person is speaking in the spirit some sort of mystery?  Paul says this: "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church" (1 Corinthians 14: 4).  Paul is ensuring us that this may be a gift that anyone could desire, but not necessarily the ability to speak in some unlearned and unknown tongue unless that person can interpret that tongue; rather to be able to prophesy, that is to speak what God desires to have spoken to His children: "But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men...  I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification" (1 Corinthians 14: 3; 5).  How can this not be understood in those churches whereby many people are standing up or laying down, or doing all kinds of things, and are speaking in some sort of gibberish tongue and expecting it to edify the church?  I personally cannot understand because the Bible is very clear that we are to be doing things that are to edify one another who are the church of God.  Let us not forget that the church and the Greek word ecclesia, are called out ones and if we are pursuing love then what we are doing is doing things to edify one another in love.  Paul had already made clear that if love is not involved then anything we are doing, especially speaking in some sort of gibberish language is nothing more than a clanging cymbal or a clashing of brass.  No wonder the world is so confused with the Christian church.  Even the Christian churches confused!  Now Paul adds this: "But now, brother and, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by the revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?  Even things without life, whether flute or heart, when they make it sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?  For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle" (1 Corinthians 14: 6 -- 8)?  I've heard of people going off into their "closet" and speaking to God in this unintelligible gibberish type the sounds as though they were speaking something so religiously accepted by God.  I ask where in the Bible do they find any unction or warrant for such an exercise?  Its not there!  Paul writes: "So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongues words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken?  Before you will be speaking to the air" (1 Corinthians 14: 9).  How much more clear and it be?  If you are participating in such type of exercise whereby you believe that those sounds those that our unintelligible, then you must understand what the word of God has just said: YOU ARE SPEAKING TO THE AIR!  Once again we are informed that the word tongues is not some sort of unknown gibberish sound, rather it is a language: "There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.  Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a forerunner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me" (1 Corinthians 14 10 -- 11).  To go about speaking in this sort of mysterious language is only to edify one's self, to be euphorically feeling that you are being godly and somehow speaking to God.  Paul makes it clear this is not true.

            Do you believe the Bible?  Or are you just putting your faith into what some man has said is truth?  Only you have the answer!

The LORD your God in your midst,

            the Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness

            He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.

                        Zephaniah 3: 17

God is gathering you for eternity

Richard L. Crumb

Learning About Freedom In Christ

I marvel that you are turning always so soon

from Him who called you in the grace of Christ,

to a different gospel, which is not another;

but there are some who trouble you

and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven,

preach any other gospel to you

than what we have preached to you,

let him be accursed.

