Spiritual Language

Ever read through the 14th chapter of I Corinthians and wonder why so many churches believe the supernatural gift of praying or worshipping in a spiritual language is still encouraged? This chapter can be very confusing and I hope you'll take the time read it. I believe the use of spiritual language is a wonderful gift, a gift for every devoted follower of Jesus, and that this text is often misused in discouraging people in its pursuit. I hope this brings some clarity! Let’s read together…

1CO 14:1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified."

Here Paul clearly endorses the use of spiritual language in two ways in corporate gatherings. In fact, he comes right out and says that he would hope all experience this wonderful gift (vs. 5a). He acknowledges that sometimes a spiritual language is for the freedom of expression to God (vs. 2) and also sometimes used to give a message from God to people but then it must be accompanied by an interpretation (vs. 5b). I’ve heard people say too that the interpretation must come for some different than the person giving the "utterance." But verse 5 challenges that position directly by giving the person who gives the utterance the liberty to also give the interpretation.

1CO 14:6 "Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church."

1CO 14:13 "For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified."

1CO 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue."

It is always important to remember the context of the text in order to fully understand the intent of the text. Paul was writing this portion of the letter because of excesses and abuses during their times of corporate gatherings. The abuse he is addressing specifically here is that they were forsaking the instruction of their congregation. They were having powerful, supernatural, expressive worship services, but time given to instruction was sorely lacking. And instruction has to be done in a language that is understood if it is to benefit the church. I believe Paul was saying to Corinth and God is saying to us that our times of corporate gatherings should incorporate both: undeniable supernatural manifestations of God’s presence (like that of speaking in languages we’ve not formerly learned) and also clear, direct, sound, teaching that can be understood without any need of interpretation.

Okay, here we’re going to tackle a portion of scripture like the one in Hebrews 4 we did together in November of 2007 that takes what seems to be unexpected turns. Let’s read and I’ve imbedded some commentary that will hopefully help make these verses more easily understood.
1CO 14:22 "Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers (pf – because God uses the supernatural to make our witness undeniable); prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers (pf – it is important to remember that prophesy if broader than just "foretelling" it also encompasses what I call prophetic teaching/instruction which is being supernaturally empowered to understand and articulate the mysteries and truths of God’s Kingdom which is why this is primarily for believers, those seeking to understand what it means to live as a child of God, a devoted follower of Christ). 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (pf – I thought Paul just said it is a good sign? He did, but what we need to remember is that Paul is responding to excesses at the church of Corinth so what he is saying now is that a gift that is supposed to be a good sign, a sign that was supposed to cause the unbeliever to recognize God exists…when it is abused, used in excess, not done in an orderly way, that which God intended to be beneficial, becomes counterproductive.) 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" (pf – Paul is saying that if the church of Corinth is unable to exercise the use of spiritual language in a responsible way in their times of corporate gatherings, then they should rely solely on prophecy, even though prophecy is primarily for the believer as we stated above. Prophesy too can have a "sign" benefit for the unbeliever, by God using the prophetic teacher to reveal something that only the unbeliever would have otherwise known in order to demonstrate the reality of His existence to the one who needs to come to faith in Christ.)

1CO 14:26 "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret (pf – when spiritual language is being used to articulate a message from God to the congregation, but no interpretation is necessary when people are in a moment of collective prayer or praise because then they are speaking directly to God, expressing their heart and thoughts to Him). 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God… (pf – If church leaders yield the attention of the congregation to a person using a spiritual language to articulate a message from God to the congregation and the person is unable to bring the interpretation nor anyone else feels inspired by God to give an interpretation, then the church leaders should be cautious in allowing this person to address the congregation in a spiritual language in the future and encourage that person to use their gift of spiritual language in worship and prayer to God.)
1CO 14:39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."

I hope this helps you!!

Pastor Fred

Moses vs. Apostle Paul

In our life group this week, someone asked how do we reconcile what Moses is recorded as saying in Genesis 2 that it is not good for man to be alone with what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7 about not marrying? First, we have to remember that God is the ultimate author of both so contradiction is never a possibility. Moses vs. Apostle Paul or any other vs. in comparing scripture must always end in a reconciliation of interpretations.

Genesis 2:18 is very clear. Moses records God's declaration for man's need for someone to complete him and then in verses 21 through 25, we are given the miraculous story of the creation of human completeness.

Then, Paul seems to record for us God's declaration that man and woman may not now need completing? Beginning with verse 9 in 1 Corinthians 7, this should never be misunderstood to mean that marriage is a great answer to a lust problem. Marriage is about completing one another so we know God would never direct a person to marriage to solve a problem with sin. He sends us to the cross for that. So what then does verse 9 mean? I believe God is speaking to us through Paul that when two people love one another with a sacred, honorable, worthy of God's blessing kind of love that cannot be denied, then marry. Remember, chapter 7 begins with marriage. Context is our road to understanding. When Paul speaks to the unmarried and widows in verse 8 and 9, I believe he is speaking to those who find themselves in a committed relationship and feel their love is undeniable, not unmarried persons who have a self-control problem in regards to their sexuality. In chapter 6, he just completed railing against sexual immorality, why would he direct such a person to marriage in chapter 7 when in the previous chapter, 6:20, he plainly states the cross is the delivering power for sin.

Picking up with verse 25, Paul continues God's thoughts on whether or not a person should seek marriage, to find completion as God declared through Moses in Genesis 2. Context again is our friend. However, this time, not textual context but cultural context. We must remember that in Paul's day, being married was a forgone conclusion. For a person to consider being single would be like someone in our modern world choosing a MAC over a PC, who would do such a thing! Every period of time has cultural norms and being married had been the norm, well, since Genesis. God wants people to know that they should not feel condemed for choosing to forgo marriage to have more time, energy, and focus on telling the world about Jesus. As we read these verses carefully, we see that Paul is not elevating singleness above marriage but elevating singleness to the same stature as marriage, making them equal, as seen in God's eyes. Notice how he speaks of God having different callings for different people, meaning don't compel others to be like you, compel them to be who God has created them to be. His emphasis is on being single because the cultural norm of marriage needs no help in being defended, again, it has been the cultural norm since the beginning of time.

So why would God elevate incompleteness to the same stature as completeness? Isn't completeness through marriage the message of Genesis 2? Yes, but now that Christ has come, there is another completeness possible. Marriage is not now the only way for a person to be whole. Marriage does not have the power to make us spirutally complete. That is not Paul's intent to suggest something he surely did not believe, or worse, God declare something untrue! We must remember the audience of the 1 Corinthian letter, context is again our friend. The letter was written to believers. Whether married and devoted followers of Jesus or single and devoted followers of Jesus, both are equally complete, in Christ.

I hope this helps bring clarity to what can certainly be a confusing text.