Galatians 1: 6 -- 8

            In our study of Galatians and the letter of Paul that he wrote to them concerning those things that he considered as being in contradiction to the gospel that he had taught them, I have turned to Galatians to remind us what Paul wrote to the Galatian churches.  What Paul wrote was also a letter that eventually sent to the Corinthian church, and it is what what Paul addressed that some have today turned.  Paul was admonished by them and by his authority in this matter addressed these issues.  It was not that people were teaching some sort of Hinduism, or Buddhism, or Islamic religion, no, it was people who were using the gospel to teach that which was not originally taught to them by Paul.  This gospel contaminated by  ideologies, worldview, that resulted in a theology that was nothing more than a perversion of the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ.  It is not that the grace of the gospel had not been preached to them.  The problem is that they are Christians in name only, and have yet to possess the favor of grace itself.  Doing various things, even under the guise of what is done is considered spiritual, or some sort of revelation of faith, is wrong.  Those gifts that only the Holy Spirit to whomever He desires to give them. These antics, a keeping of some sort of ritual, even the keeping of the law, does not remove sins or make a person more faithful, only  except by the grace of faith which works through love.  It seems as though these doctrines are very similar to the doctrines that the Judaizers were attempting to influence the church to turn to, a keeping up some sort of works, and in their case it was the law.  All this was doing was putting people under the burdens of the law, or putting Christians under some sort of need to do things that they have not been given the right to do by the Holy Spirit.  Christians are under grace, and they are earnestly assured that if they hadn't need to live by those works which are not relegated, even though they may be desired, availed to nothing, that is nothing if they did not do these rites.  Paul was astonished by not only to the Galatian church, but also to the Corinthian church.  Paul investigated these issues, and this he had every right to do before he was appointed by Jesus Christ to be a special apostle to them.  And then by his words written in his letters he gives sufficient indication that those who use such persuasions are not of God but of men.  Yes, it is true of Christians who have been recently born into the faith of Christ, they are nourished with Milk, not on solid food, and are so often easily bewitched.  therefore it is incumbent upon us to teach the truth. Paul asked the Galatian church, and this question is for all Christian: "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh" (Galatians 3: 2 -- 3).  The Judaizers, and I fear that many who are present-day Christians, think that the Holy Spirit does not suffice unless you are placed under the law;works which is nothing more than a form of works.  This is a reversal of the gospel, that, since it is not good, is not the gospel although it is set forth as such.  These things that are being done with reason is superfluous, and in yet, the superfluous is neither beneficial even though considered not harmful.  But attention must be given that it may not tend to destruction.  To do these things is not to rise up but to fall down, and albeit some may not have yet fallen, they are already inclining fall.  So often when our doctrine is in contradiction to the Holy Spirit then other doctrines are accepted and are also in contradiction to the word of God.  You cannot expect that a little leaven will not leaven the whole lump.  Once again Paul explains that God is by means of the Holy Spirit gives to whom He desired to give and the question is how does he give it?  I'll answer this question: Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith: (Galatians 3: 5).  Notice that God supplies and He will only supply by means of faith.  Even Abraham was accounted righteous before circumcision.  Too often in the circles of those who are performing such things as "gibberish" sound, and go about trying to heal everyone, although you do not see them in hospitals, even though they display some sort of Christian religiosity, Bay, and we, must never fear losing anything from God except God.  We are not to fear losing anything of ourselves except ourselves, for we are to deny ourselves.  In Christ alone is our true bliss and perfection.  Jesus Christ is invisible to our carnal eye, yet He is worshiped in faith, and this as long as we live in this flesh: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved to me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2: 20).  Those who are not entirely justified pays attention neither to those things which have a temporal reward, nor to those things which have and eat journal reward.  Bose, however, who are justified by the works they do are not necessarily justified before God, because he expects from temporal and miserable advantage.  Jesus Christ came and redeemed us from the curse of the law, and became curse for us, therefore, why are we attempting to keep some sort of law, or a doctrine of works?  I pray.  A view, and if so, then you will turn back to the true words of Jesus Christ in all that the Bible is teaching us that we are free, free in Christ, it is the gospel that made us free, and it is the gospel that will make others free.

He will sit as a refiner in a purifier of silver;

            He will purify the sun so Levi,

and purge them as gold and silver,

            that they may offer to the LORD

in offering in righteousness.

                        Malachi: 3: 3

You are free in Christ

Richard L. Crumb

Learning How To Pursue Love

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts,

but especially that you may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14: 1

Greater love has no one than this,

man to lay down one's life for his friends.

John 15: 13

            Paul in the previous chapter, a chapter, we call the loved chapter, now instructs us to pursue love, and to desire spiritual gifts.  A note: the word gifts is italicized because the Greek word is a plural accusative neuter word and is supplied in English with the word gift, but the Greek speaking person would understand from the context that Paul was speaking about gifts.  Then Paul says that we are to pursue love and then to be emulous, or desirous of spiritual things and especially that one would be able to prophesy.  The word for prophecy is in the subjunctive mood, present tense, and second person and in English we often use the words "were," "should," "might," or "would" when we are speaking in the subjunctive mode.  It simply means to be speaking of the possibility of something, to do something, or not, and this is what's being considered for the reality remains contingent upon future developments, this case is being contemplated with the action tat is  hypothesized.  The root from what this word comes tells us that this word means to be a spokesman for another, as in the case for a Christian to be able to be gifted for the exposition of divine truth.  This can also mean to foretell the future, and also to set forth a matter of divine teaching by a special faculty.  Therefore, we are not to confuse this word that it simply means to be able to foretell something in the future.  The word that we have translated as pursue, in the King James says to follow, follow after charity in the Greek word used here, διώκετε, is an imperative in the present tense and it is plural also it is an active word.  So that it means to follow after eagerly, to endeavor earnestly to acquire something, and to pursue with a rapid motion, do not simply to walk along by following but to seek with great energy something.  This is the word Paul used and it is  active, in other words, we are not to just to sit by and think that God is going to push us in some way, no we are to pursue and Paul uses the Greek word and putting into the imperative it is a command or a directive, and it is active. We don't just sit by and somehow follow.

            Love, a word in our day that is kicked around and used in so many manners and ways that it is almost lost its meaning.  I brought this up before that the love that is being spoken of is not a simple love for a brother or a simple love that is a friendly type of love, or even an intimate love as with a love that should be between a man and a woman, no it is a principled godlike love.  It is this type of love that we are to pursue, to desire to acquire, it is this greater love that Jesus spoke about and that love is one by which a man would lay down his life for his friends.  Does this mean I have to die for my friends?  Maybe!  But Jesus did not say that you have to die for your friends, no, he said you are to lay down your life.  If you just want to say that you are to die for your life He would use the Greek word for that, but He did not.  The Greek word used here is an aorist and the word is singular and it is subjective and it is also active, and it is to be translated lay, to set something in place, to deposit something, to commit something.  We are to deposit our life, to lay our life down for another. Jesus is not here asking you or me to die for Him, but to lay your life down for Him.  Notice this very important fact: it is easier to die than to lay down your life day in and day out with a sense of the high calling, calling to which you were called.  You are called the ones that are called out, the word that we translate into English as church.  So many times and this is what was happening in the Corinthian church and we find the same thing happening in those churches that believe in the special divine revelations in exercise various forms of spiritual gifts as though they were made for brilliant moments like this.  No, we do walk in the light of gifts but in the ordinary ways.  For 33 years Jesus Christ laid down His life to do the will of His Father.  Oh! Here is where the rubber meets the road: to lay down our life in this manner is contrary to our human nature.  Remember this, if you are a friend of Jesus then you are to deliberately and carefully lay down your life for Him. Yes, it is difficult!  But we do have the Holy Spirit so we can thank God though it is difficult, for fit was easy, if salvation was easy, then what kind of salvation and what kind of God do we have. If all was simply ease, then this world would not be opposed to you, and especially Him.  This is the God we have; this cost him much.  Did it not?  He had to come to be incarnate in human flesh to die horribly upon a cross when He had done nothing in this life to deserve such a death.  God has saved you and has endued you with the Holy Spirit and now He says work it out, be loyal to Him, even though things around you, the nature of things around you would do everything to make you disloyal.  If you are pursuing love as Paul also instructed us and directed us to do, then we are to stand loyal to our Friend.  Now!  This is important!  We must remember that His honor is at stake in your life.  This is a love we are to pursue, and what we are to follow, yes, we are desired spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.  Now remember prophecy, the words of God spoken by another through his direct and was a special revelation before the Bible was canonized.  How can we prophesy today?  Simple!  Study God's Word and allow His word to make you able to tell others the Gospel.  Not as some do, as the school of The Supernatural taught by the Bethel Church of Redding.  And as they so often do come running around trying to heal people and pray for people, these supposed supernatural things, without telling people what people really need to know, they are to prophesy, and that prophecy is telling about Jesus Christ.  TO PROPHESY IS TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT A GOSPEL!

            What is the love that you are pursuing?  Are you just seeking some emotional experience?  Or, is this love, this God love, is what you are pursuing in that pursuit leads you to not only tell people about the Gospel we are to uphold His honor.

Restore us, O God;

            cause Your face to shine,

and we shall be saved!

                        Psalm 80: 3

Stir up your strength

Richard L. Crumb